Classy of KRON not to acknowledge the passing of one of its most noted broadcasters, commentator Wayne Shannon. Classy move again, Van Nessers, not surprising anymore, because, well, it's KRON. Nary a word on its air, nor a mention on its website. Typical.
**Speaking of Shannon, I wasn't a big fan but I admired the guy's writing. Particularly in a day and a time when the spoken word on TV and radio meant something. Hardly the case these days.
ADD Shannon: Sad too that the local press has largely ignored his passing. He wasn't a huge name, but he was a significant presence in the Bay Area in the 80's and 90's. Shannon also left his mark with political commentary at CNBC before going back to the northwest to live out the rest of his life.
It was obvious at the time Shannon had a significant weight problem. A staffer across town at KGO-TV told me he used to see Shannon scarfing down multiple double-cheeseburgers at the Van Ness Burger King.
Reportedly, at the end, with significant health issues, Shannon told friends that he would "live out the rest of my twilight life at home." UPDATE: Shannon's death has been ruled a suicide.
**The new "10 0'Clock News" is still one of the best newscasts in the Bay Area and a hallmark franchise for KTVU, but its new format--a cacophony of more stories, headlines, multiple teases and an annoying over-reliance of 'Blair-Witch-Project'-like camera angles has sullied a near-masterpiece local news program.
**The pack mentality once again at work: After May Day coverage of the Occupy incidents in both the city and Oakland, the local TV crews couldn't help themselves giving wanton, irresponsible "live reports" and the proverbial "team coverage" badge to 50-60-odd troublemakers, ( far from the thousands of peaceful demonstrators earlier in the day), who were nothing more than hooligans trying to wreak as much havoc and vandalism on areas of Downtown Oakland. They craved the attention and you gave it to them. Congratulations, guys and girls.
Sure, demonstrations and video of mayhem are a part of the story. It's unpleasant, but it's news. As in news, not a bunch of a-holes looking to cause problems and spray-paint local businesses. At that point, endless copter shots overhead only sensationalize a story, which in reality is NOT a story anymore. Really, a nuisance that's been given a lease on life with your aiding and abetting, newspeople and editors. It's called news judgement. Look it up every now and then.
**Follow me on Twitter
Rich ... while I've only been coming to the site for a short time, I'm definitely a convert and look forward to whatever new post you've put up each day. And, while I've always generally agreed with the topic of whatever you've written, I have to disagree with you a bit on the Occupy coverage. The rampaging damage, while a minority of the overall protesters, was newsworthy and deserving of significant coverage. But, even though you disagree with that point, isn't condemning the coverage as not being newsworthy just an example of you advocating for your own version of news judgment? It just seems a bit hypocritical to me to say that someone else's judgment, because it differed with yours, was somehow wrong.
ReplyDeleteThese hooligans should be shot on site.
DeleteThe worse. An Oakland Tribune writer referring to Broadway as Broadway Avenue. Instant turnoff from someone writing about Oakland who has no clue of where or what they are writing about.
ReplyDeleteAlso of note yesterday - during the afternoon drivetime news updates at 5pm, 1590 led off with the Seau story - two minutes later, on KNBR, the top of the hour news update was all Giants, all the time. Then, after reeling off the A's score and NBA playoff scores, the report wrapped up with the biggest news story of the day.
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge Giants fan, but KNBR pimping them nonstop, even when a much bigger story is going down, is ridiculous. Same with giving airtime to the Warriors - every time a Warriors-related segment pops up on the morning or afternoon shows, I immediately turn the channel.
"Read the room," KNBR.
Classy of KRON not to acknowledge the passing of one of its most noted broadcasters, commentator Wayne Shannon.
ReplyDeleteMOST NOTED BROADCASTERS???
He was interesting and idiosyncratic but hardly most noted!
I'm a bit surprised you say Judd Hambrick is a nice guy..His whole persona at KTVU was pure Ron Burgundy..that fat tie,the helmet hairdo,the stare..the deep voice. I mean,you know he and Richmond had who has bigger cocks battles. Dennis won..lol..
