I like Wynton Marsalis. He’s an incredible player, and his whole family is extremely talented and have put in the hard work to be some of the world’s finest musicians. But this is another in a trend ( I hesitate to call it "disturbing") of networks , and some local stations, of hiring celebrities to front the news. I use the word "front" because that’s what they are doing-being the face of some producer’s story.

I have no doubt they’ll be interesting features, and Marsalis stuff will most likely be music focused. But if the story is what’s important, why can’t Average Joe/Susie reporter do it? Would it even get done without a famous face attached to it?

I have said before-if the look of an anchor was so important, why not hire actors, and just cast the part? Send out a casting call for middle age white guy, stunning late 20-early 30’s blonde, comedic weather guy and a black jock type. Ratings heaven.

CNN Headline tried it with Andrea Thompson of NYPD fame. Ratings bump lasted all of about 2 weeks. The amount of resources devoted to making her a success were immense. Less than a year later (6/2001-3/2002), the "spend more time with my family" press release was dusted off and faxed.

VH1 ran a promo a few years ago…’reality is much more interesting when it’s Celeb-reality". Reality shows, which started out with no name people, have now become vehicles for aging pop stars, B list actors, fading idols, and famous for God has no idea why people. Heavily manipulated and scripted, most networks would rather hear a show pitch if there is some sort of connection to someone famous for something.

Is this the future of news? Instead of working for years, toiling to learn a craft, you can’t get ahead because the local station (yes, in Atlanta) hired one of the "Real Housewives" to do feature spots? And yes, I know it’s only "feature spots"….yet the station acts as if the woman is out doing stories, when it’s a photog, producer and writer doing it. Which means there’s one less shooter covering news.

Jenna Bush, Chelsea Clinton, Wynton Marsalis…(at least CBS hired someone cool)….maybe Kim Kardashian is next? Joel McHale doing weather? How about getting that Bieber kid to do sports?

It’s actually kind of funny in a sad way….photogs are being told technology is making their job obsolete…yet these ‘reporters" will have a camera or 2, audio, producer and whatever other hangers on they want to have. Full crew for the celeb feature piece, OMB for the double homicide.Let’s get our priorities straight here.

"Hey just heard over the scanner there’s a red carpet event going on, get Khloe and a crew over there fast, get the chopper in the air, and be ready for a live hit at the top of the show. Probably do a live tease. Oh, hey Bob, that piece you spent a couple weeks of your own time one man banding and editing on the mayor stealing the city pension fund, that’ll have to be bumped again….might get it on in the morning show. Sorry, Khloe’s got a hot opening of a hair salon going"

So maybe it’s not just technology eliminating jobs. The cult of personality seems to be taking over more each day….and each day the "news" gets a little less new and a lot more "ews".