The Anatomy of Getting Ripped Off; How the Mercury News and SFGate (Chronicle) Lifted My "Somerville Story"

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS, I'VE HAD A ROUTINE.

Every other day, I'd text Frank Somerville, the KTVU anchor who was suspended, and ask him what was going on. I'd inquire if there was any news about the situation at KTVU. He indicated several times that "nothing was new." Most every time, I'd tell him, "Frank, why don't you go on the record." And he'd always tell me no.

Until yesterday, (Tuesday) when I said his story was getting murky; that Fox/KTVU was letting him dangle away and maintain this sort of quagmire. He agreed and said, "yeah, OK, let's 'go on the record." This was on the phone. I told him to text me some quotes and he did so in a few minutes.

HERE'S THE STORY, check the time stamp. I was both stoked and excited because my hard work paid off. I managed to get Somerville to go on the record and I immediately tweeted out my get. (Again, notice the time stamp). I then feverishly wrote a story to make the blog and it immediately gained traction and the buzz was official: Frank had said he'd most likely done his last newscast on KTVU and that he was clearly frustrated over the entire matter.

It was 9: 37 in the morning which was important to me because that would mean the trades could pick up my exclu and most likely, I might get local reaction.

Then THIS APPEARED.

Only a few hours AFTER my original story posted, Martha Ross of the Mercury News wrote almost an identical story. What a coincidence. Yeah right. I re-read the entire story and Ross made NO MENTION of my story, the story I reported FIRST. I was stunned. I had the Exclu. I had contacted Frank and had the entire quote(s). Had Ross LIFTED my story and not credit me? Did she give me attribution and her editor simply remove my name? I didn't care because I was steamed and angry. I worked my ass off and I felt my hard work was being stolen.

Then I really began to become ENRAGED when I saw this. A story by Joshua Bote of SFGate that was a virtual duplicate my original story. Worse, Bote (or his editor) had the chutzpah to credit the Merc story. The earlier piece that STOLE my story that was already published on 415 Media hours before. Incredible. So it then made me fume. I was livid. Talk about needing a stiff drink.

I took to the internet and looked for more evidence. I suddenly realized that all I'd do was get more angry and nauseated so I turned off my computer and took a walk. I shook my head. Maybe I was naive but I thought to myself, what the hell happened to professionalism in this world. Was it too naive to expect common decency? How could two main news sites publish a story so obviously LIFTED from me.

Was it to naive to expect to see this disclaimer, "Reported First, by Rich Lieberman?", something that is usually placed in stories like this. But no. Boy am I a sucker.

I then saw this link from SFist. Jay Barmann, the editor who noted my story (albeit with a 'hound" remark) nevertheless, an ATTRIBUTION. It was the right thing to do. Too bad the Merc and SFGate didn't get the memo.

I contacted both the Chron (SFgate) and Merc editors to ask about all this and got no response. How shocking. (wink)

A Few Things; again, I WORK HARD to bring interestng, informative, unique and yes, sometimes, ORIGINAL content. It's not an ego thing it's more a desire to get more and more people to the blog. Which is why I PUSH and PUSH for my stories. Because it's for survival and doing my best and all so that when I get the scoop, maybe more subscriptions pour in; maybe the donations increase. That's how I roll. Every day. So yeah, when I'm RIPPED OFF, I get angry.

I RESISTED the urge not to write this post. I didn't want to bore you, the readers, over my own frantic situation and a situation involving a story about a local news anchor's future, but it had to get out. I hope you all continue to read 415 Media.

The Unmitigated Bullshit of SF Chronicle EIC, Audrey Cooper

SF Chronicle EIC, Audrey Cooper

In Today's SF Chronicle, EIC, Audrey Cooper, spouts some of the most hilarious bullshit this side of the Onion which is a shame because the subject matter is rather serious. Like freedom of the press; protection of sources; reporting the truth; even reporting that includes lurid details and politically inconvenient facts surrounding sympathetic figures; the case of video journalist, Bryan Carmody and the death of former Public Defender, Jeff Adachi.

Scandalous stuff.

In her article, Cooper seems to defend Carmody, begrudgingly, because he is a stringer; a news freelancer if you will. Never mind it was Carmody who obtained the police report on Adachi's death; the same report Cooper's paper had obtained and didn't bother to do any follow-up coverage which is curious because in the report we know there are several controversial and mysterious facts in it.

