Cheryl Hurd Lights Up Sunday Morning on NBC Bay Area; McSweeney Assist; Anne Makovec Mulls PIX Dissing; Jobina Fortson Gets LA Love; Does ABC7 Feel the Same?; Somerville "Project" with Gasia; Julie Haener is (Again) Pissed; Fonzi Set to Replace KTVU's Mark Ibanez; Rothmann's Love Affair with Woeful Jan Wahl Hurts KGO Radio; Monday Mash

MONDAY MASH

Cheryl Hurd was a welcome Sunday AM fill-in anchor, with Terry McSweeney, on NBC Bay Area.

Hurd lit up the screen with her outstanding persona and dynamic news presence--McSweeney provided his usual steady delivery and brought forth a Sunday calm. But it was Hurd who stole the show. I hope this is a more permanent move because Hurd certainly has the chops to work on the anchor desk.

*Anne Makovec continues to be passed over at PIX; she's as good as ever on the morning radar (which no one watches) but would like an evening, primetime gig--on the desk, but so far, CBS-SF has rebuffed her. It's been that way for years now and word on the street is Makovec is looking for a new home.

*Pissing off Makovec further: some schmuck from Vegas, Darrin Reed Cowan (clever) is on his way to PIX --they seem to be throwing shit all over the wall hoping something will stick. This latest gem seems more like a Sin city carnival barker than a legit news guy. Call me crazy, I'm ASTOUNDED, KPIX can't find common ground and actually run a TV News station. It's mind-boggling. Now they've resorted to bringing in morons like this doofus. Yeah, that'll get 'em four more viewers.

*Jobina Fortson has been mulling offers from stations in LA looking for an up and comer like the current morning KGO-TV anchor (ABC7)--Fortson has always got my attention when she's on but Circle7 seems content to just keep her confined to the AM news platform. I see her as network material but she occasionally goes off the grid and that's trouble. But overall, I'm a Jobina believer. I hope she stays at KGO.

*KTVU staffers didn't know (I did) that while they were schmoozing aacross the lot at the condo parking area, a certain night guy, el Franko, and his buddy, Gasia Mikaelian, were giggling and exchanging sweet sensations, and just creating a hoot. It was common knowledge, especially near the assignment editor's desk, that when Somerville show up in the morning, that he really wasn't, uh, "working on some project", yeah, the project was Gasia. Humn.

*KTVU, 2022 going forward: Some-TING-Wong --eternally.

*I called a prominent, current KTVU boss last week and we were so cute. They were shocked I actually called (and got through)--inquiring a comment about a central figure. Yeah, even bloggers try to ask for comment.

*ADD KTVU: she won't admit it, she's not that way and doesn't want to rock the boat but Julie Haener is quietly resigned and royally PISSED off over her bud's (Mark Ibanez) imminent departure from the desk. Haener was the last Somerville holdout (she defended him until the DUI arrest)--having seen how Ibanez was told to "retire" and now feeling (Frank's) firing, Haener has once again been feeling the effect of The Firm's ways and means.She also, in a few weeks, will work the desk with a revolving set of anchors and new, (sort of) sports anchor, Joe Fonzi.

*Speaking of Fonzi (Joe), I've never warmed to Joe and his robotic delivery, but I acknowledge he's lasted pretty long in the Bay Area and I guess there's something to that-- anyway, congrats to Joe. I guess.

*KGO Radio has been, once again, resorting to that age-old bullshit, lifestyle crap--abandoning news-talk and real news for its crapfest shit like Facebook trivia, kids stuff, etc. --it still doesn't register and it continues to KILL KGO but they don't know it. Maybe its time for its latest Cumulus bean counter to study the market and go back to his meat and potatoes, as opposed to hiring San Diego-based morons who don't know any originality.

