The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum / Tropes reflecting the nadir of radio journalism

**Posted by Chrisphen** July 6, 2025 5:54 pm

After listening to one of WBEN's staff reporters/MAGA degenerates recently it caused me pause...is there anything more pathetic than a reporter whining to his meagre audience how this or that public figure won't be on their show to answer their questions?

**Posted by newsguy1** July 6, 2025 7:43 pm

Well, it depends.
If as a news interviewer somebody does not respond to your request for an interview, it might indicate that the public figure will not hold themselves accountable for their actions whatever they might be.
I have never liked it when public figures say to an interviewer, "oh I don't think you are worthy of my time."
Yes, they have an obligation to answer to the media, even if that particular medium is not the most prestigious or credible.
It is the obligation of the public figure to go into the interview with solid facts and information in which case they can destroy the interviewer.
I always love seeing interviews where either the interviewer or interviewee gets the better of the other because of superior preparation.
When I used to visit the UK often one of my pleasures was to watch master interviewer Jeremy Paxman utterly destroy smug unprepared guests. (alas Paxman ended up getting Parkinson's and had to retire).
He would sometimes tell the audience that so-and-so refused to come on the show.
He was not whining, he was just telling the audience they didn't have the guts to face him.

**Posted by ig** July 7, 2025 8:44 am

I clicked on this thread because I had no idea what the subject line meant—nicely done .

I ended up asking my buddy ChatGPT...

That phrase is basically an insult in a tuxedo. Here's the breakdown:

"Tropes" = cliché techniques, overused patterns, or predictable gimmicks.
"Reflecting" = showing or embodying.
"The nadir" = the absolute lowest point.
"Of radio journalism" = self-explanatory: the field of radio news/reporting.

Put together:
"Tropes reflecting the nadir of radio journalism" means cheap, tired storytelling devices that represent the absolute worst, most embarrassing low point in radio news.It’s a polite way of saying “this is hot garbage disguised as journalism.”
ig.