Take a look at this screenshot of an MMJ fronting a story on the set at Scripps-owned WKBW in Buffalo.

Notice anything?

I was watching this newscast with a friend, and at the exact same moment, we both pointed it out.

"Look at his collar," she said.

In that instant, neither of us was listening to a single word the Reporter was saying. We weren't consuming the news; we were fixated on the wardrobe malfunction.

It wasn’t that long ago that TV studios were staffed with a Floor Director and a person behind every camera. I have little doubt that a qualified Floor Director would have spotted that flipped collar and fixed it long before the tally light went red.

But, as companies continue to slice budgets to the bone, those "checks and balances" jobs are long gone.

Years ago, the Producer in the booth likely would have caught it on the monitor. But today, that Producer is asked to do the job of three people. They are likely too busy inserting lower-thirds, timing the show, and handling technical cues to notice a suit collar is askew.

You would also think the Anchor sitting next to him might have looked over and said, "Hey, fix your collar." But, I’m willing to bet that as the Reporter was getting set, the Anchor was heads-down, scrolling through social media on their phone.

This is the result when companies worry more about the bottom line than the product on the air. When you cut experienced staff, overload your Producers, and hire inexperienced talent, the quality suffers.

A messed-up collar is such a little thing. But in the end, it distracted entirely from the story being told.

Trust in local TV news is at an all-time low. It is the slightest things—looking sloppy or unprofessional—that chip away at what little credibility is left.

If the viewer thinks you can't even get dressed correctly, why should they trust you to get the facts right?

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