That it took a video blogger (something Cooper thinks is akin to crooked used car dealers in the south) to search for the truth speaks volumes about Cooper, her paper's lack of real reporting, and the idea of a region as big as the Bay Area and San Francisco lack of real, honest-to-goodness newspaper reporting.

For days, this blogger, (not a real journalist, according to Cooper) railed on and on about why such little coverage on Adachi's death? I even called Phil Matier, the Chron and KCBS "insider" why he hadn't written any more details about Adachi and the night he passed. Matier laughed.  And this, mind you, was before the Carmoody incident in which SF cops broke into his house and office. Maybe they wanted to know who leaked the report to Carmoody; maybe they were concerned about details in the report; details the Chronicle chose not to publish; why? Have you ever heard of the word, "soft?" Look it up.

Cooper is downright divine today (Wednesday) but for all the wrong reasons. Figure it out. She's hellbent on applauding the Chronicle's decision to keep quiet but at the same time defending Mr. Carmody. Fine, we agree. To a point.

Yet Cooper's piece is unintentionally hilarious because she seems to inadvertently say in so many words--"look, trust us more than this blogger guy because he's not really a valid newsman; be more skeptical of this guy; he doesn't have many sources; we at the Chronicle have the most sources in the Bay Area."

 I'm not quoting Cooper but I'm paraphrasing what she's saying, OK, maybe interpreting. You get my drift. I call it unmitigated bullshit. I have several other adjectives but I don't want to take away the emphasis of my point.


He is at the center of an American journalism story that has opened the forum for debate. He brought a new respect for bloggers. I applaud that notion even if Cooper and her serious cadre of journalists don't. Sure, maybe there was no story. I tend to doubt that because it's hard to imagine why some uniformed guys in blue used a sledgehammer to break into Carmody's house. They had to have a reason.

Seems sort of curious to me. But not the SF Chronicle and Madame Cooper. Maybe she should hire Carmody. But then again, he's not a real journalist.

Bizarre.

Sex, Lies and Videotape Create Rancor on KTVU's Prized '10 0'Clock News'; Anchors Distrust Each Other; Somerville at Center of Storm; Haener is 'Nosy'; Martin's Aloofness Growing; Ibanez Stays Away from Fray (For Now) Mysterious Texts Abound; 415 Media Exclusive

Frank Somerville and Julie Haener on set of "10 o'clock News"

KTVU's Vaunted Franchise, Its "10 O'clock News" is beset with anchors who don't trust one another; have contempt for one another; routinely question its partner's personal and in some cases, professional behavior; there's more. But despite all this rancor, the TEN O'CLOCK NEWS is still far and away the ratings winner in the Bay Area news wars and still garners industry admiration here and beyond.

That said, Fox-owned KTVU brass is "extremely worried" that the tension gripping its hallmark newscast could become an issue if those tensions worsen and become more pronounced.

415 Media knows the full, inside story; the story you won't get anywhere else but here and now:

*Frank Somerville, KTVU's veteran two-decade anchor is beset with personal problems galore; he's become aloof to the point where even his closest friends are worried about Frank's suddenly "erratic" behavior. Somerville is getting a divorce and has left his house and wife while dealing with that and an ongoing station matter which has rocked the newsroom and proved embarrassing for Somerville and his closest friends. Why the divorce? Only Somerville's wife knows but it isn't a very pretty picture across the board. It's also a lesson: no matter how much you insist your daily dalliances with a very attractive 30-something intern is strictly platonic, the perception is otherwise.

Somerville has a new flame. His wife has a high-priced divorce attorney. It could get ugly. It already has. Frank is moody and irritable. He's distanced himself from close confidants. He doesn't laugh much anymore and is "not the same Frank", a staffer tells me who knows him well.

Bill Martin (l) and friend, Janice Huff

*Julie Haener was always; still is; considered a quality news anchor and steady influence on the set but her growing influence has colleagues both weary of her personal chit-chat and royally pissed off that she spreads gossip and innuendo. While ON THE SET! Haener asked an anchor recently off-air was that individual talking to 415 Media. "No", said the person although Haener wouldn't stop badgering --only a break back to news from a commercial put an end to the actions of nosy Haener.

