Reporter Uniform

Higglytown Heroes is an animated, morning kid’s show on the Disney Channel. Each episode has the kids need and meet some professional person to solve a problem. They’ve needed and met an engineer, a bus driver, a police officer, a mechanic, a librarian, etc. They’re each called “heroes” for their jobs, and it’s a good way to introduce kids to different professions, and the variety of things people do.

The other morning, the kids had a minor mystery to solve: a story was circulating about town that aliens had landed in the local diner—who had started this story, and why? The kids got the help of a reporter. The reporter investigated the story and learned that the tale was the result of a series of misunderstandings and miscommunications. All was made well and good.

But the interesting thing I noticed was that the reporter wore a three-piece suit, a tie, and a hat. He had a “PRESS” pass stuck in the band of his hat. I’ve seen this stereotypical look before, in many other shows over the years. But seeing it in a kid’s TV show made a concept really stand out: when is the last time a reporter actually dressed like that, and kept his press pass in the band of his hat? Didn’t that look for reporters go out in the 1960s? Heck, didn’t that look go out for everyone about the time we got color TVs? A full-brimmed hat with a band?

In the last twenty years or so, the only reporters I’ve seen wearing so much as a tie are those working the federal government beat or sitting at the anchor desk. Three-piece suit? Hat? Haven’t seen them even on Capital Hill. And press passes are now badges either clipped to their shirt or hanging from a cord around their neck.

It just really struck me how odd that look is now a days. No one under 20 years old would recognize that look as specifically a reporter. And definitely no kid watching Higglytown Heroes would recognize that look as anything.

Poor reporters; they’re stuck in a stereotypical look that went out of style forty years ago.

Bullgrit
bullgrit@totalbullgrit.com