Darnell Blackburn

[Lickalime]

Any opinions on Crime and Safety Expert Darnell Blackburn? I find his delivery not great.

[SD45]

Of course, his delivery isn't great - They don't teach broadcast performance at the police academy. I don't see him going anywhere with Kim expecting soon.

[Rate This]

I'm not sure what value he adds. I think I've seen him provide two or three crime and safety reports, and I watch WDIV news fairly often. He performed decently during those segments. In contrast, I've seen him provide scores of substandard traffic reports.

I think is a case of an African American man left the anchor desk (i.e. Evrod), so the station created a prominent role for Darnell to backfill that void.

The station also seemed to make a surprisingly big deal about Will Jones' return to the station; there is nothing noteworthy about the quality of his work.

Jones also was only there for a hot minute… it’s not like he’s Chuck Gadica or something…

[MPRG]

Considering his background is law enforcement and not journalism, I think he is doing fairly well. Especially compared to when he first began (rough start for sure). I remember when Kim, who IS a journalist, was a little green and unpolished in the beginning. It happens to some who either did not have a previous on-air background, or who are not formally trained in this area. Practice is where one sees the improvement. I say give him a fair shake.

[Luke]

Considering his background is law enforcement and not journalism, I think he is doing fairly well. Especially compared to when he first began (rough start for sure). I remember when Kim, who IS a journalist, was a little green and unpolished in the beginning. It happens to some who either did not have a previous on-air background, or who are not formally trained in this area. Practice is where one sees the improvement. I say give him a fair shake.

Go to Flint or Lansing. Detroit should not be the market for that.

[rushbuzz1013]

Considering his background is law enforcement and not journalism, I think he is doing fairly well. Especially compared to when he first began (rough start for sure). I remember when Kim, who IS a journalist, was a little green and unpolished in the beginning. It happens to some who either did not have a previous on-air background, or who are not formally trained in this area. Practice is where one sees the improvement. I say give him a fair shake.

Go to Flint or Lansing. Detroit should not be the market for that.

Detroit cannot pull in the rates it used to. The business model has changed drastically and as streaming operations continue to flourish, money spreads thinner between the providers. Hence, lowering the bar on salaries and on talent.

[Rate This]

Considering his background is law enforcement and not journalism, I think he is doing fairly well. Especially compared to when he first began (rough start for sure). I remember when Kim, who IS a journalist, was a little green and unpolished in the beginning. It happens to some who either did not have a previous on-air background, or who are not formally trained in this area. Practice is where one sees the improvement. I say give him a fair shake.

Go to Flint or Lansing. Detroit should not be the market for that.

Detroit cannot pull in the rates it used to. The business model has changed drastically and as streaming operations continue to flourish, money spreads thinner between the providers. Hence, lowering the bar on salaries and on talent.

Sure but if you’re 15 out of 200 you’re still on the large size… are you telling me there’s only enough talent in TV to fill 14 markets and 15 and below had better have an open casting call?

[SolarMax]

Darnell with MDOT camera showing a nearly empty 696 near Gratiot:

"Traffic volumes are starting to pick up here!"

I literally saw four cars total in the shot.

Holy crap does this guy suck at his job.

I see that a lot on everyone's traffic casts. Reporter telling us how traffic is backed up or not moving, while MDOT camera or on-site live shot shows just a few cars, whizzing on by. May have been congestion or delay 15 minutes ago, but not any more, "right now." Their prompter says one thing, the video shows another.

[Rate This]

Darnell does this all the time. It's a crutch phrase for him. He is incapable of ad libbing evidently.

A guy who hasn't broadcast before needs a crutch? Do tell...

[thatonedude]

He should go back to being a cop. Absolutely painful to watch.