*415 Media has learned through a reliable station contact that weatherman, Bill Martin, is openly chastised by co-anchors off screen, why? Martin is now leaving the station habitually, mostly after the early-evening newscasts to head home to Lafayette to have dinner with family, hardly anything unusual but at the expense of his weather research needed for later shows? Yes, a problem.

*Veteran 40-year Sports anchor and Director, Mark Ibanez, gets static from the team because Ibanez tries to stay away from the fray. In fact, he's been teased by friends because he's largely immune from all the other's chaos, and make no mistake, it's chaos.

*A potential whammy: a series of potentially embarrassing and slightly salacious texts that were sent to the intern that were leaked out and viewed by 415 Media. The texts are mostly innocuous but they do contain, shall we say, "interesting forms of communication" that don't appear to be anything about TV News business. And now, mysteriously, they're gone. Maybe a self-inflicted wound? Guilty.

Haener nosy? 

While all this is taking place, newscasts somehow happen and it's business as usual at KTVU, for now. If you believe word on the street, or certainly through the 54-camera newsroom, watched by overruling and take-no-prisoner HR bosses, if there's a crack in the armor, then "all hell will break out." 

And we'll be watching.

#415 MEDIA EXCLUSIVE

The Pam Cook/KTVU Memo Gets Picked up By The Desk; A Quick State of 415 Media; Personal Reflection; Wednesday Wash Open; UPDATE

Matthew Keys from The Desk wrote a piece about the Pam Cook/KTVU memo that I highlighted.

You should read it.

The past few days have been sort of rough and sort of enlightening too. I'm happy, for the most part, that Keys took the time and wrote a nice and very accurate story that includes me and my site, 415 Media. It is well-written and factual and illustrates the mighty and powerful up against lesser foes. The good guys versus the bad guys. That may be stretching the point but I think you get my drift.

I don't have any axe to grind with Pam Cook in particular and KTVU in general. I find fault in some of their reporting and activity and I will call them out in response just as I will call anyone out. It's a facet of my blog that I'm mostly proud of. Because between the commentary and opinion; OK, occasionally making fun of people too; men and women journalists in our Bay Area media; there is a point and purpose here. You may or may have not noticed and I should keep you aware of what I deem important and in truth, the main reason I write this blog and ask for your support.

So much of what we consume as media purveyors is out and out decrepit and abysmal and we need to hold those responsible accountable. They have a very vast network to operate their electronic machinery; much of it they take for granted and seem to think the average viewer and listener is sheep and lemmings. I may be over-generalizing but it's true.  Some old-school journalists (and new-school too) do a good job and offer outstanding reportage and I'm there to applaud them but the vast majority, unfortunately, offer mediocre-at-best content and I will call them out too. As long as you allow me.

Which gets me back to Pam Cook and KTVU. Some of you surmised that Cook's memo, (which I obtained and published) was "great publicity" and "you couldn't have been more vindicated" by its subject matter.

Funny, because I didn't take it that way. Pam Cook has the right to rip me and insinuate that I'm deplorable, etc. And KTVU, bullies they are, has a right to go after me if they think I'm a threat to their brand, whatever that is today. At one time, it was gold standard news delivery, today, I don't know anymore, there's a lot of questions.

I don't claim to be one-hundred percent spotless; never have. This is a blog. I know its place and acknowledge its highlights and lowlights. There is no attempt here to either glorify or deify my existence on the web. It is what is is if I can borrow a cliché. Most of you who come here want and expect the content that you get and have been very supportive. Cool. That's why I'm here.

So as long as you continue to support me and this blog I will hopefully continue to have the will; both personally and professionally and with financial resources that you have supported my work, will be here, still, and read 415 Media. Even under the most difficult and arduous of circumstances.

Because in the end that's what this is all about. It's really that simple.

*NOW more than ever, I need your contributions and donations to fight back the tyrants doing anything in their power to take this site down and compromise its existence as a watchdog for Bay Area media consumers.

PLEASE, DONATE to 415 MEDIA now. 

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East Bay Times Reporter Pimps Bay Area News Group Subscription While Covering Carr Fire

Eastbay Times reporter, Alison Berg, did a little selling for her newspaper.

