Back on the Air in Toledo
/
In May of 2012, WTOL Anchor Reporter Melissa Voetsch took a medical leave from the station due to a heart condition.
After more than a year and half off the air, Voetsch has returned to the air.
But not at WTOL.
Voetsch is now a reporter across the street at WTVG.
Word is that she has signed a 3 month contract, but if all goes well it could be extended.
Anchor Shake up in Philly
/
Yesterday, FTVLive told you about the anchor shake up at WVIT NBC Connecticut. Well, WCAU the NBC O&O in Philly is also shaking up their anchor team.
Keith Jones has moved from the morning shift (4:30 to 7 a.m. and the 11 a.m. broadcast) to the 5 p.m. slot along with Jacqueline London.
Vai Sikahema moves to Jones' former spot, along with Tracy Davidson.
Renee Chenault-Fattah and Jim Rosenfield will continue to anchor the 6 p.m. broadcast, while Rosenfield and London hold it down at 11 p.m.
BriWi is Picking up Steam in the Ratings
/
Brian Williams and NBC News continue their winning wats into the New Year.
Last week, NBC Nightly News averaged 10.1 million total viewers and 2.6 million viewers in the key demo A25-54, marking its largest audiences in both categories in five weeks (week of 11/25/13, Thanksgiving week).
Nightly has won in total viewers for 225 consecutive weeks, and in 272 of the past 273 weeks.
Nightly has won in viewers A25-54 for 266 of the past 267 weeks.
Now if Brian Williams could take some of that rating magic to the Today Show, I think Matt Lauer and the gang would be really happy.
Viewers Chance to See how the Sausage is Made
/WTNH is giving viewers a chance to come tour the station and then go to dinner with Anchor Darren Kramer.
Not sure if it will be a reality tour, or one of those sugar coated fake tours. If they give the real deal, here's what viewers can expect if they win.
You'll tour the newsroom and see desks that are so messy, you'll want to contact the CDC. You will hear language that would make a sailor blush. It's likely you'll see a real live anchor bitching at a Producer for more face time. Of course you won't recognize the Anchor, because they have not put on all that make up yet. If you're a woman, you can expect one of the News Photogs to hit on you for sure.
Last but not least is dinner with the News Anchor. Now in your world, dinner last 30-45 minutes, News Anchors go to dinner for 3 hours or more. Just want to warn you.
Here's the station's post from Facebook:
Post by Darren Kramer.
Holy Shirt is it Cold
/
While Reporters are standing out in the dangerous cold telling us not to go out in the dangerous cold, many are doing the old stand by of throwing a cup of boiling water in the air to watch it freeze.
WGHP (Greensboro) Reporter Michael Spears has come up with another use for the hot water. Spears soaked his prized Glee T-shirt in water and took it out on his live shot.
It wasn't long before the shirt was frozen stiff and Spears showed it off on his Twitter account.
Spears posted that it took less than 10 minutes to get stiff. We have to add, that as cold as it is, you have to be impressed with a Reporter that shows off his stuffy.
Just saying....
Trial for NY Reporter Charged with Child Sex Crimes Begins
/
Starting Today, Lawyers are scheduled to make opening statements in the trial of former WNYW Fox 5 investigative reporter Charles Leaf.
Leaf is accused of sexually abusing a 4-year-old girl and possessing child pornography on his computer.
Prosecutors allege that Leaf molested the girl at his home on several occasions between December 2009 and October 2010. They said the girl later disclosed the incidents to her babysitter, who then contacted authorities.
The girl, now 8, is expected to testify during the trial in state Superior Court in Hackensack.
Leaf was arrested in 2010 and charged with aggravated sexual assault and child endangerment. Prosecutors said they seized his computer at the time and later discovered it contained child pornographic images.
Leaf, 43, was held at the Bergen County Jail for several weeks after his arrest until he was released on bail. The most serious charge, aggravated sexual assault, is a first-degree offense that carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, lifelong parole and registration requirements under Megan’s Law.
Leaf is a former Marine who served overseas on an elite diplomatic program. He worked at TV stations in Denver, Detroit and Kansas before joining Fox 5 in 2006, where he reported on high-profile stories including the Bernard Madoff scandal and the proposed development of an Islamic center near the World Trade Center site.
H/T NorthJeresy.com
Don't Go Outside Says the Reporter Standing Outside
/
You have to love how the newscasts are telling you how dangerous the weather is and that you should not go outside.
Of course they are doing this while standing outside in the very same weather that they are warning you not to go out in.
Because of the slow hurricane season, Reporters did not get their fill of standing in nasty weather and telling people how nasty it is.
Thank God for the Polar Vortex!
Over at CNN, the network was boasting that they had sent a “California girl” to the depths of the polar vortex on Monday,
CNN repeatedly made correspondent Stephanie Elam trudge onto the banks of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis—current temperature -18° F with a windchill of -44° F — to report first-hand on the “historic and life threatening” cold enveloping the central states.
Bracketed by chyron alarms of “dangerous conditions” and warnings from authorities not to go outdoors unless it was absolutely necessary.
Here's video and by the way, If I see one more Reporter throw a cup of hot water in the cold air, I'm going to scream:
H/T Mediaite
Really?!