*John Rothmann doesn't understand that while he may just love Jan Wahl, the Bay Area has no love for her. And you know what? Women, John, especially can't stand her which is why KCBS, KRON, and everyone under the moon, fired her. Rothmann obviously didn't get the memo.

*Mike MibacH: oh, just leave him alone, because, damn, he's still, PISSED!

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.

Year End Developments and Major Decisions Affecting Bay Area Media; 2019 Ripe With Intrigue; 2020 Could Spell Doom For TV/Radio Playors

*At KQED, both TV and radio, the party is over. The mass-spending free-for-all, is coming to an end largely because KQED is being forced to downsize as its revenue is sharply reduced. Member donations are down and corporate support, waning. KQED still makes tons of money and the goldmine is still there, but the oversight people in the finance offices are beginning to audit more religiously--put two and two together. Maybe they won't send anymore coffee mugs to subscribers--in which case, you could...never mind.

*Will KGO Radio be maintained as its latest iteration as news-talk beacon  by Cumulus? It's an election year which means healthy revenue by political ads and talk zeitgeist but significant revenue streams may not mean much. Cumulus, according to well-founded rumors, might be seriously inclined to sell its SF area 810 AM, 50K-watt, clear-channel behemoth --2020 could be another key time element in KGO's future.

*KRON has stagnated --its corporate owner, Nextstar, flailing away in economic turmoil, makes for more KRON mismanagement at the base of the new year. KRON doesn't believe in rearranging the furniture. It's been the same old story year in, year out. It's still very painful to watch the K-TEL-like news reports; the shuffling of anchors no matter how awful; the incompetence inside the alleged news director and his silly maneuvering; the god-awful news direction and presentation. At some point, KRON has to be sold and/or leveraged by an owner/corporation that will invest in a Top-10 market with a thirst for news and less amateur hour by the lawn-furniture style of KRON's present-day status.

*Will KGO and its Disney coffers sign Gary Radnich, late of LRON and KNBR? If the money is close, yes, they should and more importantly, could. Radnich isn't what he was twenty years ago but he's better than Circle7's talent now. Moreover, he would add immediate buzz to an operation owned by the Star Wars franchise. There's a connection. One BIG thing too on the KGO docket: signing veteran and staple anchor, Dan Ashley to a well-deserved extension --it's going to happen--just a matter of when, not if.

*The future of Ken Bastida at KPIX. Bastida has been rumored to be one of CBS' first major anchors to be told to take a hike, (with a significant salary cut) --the latest is Bastida wants to stay through 2020 but CBS might want to leave and retire right away. Ultimately, they make the call.

*Enjoy your core-4 KTVU "10 O'clock News" vets, Frank Somerville, Julie Haener, Bill Martin, Mark Ibanez--all 4 have existing contracts for 2020 but 2021 spells the end for the group as FOX begins its major decision to trim, severely, high-cost anchor talent. Quite simply, FOX thinks it can spend a lot less on local talent even if it involves some of its most successful O and O's and that includes the Bay Area.


*The Chronicle has Hearst money which means it ain't going anywhere anytime soon but its print edition, (like other print newspapers) is bleeding red ink. And the Chron isn't in NY Times status meaning it can't forever lose money and just continue to publish. Its digital operation is making dough but not enough to pay for paper. Paging a local Amazon guy like Jeff Bezos (who owns the Washington Post) but those are hard to find

*A significant moneyed player, (like a tech giant) is thought to want to buy the local Spanish TV players, (like a SF Telemundo) --the Bay Area's Hispanic language audience is large and very prosperous --but it's only a rumor.

*KNBR has its cash cow, the Giants in a lean, lean, lean, mode. Last year, the radio content (and TV/Cable too) lost significant advertising money because the home team sucked--like its sucked for the past three-plus years. Which means KNBR has been reducing its Giants' mega-bullhorn of pre, post, and actual games. Baseball used to be their bread and butter --now it's become its home for the halfway hose. KNBR is lucky to have the 49ers which essentially pays the continuing banality called the KNBR Morning Show.