Hey, I know when I'm covering mass destruction, mayhem--seventh worst fire in CA history, the first thing I do is think about selling the old newspaper.

If this wasn't so serious it would be funny. Like seriously funny, giddy, OMFG! funny.

I'll hope Berg was instructed by some insensitive middle manager nitwit who has no concept of what is right and what is clearly wrong. It not only defaces the newspaper which is crappy already, it also makes Alison Berg look like a complete moron.

Can you imagine the people who lost loved ones in this ongoing tragedy? Think what their reaction would be if they saw this bullshit? Pathetic. 

Berg needs to get a reality check soon. Here's her e-mail address if you have any reaction: 

• aberg@bayareanewsgroup.com
 

Pam Cook Sends Out Memo to KTVU Staff on Me and I Respond

Pam Cook

PAM COOK, who knew KTVU had an official state spokesperson of what is deemed taste and what is not.

Madame Cook sent this memo out to staff  {Monday) morning.

Let's have you all see it and address things after...

Dear Colleagues,

I do not know who is feeding information to Rich Lieberman, but I do know that you are giving private, personal, and company information to someone who conducts himself in a deplorable manner.

He continually degrades women, asking his followers to rate female journalists in terms of their looks, and sexuality.

He tries to dig up dirt on all of us, and ‘reports’ his findings without concern about true facts, or care for how the information may affect someone’s personal or professional life.

It is cyber bullying.

Out of respect for our coworkers, and our profession, as journalists, we need to put an end to this.

I do not know, and cannot begin to understand, your reasons for giving information to someone who’s sole purpose is to exploit us, and undermine the professional work we do, every day.

It is important to bring up mistakes and problems in our workplace, but in a professional, productive manner.

I was raised to bring up problems.

But not to be part of the problem; be part of the solution.

Thank you,

Pam Cook

*Oh, Pam, the queen of etiquette...I Respond:

Pam, it wasn't me that screwed up placing Fake Chinese pilot's names on the air or not checking and re-checking their authenticity. YOU guys did it. You're a BIG, bad, TV station and you DEGRADED an entire Asian community, I DID NOT.

Pam, It's YOU GUYS that chose to publish one of literally THOUSANDS of pictures of Ms. Nia Wilson but you chose THAT ONE? Who is THAT AFFECTING now? Maybe the family of Ms. Wilson? Is that digging up dirt or does it just pertain to certain individuals and TV stations but the rest is fair game?

Pam, how am I "exploiting" you? You had no problem with this piece, how ironic.

By calling you guys out and attempting to place you accountable for your actions? Maybe having the audacity to respond, and to comment on some of your various cast of characters who are, in their own right, acting foolish on social media and displaying questionable judgement?  Did that cross your radar, Pam, or did you not get the memo? That's deplorable, Pam, if you ask me.

By commenting and questioning the activity of placing over 50 cameras in and around the KTVU building, was I being a "cyber bully" for being critical and questioning a practice I consider and believe to be concerns for employee privacy at KTVU?

Pam, you say you were "raised to bring up problems not 'be a part of problems--be a part of the solution'", eh?

Well, Pam, I'd suggest you, FIRST, take a look at your own house and observe your problems before you start looking at some bloggers' "problems."

And do a little practice what you preaching, Pam, because there's a whole lot more.

But thanks Pam, for the wonderful publicity and thanks for trusting me.

Internal Combustion at KTVU and KGO-TV; Current State Turbulence and Tumult; Plus Some Advice to New Circle7 GM, Tom Cibrowski; 415 Media Tuesday Open

TUMULT too. And loads and loads of pounding flesh ready to explode at any given moment.

Let's not beat around the bush--there's a big knot inside both KGO-TV and KTVU; more notably at KGO and KTVU to a lesser extent but trouble nonetheless.

LETS EXAMINE:

KTVU building and studios

KTVU's numbers are still very high, particularly in the morning and late night which would normally translate into a happy camp in Jack London Square. Not so. Since Fox took over in October, 2014, things have gradually gone to the dumper. There is a noticeable rift between management and the working staff; even the big shot anchors have become more tense and nervous as salaries have been slashed and a more leaner operation has been instituted. Sure, the Somerville salary (at $600K) is pretty good in today's new anchor compensation phase; too bad Somerville is not the happiest of folks around the newsroom--another story we'll get to one day.

