A longtime KGO-TV staffer called to scold me for posting the Tracey Watkowski story involving an Executive News Producer.
"She's great. She's a thorough professional, how could you?" I'm paraphrasing a bit, but the tone was there.
I told the news veteran, (I'm not going to name the person because they didn't want to go on the record), that indeed, I too, have heard that Watkowski has solid credentials, as she should. No argument there--only one problem: that wasn't the basis of the story.
What was the basis of the post was that I had received word of the outburst and those that told me about what had happened said it was out of the blue and "totally unprofessional." Their words, not mine.
And two independent sources besides the individual who actually saw what took place in the Channel 7 newsroom corroborated the account. One person I spoke to who works at the TV station hadn't heard anything out of the ordinary.
I called Watkowski and left a message asking for a comment. She called me on my cell and said she hadn't seen the story but would call back. She didn't comment. I'll leave the rest up to you and others.
Bottom line is that this wasn't a referendum on Watkowski's resume. She's obviously earned her stripes. No argument. That doesn't make her Mother Theresa either and a few people who work there were put off with her animated scolding of a colleague in front of everyone in the newsroom. I'm comfortable with the story.
FRIDAY NOTES: Now that the Wayne Shannon tragedy has made it to the net, maybe the albatross station and its cranky sports anchor who worked with Shannon will offer a few words, but I tend to doubt it...No, I haven't followed the 'Fernando and Greg' inner-workings, so sue me...KNBR: your station for 5000 Giants' promos daily...I hope KCSM has the means to make it...Kevin the Rat "clips of the day" is the only reason to listen to KGO News weekdays. Nice use of actuality, yes see, even when I rip, I cheer too...Meanwhile, KTVU's ridiculous "Thanks for trusting us" news ender is utterly condescending and not becoming of a place as vaunted as Channel 2 News, trust me...I like and admire Mike Krukow even more dept: his non-sports breakdown of whether Aubrey Huff "was ready" to come off the DL from one of the frat boys on Knibber Friday morning: Krukow, to his credit, deferred such talk. Depression is not a morning-drive topic worthy of frat boy territory...Meanwhile, over at the "Bay Area's only FM sports station", they keep tweeting way. We can tweet, sure, but we still don't have any ratings...Yo, Byrnesie? Just shut up.
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The Watkowski story was an absolutely valid item for this blog. It was factual and it spoke to the real concern among staffers who remember her cold behavior while she was Asst. ND. It's also good that today's complaint and response were published. The blog is not a newspaper column or a message board, but a reasonable amount of self-reflection and insight on the process of gathering and presenting information permits a unique openness and personal connection that is not possible in other media.
ReplyDeletewhen you are the boss.. it take leadership.. and discretion to do the best job possible so your staff can do theirs... in the old days we used to yell, scream.. curse.. what have you .. no one took it personally.. then go out for a beer afterwards.. next day start all over again.. but berating someone in public never works.. not then..not now.. undermines confidence in the staff and mores creates a lack of trust.. the first thing to undermine a leaders efforts.
ReplyDeleteby the way.. although late.. kron4 did run a short story with video on Wayne Shannon's passing... its even on facebook...
ReplyDeleteThis comment is not about this topic but about a post Rich had about a week or so ago RE: Gene Burns. Pat Thurston on facebook commented that she visited Gene Burns, he is improving, but still confuses some of his words - like saying 3 and holding up 4 fingers. Glad to hear he's improving, but it still sounds to me like he's a long way from returning to the air, if ever, when his thoughts and words are still confused, even if only sometimes. That may be a minor impediment in social visits, but not as a professional talker. Sometimes, damage from strokes is forever. It can improve but never disappear completely.
ReplyDeleteI think Gene will improve 100%. He's come so far already. And you have to know Gene Burns to really understand how he has come back so many times when most people would have given up.
DeleteAnd just to be completely accurate, this is what I posted after my visit with Gene and having delivered a hundred plus messages from well wishers, including Gil referenced in the first line:
We talked about YOU Mr. Gross. It was all good. His voice was strong ... some of his words were scrambled though. His spirits were high and he loved getting your messages. He smiled and laughed! And said he wanted more than anything to get back on the air. And he's working hard to do just that. At one point he said there were three of something and he held up four fingers - he looked at his fingers and nodded, so I'm pretty sure he didn't realize he said three. Stuff like that. As he got tired or spoke at length it was more pronounced. But shoot, after a friggin stroke - the guy was amazing.
Pat Thurston
Pat Thurston
DeleteThank you for you post. I miss and love Gene a lot. Not hearing his voice eveyday has really bum me out. He is a strong man. I am sure he will come back. And has been so nice of other people standing up for him. May he come back and it will be a happy day for me and other listeners.