The Latest on KGO Morning Diva Natasha Zouves; Recovering from Hair Mousse Fall and Contemplating Legal Action Against KGO/Disney; Castro MIA Probably $-Related; Deanno Talks at KPIX Still On-Going; He Wants More Dough; Darya Folsom Still Embarrassing KRON; Papa Will Make Adjustment to New Niners Gig; Rothmann/Owens Spiral Down at KGO Radio; Hot Rumor: 'Toonces, The Driving Cat' New PD? Friday Feast

Natasha Zouves

I WAS THE FIRST to tell you what went down with Natasha Zouves at KGO-TV. She's been home recovering from her hair goo slippage and planning a return to her Southern California roots. She's still on the mend and playing footsy about her status.

I e-mailed her and asked what was happening (giving her a chance to formally respond) and she said virtually nothing. I expected that. Remember, she might not be ready for primetime. Furthermore, she's no favorite in the newsroom either.

Here's another whammy: while she's essentially gone from KGO she has pondered a worker's comp suit against Circle7 and ABC; that would complicate her next gig in LA but don't rule out anything.

CASTRO MIA BUT...

Meanwhile, Jessica Castro, who's been filling in for Zouves has not been on the air since January 10 and no one at KGO seems to know why.

Jessica Castro

I have a source who speculates that Castro is pissed off at her paltry salary compensation (low six figures) and placement in the KGO morning presence. Castro can pout all she wants; she doesn't have any leverage and she knew full well that Disney (which owns ABC) doesn't pay their 4th-tier anchors any decent money. So too Zouves which might explain why she's considering suing the company.

DEANNO TALKS CONTINUE

My report about KPIX wanting to try weather guy, Paul Deanno in a hybrid news/weather gig is still in talks stage but if that venture would to emerge, Deanno wants to be paid more money. It figures that CBS would take care of Deanno if he performed both as a news anchor and weather talent. Especially if that were to include his presence in the evening.

Brian Hackney does the same job but on the weekend and doesn't get any added money. Then again, Hackney is way down the totem pole at PIX working on the cheap and has been downgraded for years. He might be viewed as bright and engaging but he's a virtual retread at 855 Battery.

Paul Deanno

Deanno is seen as an emerging presence on news; if that's the case (and I agree) then why not just 86 him from weather and make him a full-time anchor on news alone. Which seems to be what Deanno might be inferring --here's a rumor: Deanno replaces the forever bitter-beer-face-looking, Alan Martin.

*IT HAS BEEN SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN, but bears repeating every so often: Darya Folsom continues to EMBARRASS KRON. Sure, KRON has a lot to be embarrassed about but Folsom's continuing circus show in the morning is a sad ass spectacle; she has no shame; she doesn't give a damn about what almost everyone else thinks and she KILLS whatever credibility KRON has by her BS presence on its morning news.

Darya Folsom performing journalism on KRON morning

If KRON brass thinks she helps the ratings, they're sadly mistaken. She's in actuality a detriment to the operation and nobody looks at her anymore nor takes her seriously. She's a nothing; a nobody and her boobs have been a non-story for years. The only BOOB that thinks she still got it is her boyfriend/slave master/schophant, Aaron Pero, the News Director that keeps  job because he possesses state secrets and has compromising pictures in a local bank safe. I'm joking on the latter but who knows.

THIS AND THAT

*New 49ers PBP broadcaster, Greg Papa, is great on radio and I like his 95.7FM 'The Game' takes, but it's questionable he'll stay on that show once football season starts; I can't imagine The Game allowing a rival (KNBR) talent on their air but it's just a guess.

Greg Papa

An analysis on Papa doing 49ers: the professional and talented Papa will make the adjustment to broadcasting Niners' football and easy one. Over the years, I've been critical of Papa but I've never questioned his broadcast ability and football acumen. He's damn good. His pivot to the 49ers from twenty years with the Raiders will be unusual and jarring at first but eventually people will get used to his play-by-play. Probably more an adjustment for Niners' fans then Raiders' rooters.