ReplyDeleteThe problem with local TV news is that much of the important news is not 'photogenic' enough for live reports or even taped reports.
ReplyDeleteLocal TV news depends more on 'quick hits' such as what we used to call 'fuz and wuz' (cops and dead bodies), or other modest, but sadly daily human tragedies that really are not THAT IMPORTANT, except to the small group of individuals who are effected.
The shootings at the Oikos University in Oakland was an exception to the rule as it merited headlines in both the print, internet, radio and TV mediums.
But it's amazing to me though that with all of the killings going on (the guy in the bunker up in Washington State, or the man who killed his family down in Arizona yesterday) that there isn't more outrage from citizens and legislators over the easy access to guns.
Our Congress and Senate are too scared to confront the gun lobby, and the growing number of 'survivalist' types that now live in this country continue to stockpile weapons for what they feeling will be the 'coming apocalypse.'
On another topic: 'Occupy' needs leadership and direction, and will never go anywhere except into chaos and frustration until they have a clear strategy. Look no further than to the Civil Rights, Environmental, Womens Rights, Anti-War and and Gay Rights movements of the 1960s and 70s and you see passionate, educated, organized people who kept thousands of followers and protesters in-line and on-point.
It's amazing to me how this 'Occupy Movement' hasn't drawn on the lessons of America's recent history for some of effective strategies that worked in earlier times to change America, and might work again.
Perhaps it's because the Occupy Movement has so many factions
(such as the destructive anarchists) who skew the public's vision of what the Movement is trying to accomplish.
And finally...
when you directly confront a power structure that is so embedded in our country's way of life and has been for over a century and a half, it's much more difficult.
Trying to gain equal individual rights or stop companies from polluting, or protesting in an effort to curtail a war are all somewhat less daunting tasks than what the Occcupy protesters are currently trying to do.
Most of us have had our 'heads in the sand' for so long during the
1980s and 90s because of all the relative prosperity, but this current system of government is so corrupt, I don't see it changing anytime soon.
The Supreme Court's recent ruling to allow corporations and unions to have have the same rights in political funding as individuals has created these awful SuperPacs, and look what we've now got.
Romney and Gingrich spent millions savaging each other in TV ads, and Obama is biding his time and waiting for his opportunities this summer and fall to nail Romney.
All Americans should be studying the issues that are tearing this country apart closely, because that's the duty of free citizens in a society that our forefathers created some 236 years ago.
However for most, we lazily look at TV news or campaign commercials (those of us who still vote!) and then we make our important decision. No wonder we're in such a mess!
You know, personally, I don't really have a problem with the Super PACs. I mean, isn't that kind of the basis of a free society ... that anyone can voice their opinion on any topic or candidate?
DeleteWhat I do have a problem with, however, is the fact that civil discourse is no longer allowed. I'm not talking about partisan politics in DC, that's always been there. I'm talking about the inability for people to disagree with one another without making things personal. If someone disagrees with me, I don't think that that makes their opinion somehow less important than mine. I respect that we have a difference of opinion and move on. That said, all too often, I've come across people that would think less of someone simply for not agreeing with whatever issue was being discussed. Unfortunately, it has gotten to the point where, if you have the temerity to disagree with one side or the other, you will be demonized, vilified and, on occasion, assaulted.
I just with we get back to the point where people on opposite sides of an issue can have a discussion and walk away without making things personal.
12:44 pm I agree with you point about lack of civility in civil discourse, but to a certain degree that's always been the case.
ReplyDeleteIt's just that now, EVERY THING...EVERY WORD SPOKEN...is recorded by people with cell phones and then goes viral on the internet...so naturally it appears that more people are taking personal shots at each other. The social media, and the traditional media love doing this...I know..I've worked in it for many years and watched with disgust as trash TV and radio and tabloid journalism have took over.
I guess you have to expect many Americans do not know
any better because how many hours of this crap does the average Joe or Jane watch or expose themselves to each week, (including what they get off the internet).