/
Edward R. Swiderski III, is a Chicago marketing technology executive and former contestant on ABC’s “The Bachelorette.”
He is also dating WFLD Good Day Chicago Anchor Natalie Bomke.
It seems that Swiderski is not happy that Chicago Media Blogger Robert Feder has been writing not so flattering stories about his girlfriend.
So, he fired off and email to Feder which Feder then posted to his website:
Hi Robert:
You and I haven’t met, though Natalie pointed out to me that you’ve written about her (we’ve been dating for several months). And after stumbling upon your blog tonight, it’s confirmed that you have quite the opinion of her.
I’m no stranger to journalistic tacticians such as yourself—I’ve been on the cover of 70M+ tabloids and have somewhat of an inherent thick skin when it comes to media and public opinion. So I have to chuckle when Nat points out a blog like yours. Women are so sensitive!
Forgive me, but based on my anecdotal opinion I’m having a hard time understanding the intent of your posts. If it’s purely just blasting local TV news personalities (slash former beauty pageant contestants), then it appears you’re achieving this—mission accomplished. But if you’re truly looking to publish engaging, informative content, then perhaps there’s something more I’m missing.
That stated, I’m a lover, not a fighter. Natalie is one of the most driven, ambitious, career motivated professionals I’ve ever encountered…not to mention a wonderful person inside and out. Period. Paragraph. If you’re interested, we’d be up for getting a drink with you some time. We’re a fun couple, and truthfully appreciate what you do as a journalist. Perhaps we could even amplify some exposure of your column if it turns out you’re not such a bad guy. If not, let’s just say we won’t lose any sleep.
Happy New Year!
Ed
Now we're not sure if Feder plans to get together with this "fun couple" and having a drink, but we are pleading with Robert right now.
You know we love you Robert but if this ends up as some kind of kinky date and you all drinking wine naked in a hot tub.....we ask that you please not post any pictures.
Thanks!
As for Ed.....Dude don't pick your fights for your Anchor girlfriend, it makes her look bad and makes you look like a tool.
Just saying....
Jeff Zucker and Phil Griffin Star in Fox News Ad
/
When MSNBC boss Phil Griffin said that his network was not very good at covering breaking news, you knew it would be bad.
FTVLive has pointed out Griffin's statement many times in our coverage of the cable news network that does not do well covering news.
Over at CNN, we poked fun when Jeff Zucker said that his cable news network had to start doing more shows and less newscasts.
Both statements were not real smart and now Fox News is featuring them in a full page ad in the NY Post.
Thanks to Griffin and Zucker, FNC is finding plenty of material for their promos.
FAA Says No Drones for Journalists
/
When a local mall was being knocked down in West Palm Beach, WPEC used a AR Drone to get video from above.
It appears that in doing so, they violated the FAA laws.
Jeremy Barr writes that last Wednesday, The (Spokane, Wash.) Spokesman-Review published a minute-long, aerial video of a local event (picture).
On Thursday, Jesse Tinsley, the photographer who used an unmanned camera ship to record the video from 30 feet off the ground, said it was “not illegal, but currently in a gray area.”
Au contraire, said the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday.
“There is no gray area,” said FAA spokesperson Les Dorr.
Hobbyists are allowed to use small, radio-controlled crafts under specific guidelines, but “if you’re using it for any sort of commercial purposes, including journalism, that’s not allowed,” he added.
The FAA generally contacts transgressors and requests them to cease their activities, rather than penalizing them (unless they’re operating aerial vehicles in a reckless manner, in which case sanctions could be meted out).
“Our main goal is to get them to stop,” Dorr said. “Most of the time people are cooperative.”
Acknowledging the confusion about the operation of unmanned aircraft systems, Dorr said that soon-to-be-released FAA guidelines about small crafts should make it “much clearer…what you can do and what you can’t do.”
He also acknowledged the appeal for journalists in using drones to report some stories.
“It’s an attractive technology for journalists, and people would like to be able to use it,” Dorr said. “That said, the FAA is responsible for the safety of the air space. And as much as we’d like to encourage them, we can’t let them do it as long as there are no rules in place.”
Want to Buy a Used News Chopper
/
It appears that KGW in Portland is trying to sell off their News Chopper.
But if you were hoping to do live shots with it, you're out of luck.
According the ad selling the chopper, the ENG news gear has been removed. Where's the fun in that?
KGW says that they have entered into a shared helicopter agreement with FOX affiliate KPTV.
If you want to buy the Chopper, it can be yours for $1,250,000.
H/T Kevin Eck @TVSpy
Anchor Shake Up at Connecticut Station
/
With the new year it seems stations are deciding to shake up their Anchor teams.
Word is that WVIT NBC Connecticut is moving their anchors around as well.
The Laurel that starting today, it’s the same anchors on NBC 30 but they’re appearing at different times.
Morning co-anchor Brad Drazen is moving to the 5 & 5:30 pm newscasts which he will anchor with Lisa Carberg; he will also report at 11.
Todd Piro will co-anchor the mornings with Kerri-Lee Mayland. Gerry Brooks and Keisha Grant will co-anchor the 6 & 11 pm news.