*Speaking of the Raiders while the world awaits their home (before Vegas) next year, where will they be on radio? Hardly a word. They will NOT be on KCBS that's for sure.

*Internal issues galore and a plethora of turmoil inside their respective newsrooms: KTVU and KGO-TV.

*If and when KGO Radio has a new/latest 2019 iteration, both John Rothmann and hanger-on, Ronn Owens will not have any role. Owens has been drifting away on the horrifically awful, "Ronn Owens Report" and Rothmann, whose stock has continued a steady spiral downward has been told he'll have no position there, only as a perpetual fill-in, if at all.

Meanwhile, a HOT RUMOR!! New KGO Radio PD? Hard to believe but word on the street is the PD will be Toonces, The Driving Cat! Wow, now that's some extraordinary depth by the fearless kitty!

Toonces the Driving Cat

KTVU Fox2 '10 o'Clock News' Early 2019 Playbook

I'LL SAY THIS: DO NOT TRUST THEM AS THEY USED TO SAY, "Trust us."

It's a BS word, trust. They should never be trusted in the first place.

Never.

They used to be the gold standard in Bay Area TV News. It's a different world, I know, but they no longer carry the sword. They are a lot of talk with very little swagger. They've been reduced to everyone else and they happen to be in first still in a marginalized business in a marginalized town, is KTVU News. They still have very, very good people--on the air, that is--and they do good things but they have severe case of egotitus and mass carelessness, to wit:

*Frank Somerville: so, you're getting a divorce. It happens. Don't freak out, Frank. You're human. The news is not unsettling at least in the public. It would have leaked out anyway and besides, it's no big deal anymore even if you think it is. The only issue now is to get on with your life and read the news and quit worrying about the repercussions. There are none. You're a mostly good guy, Frank. A few personal peccadillos doesn't define you.  Keep on keeping on, Count Somerville.

*Julie Haener: Jules, why have I always been suspicious about you? For a time I thought you were a hard worker and honest journalist. Was it working with Dennis Richmond all those years? Oh, don't get me wrong, Dennis was good and for a time, cool, but he obviously had an effect on you and it took its toll. So Julie, the outside sheen is simply an act. Deep down you're as occasionally mean as all the rest of us civilians. Don't take yourself so seriously and just carry on the task of reading the teleprompter. By the way, unlike Dennis, have you ever gone out in the field? Ever? 

*Bill Martin: I have a ton of respect for you, Bill. You may think I've taken cheap shots but Bill, you know I was spot on. You seem to have taken off some time of late. The weathercasts seem disjointed and broken. All in all, you still got it, Bill, but there's no crispness anymore and a few of your cohorts seem bored. They are not alone. You need to tighten it up and become a lot more fresh. It's not that difficult.

*Mark Ibanez: Wow, have times changed. Mark, you used to be a total breath of fresh air. You wrote the best three minutes of sports in the whole market. You were the STAR! The real deal. The punch, the spirit, the salute, the gravitas. Now Mark, it all comes out. Don't be phony Mark. You know what a phony is? A phony is a person who does/says one thing; does another; has an image as a good guy and all-around cool person. But then behind the scenes is 100 percent the opposite. Mark, you have 40 years in the company and you still are the man, it's just that your star has faded quite a bit in the end and I'm the only one who knows. Mark, it's 4th down and 10 from the 10 and you have one last play. Don't screw it up and by god, don't text in the play.

*415 Media

To Be Continued

The Official Disintegration of KTVU

I REMEMER KTVU when it had a soul. A pulse. A beat. An incredible part of the community.

Not any longer.

