Occupy Oakland. What a delight and dilemma for local TV. Lots of choppers in the air, cameras galore, multiple shots of the anarchists vandalizing City Hall, lovely for an otherwise slow news weekend, (at least it negates the onslaught of drought coverage which I now predict is coming since it's evident there's too much sun in late January).
The usual suspects at work: KGO-TV loves its helicopter. The KRON4 gushers were full of glee. Didn't see much of KPIX. Good weekend for KTVU to introduce its new news and weather set. Timing is everything.
Are you getting bored of this? KGO Radio, still basking in its "dominant" template of "all-news", (sure), managed to screw up a wet dream. Its magical correspondent, Kristan Haynes was doing a rather marginally-OK job of reporting the circus in Oakland and was simultaneously arrested--wait, ARRESTED!!
After thirty minutes of being detained Saturday night, Haynes was released. Why she was detained no one knows, something about improper credentials, (maybe the cops are pissed off about the new format too)--anyway, Haynes' pain was then, pathetically, pimped all over the 24th-ranked radio station for the next evening and day. A promo every hour on the hour. Haynes might as well have been the 30-something Evita. Maybe she could get a Sleeptrain mattress.
*John Madden, on his KCBS spot on Monday morning, dissed the Pro Bowl. "They're making a mockery of the game.", lamented a pissed-off Madden. And he was obviously pissed. I'll give Madden credit for not holding back and letting loose with describing that sham of a wrestling match that corroded the airwaves on Sunday.
*That's an inspiring spot Ronn Owens churned up for the all new "810". Owens' thirty-sec promo amounts to watching a POW read a prepared script that has all the warmth and sincerity of a Fremont Denny's.
*Red faces galore at KNTV and Comcast SportsNet Bay Area. Bad news: clueless producer makes obscene gesture while tonsil reports sports. Good news: viral video gets more viewers than Chronicle Live.
*Stacy Taylor and Christine Craft: Two small Picassos amidst a sea of the dogs playing poker variety.
*On the other hand, Comcast will have a slew of meetings. That's a must in corporate communications: MEETINGS.
*"Today on the CL 'Blitz: Dan Dribley, Ann Killion and Boofus Bluebird will riff on Henry Wofford viral video!"
*Dino Costa and Brandon Tierney: yo, 95.7 FM, then maybe I'll listen. Once.
*Follow me on Twitter
I totally agree about Stacy Taylor and Christine Craft. Diamonds in a sea of coal.
ReplyDeleteI normally agree with you, Rich, but I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss Kristen Hayne's arrest. We all know that if it was you, or any of us, we'd be broadcasting the news every minute to all who will listen. Haynes had the proper press credentials, and the OPD overreacted. They handled that very wrong and ended up looking bad themselves. I support the OPD but not in this instance.
Otherwise, keep up the good work.
KGO is milking the living hell out of this arrest.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I've watched some of the Occupy live streams. The people with the videos cameras pass intel to the protesters, then claim to be part of the press when stopped by the police.
The cops have good reason to be suspicious.
Ah Rich, you were almost being nice to us for 5 minutes and I guess you just couldn't stand yourself. What happened to Haines was "doing her job" etc? Ah well, so "I hate KGO predictable."
ReplyDeleteFYI.. Kristen presented her San Francisco PD press pass and was told it wasn't good enough because it wasn't issued by Oakland. Standard procedure for local police is to recognize each others press passes, especially if it's one large department to another. They then quickly backpedaled and apologized before dragging her off to be booked, but not before cuffing her and a Chronicle reporter.
You could have learned that if you actually listened to our coverage, but you were more interested in being upset because we used this incident in our promos.
By the way, how exactly is it wrong for local news departments, KTVU, KRON, ABC 7 to be covering the arrests of 400 people and vandalism of Oakland City Hall as a big story?
I found this bit unintelligible: Scuse me I'm just an old radio guy; I don't know who any of these people are or what any of those acronyms mean (sorry Rich):
ReplyDelete>>*"Today on the CL 'Blitz: Dan Dribley, Ann Killion and Boofus Bluebird will riff on Henry Wofford viral video!"<<
Huh? Care to translate??
The KGO promotional ads are odd. I listen to KNBR and the spots come on, and you assume for a moment that the people waxing the good graces are KGO listeners, and then they introduce themselves as hosts.
ReplyDeleteIts very self-serving, non-promotional and doesn't convince me anymore that I need to come back to KGO. I'm done with them for a good long time, and there are lots of other news sources anyway. Me worry? Nope. I'm a Bay Area guy listening to 94.7 the WAVE in Los Angeles on Internet syndication. Not talk radio, but at least their music is legit.
...til maybe Tricky Dickey buys it out anyway.
I also have to disagree on Haynes arrest and KGO coverage in general. Oakland police have long been heavy handed and this time the department ignored their own written policy. I think KGO did a good job covering the occupy story this weekend save Karel who is always AWFUL. Monte had Howard Jordan on and did a good job asking questions and allowing Jordan to answer, he followed that with a guy from Occupy Oakland and a ton of callers. outside of Karel KGO had a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteI've always liked Christine Craft, although I think she goes way overboard on dogs, and I was very impressed with Stacy Taylor. Glad you like him too.
ReplyDeleteP.S. The constant Haynes coverage drove me crazy.
ReplyDeleteWhen KGO reporter Kristan Haynes was arrested she was quoted as saying the following to the police:
ReplyDeleteDo you know who I am!
Arrest of KGO news reporter Kristan Haynes . . . trying desperately to get noticed.
ReplyDeleteRich, you are right about Stacey Taylor. He needs more air time, preferably on another station. KGO, I wouldn't work there if you paid me Ronn Owen's salary. I'd be popping Xanax all day long. Karel is a train wreck who needs some serious therapy and medication. Lastly, lay off the Fremont Denny's. It's the only refuge for those who stay up past 8pm on Friday nights.
ReplyDeleteOh, is that what happened on KGO? Because I don't listen anymore. I stopped when.....well, you know when. Good to hear Stacy Taylor is still on though. I liked him.
ReplyDelete