Hard news: two TV news magazines that matter

20/20 ABC’s news magazine ’20/20,’ took the ‘news’ out of news magazine last week with a trio of interviews more suited for MTV.

In an attempt to lure younger viewers, Barbara Walters took on Justin Timberlake last Monday night, the Osbournes last Wednesday night, and Brandy during the show’s regular Friday night timeslot. But ’20/20′ is straying too far from its in-depth news reports and too close to promoting pop culture at a time when much important news abounds.

Walters, though, regaled viewers with her usual line of unapologetically personal questions. At one point, she asked Justin whether Britney lived up to her past assertions of virginity. He looked straight at the camera and replied a sarcastic ‘sure.’ Walters laughed and said they had both done their jobs. Unfortunately, she didn’t make him cry.

Walters shares the spotlight with fellow co-anchor John Miller, who joined ’20/20′ in Jan. 2002, replacing the show’s veteran, Hugh Downs. For the most part, Miller’s only job seems to be introducing new segments of Walters’ interviews and provoking clever and predictable banter. ‘

’20/20′ is nothing without Walters, known for her ability to draw tears and squirms from even the toughest exteriors. An anchor on the show since 1984, and on its staff since the show’s inception in the late 1970s, Walters’ name alone gets the high profile interviews that ’20/20′ regularly highlights. ’20/20′ could be just another Barbara Walters Special; the top interview usually takes up the first half of the one hour show, and the rest is filled with a somewhat related, thought provoking and newsy exposÈ or two, and a short ‘Give Me A Break’ segment, an Andy Rooney-type complaint from the sometimes annoying and sometimes though-provoking John Stossel.

’20/20′ is not a boring news magazine. The interviews are insightful, if you like to get the scoop on celebrities’ lives. But recently, ’20/20′ has begun snubbing the hardcore news fan, instead resembling E!’s ‘True Hollywood Story’ and ‘Entertainment Tonight.’

As much as ’20/20′ tries to be young, the show’s format leaves much to be desired. The set looks old and boring and the lighting is fuzzy. Sometimes Walters looks younger and more in touch with her subjects, while at other times she seems more like an old busybody. Her questions are prying, but she asks what is on everyone’s mind, and that gives her credibility and likeability, if not to the interviewees, at least to the viewers.

’20/20′ continues to get interesting interviews with interesting people, which, if you think about it, is kind of a rare combination these days. It appeals to teenagers (with interviews like Timberlake’s) and middle-aged viewers alike, and that makes it a unique show that is not surprisingly still a strong member of the ABC news family. Best of all, it’s actually worth watching, even if only to see that pop princess cry.

Hold that thought, though. Perhaps the network decided to pull the plug on its youthful dabblings. Tomorrow’s ’20/20′ returns to its normal format in an exclusive interview with Al Gore and family. Fortunately, we have plans that night.

DATELINE NBC The most accessible of the TV newsmagazines, Dateline NBC features in-depth looks at the nations most tantalizing stories. From their Monica Lewinsky scandal coverage to more recent Sept. 11 stories, Dateline attempts to add human faces and feelings to the issues of the day. It has covered everything from Columbine to the OJ trial and Waco to the Oklahoma City bombing from a different perspective-in the words of those involved.

These types of stories are the headliners for Dateline. Occupying approximately 3/4 of the entire newscast, Dateline isn’t afraid to delve deep into a subject, which is primarily why the stories become so engaging. As they interview the murderer in jail and his victims’ families-tracing a path of destruction and taking a peek inside the head of a madman-you can hardly tear yourself away. It’s more addictive than Snood.

While interviewers on other newsmagazines, like Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes, sometimes come off as domineering and rude, Dateline correspondents ask probing and sometimes inflammatory questions, while still remaining non-threatening. With anchors like Jane Pauley and Stone Phillips, the faces of Dateline are easily recognizable.

It’s true that, at times, the sensationalism and drama can be a little much, and on some stories (conjoined twins coverage, for example) the whole broadcast just drips with sentimentality. However, the show balances itself by offering other, less serious segments in each broadcast.

Its regular entertainment sections include consumer-based investigations, celebrity interviews, and technology reviews. It’s somewhat famous for its frequent car crash tests, which question the validity of standard safety ratings for vehicles. It also has other consumer advocacy pieces like testing food quality standards (in meat-packing, for example)-often using hidden cameras to expose corruption and debauchery.

Celebrating its 10th season this year, Dateline is a relative newcomer to the newsmagazine front, adding modern style to a medium previously without. It isn’t known for the well-established stuffiness of 60 Minutes or the hard-hitting investigations of 20/20. Dateline’s place in the TV newsmagazine world is it’s depth-it’s human interest.

This approach has proved widely successful for the show. Dateline currently pulls in approximately 8.6 million viewers ages 18 to 49. With over a hundred total awards, it has won 3 Emmys in addition to several other prestigious journalism nods.

Although Dateline certainly wouldn’t provide a replacement for the local or national news programs, if depth on one subject is what you want, then Dateline would be the place to find it. Not only is NBC available on campus (often receiving the best reception), but Dateline’s format and youthful approach is most appealing to college students of all the newsmagazines available.