Loooooongtime Motown Reporter to Retire

WXYZ reporter Cheryl Chodun started at the station in 1978 is news writer.

In late July she is going to retire from the station.  

After the News Writer gig, Chodun left the station for 10 years to work in radio. 1988 she came back to WXYZ as a Reporter and has been at the station ever since. 

“This has been an amazing career,” Chodun said in a statement. “I feel as passionate now about what we do as I did the day I started.”

WXYZ has lost a number of veteran reporters in the last few years, including Mary Conway last year and Bill Proctor in May.

MSNBC Anchor: It was a Stupid, Inexcusable Mistake

Last night on MSNBC's 'All In' with Chris Hayes they were comparing and his actions during the civil rights movement to today’s National Security Agency scandal.

Wallace's actions in blocking black students from registering at desegregated public schools, host Chris Hayes noted that, at the time, many believed it was not clear who was “hero” or “villain” — much like today’s National Security Agency scandal.

The show used video of Wallace but the chyron mistakenly identified the well-known racist governor as a member of the Republican Party.

Wallace was a democrat. despite his affiliation with the Democratic Party.

Today, Hayes went to Twitter to admit he screwed up: 

Kind of refreshing when someone just admits to a stupid mistake instead of trying to cover it up or pass blame.

H/T Mediaite

A Good Sport

As CNN gets ready to kick off their new morning show next week, the anchor of their old show is headed to HBO.

Soledad O’Brien is joining the team of HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumble.

“Soledad is a perfect fit for REAL SPORTS,” said Ken Hershman president, HBO Sports.
 “She’s an extraordinary interviewer and storyteller, and we’re thrilled to be able to add her to a franchise where the emphasis is on finding and presenting thought-provoking stories in the diverse and ever-fascinating world of sports.”

In addition to joining Real Sports, O’Brien and her production company, Starfish Media Group, will have an overall relationship with HBO granting the network first look at scripted projects and long-form programming concepts that she and her team develop.

You Pledge Allegiance To Who?!

KTSP Anchor Bill Lunn had a slip of the tongue or at least we hope it was a slip.

Lunn wanted to say "I pledge allegiance to the FLAG”...but it didn't come out that way. 

Let's roll the video:  

California Anchor Still Missing from the Air

Back in February, FTVLive told you about KEYT (San Luis Obispo) Anchor Paula Lopez's bizarre incident when the anchor was reported missing and was part of a police search.

She was found safe and sound a few hours later at her home. 

She nor her family would give any details as to what happened? The station released this statement "the family will not make any further comments regarding the circumstances surrounding her disappearance."

We were told she had a medical condition, but no one ever said what that condition was.  It was a very strange ending to a very strange story. 

Then in April, Lopez returned to the air to resume anchoring the newscast. A few weeks later she was gone again from the air and hasn't been seen on TV since. 

Her bio remains on the station's website, yet no has addressed the issue as to why Lopez is still off the air and when or if she is ever going to return?

Anyone?

Bueller?  

A Date with The Judge

Later Today, Fox News Reporter Jana Winter and her lawyer are scheduled to make their arguments in New York state's Appellate Division Courtroom.

You may remember that Winter has been ordered by a judge in Denver to name her sources in a story on the Colorado theater shooting.

Her lawyer is going to are ask the appellate court to quash the subpoena that requires her to testify.

Winter broke the news that shooting suspect James Holmes had sent violent drawings to a psychiatrist before the attack at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., in July. They claim that whoever gave her the information violated a gag order in the case.

Winter's attorneys say that New York's shield laws protect journalists' sources.

The Slow and Steady Climb

The CBS Evening News continues to make it's way up the ratings mountain. 

The broadcast anchored by Scott Pelley posted year-to-year percentage increases in viewers (5.70m from 5.23m, +9%) and households (3.9/08 from 3.6/07, +8%), according to Nielsen for the week ending June 7.

The CBS broadcast also maintained its rating in adults 25-54 (1.3/05) from the same week last year.

The show added nearly half a million viewers (+470,000) compared to the same week last year.

Milwaukee Anchor Leaving the Business

WTMJ anchor-reporter Melissa McCrady is leaving the station at the end of the month. 

"7 years at TMJ," she wrote in a message. "It's time."

McCrady is leaving the TV news business and will become the director of communications for the Mequon-Thiensville school district.

McCrady, a Cleveland native, joined the station in 2006 from WNWO-TV in Toledo.

While at WTMJ she worked as a reporter for "Live at Daybreak" and anchored "Live at Noon."

McCrady also getting married in August.

Busy Summer...  

John's Ratings Compare to Jon's Ratings

If the early numbers are any indication, The Daily Show will do fine with Jon Stewart on an 8 week hiatus. 

Daily Show Correspondent John Oliver has taken over for Jon Stewart and the ratings stay about the same.  

Monday's episode of The Daily Show, which featured guest Seth Rogen, averaged 1.5 million viewers and a 0.7 rating among adults 18-49.

Not only are those numbers in line with the series' year-to-date performance, they mark a modest week-to-week improvement for the late-night flagship.

The initial returns are contrary to what the self-effacing Oliver recently told The Hollywood Reporter. "The ratings are going to go down," he said. "Ice is cold, and the ratings of this show are going to go down in the summer. Add to that the fact that I’m here, so you’ll have your regular summer decline and that will become a more elemental nosedive."

So far, that's not the case.