Lincolnite

It was supposed to open this coming Sunday.  Hmmmmmm ...

Probably a soft opening. They’ve been staffed and stocked for awhile now, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they’re open.

I think I’ll give them a few weeks to work out the kinks, then I’ll check them out.

Channel 8, that bastion of hard-hitting news, reported last night that the store opens at 8 this morning. Now then, what’s the over and under for how long the store remains at 56th and Highway 2?

Yes, soft opening now and grand opening on Sunday I believe. I wonder if this one will have sushi? I am familiar with the super target stores and can’t say they are any better than super walmarts. I have noticed that the grocery section tends to have a lot of food that is pre or semi-prepared (like marinated meats, not my favorite).

Fletch, did they report the store as being at 56th and Hwy 2?  It would be hilarious if they did.

Dave, no, they reported it as being at 40th and Yankee Road. Mr. T, they did report that it will sell sushi. I hate to bag on Channel 8, because I am glad we have a local alternative to 10/11, which is entirely unwatchable, but man, when I turn it on and see Dick Janda in his copier-repairperson short sleeve shirt and tie, I just want to hang myself. This is the best we can do? Ugh.

I’m pretty sure the only person that watches KLKN’s Saturday night newscast is Dick Janda’s mom ... if she’s even still alive.

Channel 8’s report did mention the sushi.  I, too, also hate to rail on 8 because it is infinitely better than 10/11, but I thought last night’s coverage of something as simple as a Super Target opening was an example of the quality of their reporting.  Instead of just covering it as a ‘long-awaited new business comes to town’ story, they did it as ‘first of its kind business comes to town’ story. They focused on the innovative concept of being able to buy bags and broccoli at the same time.  Unless I am hallucinating, I believe Super Wal-Mart has been serving this need quite well for several years.  Admittedly, Super Target will serve people who refuse to shop at Wal-Mart (*chuckle*), but the concept isn’t exactly groundbreaking.

One of the few things I really miss about living in Denver is the local news coverage. The worst channel in Denver (WB2?) had 1000x better local news coverage than Lincoln.

I had become a loyal viewer of a channel in Denver (KUSA). The reporters had become like family over the years. I wanted to continue that here, so I had to decide which channel to become “family” with.

I actually (laugh if you want - this was important to me) made myself a pros-cons list comparing 10/11 and Channel 8. Nothing serious like awards or ratings, but stuff that was meaningful to ME. For example:

- 10/11 weather seems more professional and confident than Ch. 8’s, whether it is accurate or not

- 10/11’s Kyle Whatshisname who does sports disturbs me, like Uncle Rico in Napoleon Dynamite but much more so.

- Ch. 8’s graphical bumpers and promos have a more modern look/feel

- 10/11’s bullet points that are used in news stories are actually very small Chinese flags if you lok at them closely. What’s up with THAT? Seriously? Anyone else notice this? What makes them feel like a little dot isn’t good enough?

- Dick Janda seemed like someone I would be related to. Nothing remarkable, just a local guy who does what he’s supposed to do. No reason to impress anyone. At first that was a turn-off, but I started to feel sorry for him. Then over a couple of years my opinion started to change and he has become my favorite local reporter for that very “Awwww, shucks” kind of coverage.

See - hard hitting stuff there. In the end it all came down to the tiny Chinese flags. I’ve got nothing against the Chinese. I just can’t watch the news on 10/11 without being consumed by that thought during half their stories.

As an aside - I believe the only way there could be poweful local news in Lincoln is if the Journal Star and either of the TV stations and KLIN 1400 AM formed an alliance and started from scratch, sharing reporters and joining websites. The 10PM news could tease the stories for the next morning’s paper, the radio could have the reporters on to field questions about the stories and provide more insight, the newspaper coverage would be on the website and supported by video, the radio station could drop audio files of great discussion side-by-side with the stories… local news nirvana.

Good points CP! I have to admit, I have a soft spot for Dick Janda too, in spite of the copier repairman wardrobe. He’s been an institution in local news gathering in Lincoln and he’s old school.

I like your idea about a joint operating agreement between newspaper, radio and TV. The only thing is, radio doesn’t really gather news anymore, they just read what’s in the newspaper.

I think technology is going to drive the newspaper in this direction anyway.

The Journal Star is now posting video stories on its Web site and they have audio slide shows. Their news people are going on assignments with video equipment. It’s probably going to happen, but maybe more Web-based than via television.

CP - I’m heading to Colorado this weekend. Any dining suggestions? We’ll be in Arvada but will probably take day trips to Winter Park/Fraser; downtown; and Boulder.

Since we are bagging on the local media here, I will give sort of props to the LJS. I do think that KLIN and KFOR would have absolutely no morning news to deliver, and possible the local TV stations would not either, were it not for their ability to read the morning LJS and just regurgitate what is in there. It never fails that I will hear a story between 6 and 7 am on KLIN, only to then read the paper to see the same thing. I think the only hustle they do is to hustle to the front door to pick up the LJS and then read the news from there.

@Foxspit

Of course I do!

Check your inbox.

Foxspit - One of my best friends lives in Boulder and he tells me that the Taco Hell there is the most visited one in the nation (late night munchies and so on). Don’t know if that is true, but just passing that on as an FYI/TMI.

Excellent. Thanks Mr. T! Gotta love that name!