On the popular afternoon “Dana & Parks” radio talk show (2-6 p.m.) on 980 KMBZ hosts Dana Wright and Scott Parks recently discussed why “good news” stories are often overlooked by the news media.
Wright, a veteran TV reporter and anchor, mentioned the often-quoted slogan that rules TV that “If it bleeds it leads.”
That adage has been followed by TV stations for years. It is the reason why a murder story is often the main story of the evening news.
Parks, himself a former excellent newsman, noted that many TV stations that have attempted to provide all-positive news have failed miserably. He said he believed viewers often feel better about themselves when they see the problems others are experiencing.
Maybe the truth is somewhere in-between.
A recent story by Justin Schmidt, multi-media journalist at KCTV, may have blended the bad news/good news aspects of society perfectly.
Schmidt, who has been with the station since 2009, relayed a heartwarming story about a Korean War veteran who is in hospice care and dying. The man, Bill Thome, 78, a former motorcyle racer, told a hospice staffer his final wish was to get on a Harley one last time.
“Grandview police and about 25 riders, many vets themselves, helped Thome live out his dream through a ride organized by the Patriot Guard Riders, the Gatekeepers Motorcycle Club and the Blue Justice Motorcycle Club,” reported Schmidt.
Thome had one final opportunity to go for a ride in a sidecar of a motorcycle. His joy was obvious and heartwarming.
“I want to thank everybody for all they’ve done, I know they put out a lot of energy and such,” Thome said to all the organizers.
And thanks to Schmidt for doing such a great job of proving that positive stories are still appreciated by viewers.

KCTV5