Is Change Better, Or Is It Better When Things Stay The Same?

[Mitchell]

This thread is not about me, but, with my life about to undergo a major change in a matter of a month or so.. I thought I would pose the question of whether change is good, or status quo.

I have posted before how I watch WPVI from Philadelphia every night. Their lead anchor, Jim Gardner, is going to be 64 years old in May, and has been with WPVI since 1976.

One might think: Well, okay, one anchor good enough to last thirty five years, but. you look down the list of PVI's staff.

Weekend anchor Rob Jennings has been with PVI since 1981. Weeknight weather girl Cecily Tynan since 1995. 5pm co anchors Rick Williams and Monica Malpass were hired together.. in 1988. Morning weather guy Dave Murphy, since 1990.

The only notable departures from PVI in the 13 years I've lived here. Weeknight sports anchor Gary Papa died of cancer in 2009, former weeknight weather guy Dave Roberts retired in 2009, after 31 years with the station. Weekend morning anchor Scott Palmer retired after a long time. Weekend morning acnhor Anita Brikman left for a weeknight anchor job in DC, as did reporter Michele Mccormack, who now has an anchor job in Milwaukee.

The same goes for some of the field reporters, who I wont list individually. All of them have been there for ten, twenty, thirty years.

As a history major.. I love the stability at WPVI. The staff's long tenures there say that they are good at their jobs, and that the viewers get connected with them.

So, the question I have is.. with me having lived in Lancaster in the same apartment for 13 years, and now facing a major change that may not be better, and with my watching a station for those thirteen years, where seemingly every reporter has been there.. forever.. or for decades.. is change better.. or is it better when things stay the same?

I will be interested to see the replies to this.

Mitch

 

[GQguy]

It all depends on how well things are working out. Change is good because it brings in new life, new ideas and the system, process, person can evolve. Evolution means adapting better to a new environment which in the ends leads to more happiness, mission accomplishment, profit ect. But sometime you've just got a good system in place and changing something would only mess things up. When it comes to an individuals life, the individual can best make that call. When it comes to the lives of a group, say an office, the boss with the vision can best say the next course of action for the group because some will embrace the change and others will not.

As a military leader we're trained as "change managers". We're expected to embrace change, see the benefits of the change(even if they're not readily apparent) and disseminate it down the chain. We have to see the light in all changes to keep unit cohesion.

So the answer is....."it depends on the change and who it's effecting". As for your TV station, I'm certain their ratings have steadily dropped over the past 10 years. Some new young anchors might be just what they need to bring in a new audience as their older aging audience goes away. Again, it all depends. Change is the way of life. No state last for ever. We're born, go through childhood, live on our own, get married, have kids, they live on their own then we die. While some phases are optional, there's no phase that last forever. This is life.

GQ

 

[TropicThunder]

Change is nature. Whether its good or bad is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[DontAskJusTckle]

This thread is not about me

I beg to differ, and here's why...

...with my life about to undergo a major change in a matter of a month or so...

...I have posted before how I watch WPVI from Philadelphia every night...

...As a history major.. I love the stability at WPVI...

...with me having lived in Lancaster in the same apartment for 13 years, and now facing a major change that may not be better, and with my watching a station for those thirteen years...

It seems like this is quite a bit about you, Mitchell.

As for change, sometimes it's necessary and sometimes it isn't. When it's necessary, the change can be good or bad, or both. When it's unnecessary, it's seldom good and far more often bad.

 

[Mitchell]

GQ, about the station... PVI has been the news ratings leader in Philly for over three decades, since Jim Gardner took over at the anchor desk in 1976. From the information I've read, no other station has even come close.

DAJT.. my point wasnt for the thread to be about me, but, as you always have to spin something negatively toward me.. your reply is not surprising.

Mitch

 

[General Zod]

Change is nature. Whether its good or bad is in the eye of the beholder.

Truer words were never said.
As a trucker,I have seen a lot of changes in the almost 16 years I have been doing this job. Some good.Some bad. All you can do is try to adapt to the changes you have no control over.

 

[Leo tickles]

Change is nature. Whether its good or bad is in the eye of the beholder.

Exactly. And DAJT is right, this thread is about you, Mitch.

 

[Jagermeistered]

I like GQ's response...

But -

Change is nature. Whether its good or bad is in the eye of the beholder.

This pretty much sums it up. Change can also be considered progressive or regressive. When change is forthcoming - I try my best to make it as positive and progressive as I possibly can. Of course, there might be some negative emotional undercurrents, but that usually diminishes in time.

 

[kopfhorer]

Changes which look promising can turn out to be not quite as advertised when they occur.

Change which looks (or even is) negative at least on the surface of it can actually end up in the plus column (e.g. losing a job, but eventually landing a better one which you never knew existed).

As for your favorite newscasters, I'll bet they can be watched online. Though I know how it is to leave behind a favorite TV station, restaurant, club, etc.

 

[Mitchell]

Whatever,. Leo. The thread discusses WPVI and how their anchors have been there for a long time. It isnt about me, but people can believe what they want.

kop, I'm not sure if whole newscasts can be watched online. From what I've seen, only clips can be watched.

 

[Marquis De Sade]

This is your life and it's ending one minute at a time.
May I never be complete.
May I never be content.
I say, evolve, and let the chips fall where they may.
Nothing is static, everything is evolving.
Everything is falling apart.