Chasing New Jersey

Fox’s unconventional local newscast that airs on WWOR New York and WTXF Philadelphia has not taken New York by storm at 10 p.m., with ratings down by double digits since its debut last summer. In Philly, it airs at 12:30 a.m. and its 18-49 ratings are up 33% from the time slot’s year-ago numbers. Fox is constantly tweaking its TMZ-like elements and creator Dennis Bianchi says the show has matured, offering a smoother pace, more informative discussions and better stories. TMZ creator Harvey Levin says “they will catch fire.”

New Jersey’s General Assembly honored WWOR’s Chasing New Jersey on the occasion of its 200th episode, which aired April 11. The 30-minute topical program, focusing on all things New Jersey, […]

Fox Television Stations CEO Jack Abernethy explains his vision for transforming local TV news. That vision includes more engaged anchors, non-traditional formats, more reliance on multimedia journalists and investigative reporters, sharing of news resources and deeper integration of social media. Read Part One of this two-part Q&A here.

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The real revolution in news reporting is not the fluff that springs from the minds of Fox execs. It’s what you find in the work of local independent news operations. But decision makers at broadcast conglomerates are too focused on chasing profits to see the potential for hard-hitting journalism in the communities they’re supposed to serve.

Thursday night, WWOR VP-Station Manager Dianne Doctor aired an editorial addressing the criticism — and praise — of its new nightly news effort, Chasing New Jersey. Watch it here.

The new New Jersey-centric news show airing on Fox-owned WWOR New York and WFXT Philadelphia has taken some hits from politicians and others, but it’s just the kind of fresh, provocative approach to news that local television is in dire need of. Sure, it could stand some tweaking  — even creator Dennis Bianchi says it will evolve — but Fox should commit serious resources and promotion dollars into this promising experiment.

After Rep. Frank Pallone, a Democratic New Jersey congressman running for the Senate, called for the FCC to revoke Fox’s license for its Secaucus, N.J., MNT affiliate because it replaced its 10 p.m. newscast with the nontraditional Chasing New Jersey, WWOR Station Manager Dianne Doctor defended the new programming: “Based in Trenton, Chasing New Jersey is a news program immersed in all aspects of the state. Politics. People. Issues. It’s enterprise journalism that no one else is doing.”

Fox-owned WWOR New York wanted to replace its traditional 10 p..m. news with something different. Chasing New Jersey, which debuted Monday, certainly fits the bill; the question is whether younger viewers will appreciate a broadcast that right now may be trying a little too hard to be hip.

The new half-hour Chasing New Jersey will highlight the state’s politics, infrastructure, businesses and celebrities and will also air on WWOR sister station WTXF Philadelphia.