The average salary has been lowered dramatically as viewer numbers dwindle; KTVU isn't the only station affected by that note as a new, younger, demo watches less and less of broadcast TV News and instead have flocked to their mobile devices and watched outlets that stream content. TV news in general has become sort of a lost tradition and the numbers are getting even more staggeringly low.

That said, KTVU has always been the market leader and still is but a growing number of its personnel are on edge and, as indicated in a previous column, have taken to going to work akin to having a root canal. "It's not fun here anymore," a longtime staffer told me via e-mail. That person, like all others spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared retaliation from management. Paranoia is a big issue at Channel 2 and will continue to be so as over 50 cameras watch the huddled masses.

KTVU has been hit by a massive number of anchors and reporters leaving the station, with Ken Wayne, the latest and most tenured news reader; Wayne is now as KRON making half of what he earned at Fox2 but it's a job and that's better than nothing. Nonetheless, Wayne's split left many folks unnerved and upset. It was a move strictly about the money; a move that won't rock the boat but indicative of people in suits who devalue long termers like Wayne.

ABC/KGO-TV Broadcast Center at 900 Front

KGO-TV GM Tom Cibrowski

*Speaking of bleeding talent, ABC7 (KGO) as I pointed out Monday is not a sea of tranquility and whose own in-house issues have turned a once-stable 900 Front edifice into a house of fire. Talk about tumult. And Her Highness has quite a jittery staff on her plate with even the most ardent fans of her reign (few if any) are having a hard time winning over staff fed up with people-less skills, growing dissatisfaction over roles and assignments and overall confusion. A good boss would gather the troops together and talk turkey but Her Highness hasn't a clue how to conduct basic business technique. Maybe that's why she still has the job of News Director because in this day and age, incompetence seems to be a commodity.

The new big boss, GM Tom Cibrowski, is still finding his place and ordering furniture for his office. His reputation is good but his first move pissed off a lot of people, including longtime reporter, Katie Marzullo, who asked to report part time so, among other things, she could spend more time with her young kids.

Cibrowski rebuffed her and said no. Instead of trying to work out a compromise with a popular reporter, Cibrowski held firm and subsequently, Marzullo quit. She'll be leaving in a couple of weeks. Good way to rally the troops in your first month on the job but that doesn't surprise me; it's just more of the same management doo-doo that rips apart worker morale and causes major friction like that in the KGO newsroom.

Here's my advice to Cibrowski as he meanders about the Embarcadero and orders the steak at Kokkari and drinks his second glass of the house cab, settle in and get down to business. Take Ashley to lunch and get out in front of the future contract negotiations and sign him to an extension, like today. You need stability and something to install confidence in the rank and file. That should be priority number one.

Don't stop there. Bring in some nice food and sodas for the staff and have a newsroom meeting. I'm not talking about your first "Hi, I'm Tom, nice to meet you meeting"; those are customary and par for the course, do something with a touch and have an air-it-all out meeting so everyone can get shit off their chest and vent. Now that's a way to rally the troops. First, you'll clear the air and second, they won't distrust you like they do now. And boy do they ever based on that first move with Marzullo.

Her Highness, Tracey Watkowski-Silva

Then maybe have a come-to-Jesus moment with Trixie; she's hated by almost the entire staff. I used to think it wasn't that bad and that some Circle7 staffers were being harsh and overblown but I've had people that I know and respect tell me that the woman is a control freak and lacks essential people skills. You, sir, want that in your newsroom?

Moreover, who exactly is in charge over there? If it's not you, sir, and TWS is the de facto boss, you got a problem. A BIG one.

She needs to be reigned in and fed a dose of how the Disney family is to be treated. Clearly, she didn't get the memo.

So, like Ashley, take her out to lunch at the Old Ship and over a couple of burgers and wine, ask her about why she has such a bad reputation and how she could change it--make life a little more harmonious for the staff, and in turn, for herself too. Think about it: if you have a dedicated news staff and the people are happy, then, darn, you just might have one helluva future Sweeps and boy how Mickey Mouse would love that!

Am I injecting too much common sense? Maybe, but I believe in the old, scientific method that, as my mother used to point out, "Treat people the way you want to be treated," right Tom?

I hope so but I'm not gonna hold my breath.

