Huh?

Yesterday, FTVLive told you that Scripps would soon be announcing that KTVK News Director Cameryn Beck was going to leave the station and join Scripps in a corporate role.

After the FTVLive story was posted, the folks are Scripps started acting quickly to get out a press release to confirm the news that FTVLive already reported.

The folks at Scripps were kind enough to send us the PR release on Beck, but we have to wonder about something they wrote in the last paragraph. It said:

Before moving to KTVK in early 2013, Beck worked at KOVR in Sacramento, California, from 2005-2013, serving as the news director, an assistant news director and executive producer. While at KOVR, she developed its brand “Asking questions, getting questions,” helped reinvent its newscasts and grew viewership in all key demographics. She also focused on creating cross-platform opportunities using the station website and social media.

"Asking questions, Getting questions"????

Maybe that's what is wrong with local news now-a-days.

Just saying.... 

On Second Thought, We'll Delete That

In June of 2013, the University of Richmond proudly profiled one of their alumni, Carlo Dellaverson on the school's website.

Dellaverson was a class of 2006 journalism grad who went on to work at CNBC and NBC News.

The university’s story noted that Dellaverson “has to be on top of breaking news [and] makes sure NBC breaks news as it happens, whether it’s on social media or ‘old-fashioned’ breaking news email alerts.”

It's always great when one of your grads makes a name for him/herself. 

But, after Dellaverson was busted by police this week for secretly making a video of his girlfriend having sex with him on Valentines Day — and posting it on a porn web site, the  University of Richmond quickly pulled down the story from their website. 

Looks like the U of R is not as proud of Dellaverson as they were last week.

H/T Romenesko

Cincy TV Station Partners with the Washington Post

It would seem odd that a Cincinnati TV station would partner with the Washington Post newspaper, but that is exactly what is happening.

WCPO, the Scripps ABC affiliate in Cincy is teaming up with the Washington Post.

WCPO is the first station that has taken the station's website subscription-based digital news site.

Now to sweeten the pot for people that pay for WCPO's site, readers will also get access to The Washington Post as well. 

“WCPO Insiders (that's what the station calls its website members) are people who like to be in the know about what is happening in their community and around the world,” said Dave Peterson, general manager of WCPO Digital. “Now they also will receive complimentary access to the highest-quality global, national and political news from one of the world’s best news sources – The Washington Post – and just in time for election season.” 

“We are thrilled to work with The E.W. Scripps Company and its innovative news site, WCPO.com,” said Steve Hills, president and general manager of The Washington Post. “This partnership allows us to engage with more readers, and it’s a great opportunity for those readers to access Post content that is smart, informative, and relevant to their lives.”

LOL! ABC's David Muir

I'm liking David Muir's style.

The ABC Anchor shows he can have a bit of fun when replying to Tweets.

This golf clap is for you David:

About that Lawsuit? I'm Sorry...

On Tuesday, our FTVLive Intern told you the story about a former “Late Show” intern who recently sued David Letterman over unpaid wages.

Now, Letterman's former intern has issued a public apology — saying she was coerced by stupid lawyer tricks.

“I have nothing but respect for David Letterman and the whole organization,” a contrite Mallory Musallam told The Post. “I wore that internship as a badge of pride.”

The unemployed 26-year-old NYU graduate said attorneys from the firm Virginia & Ambinder — who have filed at least a dozen of similar proposed class action suits — pushed her into going after CBS and Letterman’s Worldwide Pants production company just four days after approaching her on LinkendIn.

In her apology letter to Letterman, the Oklahoma native explains, “While I am ultimately responsible for my actions as an adult, I was caught in a weak, vulnerable time, facing student debt.”

H/T Page Six

Former Dallas Anchor to Resurface in Cincinnati

Mark Hayes left KXAS in Dallas back in January, when the station decided not to renew is contract.

Now, Hayes is coming off the beach and joining WLWT in Cincinnati. The staff was told that Hayes will join the station on September 22nd and Anchor the morning show alongside Lisa Cooney.

Before going to Dallas, Hayes was at WAGA in Atlanta for a decade.

Hayes will replace morning Anchor Todd Dykes, who will now head up WLWT News 5’s new investigative unit.

Really?! KC Reporter Reading Script While Driving

I know how much TV consultants love the walk and talk, but driving and live TV don't mix.

A number of stations have started to live hits from Reporters, while the Reporter is driving.

Why?

Because they can.

The latest to drive and report is KMBC's new Reporter Eli Rosenberg.

When the camera came back out live to him, Rosenberg could be seen on camera reading his script off his phone.

It's all good, until a Reporter runs over some kid in the street. At that point, we're guessing the consultants will be changing their tune.

Here's the video, click the speaking icon in the lower right to hear the audio:

Ex-Sacramento Anchor to be Tried with Boyfriend

After her arrest in a big shoplifting case, former KTXL Anchor Sabrina Rodriguez wasted no time in dumping her boyfriend, who was also arrested.

But as fate would have it, the two will be together again when their case goes to trial.

A judge approved the prosecution’s request to have the shoplifting charges against the former anchor and her ex-boyfriend consolidated into one case.

Rodriguez did not show up to court and let her lawyer handle the motions.  Her former fiancé, Nicholas Gray, was ushered into the courtroom in handcuffs.

