Fox News 26 Same old news in a Fox package.

"FOX News at 10" premered last week in the 10 PM timeslot, offering a 4th "local" nightly news telecast to the Rogue Valley.

As KMVU-TV Channel 26 vice president and general manager Cary Jones explained in the Mail Tribune, "We’re going to offer a news program at 10 o’clock. We’re also going to be able to sell inventory in the marketplace and add another dimension of localism to this station."

Other than a new chirpy blonde anchor, its all familiar faces that make up the FOX News staff as all production is done through a partnership with KOBI-TV Channel 5. As Bob Wise, KOBI vice president and general manager states, "There will be set modifications and different graphic elements from what we do," Wise said. Wise said the newscast will included FOX News feeds and perhaps some from CNN as well."

But, for those expecting something new and different you are likely to be disapointed. Far from offering "another dimension of localism", much of the broadcast consists of the same old mundane coverage and doggerel reporting in a cheezy Fox package. Nothing more than the same recycled national stories and medocure level of local coverage.

The bottom line is very important in this market. Despite a relatively small population, the revenue shared by Medford's commercial television stations exceeded $17 million in 2000.

"It's one of the most competitive markets in the nation and it's increasingly more challenging," said KOBI owner Patsy Smullin, president of California Oregon Broadcasting Inc.

More than ever, media companies and their profit margins are undermining the purpose of the profession. Journalists face real pressures trying to maintain quality as newsrooms cut back on expenses and jobs. Much of the new investment in journalism today - much of the information revolution generally - is in disseminating the news, not in collecting it.

But what is lacking from the local networks is a clear emphasis on local news, consistent coverage of local policy-making groups; clearly identifying the local impact of national stories; and input and feedback from viewers about the coverage. By refusing to invest in their products, media publishers are guaranteeing their eventual demise.

Citizens groups are fighting back,. In Chicago and Milwaukee, media groups are challenging the license renewals for TV stations. TV stations spent 1% of news time on local elections, and hence failed to 'serve the public interest'. The groups concluded that the stations failed to meet the needs of the community they are licensed to serve; therefore, renewal of their licenses would not serve the public interest. They also asked the FCC for a hearing on their petition to deny renewal of the television stations' licenses.