What's Up with You Dude? Vol. 6

Time to click on the email tab, open up and clean out some of the emails clogging up my inbox.

It's a segment we like to call "What's Up with You Dude?" 

Email 1 - I love FTVLive and I have to say, I love the fact that I can't tell where you stand. One day I think you're a big fan of Fox News, the next day you slam them. I have seen the same thing with MSNBC and all the other networks. Keep up the great work. 

Scott: I get emails like this a lot and I pride myself on the fact that where I stand politically, or which network is my favorite is hard to figure out. I really do try my best to be.....dare I say it..... Fair and Balanced.

More emails and answers in ScottLand

Former Palm Beach Reporter to Resurface in O-Town

A few months ago, FTVLive featured former WPTV (West Palm Beach) Reporter Rikki Klaus in our Talent Spotlight.

Now, Klaus has landed a new job, just up the road in Orlando. 

In a couple of weeks, Klaus will start her new job at WESH.

News Director Bob Longo announced that Klaus will be starting as a reporter on July 15th. 

Before WPTV, Klaus worked and a Anchor/Reporter at WHNT in Huntsville, Ala.

Klaus was also second runner-up in the 2008 Miss Florida was Miss Florida Teen 2006.

Former Chicago Anchor Goes back to Radio Roots

Our man Robert Feder tells us that Former WBBM morning news anchor Susan Carlson is joining WLS 890 AM as news anchor for Roe Conn and Richard Roeper's afternoon show, starting later this month. 

It's a return to her radio roots for the Chicago native, who worked for a variety of local stations, including WLS where she served as a news and traffic reporter for Conn's afternoon show from 1998 to 2002. 

"We are thrilled to have Susan back," Conn told me. "She was an instrumental part of our run in the late '90s and we're looking forward to a great future."

Carlson most recently was morning news anchor at WBBM, where she had been a reporter and news anchor for more than 10 years. She was released May 17, but remains under contract to the station until July 18.

Quitting the TV News Biz

WMAR Reporter Sherrie Johnson is getting out of the TV news business to become a mouthpiece.

 Harford County Executive David R. Craig announced that Johnson has been hired to service as public information officer for the county government.

Johnson will serve as the primary contact for media inquiries and will become the main spokesperson for Harford County government. She'll make $75,000 a year. 

"Sherrie Johnson's experience in television news and information gathering will be an asset to county government in our ongoing effort to communicate effectively with the public," Craig said in the news release. "She will be a great addition to our team."

"I look forward to working with my colleagues in the media to provide timely and accurate information regarding county government," Johnson said. "From my past experience on the journalism side, I know that Harford County is an exciting place to work, and that Harford County government has been a leader in the state when it comes to pioneering innovative new programs and in promoting transparency and efficiency. I can't wait to get started and to be a part of this team."

She starts he new gig later this month.  

Headed Down to Dallas

KTVK (Phoenix) Anchor/Reporter Marie Saavedra is headed down to Dallas and WFAA.

The station says she is replacing anchor/reporter Jonathan Betz, but she will only be reporting for the station. Betz left WFAA for Al Jazeera America

WFAA news director Carolyn Mungo confirmed Saavedra’s hiring Monday.

Saavedra had been at KTVK in August 2011.

Both stations are own BELO, which was recently purchased by Gannett.  

Fox Sports 1 Gets Ready for Launch

Fox Sports 1 the sports channel that will take on ESPN is getting closer to their launch date. 

August 17th is the day for FS1's launch. Here is sneak peak inside the Fox Sports 1 newsroom.  

Ann Curry Beats the Rock

As FTVLive told you, exactly one year to the day that Ann Curry was pushed out at the Today Show, NBC let her air her first prime time special. 

"Ann Curry Reports" aired on Friday night in the spot that was where "Rock Center" had been airing, before NBC pulled the plug on it.

Curry interviewed Richard Norris — the man who received the most comprehensive face transplant to date.

How'd she do in the ratings? 

Her numbers beat what Rock Center was getting!  In fact her primetime special won the demo for Friday night.

The showed almost 6 million viewers and pulled 1.9 rating in the demo, which was more than double what Rock Center pulled the week before.  

Take that Matt Lauer!  

Cincy Station Hires Former Pittsburgh ND

Former WTAE (Pittsburgh) News Director Alex Bongiorno is resurfacing at  WCPO as the new ND. 

Bongiorno left WTAE in October after three years at the Hearst station. At WCPO, she is replacing Lane Michaelsen, who left the station in March.

“Alex has a passion for journalism and has a proven track record of being a strong leader that gets results,” said GM Jeff Brogan. “She’s a natural fit for our newsroom, having an excellent understanding of the digital and broadcast audiences.”

“I am excited to be joining such a great news operation in such a great city, Bongiorno said. According to the press release issued by the station, Bongiorno added "WCPO's on your side brand is incredibly powerful and I'm looking forward to leveraging this brand to the highest benefit of our viewers."

Come on! Did she really say that? Did she really say the words  "I'm looking forward to leveraging this brand to the highest benefit of our viewers."?

It seems that the WCPO PR department wrote the words and attributed them to Bongiorno....no way anyone really talks like that. 

Just saying....  

MSNBC Launches Promotional Campaign

MSNBC's Chris Matthews doesn't just want to inform you what is going on, he wants to help write the laws that govern us. 

At least that's what is it says in a full page ad that MSNBC placed in New York magazine. CNN has been placing ads everywhere from print, online to on building and even elevators. 

It appears that MSNBC has decided to spend some ad dollars to help promote the product as well.

H/T Rebecca Shapiro for the pic

Most Read Stories for the Month of June

June is in the book and as we head into July, it's time to look back at the most read stories on FTVLive last month.

June was another record setting month for FTVLive as the site continues to grow each and every month. For that I say Thank You to each one of you. 

Now let's countdown the Top 5 most read stories on FTVLive last month. 

No. 5 -  Reporter Bob Tur to Become a Woman

No. 4 -  Paula Deen on Today

No. 3 -  Is ABC Going to Pull the Plug on 'Katie'?

No. 2 -  EXCLUSIVE! Flying High with Robin Meade

And the Number 1 most read story in June was:  Philly Anchor Cat Fight

Sunset for Sunshine in South Florida

Longtime WFOR (Miami) Investigative Reporter Al Sunshine has posted on his Facebook page that he is retiring from the station.

Sunshine started in the Miami market at WTVJ in 1972 and joined WFOR in 1988. Sunshine also worked for CNN for a time. 

In his time in South Florida, Sunshine has broken so many stories, many of which have lead to law changes in Florida.  

While Sunshine has posted that he is leaving the station, no word has been given to the WFOR news staff. 

Gots to love the communication business.  

Soledad to Al Jazeera

If people were wondering if Soledad O'Brien's career was on a downward slope after getting bounced from CNN's morning show, it has just been confirmed.

O'Brien has signed on with Al Jazeera America to do reports for "America Tonight."  

She will also produce hour long documentaries that hardly anyone will see. 

Kind of sad.... we always liked O'Brien and hoped that one of the "real" networks would have hired her. 

By the way, Al Jazeera still has not named a President at the network. Although sources tell FTVLive that news is coming in the next two weeks. 

Stay tuned...