Talk Stink

Long-time reader “Metrobanker” writes:

Thanks to your link to NBC San Diego, I watched a really long package Em did on Botox treatments. It was probably the lead story in San Diego, one of the great centers for plastic surgery.

The funny thing about this story is that you can tell that Em has been working on her “big girl voice.” If you’re one of the EmHeads that remember her first few months on KHON, you remember that her natural voice register is a bit high.

She needs to understand that when you’re trying to lower your voice register, the natural inclination is to dip your chin. On TV, it’s not very becoming and looks almost like she’s acting a part, not being a reporter.

It’s also obvious that she’s been given “SoCal TV Reporter” training. SoCal reporters have a very specific vocal intonation character, diction rate and tonality that NorCal reporters don’t have.

SoCal reporters, in my opinion, sound tightly wound and ready to yell at you to get your attention. (It figures that low-attention-span SoCals need the stimulation). In contrast, NorCal and Northwest reporters sound almost too laid-back in delivery.

All that said, she’s a quick study and looks like she has a long career - in Southern California. If she moves onto national news, she’ll have to unlearn that style she seems to have picked up.

If any of San Diego’s KNSD NBC 7/39 viewers would like to send us their Emily Chang sightings or comments we’d be interested in hearing from them.

NBC San Diego: Emily Chang
NBC San Diego: Video Feed Room (Crappy Windows Media format)