This short journalistic video essay examines the the business aspect of local television news in Minneapolis. It utilizes a series of interviews with the owners and directors of local TV stations but relies primarily on a voice-over, recited over a juxtaposition of clips from various news broadcasts and informative graphs. This was produced by staff at University Community Video as part of their weekly magazine show which was broadcast on the local PBS affiliate (Minneapolis did not have cable or cable access at that time). Tellingly, one of first few lines of voiceover is “What they emphasize we see. What they don’t cover, we don’t know… Television news does not sell programming to the audience. Instead it sells the audience to the advertiser.” This displays an oppositional stance to commercial media, and the goal of countering mainstream media dominance which is present throughout much alternative media.

Stylistically, this video is representative of alternative portable video of the time, while also highly informative. It is all in low-resolution black and white, with the exception of color graphics and titles. Having periodic color was required for broadcast technology reasons.  Some shots are too grainy to make out, and others were shot at awkward angles. However, the film gets it’s point across and it does it in a way which is informative, honest, and captivating. The Voice-over is short, to the point. The interviews are edited together very well, to tell a story in response to a series of questions. The addition of footage from local news shows adds dramatic flare and diversity of shots. The true colors shine in the editing, expertly put together to tell a story in a short period of time.

University Community Video. The Business of Local News. 1973. Video Databank. DVD