Today, after a series of debacles --the biggest of which involved the Asiana fake pilot's names read on the air, KTVU is a station in crisis. New reporters almost every day; the big ones still left being pushed my management to leave.
How bad is it when your News Director and Managing Editor of a once-storied operation are tweeting about American Idol?
Richmond wasn't perfect by any means but was respected and revered by KTVU staffers. He didn't get along with a lot of people and he often clashed, quietly, with fellow anchors. But he remained the face of the station and was credited with making and establishing KTVU as a news powerhouse. Especially at 10 O'clock.
Here's a story I told not so long ago: Richmond was ready to call it quits back in '08 and enjoy retirement and a steady game of golf. He had lingering health issues but was mostly fit and active.
I asked a prominent Channel 2 air personality if the station had asked Richmond to stay another year or so because he looked and sounded at the top of his game would he do so. The answer was yes. Emphatically yes. Only Richmond wasn't asked and in fact, encouraged to split. Let that marinate in your mindset.
I have both praised, admired and scolded KTVU since Richmond's retirement. Clearly it is not the same company. Sure, change is a constant in life and business but that should not have dramatically rearranged the furniture at 2 Jack London Square. It did.
I have been consistent. I was the FIRST to praise Channel 2 for its smooth transition post-Richmond into Frank Somerville anchoring the ship. I lauded Somerville as a quality lead anchor with solid credentials and news savvy. I was the FIRST to recognize Frank and Channel 2 for its immediate and tremendous coverage of the Asiana crash direct from the scene of the tragedy and eight hours of non-stop reporting.
I wasn't the one who wrote a press release about the coverage the Monday after.
I was not the one who read the fake names of the pilots on board that plane.
And today, I'm not the one who blasts out mind-numbing "BREAKING NEWS" silos every five minutes of NON-BREAKING NEWS. (Yeah, everybody does it here and around the nation, but 2's over-over-over is beyond embarrassing).
It would help that KTVU have a team of management that staff would respect and heed advice only the big boys who run KTVU are a bunch of low-rank amateurs. The GM has the people skills of a diseased cat. The News Director, Wonder Boy, is lampooned and satirized. At least Special Ed knew how to read the room. He knew what he was and what he wasn't. Wonder Boy thinks he Willie Mays but he's really Wally Pipp.
I didn't write the Monday Press Release. He did.
2008 was a long time ago but at least the anchors were not thanking viewers for trusting us. Reporters weren't coming and going. People weren't reading fake pilot's names on a teleprompter and tweeting out American Idol sweet nothings.
BREAKING NEWS: KTVU is the not the same KTVU.
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Rich, your constant KTVU bashing is repetitive and not gaining any traction. Starting to sound like a personal obsession. No, I don't work for KTVU.
ReplyDeleteThe KTVU morning anchors should be required to take some broadcasting "refresher" courses in how to read the news.
ReplyDeleteSeveral weeks ago the Morning News irritated me so much that I ended up writing them, referencing the lost quality of their product. A car in the water off, WELL OFF, the Candlestick Causeway. Lead item on each news block that morning. Kept coming back to it. No injuries, not obstructing traffic (the sight of the news van OTOH...) I know for a fact the accident report would take 3 pages, of which two were names and check boxes. To use a word the right wing is trying to usurp, there was no "proportionality". On top of all that, they never mentioned that the car was still running while half submerged in the water-the only unique aspect of the incident. I told them that the focus of the news being put on such a trivial matter leads me to mistrust their news judgement. Never heard back, naturally.
ReplyDeleteI remember when they would start the 10 PM news the announcer would say "the most watched prime time local newscast in the country" or something to that effect. Obviously times have changed just a bit.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, all roads lead to Asiana crash coverage...I'm sure Rich can show us how it's still a hot, oft-discussed topic all around the world...zzzzzzz
ReplyDeleteWhi Fuk Two?
No one under 70 watches local news ... It's a dying business model. KTVU is slowly but surely circling the drain along with all the others. I get my local news from facebook and twitter.
ReplyDeleteBusiness is no longer interested in keeping an employee for forty years and giving a gold watch at retirement. The longer an employee stays with a business the more it cost to keep them on the payroll. The commercial broadcast business follows that same model.
ReplyDeleteI agree Rich. Your constant bashing is so redundant. You're like the bitchy wife who never forgives. Damn at least be objective when you are grading newscast and talent.
ReplyDelete