Zimmerman Jury Not Fans of the Media

One thing seems for certain, the potential jurors in the George Zimmerman trial are not big fans of the media.  

Yesterday the potential jurors toom a number of swipes while giving their impressions of news outlets.

A woman known as E-73 was asked if she watched Fox News Channel. "Not if I can help it," she said. But she didn't watch MSNBC, either.

A woman known as M-75 said she watched Fox News in the morning, but she couldn't remember anchor names. (So much for making a connection.) She didn't watch Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity, the biggest Fox News stars. She didn't read newspapers, either.

A man known as B-72 watched Central Florida News 13 and CNN, but said he doesn't pay attention to the news because it drags him down. And he didn't care about the Zimmerman case because it didn't involve anyone he knows. "After a while, I got sick of hearing it," he said. He added that he tries to avoid the media because he doesn't want to be brainwashed.

Ouch!

H/T Orlando Sentinel  

NY Station Makes an ASS of their Interviewee

WPIX in New York made an ass out of themselves during the 5PM newscast yesterday.

Or should we say that made an ass out of a person they were interviewing.

The station was covering the Window washers that were trapped 46 floors up outside the Hearst building in New York. 

Above is a screen cap of the the chyron the station used while interviewing an expert on the phone.

Did no one in the control room notice this?!

Going Up?

CNN will be kicking off their latest attempt at a morning show on Monday. 

"New Day" will be anchored by Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira.
And to show that CNN is serious this time, they are spending some big bucks promoting the show. Including decking out the elevator doors of the Time Warner Center.

Chris Cuomo thought it was a bit odd while waiting for the ride up on the elevators:  

At least when the elevator doors open,  Chris and Michaela get to stay in one piece. Poor Kate Bolduan loses her right arm, hand and breast as the doors open up.

Ouch! 

Fair and Balanced?....why Yes...sort of

Fox News catches heat often about their slogan "Fair and Balanced."  

Many seem to think the cable network is neither fair or balanced, but take a look at this video. 

When George Bush was President, Fox's Sean Hannity was all for the NSA spying and the Patriot Act. 

Now, with Obama in office, he is 100% against the NSA. 

So he was for the NSA and now he's against the NSA.

How much more fair can you get than that? 

Buffalo Station Names New GM

WIVB the LIN station in Buffalo has named a new General Manager. 

Rene LaSpina will take over the station that is suffering from a very low morale problem and sagging ratings.

LaSpina had been the GM at low rated, low morale WPTY in Memphis. WPTY has recently rebranded themselves and started over from scratch. 

LaSpina did work across state from 2004-2009 at WTEN in Albany where the station went through huge turnover during her reign.

She replaces Chris Musial who was either fired or resigned, depending on who you ask.

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.