Howie Kurtz Headed to Fox News (Updated)

It looks like Howard Kurtz, who never let the facts get in the way of a good story, is headed to Fox News.

Mediaite reports that Fox News is expected to announce today that Howard Kurtz will join the network.

Kurtz is currently the anchor of CNN’s Sunday morning media criticism show ironically named Reliable Sources.

Kurtz also worked for the Daily Beast before they parted ways with him after some questionable reporting.  

Score one for CNN's Jeff Zucker for getting Kurtz off CNN's air. One way or another.  

The news has been confirmed, Howie heads to Fox News. He will do two more shows at CNN before he goes. Here's is tweet kissing Jeff Zucker's ass:

Social Media Goes off on Geraldo

Geraldo Rivera has opened his mouth and stuck in his foot one more time.  

Social media went off on Rivera after he tweeted a highly insensitive comment about the late Michael Hastings.

Hastings, a reporter for BuzzFeed and Rolling Stone, died in a fiery car crash this week in Los Angeles. He was best known for his Rolling Stone article on Afghanistan commanding general Stanley McChrystal. The story led to being McChrystal being
fired. 

While many were shocked to hear of Hastings sudden death, Rivera was apparently not grieving.

Shortly after Rivera's tweet, social media fired back. Many thought that Rivera was more than insensitive with his remarks. 

Rivera shot back this morning: 

And apparently, Geraldo has a different kind of Twitter account than the rest of us. His account shows him which people served in the military, and what they watch and read:  

Fox News has made no comment as of yet on Rivera's remarks.  

The Viewers Weren't Responding to me

Morning Anchor Shannon Moss was fired abruptly from her job at WMTW (Portland, ME).

What reason do the station give her for her firing? 

"I was told I was a fierce journalist with a great work ethic, but that viewers weren't responding to me," said Moss.

Of course, Moss should have seen the handwriting on the wall when her contract on expired Monday, and no one talked to her about renewing it. She was given no prior notice of her dismissal.

Moss claims that the ratings showed recently that the newscast she co-anchored had made gains. She had been at the station for 6 years.

It took the station 6 years to figure out that the viewers are not responding to Moss?! 

Moss is not burning any bridges. She says she wishes the station well and knows that TV news is "a fickle business," said Moss. 

Needless to say, WMTW's GM David Abel, would not elaborate on Moss' departure Wednesday, citing a company policy of not commenting on personnel matters.

Maybe the viewers are not responding to the way Abel is running the station.

Just saying....  

Philly Anchors on the Big Screen

KYW's morning anchor team have a bit part in the Brad Pitt movie  "World War Z."

Even through the team of Erika von Tiehl (pictured), Ukee Washington and Katie Fehlinger appear to be reporting on the Zombies, the footage used real. 

Von Tiehl, Washington and Fehlinger can be seen reporting on the zombie apocalypse from a TV in Pitt's home. But the scene isn't scripted. "World War Z" producers asked KYW for an archived clip (presumably of some nasty Philly weather) and used that instead.

Becuase when it comes to local news hyping the weather, it's really no different than how they would (will) report the zombie apocalypse.

Matt Lauer: Katie Couric is a 9 or 10

Matt Lauer's rebuild his reputation tour continued with a stop on the Howard Sten Show. 

Lauer talked about a number of topics, including his former co-anchors. 

Well not Ann Curry. 

But, Lauer did talk about sitting on the couch next to Meredith Vieira and his first co-anchor Katie Couric.

"It's like the St. Pauli Girl commercial: You always remember your first," Lauer said of Couric, who was his co-anchor from 1994 to 2006.

And it seems that Matt thought Katie was a hottie. 

"I think...every man in America was attracted [to Katie Couric]," he teased. "She's a very attractive woman, not only physically, but her personality...if she's a 9 or 10 physically, she's a 14 because -- I hate to do that -- because she's got a great personality. She's fun."

That said, Lauer insists he never seriously considered pursuing anything romantic with her. It "absolutely" would have ruined things, he explained. Then, joking, he added, "She would have been knocking on my door constantly. She would have never left me alone."

You wish Matt, you wish..... 

New Correspondent Named for News Services at CBS

If you're watching a CBS O&O and they do a report from England, it's likely the reporter you'll see will be Alphonso Van Marsh.

CBS has announced that Van Marsh has been named a Correspondent for News Services at CBS News, the Network’s 24-hour television newsgathering service for CBS stations and broadcasters around the world.  He will be based in London, and his appointment is effective immediately.

Previously, Marsh spent a decade reporting for CNN, where his assignments took him around the globe.  As awar correspondent embedded in Iraq and Afghanistan, his work was featured on all of CNN’s platforms.  Marsh broke the story of Saddam Hussein’s historic capture in Iraq, earning him a 2004 National Headliner Award.  After that, he was a war zone and general assignment reporter in London.  Before that, he was a Correspondent and Bureau Operations Director, reporting from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Asian subcontinent.

Dan Abrams Re-ups, Changes Roles at ABC

Dan Abrams contract was coming up and while ABC was doing their best to keep him, FTVLive has learned that CNN's Jeff Zucker was also interested in him. 

In the end, Zucker lost out and Abrams role at ABC News will greatly increase. 

Under his new deal Abrams now becomes Nightline Anchor and Chief Legal Affairs Anchor for ABC News.

"In his new role Dan will continue his regular legal segments on Good Morning America, show us a whole new side of his talents with a new branded GMA segment on a wide range of topics, and join the other Nightline anchors on ABC’s The Lookout." ABC Boss Ben Sherwood said in a memo to the staff.

Abrams also owns and operates the Mediaite blog network and under his new deal with ABC, he will be stepping away from the day to day operations of that.  

"Now he’ll have new opportunities to deliver his signature reporting to the Nightline audience, in prime time on ABC’s The Lookout, in the mornings on GMA, and on World News, ABCNews.com, ABC News Radio, and all our platforms." Sherwood added in the memo. 

Sacramento News Director Out

Not much info yet, but FTVLive hears that Brandon Mercer is out as News Director of KTXL FOX40 in Sacramento.

Mercer has been at the station since 2008, coming from across the street at KOVR. 

His bio is still on the KTXL website. In his bio, he brags of working 18 hour days and always being in the newsroom. 

Now we here he's out. 

More details as we get them.  

Did GMA's Robin Roberts Get Secretly Married?

Word is that Good Morning America's Robin Roberts has married her longtime girlfriend Storm Sahara. 

The website Diary of a Hollywood Street King reports that Roberts is now a married woman.

This news comes about four-months after the Good Morning America anchor was first reported romantically involved with longtime girlfriend, Storm Sahara.

Sources say the pair tied the knot, June 1st — during a private ceremony “in their upper west side condo.” Now, there’s word of the newly married ladies plans for “an addition to their family.”

Here’s what’s being reported:

“There are serious talks about adoption or even Storm carrying their first born together. Storm has a 13-year-old daughter who seems to be just as excited.”

Here’s what an insider previously revealed:

“I work closely with Robin Roberts on a daily basis, so yes I know a great deal about her and Storm Sahara. They are indeed extremely private but only because of Robin.”

Another News Director Pushed Out in SoCal

Southern California sources tell FTVLive that yet another News Director change has gone down at XETV in San Diego. 

Word is that ND Jon Fischer has parted ways with the company.He only lasted 10 months on the job.

He replaced Christine Tanaka - who was also bounced from the station.

A word of advice to the next News Director that takes that job....Rent don't Own.

Just saying....