KGO-TV veteran General Assignment reporter and all-around good guy, Nick Smith resigned late last week, suddenly.
I'm told by an ABC7 source that Smith was turned down by management after requesting full-time status at the SF O and O. Smith has been a part-time contributor even though he'd been reporting at the station since 2006.
Smith is also an aspiring actor and appeared on a few notable ABC shows but his news reporting was generally first-rate and I'd be very surprised if Smith didn't turn up soon at a local or out-of-town station.
*Follow me on Twitter
As you wrote in an earlier post, I thought he was a very good field reporter.
ReplyDeleteThat's really too bad. He was a good reporter. Watching less and less local news.
ReplyDeleteReporting at the station for more than eight years and still a free-lancer? Yikes. Talk about commitment (from him) and the lack thereof (by the station)!
ReplyDeleteThat station is littered with people like Nick. They get ZERO respect from management. If they all upped an left one day, Circle 7 wouldn't get on the air. They're really treated like second-class citizens. 'Why stay?,' some may ask. Well, it beats unemployment and the money is good. A lot of Pride is swallowed at 900 Front Street. Good for Nick.
Delete> Reporting at the station for more than eight years and still a free-lancer?
Delete> Yikes.
Many people in prominent positions at various stations are freelancers, on both sides of the camera. Some have been there 20 years. I could name names, but I'm sworn to secrecy.
Of course, there are no freelancers in management, nor are there underpaid people. If you work in an office you're gold. If you work in the trenches, you're fodder. Welcome to 21st century America.
I saw and talked to Nick Smith on several occasions the past couple of years and Rich you're Absolutely Right--Nick is one Good Cool Dude. Considering KGO has 6 Newscasts between 4pm-11pm plus their 2 morning Newscasts you would think by now KGO would of Promoted a Excellent News Reporter like Nick to Full-time Status. Checking Nick's Link-In Page he has done both local and national shows plus several small acting roles. I rooting for Nick to quickly land back on TV.
ReplyDeleteWould of Promoted a Excellent News Reporter?
Deleteanon at 8:12 pm, not necessarily. The business model in broadcast now is all day hire. No benefits to pay, and more money to divvy up between the people in suits who have never created a thing in their lives, other than misery.
DeleteDo part-timers have non-competes?
ReplyDeleteNo, not really. Many freelancers freelance at multiple outlets, but they usually keeps those gigs close to the vest.
Delete6:18 - That's not true of on-air talent.
DeleteHe was a good part of KGO ABC7. I always felt he did a first rate job of reporting.
ReplyDeleteHe was the best field reporter in the Bay Area. I can't believe it. Channel 7 is a bunch of idiots.
ReplyDeleteThe future of TV news: Freelance one-man-band'ers.
ReplyDeleteTV stations will only have full-time on-air anchors; the rest will be free-lancers.
Look at J-schools all over the country: Enrollment is sky-high. J-schools are cranking out eager, technologically-smart grads...all looking "to be on tee-VEE."
Do you think the "aspiring actor" aspect of his resume sank his chances of becoming full-time?
ReplyDeleteHalf a job is better than no job. Had he have been a better actor, he could have acted his way to full time.
ReplyDelete