SF Chronicle Suspends Warriors' Beat Writer Over Apparent Copy-And-Paste 'Article'; Chron EIC: 'We Take This Matter Very Seriously'; KNBR Ignores Story

 There's some trouble at the Sports Department at the SF Chronicle.

Warriors' beat reporter, Rusty Simmons, has been suspended for apparently blogging a news story which was copy-and-pasted.

From CJR:

"Rusty Simmons wrote the piece after the Warriors issued a press release announcing their purchase of land from the tech company Salesforce in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood, where the team plans to build a new arena. The piece was posted to SFGate, the Chronicle’s website, on Monday morning, and stayed there until 5:45pm, when it was replaced by a much shorter version of the story. The new story had no byline and an editor’s note that read: “A previous version of this story was a lightly edited press release issued by the Golden State Warriors. The story is now written by a Chronicle staffer.”

Attempts to get reaction from Chronicle editor-in-chief, Audrey Cooper, were unsuccessful but Deadspin  managed to dig further and uncover some more disturbing elements to the story.

As expected the morning knuckleheads on KNBR didn't say a word about the Simmons suspension--I'm not surprised, as Simmons is a regular guest on the Bleeder--{also appearing on the Radnich-Krueger show}; this seems more on Chronicle management than on Simmons, who has covered the team since 2009.

Simmons told Deadspin that he can't talk now because of his suspension but said he'd talk afterward. My best guess is that someone is going to get the boom here --probably not Simmons--because as shaky as the Chron is, their new EIC is not very happy.

Bummer.




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Star Political Reporter, Carla Marinucci Leaving Chronicle To Join Politico

 Carla Marinucci, the star political reporter, is leaving the Chronicle and is headed to Politico.

Marinucci will write the "California Playbook" --essentially what she's been writing for the Chron, but now, the political media Internet heavyweight, Politico.

Marinucci leaves a void at the SF daily. Her state political reporting has been a mainstay in the Bay Area for over two decades.

This is the second big byline departure for the Chron--crime reporter, Henry Lee, recently left to become same for KTVU.

The Ray McDonald 49ers' Story Has Nothing To Do With Sports; That's Why They Still Call it the Toy Department; Thursday First Take

 Sports-Talk Radio Hosts should stay away from the Ray McDonald story.

This is NOT a sports story--it's a legal issue that involves an athlete who plays professional football for the 49ers.

Well, until now.

Too many times, sports pundits; the entire sports medium; has no business discussing legal issues because they have no idea what the hell they're talking about--worse yet, they interject sports into the legal arena and it sounds both out of place and foolish.

That's why they still say, in journalism, sports is the toy department.

Just yesterday on KNBR I heard a guy--can't remember who--say that McDonald seemed to be "playing better since his prior legal case wasn't brought forward since the DA had no evidence"--it sounded ridiculous because the host, clearly out of place and out of mind, tried to make a non-sports point. It was both inappropriate and stupid; furthermore, it trivialized what was, and is, very serious potential criminal charges against the player, but it has nothing to do with sports. Nothing.

Too many times, we see this play out on a daily basis --the only real element of the Ray McDonald story that makes sense from a sporting standpoint is how the 49ers dealt with it before and after--Lowell Cohn of the Press-Democrat breaks that down in a very good piece about the idea of "due process." Cohn spells out some legitimate questions--it's pretty much devoid of sports as it should be and is well written.

This issue is an across-the-board indictment--it's not just the sports-talk radio hosts; it involves the TV and radio guys too. I like what ESPN does; (and me complimenting ESPN is rare)--they hired Roger Cossack, a legal analyst who does a great job breaking down cases for the laymen public. It's not only informative and interesting--more importantly it provides the proper illustration without the use of sports dialogue. ESPN, to their credit, seems to get it. Others, unfortunately, are out of the loop.

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SFGate Again Unveils New Appearance Which Looks Crappy And Is A Pain In The Ass To Navigate; Thursday First Take

 Once again...and again...and again...SFGate has rolled out their new on-line website and once again, and again, navigating it and its assorted pages is tantamount to a hike up Mount Tam in your skivvies --who the hell is in charge over there? Are any of the Hearst executives aware the new format looks like shit and takes forever to finally get to your desired destination?

I give up.

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