It seems at times I got inundated with certain types of stories — traffic accidents, weather stories etc. Now it’s animal stories. Below is a video about a woman in Cedar Rapids who feeds stray cats that populate empty houses in Time Check. I think animal stories are popular in the newsroom because reporters and editors feel that, you, the public, likes them. Show cuddly creatures and the viewers will be happy.
I have no problem shooting animal stories; I would just like to insert backbone into them to make them more newsworthy. In this story, I failed to get the “serious journalism” angle: an interview with an animal control spokesperson on the problem of exploding feral cats.
This post might be meaningless. You might just like seeing the cute cats get fed. If you have an opinion on animal stories, let me know in the comments. It will shape our coverage in the future — Michael Barnes
