I laughed out loud at an email that came to me this week:
What’s with you news people on KWWL talking with the hands, waving them around, somehow it just doesn’t look right? My husband and I noticed this going on about two to three weeks ago already. Was this some idea for you KWWL News People to do when broadcasting your daily news? It is too fake and makes you look ridiculous to say the least.
I’m probably sounding like Andy Rooney….but I felt moved to email you regarding this matter. We don’t see this on other channels of news broadcasting. I have no idea whose bright idea this was. Talking with one’s hands is another issue. You people have your hands waving around like you’re juggling. It is very distracting.
I believe you all need to watch yourselves in a broadcast and you can be the judge. Perhaps I’m being too critical but watching yourself, Ron and Brian do this on a daily basis takes away from the broadcast. IT’S VERY STRANGE, TRUST ME ON THIS ONE.
We enjoy listening to you folks. I hope you go back to broadcasting without all this hand flinging and fakeness when doing so. Only a suggestion, perhaps you’ve heard from others as well.
Thanks for this opportunity to address this issue.
Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 13
This post was written by tthomas on August 27, 2009
What in the world is this person talking about? Can’t say that I’ve noticed any of you “flinging’ your hands around. People do use their hands while they talk, it’s a means of expression. I’ve never seen any of you overly using your hands to the point of distraction. Don’t worry about it.
Deb
Well, at least they included the men on this one, whereas they didn’t suggest that Ron wear eyeliner on his lower lid
Ahhhh, the time people have on their hands. And man, it’s tough to be perfect. I would like to see them in front of the cameras, reading off the teleprompter, ad-libbing, etc. I admire you all for being able to do that every night, and still put up with all the critiques!!
I’ve talked with my hands my whole life and it has annoyed some people so much they tell me to sit on my hands. Wouldn’t you look worse/sillier sitting on you hands during the broadcast.
I have seen other newscasters also talk with their hands. Big deal!!! It shows you are humans, not a robot.
I can say I always get a laugh too when I read the comments about hair, makeup and clothes. But in this case, I do have to agree. I did notice Lauren Squires waving her hands around the other night and thought to myself, “What is with the arm waving?” She is the only one I’ve noticed it with lately. But the guy who worte is isn’t crazy, I notice it too.
what is with people. Everyone talks with their hands. It is called a gesture. LOL People need to think of better ways of spending their time! Also if they don’t like and haven’t noticed it on other channels…..watch the other people. They will miss out on the best news channel but at least they wont be distracted!
If you ever get someone that writes in a GREAT comment, be sure to post it. Why do people always feel the need to tell you what’s wrong with you, but keep a good comment to themselves. I wouldn’t miss the channel 7 news, and I could care less if you fling your arms or not. That’s not a major requirement for me. I think the general public get more critical every day, and harder to please. Very few are tactful, polite or use manners. All you need to do is work in a retail store for one day and you find that out in a quick hurry. I’m afraid it will only get worse. Rest assured most people don’t see anything wrong with your newscast. Take a pill Lady and Husband.
It’s amazing, but I just noticed it in the last few weeks several times by different anchors/reporters, Tara being one of them, still watch KWWL and will continue to as they do the best job reporting the news, but it did seem rather fake, had the same thought, why did they start doing that? Sorry……………would have never made this comment had someone not brought it to Tara’s attention. I don’t think anyone is trying to be mean and I know that I personally could NOT report the news and keep any viewers. Sometimes criticism is meant to be positive and is a good thing.
Seriously….way too much time on his hands to be concerned about your hand movements. Poor guy!
MEM & shd is right. There is a lot of hand motion going on and I also noticed it, but if I get tired of watching it, I have an option and that is to pick up the remote. It’s like your trying to enhance the story your telling.
They are right, the tapes should be watched. It could be something you don’t even realize you do…but it is a little distracting & fake.
Just to clear the air (no pun intended)I don’t have too much time on my hands, it’s very noticed (the hand movements) and I’m not being mean like I’ve been accused of before on here, Tara shared the letter, and she wanted responses or she wouldn’t have shared it.