Rodriquez’s lawyer added that depending on future evidence and new information in the case, they could decide not to join in the future.

According to court documents, Rodriguez drove fiancé Nicholas Gray to San Francisco to help sell stolen goods. Included in the court documents are alleged texts between the couple that reveal a theft conspiracy.

On August 5, Rodriguez issued a statement noting that she has broken off her relationship with Gray. “As of today I have severed my ties with Nick Gray. I am now focusing on life decisions as I move forward with the support of family, friends, viewers and the community,” Rodriguez wrote.

Her attorney told KOVR he’s going to work hard to restore her good name and reputation and believes she is innocent.

Good luck with that.

H/T KOVR

Phoenix ND Headed to Scripps Corporate (Updated)

Yesterday, FTVLive told you we were hearing rumors about to be a big management change about to go down in Phoenix. 

FTVLive has been able to nail it down. Insiders at Scripps tell FTVLive that KTVK News Director Cameryn Beck is leaving Meredith owned KTVK to become the V̶P̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶N̶e̶w̶s̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶S̶c̶r̶i̶p̶p̶s̶.

Update: Scripps tells FTVLive that Beck's official title is Senior Director Of News Strategy. The VP of News title belongs to Sean McLaughlin who will be Beck's boss. 

Beck came to KTVK in February of 2013 from KOVR in Sacramento. She has been considered a rising star in the business and now she will head up the news for Scripps, which happens to also own a station in Phoenix (KNXV).

Beck will remained based in Phoenix. 

This news is very hush, hush, so don't tell anyone. OK?

Expect an official announcement very soon. 

Pervert Weatherman Indicted in Scam

We're going to go out on a limb here and say that former WPTV Weatherman Rob Lopicola is just an asshole. 

Lopicola is the sicko that is serving a 56-month sentence for having sex with underage boys. Now, word comes that while he was not having sex with kids, the former Weather Anchor was ripping people off in a scam. 

Lopicola was quietly indicted by a federal grand jury in East St. Louis, Illinois, in connection with scam to bilk timeshare owners out of millions.

Lopicola was officially charged with felony conspiracy to commit wire fraud, is serving his sex-crime time at the mid-level security Everglades Correctional Institution in Miami.

Lopicola allegedly called timeshare owners and falsely claimed to have found potential buyers for their properties. Lopicola then asked each owner for $1,000 to handle the sale.

Federal investigators said Lopicola and the company he worked for, Premier Timeshare Solutions, pocketed the fees then told sellers that their sale didn’t go through.

The feds claim Lopicola called owners without really securing a buyer.

The company allegedly victimized 7,000 would-be sellers in the United States, Canada and The Bahamas for more than $14.5 million.

When the pervert gets out of prison in 2016, he could be facing another 25 years in prison for his role in the scam. 

Sounds like he deserves at least that. 

H/T Gossip Extra

Revolving Door in Greenville, New Bern

Yesterday, FTVLive told you that longtime WNCT (New Bern) General Manager Vickie Jones w̶a̶s̶ ̶f̶i̶r̶e̶dis "retiring" from Media General station.

Sources tell FTVLive that Media General might be changing the front door of the station, to a revolving one. A lot of people have been packing up their desks. First, the old News Director was fired earlier this year. Their current Assistant News Director is leaving to take a job as a ND near home in Texas. WNCT's Weekend Sports Anchor and Weekend Meteorologist both just recently gave their notices.

Last one to leave, get the lights. 

Cocaine Congressman's Wife Named Main Anchor in SoFlo

WFTX in Ft. Myers has announced that Amy Wegmann, who rejoined the station in July, has been named the new "permanent" co-anchor of the 6p.m., 10 p.m., and 11 p.m. newscasts.

Wegmann had worked at the station before, but left when her husband Trey Radel ran for and won a seat in Congress. 

Radel's term as a Congressman didn't last long when he was arrested and sentenced for cocaine possession.

Although, Wegmann or her husband never really answered questions about coke bust, the station welcomed her back with open arms and now has made her Main Anchor. 

“We are excited to have Amy move to FOX 4 News at 6, 10, and 11. She did a great job for us in the mornings and believe we will strengthen our evening newscasts with her anchoring and reporting talents,” said FOX 4 Vice President and General Manager Charlie Henrich. 

“Amy is a hometown girl from Cape Coral and connects very well with the viewers of Southwest Florida," Henrich added. "We are excited about this transition.”

So there you go. 

What the Hell?

If you read Matt Drudge's the DrudgeReport, than you maybe convinced that we're all going to die at the hands of the liberals, ebloa and that the immigrants are going to takeover the world after the cross the Mexican border. 

Drudge sent out this tweet:

The problem is, the tweet is talking about two completely different people. Somehow, because all Latinos are the same to Matt Drudge, he confused Journalist Jose Antonio Vargas for former L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

It was Vargas that wrote the story as to why he turned himself into DHS. Villaraigosa had nothing to do with the story. Other than both being Latino and sharing the same name "Antonio," the two are nothing alike. 

But, we did get a kick out of Vargas's tweet back to Drudge:

Unfortunately Jose, to Matt Drudge you are.

H/T HuffPo