KTVU has become a benign, soulless, less-than-ordinary TV News station with very little direction and institutional incompetence; a once-proud news operation that has slithered beyond hope and inspiration. You can see it in the eyes of its staff; there's a very vivid malign of people who used to care and give a shit which is now been turned into a home for chaos and no sense of direction. And that's the good news.

KTVU has lost its grip. And I'm not even mentioning the Asiana debacle in 2013 or the equally pathetic and embarrassing Nia Wilson picture of 2018. Of course those stand out and they should. It's pretty difficult to have one clusterfuck --KTVU managed to have two in five years.

No, I'm talking about the people on the air and the people behind the scenes; the bulk of these folks are miserable. They don't like going to work. They frown when entering the premises wondering what's next on the horizon. KTVU is about to debut a new set (which is why you see a lot of anchors reporting from the newsroom) but a new set can't create spark and energy for a staff saddled with morale issues and intensification of action by "The Firm." The Firm is the industry code of present day FOX and its management of its owned and operated (O and O) TV stations. They are run by fear and intimidation. They loathe human interaction and abhor employees who aren't thrilled with working conditions that harbor deep resentment but dare not say anything negative or you're likely to be liquidated (figuratively speaking) to the outskirts of hell. I'm being extreme but I'm right.

Used to be KTVU (under its old corporate owner, Cox Media) was a gold-standard station with a heralded news reputation with solid anchors and reporters in the field that knew their territory and had tremendous vision. They were smart and solid and not only great at their gig but invigorating to watch and learn quite a bit. This was evident most solidly on "The 10' O'clock News", which used to be the most respected and admired, singular newscast in not only the Bay Area but around the nation.

Now the 10 PM news is a load of spam and lemon jello. It no longer has any relevance nor supreme being. It's just an ordinary newscast with insipid anchors and vanilla reporters with about a hundred thousand weather teases and anchors asking fake questions and looking and sounding the quislings they've become.

Frank Somerville is out front and passionate but Frank seems to be sort of driven by artificial emotion. It's not a knock on him it's just the facts. Take a look at him. He's sort of just plain out there. If his real passion were sincere and genuine he'd be more than just a guy in a great suit and look and ask real, legitimate questions and not the Ron Burgundy variety presently on screen.

Julie Haener used to be a dedicated, friendly, smart, news reader who seemed confident and relaxed. She's no longer warm and fuzzy on the air which would be OK if she weren't too a conniving, gossip monger who likes to stir up shit off the air. How do I know? Trust me, I do.

Bill Martin was once clever and original and made his weather reports interesting and informative. His ad-libbing was point perfect and forecasts usually on the spot. No longer. Martin seems to mumble now, quite a bit in fact. If this sounds harsh it is and I'm trying to be diplomatic but watching Martin now is the equivalent of a double root canal. If Martin were to emit one, tangible thought on the 300, 000 weather reports he does nightly on KTVU's news platforms, call me, I'd be enlightened because I haven't seen anything close. Bill seems lost in the fog.

I used to love Mark Ibanez on sports. The best writer in the market and a sports anchor that could make even non-sports fans interested in sports. But that great enthusiasm has been tempered with flat-out arrogance and self-importance. There's no passion anymore and less sincerity. What once was a genuinely interesting man who cared and was your best friend has turned into an insufferable lout with all the heart and soul of month-old rye bread.

Reporters come and go. The good ones, mostly, have either retired or just took off; there's hardly any veterans left. Tom Vacar is old and boring, uninspired too. Rob Roth used to be decisive and effective in his understated manner but seems to be just hanging on until they tell him to leave. Amber Lee is so much of a lightweight I can't imagine how she's lasted this long.

I'm not going to drone on about the morning on KTVU because you already know if you read me how much of a disaster its become. If you like superficiality and vanity disguised as news presentation then watch Channel 2 in the morning and gyrate to the human windbag known as Gasia Mikaelian and brute force banality named Dave Clark. Gravitate to a once charming Sal Castaneda who's ego and smarminess is self evident. Observe the warmth and creativity of Claudine Wong who last giggled in the latter years of the Clinton administration. Yeah, I'm generalizing but you get my drift. Oh, did I leave out my biggest fan, the ego maniac Broom Hilda with about as much inspiration as a rotten kumquat, Countess Pam Cook? I should know better.

