It took them awhile to get engaged, but now local TV newscasts are hot and heavy on the biggest story in a long time - the trials and tribulations, and effects, of the failed Bailout plan.  Last week in this space, I railed about local TV newscasts ignoring (except for superficial network packages) this huge story. 

Well, beginning with yesterday's drama on Capitol Hill and Wall Street, the local TV newscasts in Dallas, and in other markets (viewed on my Slingbox) did an excellent job of reporting on the local impact of this huge story.  I think maybe some local TV newsrooms were a little slow to the story because they did not realize that over half of the workers in this country have their retirement income tied up in 401K accounts.   Those accounts, and other stocks lost over one-trillion dollars yesterday.

So, even though they were late to the party, I must commend local TV news today for doing a great job yesterday in explaining the effect of the stock market meltdown, and what viewers, personally, can do about it.  I found much of the reporting to be very helpful in empowering viewers.

And my advice for today is this:  Keep the coverage pedal to the metal!  I can guarantee that viewers are thirsty fo more strong local coverage about the economy in the day's ahead.  If you lead with some one-on-one crime - they will quickly zap away in search of that information.

Bill Clinton's handlers said it best during his first presidential campaign - "It's about the economy stupid."  That advice is right on the money for your local TV newscasts in the weeks ahead.

Jim