What do you expect from radio news coverage?

Recent focus groups sponsored by the Radio Television Digital News Association (formerly the Radio and Television News Directors Association) revealed some interesting opinions. Among them:

1. Many people still believe all news — radio, TV and newspapers — is still too negative.

2. The public doesn't especially care for clever writing and content about things they already know. They want to know new things.

3. Some people search the Internet diligently for news and compare sources, seeking agreement on facts, so they can better decide what really happened. This is because people find inaccuracies and inconsistencies in some news reporting.

Radio has a reputation for being the first to report a breaking news story. However, when much of what goes on in the nation and world is so negative, spinning out something positive is all but impossible.

RADIO LEGEND DIES — Joe Lee, 88, a popular Utah radio newscaster, with a radio career than spanned more than 65 years, died Oct. 14.

With a deep voice, great articulation and a warm personality to match, he was a Utah radio version the likes of a Walter Cronkite.

Three weeks after starting his first news job in 1941, he announced the attack on Pearl Harbor. After serving in the Army Air Corps, he worked at KDYL, KNAK and KCPX.

After he retired as a newsman in 1987, he still did occasional commercials and his voice still graced the radio the week he passed away.

Two of his former DJ colleagues from the 1960s and 1970s posted comments on the obituary section of the Deseret News Web site regarding his passing.

"We have lost a gentle giant and a great friend," wrote Bob Barnett, now living Santa Clara, Calif. "I'm honored to say I worked with Joe at KNAK and KCPX. My deepest sympathy to the Lee family. A United Fence will always hold in great memories of a great friend!"

"I didn't think I would feel this kind of loss at Joe's passing," Lynn Lehmann of Salt Lake City wrote.

"It's been a difficult few days. I was honored to have Joe Lee report the news on my morning radio show at KCPX for 12 years. He made broadcasting much more fun than it had a right to be. His witty sense of humor, kindness and true professionalism had a huge effect on me and my career."