WZZM 13 Newsreader gets to play Tinkerbell.

Analysis:

This is a mid-length story about anchor Juliet Dragos visiting the set of the play Peter Pan during its run in Grand Rapids. The story highlights Juliet learning to “fly” just like actress Cathy Rigby, fulfilling what Dragos describes as a “lifelong dream”.

Lacking any real news content, this story serves as a form of self promotion. By focusing on the personality of the news anchor, the story serves to build a relationship between the audience and the anchor in order to create a sort of “brand loyalty” to Channel 13 News. Viewers should be aware of such marketing tactics in the news and ask themselves how this serves the public interest.

Story:

WZZM Newsreader- Peter Pan is soaring through Grand Rapids until the end of the week. Tony Award nominee and Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby stars as Peter Pan. And before hitting the stage tonight she gave me a few pointers on how to fly like Tinkerbell.

B-roll: This’ll go on like a backpack…

Cathy Rigby – It’s very physical, it’s not exactly gymnastics cause you’re…you’re limited in some of the things you can do, um, and it takes three of us to really make it work. It feels nice and snug, yes?

Newsreader – Yes, it feels very snug, hahaha!

Cathy Rigby – Just have fun and enjoy the ride and try to face the audience at all times. Dragos: Hahaha!

Randy Rees – These ropes here are the horizontal movement, move back and forth, and this is the rope that makes her go up and down.

Newsreader – I can’t imagine that this little thing is gonna hold me. Technician: It’s actually one sixteenth of an inch and it’s steel aircraft cable.

Rigby – Think lovely wonderful thoughts…

Newsreader – Weeeeeeeeee! This is soo much fun, I’ve always wanted to fly.

Rigby- Look at you, you’re a natural! Isn’t that great? Yah, get to the audience…

Paul Rubin – I’m actually probably pulling twice her weight, cause I’m pulling her against her momentum.

Newsreader – All my life I’ve always wanted to know what it was like to be like a bird, or like Mary Poppins, or like Peter Pan, or Tinkerbell, and just to be able to do it and feel that is such an exhilarating feeling.

Rigby – I thought you did a magnificent…I think she should get a 10.

Dragos – It was fabulous, exhilarating. Wonderful experience, thank you so much!

Newsreader – And you can see Peter Pan through Sunday at DeVos Performance Hall, tickets are on sale at the box office or through Ticketmaster.

Total Time: 1 minute, 45 seconds