As far as SUPER PACS... when in the history of this country have corporations ever had this kind of monetary influence on our candidates, and in such a blatant fashion? It's true that in the
'gilded Age' or rather 'the age of shame,' ( the post civil war until the turn of the century), big business ran much of the
this country, with titans like JP Morgan, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jay Gould, Andrew Carnegie and Rockefeller holding sway.
Plus there is nothing written in our constitution that says anything about owners of big business being able to have the same rights as an individual. But the Supreme Court, which has occasionally made mistakes in the past (and I'm being generous here) recently made it a law, which should be and eventually will be overturned.
More importantly for now... The danger is that 'the Brand' (the name these companies like to give to their own media images) has become more important than the very people (and that even includes some of the higher-ups) who have helped to make that 'brand.'
And this is one of the biggest problems that we face today;
the power is no longer in the hands of "we the people," but the power is now in the hands of fewer and fewer individuals...specifically, the power is in the hands of a core of multi-billion dollar, and sometimes international companies.
And their main interest? Not their employees or the public...no...
Their goals:
MAKING LOTS OF MONEY FOR SHAREHOLDERS.
MAKING LOTS OF MONEY FOR CEOS, PRESIDENTS, VPS, ETC
PUTTING OUT A PRODUCT THAT MAY OR MAY BE OF GOOD QUALITY, IT DOESN'T MATTER AS LONG AS IT SELLS!
AND THAT KEEPS THE STOCK HIGH.
That's good for the very few...but not for the many...and America's strength has always been in its middle class.
BUT.. The middle class are no important in this discussion....they are being squeezed out and many are not only losing their chance at "American Dream,' but are experiencing
'An American nightmare, with home foreclosures, job losses, and companies that could care less about loyalty. Whatever happened to the longtime American dream of building a company from within, rewarding valued employees, and being an important part of the local community? Small and medium sized communities help to make this country stonger...the people from those towns fight in our wars and do the 9am to 5pm dirty work in jobs that many don't want so the rest of us can live in prosperity.
And don't get me wrong, I'm not some socialist-spouting
idealogue....but it's a simple fact that the few elites who run these big businesses have been, and will continue to scalp the rest of us by cutting people out, hiring kids for half the money and much lesser quality benefits (if any!) or worse; out sourcing jobs to other countries.
PACS? NOT!
Wayne Shannon..one of KRON's most noted broadcasters. According to whom? Very sorry he is gone, I enjoyed his commentaries but what makes him so special? When he left I wondered if he had alienated the wrong management people. Your late fifties and early 60s these days is awfully young to be "living out your twilight years." One wonders how much longer he might lived if he'd dealt with his weight issue.
ReplyDeleteWayne Shannon....Honesetly, I don't know how well they got along, but that should have been a three minute piece they gave to Radnich. Say what you want about him, but they did work together, and Radnich is the best true "broacaster" in the Bay Area when he wants to be. It could have been touching and humorous. A win/win.
ReplyDeleteI worked with Wayne at KRON: a kind, intelligent and funny man. He was noted because no one in this market, or any of the top 10 markets, did commentary in the manner he did. Like his style or not, he gave the KRON news department a personality, a hook, something to differentiate it from everyone else.
ReplyDeleteBTW, re: his weight issue, he DID deal with it: he had lost a significant amount of weight since he left television--so much that long-time colleagues from KRON who'd visit him were warned, "You probably won't recognize me!"
Until you know the man, and "walked a mile in HIS moccasins," please don't be so judgmental.
How long should the 10 O'Clock news follow the same format? Even with the changes the show is stuck in 1970.
ReplyDeleteNot only does KRON not acknowledge when somebody who worked there recently leaves, they're under ORDERS not to. There's no way they're going to bother to say anything about somebody who hasn't worked there in years. Really, management doesn't care about anybody who is CURRENTLY working there, unless they're having sex with them.
ReplyDelete@ 10:58 PM Thanks, finally an adult in the room. I bet many of the posters here throwing darts and harsh opinions on this man, would be found out to be fat, slovenly, pock marked, out of shape, irritable bowel syndrome, etc. Yet they love to play judge and jury on people like Mr Shannon. Shame on you. mr. Shannon: RIP Sir.
ReplyDelete