We Cross LIVE to Our Reporter... Who is Nowhere Crucial.

In modern television news broadcasts having a reporter LIVE on the scene is something of a cornerstone. From waiting for the exact moment some high profile prisoner is released to being on the scene of the announcement of a new Pope or birth of a Royal Baby, TV stations strive to have someone they can cross LIVE to for the very latest update.

Whilst there's nothing wrong with that, the Nine Television Network Australia, who are responsible for television shows that will have all Australia talking, newscasts are making a habit of crossing LIVE to reporters that aren't anywhere crucial to the story they are reporting on. In fact, what usually happens is they cross LIVE to the reporter who introduces and talks over a previously taped package before throwing back to the studio.

Again there's nothing actually wrong with that. I get that visually it helps to make the news more interesting to watch and hearing from another voice is good for the ears too. My only issue is, not only do they say 'we cross live to...' they also show a specific 'Live' graphic as a transition to the cross, implying that being LIVE is somehow important or critical to the report. This, despite it being very unlikely that breaking news will happen in the background relevant to the report being given.

Look, it's great to cross LIVE to a reporter if they're on the scene at a potentially critical moment but if that reporter is just out and about (possibly as close as in front of the TV Studio) so they can stand in front of an interesting background, there's no need to make a feature of it. Just cross to the reporter and tell the story. Make a feature of a LIVE report from the scene when it really matters.

Nine News, Adelaide.

Every Cross to Reporter is billed as LIVE.

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