In the immediate aftermath of the firing of GM, Ron Longinotti, an air of part-bewilderment and shock has given way to the readiness and anticipation of the new boss at KPIX, (CBS5).
Sources close to the station tell me that the main reason Longinotti was shown the door had to do with dollars. (Surprise.)
One insider:
Longinotti was blown out because the station wasn't bringing in money. Cutting the news staff, going MMJ, (multi-media journalist--reporters shooting/editing work), and putting news photographers on the air as reporters killed KPIX's credibility and consequently the interest of viewers and advertisers. MMJ was Longinotti's idea for saving money; KPIX is the only O&O in the country to turn to this cheap system of news gathering. (Note: KGO, another owned-and-operated outlet employs MMJ).
Bruno Cohen, the new GM, a veteran TV exec begins his tenure on Wednesday-- (he'll also program the CBS station in Seattle)--I asked the insider about Cohen.
Bruno was part of the team that hired Kate Kelly and all of that talent at KPIX in the early 90's. He hired Matt Lauer (from an interviewer at WWOR) as a 5p anchor at WNBC. He has an eye for talent and he knows the Bay Area. He has solid credentials.
A potential shocker--something I have heard, but at this point doubt: The possibility of star anchor, Dana King, leaving:
Dana told me and one other person: "I'm trying to get out." She may have been blowing smoke and that may change with the new GM. I do know she was fed up with the changes at KPIX over the past 4-years.
Another fact to note on King. She is one of the highest-paid anchors, (reportedly $800K) at PIX, (and in the Bay Area for that matter) and also the union rep at the station. If she were to leave, that would surprise many.
On the status of ND, Dan Rosenheim, again, the key day, according to a source is Wednesday:
I think he needs to go, but I wouldn't be surprised if he stayed. Former co-workers noted that when KCBS/KCAL in LA changed GM's...a new News Director was introduced on the GM's 1st day. Rosenheim is a good newsman-- I doubt he was happy with the changes over the past 4-plus years, but he was being a good soldier.
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The KCBS/KCAL GM brought in his ND from DFW (wow, that's a lot of anagrams). As is usually the case. But this situation was a little different because CBS LA is a duopoly, and the biggest changes saw two major KCAL 9 (indie) personalities move over to CBS 2. 'PIX may look outside for what new talent might be wanted.
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect to Dana King and other high profile Bay Area Newscasters, I don't see how they can justify their salaries while their audience base disappears. My teen age kids watch zero television news. They get all their news on the Net.. I've watched TV news since I was twelve. It's a different world..
ReplyDeleteI don't believe it. Why would Dana,who they don't screw with,rock the boat with what she makes?
ReplyDeleteAnd Ken Bastida..whats the story there? Is he even working steady at KPIX?..And is paid top dollar? Great gig if you can get it.
You won't be able to get that kind of gig for much longer. Last of a dying breed for sure!
DeleteDana King Leaving? I'll miss her...like I'd miss a bad rash :(
ReplyDeletenothing lasts forever dana. I'll tell you 1 thing people don't like looking at gray haired ladies, on TV. Dana you're too good looking to let your hair go gray!
ReplyDeleteHoly Hashem! $800,000 a year, in this economy for reading a teleprompter!??! Where do I sign up? It can not last any longer can it? Like another poster said, younger folks do not watch local news today. The increasing advertisement on the news is embarrassing. The local news in Monterey County (hubby and wife team of Marc Cota Robles and Jasmine Viel) has a feature called: Fugitive Mondays in which they show local petty criminals and they ask for the public's assistance. Last night I realized the feature is brought to you by an alarm company and a recycling business. So sad!
ReplyDelete"Dana told me and one other person: 'I'm trying to get out.' She may have been blowing smoke and that may change with the new GM."
ReplyDeleteBLOWING SMOKE! Finally, an explanation as to why her delivery is so nasal. (Well, at $800k maybe now she can afford a sinusectomy.)
OK Rich, you're in the bidness, what's with the happy-puppy pose newsreaders are striking these days?
ReplyDeleteAll the dogs I've ever had always crossed their wrists when life was going their way. I notice most anchors are doing that same thing these days.
'sup with that? A pose mandated by mgmt, or are they really just happy pups?
Funny, everyone was ripping KRON a few years ago being the first to employ VJ's or video journalists. Truth is they were ahead of their time. PIX followed and now ABC 7. That's why 7 hired Jonathan Bloom. He can handle a camera as can Vern. Get it--it's today's local TV economics.
ReplyDeleteEdison Carter of Network 23 was a predictor of the Video Journalist.
DeleteMax Headroom: "Have you any idea how successful censorship is on TV?
Don't know the answer? Hmm...
Successful, isn't it?"
So Dana supposedly says "I'm trying to get out". What's so difficult? Just turn in a two week notice and hit the road? The much younger and much better looking Elizabeth Cook is in place to take your job at 25% of your salary, and does a fine job of reporting the news!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth does seem to be losing some of her Los Angeleseisms, such as 'Con-CORD' and 'THE 680'. Unfortunately there's not much she can do about the Betty Boop smile.
DeleteDan Rosenheim being a good soldier... He's a good newsman... WOW you don't know Dan at all. Ron is a victim of Dan's incompetence. THERE IS NO MANAGEMENT AT KPIX. Culture change is what is needed at KPIX. Changing out the GM is a start, but not changing out the News Director would make all of this a waste of time. Ron had to go so Dan could go... Period. If Dan Stays, KPIX will be a wasteland of the dead and dying... There are two groups at KPIX right now, those that are thrilled and happy this is happening( the majority of employees and staff), and those that are terrified that their lack of ability to manage has finally gotten out( ND, Assistant ND, ME, AM EP, PM EP, and what ever the hell Sandy Lee does.... I would love to be a fly on the wall of Cohen's office as the two groups line up to meet the new boss...
ReplyDelete800K....Dana go get a real job. You are reading a freaking teleprompter!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd now can we talk about the chirpy Dr Kim? I get the willies every time I imagine her talking like that to a patient.
ReplyDelete1:30 AM: Dan is not incompetent. Far from it. He truly is a good newsman and he remembers what good journalism was. However, he has made some bad choices in managers, so I agree with you in that regard. Most of the managers are nice people. It is the combination of evil character and inability to manage or get out of the way that marks a few of them as detrimental. Culture change is one of the things needed but almost impossible to achieve. The PIX culture is baked into the walls. It is so institutionalized, from work flow to tech specs and more, you would literally have to build a new place from the ground up with an entirely new staff who knew nothing of the way things were done before.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't blame Dana King for being fed up, KPIX is slowly going to the dogs like KRON and so many other TV and radio stations. Bean counters and nit-wits who have no love for the profession have taken over and are ruining it. It's a shame because the public is getting short-changed, stations are refusing to live up to their license requirements by not performing public service, (the FCC doesn't care!) and aspiring broadcasters are out of luck if they want to get into
ReplyDeleteon-air journalism. I guess that broadcasting journalism will go by the way of the dodo bird before too long! What's wrong with this country?!