In the past, OTM has looked at the myriad ways that local TV news bend and finesse the ethical standards that most journalism outlets try to uphold.  We’ve looked at health reporting, how local news cover local politicians (or don't) and video news releases – advertising in news clothing.  Still, nothing quite prepared us for this. 

Hollywood can conjure realistic car chases, wars, and alien invasions. When it comes to a simple evening newscast, however, the results are almost always unconvincing. Bob speaks with a TV critic, a TV news director, an Onion News Network writer, and two directors to find out why Hollywood gets it wrong.

Battles - White Electric (Shabazz Palaces Remix)

As news about the impending hurricane continues to flood into the to the station (nyuk nyuk nyuk), it has become the sole topic conversation at the On the Media offices.

Back in 2003 it wasn’t Casey Anthony who was being tried in the media, it was Scott Peterson. Peterson was eventually found guilty of murdering his wife, Lacy Peterson and their unborn child but not before a parade of talking heads had convicted him on tv.

One of the purveyors of pundit justice who we found particularly icky at the time was Dan Abrams, who in 2003 was host of the “Abrams Report” on MSNBC. (As a side note; this is the interview in which Bob asks our favorite question ever).