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I've talked a lot about Rita Williams, KTVU's tough-as-nails reporter, who retired, officially, from the Oakland Fox affiliate last week, after her announcement last June.
Here's a link to her interview with Mike MiBach.
Williams speaks, in her typical unassuming way, about the pratfalls of the business when a broadcast wag asked what she planned on doing "after you turn 40." Williams will turn 66 later this week.
She managed to shine in a business, in her heyday, dominated by white men. She was dogged and persistent, but fair. She was hard on politicians but managed to earn their respect by being firm and tenacious, but polite. Her tireless reporting and pursuit of the story, any story for that matter, was both admired and respected in an industry that has turned away from such passionate style.
Rita didn't have to have the label of "Investigative reporter"--she'd already earned her brand. It's going to be tough to watch the KTVU News without Williams' work on their airwaves.
We wish her a spirited retirement.
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Wow, can anyone think of a nicer, classier reporter in the Bay Area? I can't recall a negative word ever being said about her. In sports, Joe Montana comes close in this regard. She has a ton of goodwill saved up.
ReplyDeleteRita Williams is right at the top of the list of top-quality bay area TV reporters. I saw her at work from time to time in the field, and was always impressed by her interest in the stories, her insightful questions, and her pleasant, but no-nonsense demeanor.
ReplyDeleteA lot of the youngsters getting into broadcasting today could learn something from Rita, but most of them are not interested in being journalists...they just want attention any way they can get it, and they're not good enough to be on stage or in the movies!
But back to Rita; she's one of the big reasons why KTVU News has always been highly rated and well produced. With reporters like Rita covering the big stories in the field, anchors and producers had to feel pretty good as they went into each night's preparation.
Good luck in everything you do from here on in Rita! We thoroughly enjoyed your work!
Rita is a gem. As a young person in this business, I've always admired her work.
ReplyDeleteRita Williams is one of those rare people who, without an official managerial title, serve as the backbone of a successful operation (whether in news or any other corporate structure). She provided institutional knowledge, and served as a leader, and "conscience" of the newsroom, in an informal but very real way. Such people are irreplaceable.
ReplyDeleteI remember she was interviewed about some milestone a decade ago..and Rita said she had west Texas roots then went into a thick drawl-lol. I could never hear her the same way again..
ReplyDeleteAll over the bay area, evildoers are breathing a sigh of relief.
ReplyDeleteGreat line and great compliment! Bless you for my ear-to-ear smile of the day!
DeleteRita maybe the last worker at KTVU who can put in that many years. Management in almost all professions are not interested in keeping an employee year after year, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS; but not many. It is my understanding that Dennis Richmond would have stayed at KTVU but he wasn't asked.
ReplyDeleteGood luck Rita, enjoy yourself you have earned a good rest.
> It is my understanding that Dennis Richmond would have stayed
ReplyDelete> at KTVU but he wasn't asked.
Your understanding is wrong.
Actually @4:07 you are wrong. Dennis was "nudged" to the door. He told me! He would have stayed.
DeleteRita Williams is an all-time legend in Bay Area television news. She'll be missed and the group of reporters coming up behind her are not in her class.
ReplyDeleteRita...job well done! We the viewing public will miss you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful reporting career by a beautiful lady who deserves a beautiful getaway. I still wonder if after the interview, she may have cringed after talking to Mibach. (Can't miss the most caffenated colleagues, LOL!)
ReplyDeleteWhat a classy tribute to Rita, Rich! And also to (almost) all of the commenters to your post. Very refreshing--sometimes, the pundits are WRONG. We DO need good news! Not that Rita retiring is "good," it's just that she provided the Bay Area with decades of quality reporting.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rita.