Wilmington ND Gets Off with Fine

Back on May 3rd, FTVLive told you that WWAY News Director Scott Pickey had agreed to take a defensive driving class before his next court hearing in July in an attempt to end the saga of his brief arrest during the Martin Luther King Parade. 

Well, he did that and now the case is closed. 

Today, Pickey pleaded guilty to failure to obey an officer.

The charge stems from his arrest in January during Wilmington's Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade when Pickey drove a WWAY news vehicle from the station's parking lot despite orders by police not to leave the lot during the parade.

In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to drop a reckless driving charge against Pickey, who also had to complete driving school as part of the agreement and pay a $50 fine plus $190 court costs.

"I would like to thank Ben David and his DA's office for working with me to solve this issue. I think we all learned valuable lessons," Pickey said.

H/T WWAY

Headed to Prime Time at FNC

Megyn Kelly will move to FOX News Channel’s primetime lineup upon her return from maternity leave, announced Roger Ailes, Chairman and CEO, FOX News. Additionally, the network has signed long-term deals with Bret Baier, Shepard Smith, Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and Greta Van Susteren. A new schedule will be announced at a later date.

In making the announcement, Ailes said, “Megyn is an exceptional talent who has successfully filled and surpassed each role we have given her at the network. Her ability to command the screen, delve into the facts and lead a debate is what makes her one of the most sought-after anchors in the business.”

Kelly added, “Roger Ailes hired me nine years ago when I was new to this business and he had little other than instinct to suggest it might work out. I was grateful to him then, remain so today, and am excited for this next opportunity.”

Since February 2010, Kelly has anchored the network’s daytime news program, America Live (1-3PM ET), while appearing in a weekly primetime segment on The O’Reilly Factor entitled The Kelly File.

As the Katie Show Turns

Katie Couric's talk show 'Katie' may have replaced some soap operas on some stations, but behind the scenes this show might be the biggest soap opera of all.

Yesterday, the Katie show announced that they would be doing new episodes throughout July to try and bring in viewers. 

But, now word is that the queen bee herself is not happy with the direction of the show.

The NY Daily News reports that Couric feels the show  is taking a turn in the wrong direction.

The paper reports that daytime show will be “gossip-centric” in its second season, since a behind-the-scenes shakeup replaced executive producer Michael Morrison with “The Tyra Banks Show” executive producer Rachel Miskowiec.

Couric, who is also a co-executive producer on the show, is upset at being “dumbed down,” a source says, and was set on calling it quits after season one. Then Miskowiec arrived and promised a nice middle ground of hard-hitting news and softer fare — but count on it being more on the light side, says the Daily News.

“If there is one thing Katie hates more than being called ‘perky,’ it's being called ‘tabloid,’ ” a source says. “She thinks of herself as a serious journalist, covering stories that make a difference. She’s fighting this.”

Couric has made it clear she wants to be taken seriously at work, and at the studio she has even made fun of our culture’s obsession with celebrity.

Tune in next week for another edition of As The Katie Show Turns.  

Stick A Fork in Her...Philly Reporter is Done

You can stick a fork in WTXF Fox 29 Philly Reporter Claudia Gomez...she says she's done.

Gomez broke the news via a Twitter that she would not be renewing her contract with the station.

According to her tweets and sources close to the station, the decision to leave was completely Gomez's, and not the station's.

A rep for the station confirmed that Friday was Gomez's last day.

Gomez has been at the Fox O&O since 2001.

H/T Philly Daily News

Reporter Plays Air Guitar

When you're sick of just blabbing during a live shot, you can always just stop talking and play the air guitar. That's what NY1's Roger Clark did this morning on the newscast. 

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....