Re-read, it’s not a guy who wrote this. In it the person says: “my husband and I”.
Tara: I’m very concerned that KWWL News people are now talking with their mouths. What’s all this business of using your mouth to talk? All this mouth moving! I’m very concerned. I’m sure others share my concern. Is this talking with your mouth something new? Please watch a video of all of you talking with your mouths. I’m sure you’ll agree, it’s very very strange to be moving your mouth all the time while talking.
I would say that at least this person tried to say it in a nice way - nicer than some of them! While they teach in speach classes to keep you hands down - that is a hard habit to break - whether your are a news anchor or not! But I can say I never have noticed it.
Raading this post made me noticed what you had on last night. I loved the red top. It was very becoming for you! Could I borrow your fashion consultant!?
I notice that there is a hand motion PRO on KGAN who absolutely drives me nuts to watch, so I don’t. There are times when there is no reception for KWWL due to the new digital and I’m forced to watch a different channel. I thank “justathought” for backing up other’s thoughts on this issue. If I were a news person and someone told me a concern, I’d have to watch myself and see if it was an issue or not. Tara did share it and expected comments, good and bad. It’s not nice to criticize us for making them. We are only sharing our honest opinion on this issue.
Like right now……..9:22 am - no reception from KWWL, have to turn to another channel, sure is frustrating.
We’ve noticed the hands too after a friend brought it to my attention a long time ago. At the time she asked whether it was something the anchors were told to do to “make it more personal” or something. Gotta agree - it can be distracting. But glad my husband doesnt leave me because of all my little faults and distractions!
I’m a big hand-talker. I don’t notice you folks doing it myself, but now I’m sure I’ll always notice.
OK - I must be weird - - but I was thinking the other night HOW REFRESHING to not see you all sit there with your fingers touching together or placed so “properly” on the desk - and acting like human beings! What is with people who think they can critique a TV station. CHANGE THE CHANNEL I SAY, IF YOU DONT LIKE IT. No TV station reports the news more accuratly then KWWL. They WAIT for the facts and report them, they dont jump on to get a “bad scoop”. Honestly Tara, ignore e-mails like that!
I so agree with LuAnn…keep on moving Tara…at least we know you’re a real live person and not just some mannequin sitting at a desk! Some people can be such critics! She just made herself look foolish!
There is a difference in hand motions, when it looks like the person who is talking is going to reach out and shake your hand to make a point, that is what really looks fake, those are the hand motions that I have noticed lately. Think Tara is great and all the KWWL people, rarely watch any other channel and I live 90 miles south of Waterloo.
I did review some of the video’s and yes, you do see hands coming up and going down so on so forth. In one video Sunny (who I enjoy so much) even pointed! LOL! She was getting into the story! I’m not a perfectionist but it looks like your desk that you sit at, it’s too big and so you have lot’s of room to place your arms/hands. It’s like when your sitting at a table with friends and you get relaxed and it begins, the hand talking business. But your right shd, the hand shaking business, it happends a lot.
to John’s comment - LOL!!!!
First of all I have to agree with the person writing about the hand gestures. What bothered me about the post was the fact that you were laughing about an e-mail that was sent you by a viewer. In my opinion that was wrong of you.
Geez Mom, get over youself!!!! It WAS funny!!
KEEP ON WAVIN TO ALL YOUR FANS…THEN WAVE THE ONE FINGER TO ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT GRIPE ABOUT STUPID #@%&!!! LOL
TO JUDY, IT IS NOT FUNNY TO LAUGH AT OTHERS.
So many mature comments (NOT!)…maybe the cartoon channel would be more appropriate than the news.
go Tara…we love you
I have to agree. I am a 47-year old woman and the hand-gestures make me nuts:)
I watched the news last night. All I could do was stare at your hands (and Ron’s). AHH!
Wow, this was fantastic. Particularly the idea that it’s not funny to laugh at others. I’d have to kill myself if I didn’t have that little enjoyment out of life. I LIKE it when people laugh at me, there is rarely a moment I’m not purposely doing something stupid to make life a little more interesting. Lastly, I have to say I love JE’s comment about waving with one finger - ROFL.