Marie F. Mulhern
We can only hope for the best for Gene. I would point out there is a precedent for talk show hosts who have suffered aphasia after a stroke and returned to the air. Diane Rehm, heard on WAMU in Washington, DC resumed her talk career because she is so beloved and such a great talent. Hopefully Gene will get a chance to be back on the air in this medium we all love so much.
ReplyDeleteMel Baker
KGO News Producer
And Bob Woodward as well.
DeleteLet's hope that Gene will be back on the air soon at his new station.
I agree with you.
DeleteThank you Mel Baker for saying that.
DeleteEverytime someone at KTVU says "Thank you for trusting us," it immediatly reminds me of the Anchor Man tagline "Stay classy, San Diego."
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Krukow was told by Giants' brass to keep a lid on it. He's basically a shill and a phony. He ripped Huff on KNBR the Monday after
ReplyDeletehe neglected to cover second in New York. I was watching the game last year when Scott Cousins plowed into Posey. Krukow said it was a good, hard baseball play. Once they diagnosed Posey's injury, Krukow
totally changed his tune.
Generally, the more someone tells you to trust them, the less you really should.
ReplyDeleteKrukow,will allways plug anything giant,but he is a giant,he loves his job,and yeah it gets real old at 100 games,but we are lucky we have a good tv and radio crew,byrnes is looking for a gig,geeZ,the really annoying one is amy guiterez,she has to say stupid shit every inning,,the giants suck ,but they are my team,so I watch the torture.
ReplyDeleteWhy anyone would want to be a boss in today's media world is beyond me. It's not easy having to deal with GM's, Ceo's and marketing Managers who may know scads about economics, but have no clue as to what makes a good broadcaster.
ReplyDeleteImagine a baseball player having to take orders from a guy who thinks he or she is an expert at the game, but knows nothing about how the game is actually played because they actually never played any baseball above the little league level!
Yet this sort of thing happens throughout the media world. It's probably because very few people (except the sales force) want to get into management. The constant headaches and meetings and long hours pouring over numbers take a toll. The at some point, one has to figure out in a cold and clinical fashion, how to make those numbers fatter, usually at the expense of some poor schlubs who are working their tails off, meeting deadlines, preparing copy, or
going on the air live.
The traditional media business is a bitch...especially nowadays with the tighter budgets and the young people not paying much attention anymore. Advertising dollars are tight, the social media has become a major force, and people are getting their news in a different form than before.
So good luck to anyone who wants to get into traditional broadcasting today! You might get a lucky break, but unless you're terrifically talented and can really excel in sucking up to important management types effectively, you're not going to last more than a few years. You'll end up burning out or being forced out. Why do you think we see so much turnover on radio and in TV these days?
Even if you're talented, it's all about how well you suck up to someone to keep you employed
DeleteI know that fans who don't care for the Giants have a 'red-ass' for Mike Krukow, but the guy is flat out one of the best color analysts in the game today. He's enthusiastic, high energy, knows what he's talking about, and doesn't take everything sp seriously that he can't have lots of fun on the air.
ReplyDeleteSports announcing is a tough balancing act; it involves both entertainment and information, and Krukow does a fine job at both.
If you're not happy with him, listen to the guys in some other towns doing the games on TV, or better yet, go across the bay and listen to the guys doing the A's games on TV. No comparison.
Here's the inside story from a longtime ABC vet who worked with both of them at KGO.
ReplyDeleteBob G was a rising star at NBC before KGO. Popular with staff, perfect with advertisers, the local Rotary club etc. It soon became apparent he lacked technical skills, the "right stuff" to be a major market manager. That's why he got bounced from KNTV. He's better off in Reno.
Early on, Tracey W better known in her Philly days as "Trixie", had the "right stuff." That's why Disney fast tracked her to the West Coast for a two year training period before network nirvana. ( That's what she told me ) Problem is she failed. She's a screamer, and weak on the A list tour with advertisers, etc. She got the gig primarily because of former N.D. Kevin Keeshan, also on the ropes, fast tracking to his old Bakersfield assignment desk days.
ABC is still the best TV company to work for and very good. My guess is they'll look for a superstar like Joel Cheatwood because they have deep pockets and its a great gig. Sadly, whether its Trixie, or the likeable Bob G at the helm KGO ratings will keep droping.
We miss Gene! Godspeed to his recovery!!
ReplyDeleteKrukow? He's OK. The smart homer in the local pub who has played the game.
But really, he can't touch Vince Scully. And I'm a Giants fan.
At least KTVU and other stations have stopped the ridiculous Facebook-comments segments.
ReplyDelete