This Diaryby Laura Clawson can tell you what you need to know about the strike. This is only about something I saw on TV that impressed me this morning.
My household cut the cable a couple of years ago; however, we were re-introduced to commercial TV when we moved into a new building with flat screens in all the public spaces. In the morning the TV in the coffee room (second best perk ever) is usually on HLN's Morning Express.
Many years ago, when HLN was actually Headline News it was a semi-serious TV version of local news radio; my father would always have his hotel room TV on it as he got ready for the day on business trips, very much the USA Today of TV news. Then, as many of you know, the Nancy Grace types took over, a news station became HLN, and the whole thing turned into sort of a televised tabloid.
What I did not know until living in the new place was that they have a halfway decent morning show that follows a lot of the channel's original format albeit in a stereotypical morning show sort of way.
That is why I was so surprised to see, in between celebrity news and holiday tips, an excellent, if short, report on yesterday's striking fast food workers in NYC. I can not find video for this anywhere, so here is the rundown (not a transcript):
HOST: Fast food workers went on strike in NYC yesterday. (video of strike) She then explained one of their demands - that wages of $8.75 an hour go up to $15 an hour.
This was followed by well-shot clips of two strikers. Both were middle aged African American women who spoke calmly, clearly, and comfortably to the camera. Some of their points:
- The low wages
- It is not enough to live on
- Many workers on food stamps
- Worker's can't afford apartments
Segment ended with a quote from an unnamed McDonalds owner that they respect their workers and want open dialogue.
That was it - no editorializing, no attempt to give equal time to employer and employees.
So, hats off to four folks: