Should local news acknowledge Windsor and Canada?

I have always thought that one of Detroit's greatest assets in the fact that it borders Canada. However, it is as if at times, we live in next to each other without fully integrating the two areas into a more shared identity. One thing I was thinking is that I think it would be great if local news would just merely acknowledge the 300,000 people living right next door to Detroit with some news about Windsor or Canada, even if a minute or so. For example, it was boxing day today in Canada. It would have been great to have said "and to our Canadian viewers, Happy Boxing Day."

I kind of feel that the more Detroit should take "ownership" of it's "Canadian side" as a way to make the region more international and dynamic. This is my opinion. I know there will be people who will staunchly reject that and say Detroit is independent and separate from Windsor and it does not need to integrate Canada within its identity. I think however, including more of Canada within Detroit's consciousness makes it even makes the city even richer and more distinct than other cities in the Midwest or this country for that matter.

Observing WDIV's new "4-Zone Forecasts" deals, they don't even include any part of Canada at all-but for some reason Flint is included even though Flint is in another TV market completely and the residents there are more likely to watch WEYI for NBC instead.

Speaking of one market's station "infringing" on another's, CBET simulcasts Toronto CBC's 11 PM newscasts on weeknights but at least the weather maps recognize the Windsor viewers by showing the temperatures for the Windsor area first before showing those for the GTA. Speaking of such deals, I heard other on another forum that Toledo's NBC affiliate, WNWO, will soon outsource it's news to a station out of South Bend, Indiana, kinda like how WMYD's newscasts were outsourced out-of-market before WXYZ took over those newscasts in 2014.

This is sorta like how WGN Chicago's 9 PM [[as in Central Time, not Eastern Time) news acknowledged the national WGN America audience before WGNA converted into yet another general-entertainment cable network by dropping all newscasts.

The occasional weather report likes to report the temperature here, then mention it's 10 degrees Celsius in Windsor, even though it's 10 degrees Celsius here, too.

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Originally Posted by Newdetroit

For example, it was boxing day today in Canada. It would have been great to have said "and to our Canadian viewers, Happy Boxing Day!

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Take the initiative, send everyone a card!

From a business perspective, there's probably more that could be done by Chambers of Commerce, political leaders, etc. to take advantage of the border but I'm not sure what goes on behind the scenes. As far as local media, that's more for local consumption and the border has become so entrenched since 911 that the tourism benefits to Windsor that existed back in the 70's & 80's are long gone. Windsor residents will continue to make the effort to cross for all those unique options Detroit offers.

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Originally Posted by mtburb

This is sorta like how WGN Chicago's 9 PM [[as in Central Time, not Eastern Time) news acknowledged the national WGN America audience before WGNA converted into yet another general-entertainment cable network by dropping all newscasts.

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I miss the noonhour [[1 pm for us) newscasts.

But as for reporting Windsor news, I would gather it's also due to budgetary and security reasons. It's what, nearly $10 roundtrip for a trip into Windsor? And what sort of news is happening in Windsor that we can't already get from CBC Windsor at 6?

Our 3 main stations already cover anything from Lansing to Ann Arbor to Monroe, so I'm sure the newspeople here have enough on their plates. People know about CBC so if they truly cared about learning about Windsor, they would go directly to the source.

I've heard some traffic reports mention the EC Row and 401, but definitely not daily, usually if it's something major.

I would be more than happy with a mixed format, as the one we have now is only 25% real news. Lets let Yellowknife have some local news for once. ooohkay?

And vice versa. Are there any threesomes in the Great White North we should know about? :p

Q...Should Local Media cover Windsor?

A...Yes

We know, however, that for-profit media is having trouble making profit. And selling into two different markets is more difficult. What Windsor business wants to buy an ad at rates that include coverage of 4 to 5 million people who don't visit their market. They can instead buy targeted ads to the 3-500,000 people in the Windsor market who do.

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Originally Posted by mtburb

WDIV's new "4-Zone Forecasts"

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The 4-Zone is very dumb. The weather throughout metro Detroit is generally the same within a few degrees. Instead of wasting time showing the "zones", just show us all the temperatures at once. It's much more efficient that way.

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Originally Posted by Wesley Mouch

Q...Should Local Media cover Windsor?

A...Yes

We know, however, that for-profit media is having trouble making profit.

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Thanks for my deep belly laugh of the month. That statement is hysterical. Still stuck pretty bad in 2009 there Wesley? Not sure we could pull ya out if we chained you to an aircraft carrier. There isn't an easier no brainer sector. You have to be deaf, blind and dumb to miss.

It wouldn't hurt having the temperatures in both Fahrenheit and Celsius and including some cities in Southern Ontario. A story or two regarding something major in Windsor or Canada wouldn't hurt. Local news comes on twice at 5 and 6 with the same stories, there is room to mention something. It just seems bizarre that you have to tune into two different news stations to hear about things just a couple miles across the river.

The entire Windsor-Essex region roughly the population of, say, Genessee County, Ingham County, or Washtenaw County. Given this, I don't see why it would be worthy of increased local coverage.

Why would the average Metro Detroiter particularly care about random goings-in in Leamington or wherever? And, putting aside the fact that it's a foreign country and it already has its own newscasts, it isn't like there's tremendous interplay across the river, outside of commerce/logistics.

Your average SE Michigan resident doesn't even have a passport; Windsor might as well be Timbuktu for most.

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Originally Posted by Bham1982

The entire Windsor-Essex region roughly the population of, say, Genessee County, Ingham County, or Washtenaw County. Given this, I don't see why it would be worthy of increased local coverage.

Why would the average Metro Detroiter particularly care about random goings-in in Leamington or wherever? And, putting aside the fact that it's a foreign country and it already has its own newscasts, it isn't like there's tremendous interplay across the river, outside of commerce/logistics.

Your average SE Michigan resident doesn't even have a passport; Windsor might as well be Timbuktu for most.

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What?! You're telling me people from Livonia were not caught up in the great ketchup war of 2016?

https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j...42059868,d.amc

windsoriteDOTca

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Originally Posted by Bham1982

The entire Windsor-Essex region roughly the population of, say, Genessee County, Ingham County, or Washtenaw County. Given this, I don't see why it would be worthy of increased local coverage.

Why would the average Metro Detroiter particularly care about random goings-in in Leamington or wherever? And, putting aside the fact that it's a foreign country and it already has its own newscasts, it isn't like there's tremendous interplay across the river, outside of commerce/logistics.

Your average SE Michigan resident doesn't even have a passport; Windsor might as well be Timbuktu for most.

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Good response 401don. One of our great and un-utilized assets is our status as an international border city, a feature that could benefit the marketing of all sides of the river divide. I've never understood why this hasn't been actively pursued. And speaking of 410don, it makes me curious how many know how important the 401 is to the international metropolitan economy.

My guess is that we take our situation for granted because our language and cultures are so similar. It's not like we speak different languages. Even our accents are as close as any two in the English language are.

We have also taken for granted our peace and forgotten a history where artillery fire was exchanged, armed invasions with death and mayhem by both sides occurred. And let's not forget the good history, like the Windsor Fire Department helping out Detroit in 1967. So maybe "No news is good news".

For my part I have gone out of my way to explore and learn Windsor and I encourage others to. Windsor is a great change of pace, has some very interesting mutual history and offers the grandest view of the Detroit skyline.

For a Primer on Windsor and our Border History:
Walkerville Times

For following Windsor News:
The Windsor Star
WindsoriteDOTca
CBC Windsor

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Originally Posted by Newdetroit

we live in next to each other without fully integrating the two areas into a more shared identity

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I love Windsor but I haven't stepped foot there in so long that it may as well be as far away as Mexico. I even dated a girl from there in the early 2000's but as the relationship fizzled so did my love of Windsor. Not because of the city it self but because of the issues at the boarder. The final straw was when I missed a dinner with friends in little Italy because I was held for 2 hours & my car was basically torn apart by boarder officers for no apparent reason. The constant harassment & fear of harassment made me stop going altogether & I haven't been there in 15 years & im not alone I know many people who stopped going for similar reasons. My point is that even though Windsor is just across the river, it doesn't feel like it's a part of the metro area because it's too difficult to go freely in out without any issues. I know they have a job to do & keeping both countries safe from potential threats is the most important issue in modern times but they don't have to be so rude & obnoxious about it. I used to miss Windsor but after awhile you just kind of forget about it. So no I don't think local news should treat Wndsor as en extension of our metro area, at least not until we our treated like neighbors not criminals.

Windsor is at least still popular with our 19 & 20 year olds, though I think it's still worth going after you hit 21. Plus, their casino is entirely non-smoking and gets performers that appeal to Detroiters [[or else they wouldn't have billboards on this side of the border). Perhaps best of all is their view of Detroit's skyline.

Yes. They could start by reporting that Windsor has four homicides in a bad year, hundreds here, but that would not get ratings, would it?

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Originally Posted by Bobl

Yes. They could start by reporting that Windsor has four homicides in a bad year, hundreds here, but that would not get ratings, would it?

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Oh C'mon , Windsor had that big story about the guy that swam across the Detroit River, saw the Search and Rescue going on, turned around, and swam all the way back. That made national headlines some place didn't it?

So the wife and I were over in Windsor to see a comedy show and went to a few local watering holes. It was very interesting in that most of the people that we spoke to had a great working knowledge of the metro Detroit area. I would speculate that most Americans would not have the same information about the Windsor area [[myself included). Would be nice for our news channels to pay some respect to a market that is close yet so far away.

I think there's a distinction to be made. One between adding coverage catering to Windsor viewers, on US stations; and adding coverage of Windsor/Ontario/Canada of value to Detoiters/Michiganders/Americans.

There isn't a lot to be gained for a typical US station in adding temps. in Celsius or reporting on highly niche, local Windsor stories. They won't attract many additional Ontario eyeballs or ad dollars.

However, there is a useful service in both meeting the needs of existing newscast viewers; and helping to develop a regional economy.

At the most basic level, how many young people in Detroit even know that Windsor has a University, or that they could likely attend it w/relatively little fuss, quite possibly at a cost below what they would pay at home, given current exchange rates?

This isn't a matter of advertising one institution at the expense of another, but of educating your viewership about their options, producing a possible benefit for them.

The same goes for any number of other targeted news items.

Toronto and Montreal are sharing the World Junior Hockey championships this year.

Could Windsor and Detroit do the same?

If passport uptake in the Detroit area hinders the local economy, what could be done to increase it?

There are lots of stories that could include Windsor or Canada to the benefit of those in Detroit or Southern Michigan.

It shouldn't be seen as catering to Canadians, but rather offering useful info to American viewers.

No. We spend enough time acknowledging New York already!! That's the consequence of being closest to the mid west yet east coast state as we are.

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Originally Posted by Zacha341

No. We spend enough time acknowledging New York already!! That's the consequence of being closest to the mid west yet east coast state as we are.

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What do you mean by this? When does the Michigan media cover NY matters and issues?

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Originally Posted by Zacha341

No. We spend enough time acknowledging New York already!! That's the consequence of being closest to the mid west yet east coast state as we are.

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I can't think of any particular instance where local Detroit news media covers NYC news, unless the news happens to be inherently national/global in scope.

And Detroit isn't that close to NYC. It's long, full, day's drive. A 10 hour drive, easily, even assuming no traffic in NJ [[an extremely dubious prospect). With tolls, food/bathroom breaks, and factoring in traffic in NJ and with the Hudson River crossings, I would assume around 12 hours.

Sorry all: I should made it been clear that I was being part 'tongue-in-cheek' referring to for example AM local news channels [[4 I think) when they break into the TODAY from Rockefeller Center segments with the their anchors replete of folks waving along Manhattan....:rolleyes:.... in the background.

I initially could not recall because I almost often turn off to resume local broadcasting on another channel. But sometimes the broadcast is cool as you get news beyond local.