404 replies to this topic

[excel99]

Maybe International Correspondents will look at the issue at some point - probably a better place to do it than Backstory

[Axl0706]

Backstory has been showing too many fluffy stories for my taste in the last six months. That's why my passion for the show has faded. From time to time they provide some excellent journalism though. There have been several backstories from Attia Abawi lately that were terrific. She's embedded with US marines in southern Afgnanistan. Her reports actually offer a unique perspective of how it's like for the troops and how it's like to cover such a story!!! I think backstories like this are the way to go: More raw material from conflict zones and fewer tabloid stories.

[AExAVF]

Backstory has been showing too many fluffy stories for my taste in the last six months. That's why my passion for the show has faded. From time to time they provide some excellent journalism though.[...]I think backstories like this are the way to go: More raw material from conflict zones and fewer tabloid stories.

Same here. Truth is, I've already given up on this show and stopped watching. Don't get me the wrong way, I like the format and style of this show, but I'd rather have more serious stories being featured in BackStory than lighter ones. Not that I am against tabloid stories per se, but this show loses its importance if they keep padding the show with just as many fluffy stories to compensate for the lack of BackStories from many serious ones.

[xgrinch]

Riight.
So Arwa's story about pedophile last week was a sappy story?
Or Atia's 2 part piece about Afghanistan was a comedy show?
While B|S tends to be a bit on a light side, then still show some powerful, serious and sometimes disturbing stuff, which doesn’t get airtime on other shows.

[AExAVF]

^^^ Did I say anything that those were sappy or comedy stories? No, I did not. Those stories are worthy BackStories deserving of being on the program, but I'd rather pass if they're showing stories like Fred Pleitgen's luge show, anything like those to pass time and those hardly newsworthy. I'll simply tune in to the worthy segments, but I won't bother finishing an entire episode.

In any case, I haven't paid much attention to the show as I have in the past few months, and besides, I've really lost interest in B/S, so it doesn't matter. Maybe if they come up with a Domestic version of B/S as they did in the past, I'll consider watching again...but that's not going to happen anymore, so this show is now hardly worth my time.

[Cee]

^^^ Did I say anything that those were sappy or comedy stories? No, I did not. Those stories are worthy BackStories deserving of being on the program, but I'd rather pass if they're showing stories like Fred Pleitgen's luge show, anything like those to pass time and those hardly newsworthy. I'll simply tune in to the worthy segments, but I won't bother finishing an entire episode.
.

You do have a point there. I usually check the facebook note to see what's coming and when it's from, say, Arwa Damon, I'll definitely watch, but otherwise I often change channels and sometimes just stumble upon a great backstory I hadn't expected. One can't like all segments. Funny can be really great as well, but that also depends a lot on the reporter and personal taste, of course

[Leeroy]

... And a show like Back Story depends a lot on the actual news CNNI is covering. If they're not sending reporters out to cover major news stories, they can't make a Back Story out of it. And god help them if they use a correspondent 2 days running, because people complain about using the same people.

Like CNN's coverage in their news shows, it all depends on the day. Some days are weaker than others, and some days you get 30 minutes of full on hard news Back Stories.

[Guy]

Like CNN's coverage in their news shows, it all depends on the day. Some days are weaker than others, and some days you get 30 minutes of full on hard news Back Stories.

Also to be fair to the Backstory folks, they can't actually force anyone do a story for them. They depend on the generosity of correspondents and crews to put things together for them even though they don't have to.

One reason you tend to see the same people over and over again on Backstory is that those are the people who like the show and are willing to spend their free time helping out.

[dezbee2008]

I'm still a huge fan of the show as it is. Yes, some stories are not worth a showing, but nonetheless I love it.

[Charles]

Like CNN's coverage in their news shows, it all depends on the day. Some days are weaker than others, and some days you get 30 minutes of full on hard news Back Stories.

Also to be fair to the Backstory folks, they can't actually force anyone do a story for them. They depend on the generosity of correspondents and crews to put things together for them even though they don't have to.

One reason you tend to see the same people over and over again on Backstory is that those are the people who like the show and are willing to spend their free time helping out.

That's really interesting. I can't help but ask, if the B/S team relies on the correspondents taking their time out to file reports, then how did they think they could produce a completely new show everyday? I'm not saying they can't, but scaling the show back to weekends is something to think about.

[alexander]

Also to be fair to the Backstory folks, they can't actually force anyone do a story for them. They depend on the generosity of correspondents and crews to put things together for them even though they don't have to.

One reason you tend to see the same people over and over again on Backstory is that those are the people who like the show and are willing to spend their free time helping out.

I really CAN"T understand this. Isn't Back/Story a CNN show? Why can't they ask someone to do a story? I would understand if this was a CNN.com podcast for example, but this is a CNN everyday show. How can a show depend on the generosity of your correspondents??

[ginnyfan]

No way they will put it on weekend, they have a big following, just look at their FB page.
I would put it at 30 minutes past the hour after a real news bulletin.

[Charles]

No way they will put it on weekend, they have a big following, just look at their FB page.
I would put it at 30 minutes past the hour after a real news bulletin.

I'm not saying they should put it on weekends, but if it's difficult for the team to bring fresh content to the show everyday, then scaling back wouldn't be illogical. I also agree with the top of the hour thing-- I'd rather see BackStory at half-past.

[excel99]

Cut it down to 4 days a week and use the weekday when it's not on for a canned programme - ideally something like International Correspondents or Inside Africa rather than lifestyle stuff such as MainSail

[Guy]

I'm not saying they should put it on weekends, but if it's difficult for the team to bring fresh content to the show everyday, then scaling back wouldn't be illogical.

I don't mean to give the wrong impression. I think they do a good job making a daily show. Each program has its own particular production challenges. I don't think Backstory's challenges are worse than the other shows', they're just unique.

[Gruffny]

Jim hosted Backstory last night.

[Leeroy]

First ever Back story from the field next week! Afghanistan!!

[dezbee2008]

^^^ I'm hoping and waiting for that.

[excel99]

Should be some great Backstories Monday with various CNN staff struggling to get where they need to be

[Charles]

This is an acceptable camera poke?