KTVU will tell you they still rule the ratings. They do, in certain time slots including morning and late evening. Fine.

They won't tell you how many diminishing viewers they have. Nobody watches TV News anymore anyway except media bloggers and retired bridge players but so what, someone still has to make a living.

It would be nice if KTVU were to go back in time and produce a half-decent newscast with people that were excited and dedicated to their craft.

I won't hold my breath on that last one.

Neither should you.

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. 

TO CONTRIBUTE: Scroll down the right side of blog to the Pay Pal "donate" button and click on it and follow the prompters. It takes less than a minute; it's 100 percent safe and secure and it's completely confidential. You don't have to have a Pay Pal account to contribute and I will personally call and e-mail you thanking you for your donation.


  

Jessica Aguirre Still as Graceful As Ever on NBC Bay Area Despite Her Lame Duck Status; Veteran Bay Area Anchor Lights Up Newscast; Classy and Elegant; 415 Media Friday Notice

Jessica Aguirre

IT CONFOUNDS ME STILL...I regard Jessica Aguirre as a classy, smart, news anchor with star status; that's saying a lot, I gather that, but when I watch her anchor the news on NBC Bay Area (KNTV) she adds a lot of allure to the newscast and her style, even from her KGO days, is something very refined and elegant. Unique too; in today's biz, that's saying a lot.

Which only further makes it maddening that the suits in San Jose have not extended Aguirre who is working without a contract (since March) A lame duck.

Aguirre is still mighty, mighty on the air and the contract (or lack of one) certainly hasn't affected her news reading. She's still dynamic and she can still light up the screen.

I mean that respectfully in every sense of the word because inevitably I'll be accused by some as being a male chauvinist pig because I have the audacity of saying how beautiful it is to watch an anchor like Aguirre.

OK, so sue me.

Aguirre has a huge following, particularly women of the PTA crowd and her feedback is mostly all positive. She is supposedly fretting the lack of commitment from NBC in San Jose; why is that guys? Is it because of her age? Jess is 55. That's considered "old" in the TV News business but only for women; men seem immune to that situation; gees I wonder why.

55 was old about twenty years ago; today, it might as well be 35. Different era.

I would hope that KNTV would do the right thing and extend Jessica Aguirre another few years at least (with a mutual option) because I believe she's still got it. A lot of it too. And not just her news acumen but a whole lot more.

And I believe I'm not alone in that assessment.

Friday Evening Point Counter-Point

  Make your point about Bay Area Media--TV/Radio. If I disagree I'll counter. Simple enough.


Oh, enjoy the weekend too.




















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Taking Off The Gloves Soon

 OH, and boy do I have a laundry list.


Everyone included.


*Developing...










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Ask Rich Lieberman 415 Media

I'll be answering your Bay Area TV/Radio Media Questions for a limited time today --you may also ask a question on my Twitter account.

It Must Be Time To Ask Rich Lieberman

YOU have so many questions and I have all the answers on Bay Area TV/Radio/Internet --so it must be time to Ask Rich Lieberman.


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Finally

 At least there's finally a reason to say these things, oh, maybe 500 times today, give or take a few hundred:

1. Live Team Coverage

2. Anchor to weather person: "Every bit helps."

3. "This won't help us in the long run but we really need the rain."

4. "Don't forget to bring your chains if you're heading up to the Sierra." (No shit)

5. "Let's go to the storm desk."

Finally, the all-time topper to commuters: "Folks, give yourself extra plenty of time..." Thanks, I was going to leave at the last minute and head down 880 to the Santa Cruz Mountains and have my tea.

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