WIBC the news leader?

[indeaugie]

Is anyone else upset by the poor or no radio coverage of huge news stories?  Yesterday I was in my car wanting active and comprehensive radio news coverage on the Fort Hood massacure.  So I tuned into WIBC.  And, like so many times before, I got so frustrated while listening to mindless afternoon drive chatter, talk of the economy problems (no new news there!) and marginal traffic and weather reports.  And like so many times before, I tuned to Cincinnati's WLW.  Today, we were wanting comprehensive news coverage on the Orlando office building shootings and again we had to turn to WLW rather having to wait out the Rush Limbaugh broadcast.  I called WIBC while I was sitting in traffic to complain; the nice guy who answered the phone simply thanked me for my input and told me to "have a nice day..."

Am I missing something or are we seriously lacking in comprehensive and credible radio news reporting in Indianapolis?  I have been frustrated with this issue and WIBC for years.  Again, I still can't believe WIBC is the recipient of a Marconi!!!

[Steppenwolf]

Am I missing something or are we seriously lacking in comprehensive and credible radio news reporting in Indianapolis?  I have been frustrated with this issue and WIBC for years.  Again, I still can't believe WIBC is the recipient of a Marconi!!!

How much did the owner of Emmis have to pay for the Marconi?

[N_D_Radioguy]

Today, we were wanting comprehensive news coverage on the Orlando office building shootings and again we had to turn to WLW rather having to wait out the Rush Limbaugh broadcast. 

You say "we" in this sentence when you say "I" everywhere else.

Who is "we" here?   Are you going for the collective "we" to mean all Indy listeners?   I think you would be mistaken to do so.   Not everyone wanted wall-to-wall coverage on a situation that, albeit tragic, was neither local nor of immediate danger to those in Indianapolis.

Too many people overvalue their own wants and opinions.   They assume that what they want is what every listeners wants [or should want] and, thus, what every station should provide.   There is a large difference between " I want..." and "Listeners want..."

Of course, it's entirely possible that you meant something else.

[BobOnTheJob]

WIBC is a "News/Talk" station. If they were an all news station, I would have, like you, expected wall to wall coverage as well. But they actually carry more talk than news. Until Indy has a full time news station (Chicago, LA & New York have them, but they are rare below the top tier of markets), WIBC can safely claim the title of News Leader IMHO.

[tylertv]

I can't comment about WIBC's coverage since I don't live in Indy... but as an NPR-member station news director, I was  pleased with NPR's coverage.  In the old days, NPR did not do the best job responding to breaking news.  That is now changing, thank goodness.

Next time there's a big national story, NPR may be worth a try.
Just my 2 cents!

[WCBKscott]

The Big One, and the Nations Station aren't just liners at 700 WLW. 

[ChiefEngineer]

The Big One, and the Nations Station aren't just liners at 700 WLW. 

Even with the economy and cuts WLW is true to it's heritage.  News coverage every time a gas station gets robbed in Delhi township.

Randy was a neat guy but always made a clear and decisive point NEVER to make references to "over in Hamilton" for example. "We are always "here" to everyone listening.  This means in their car, in their house, or even in their bed if they have big chesty.."  Well, you get the point.

Despite the fact that he is gone this tradition lives on.  WLW is always "here" "now" and it only took a year of doing this until it took. Despite being a good operation and large the mindset and control of what is on the air has no Randy or someone like him at WIBC. Authoritative, Knowledgeable, Gathers a following, Likable, Determined, get the job done.  He's like Jesus.  It's hard to find this person despite the trying and effort.  And when he does show up someone's going to try and crucify him.

[bigtime]

There's no demand for a full time all news station in Indy. Nobody will do it anyway because it would cost too much. We do have news/talk 1430. There syndicated shows cover some breaking news except when they are tape delayed.

[MikeStandardsFromIndiana]

okay how long is left on the Hannity Deal Cumulus Signed away from WXNT that they dealt oiff to WFDM when they killed WWFT is left. because i can see Hannity Jumping ship to a better signal again most likely back to XNT when the deal is up. im Sure Premire isnt really happy being stuck on a rimshot these days when Hannity went from AM to a Clear FM station that dumped out 8 months after getting Hannity. because they new they were doomed trying to go against IBC on FM even if they were there first.

[buttonpusher812]

WIBC does a nice job of imitating a real radio station but lets face it, they are like alot of other stations, they don't have the budget and since they have no one ready to take them on they don't have to be any better.  You only have to be a little better than the other guy and they aren't even trying.
I hope nothing ever happens but if there is ever anything of the magnitude of Ft.Hood in this area there won't be any radio coverage because IBC won't have the staff or the expertise. 

Radio is it's own worst enemy here. No staff to speak of, lots of sat and canned programing, why listen.  The powers that be then wonder why people go to cable news and the internet. 

Most stations seem to excel at imitating IPods.