Convicted Felon and Former Philly Anchor Lands Radio Gig

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Former Philly Anchor Larry Mendte has landed a morning radio job at WILM-AM in Wilmington, Delaware.

Mendte as you remember was convicted of hacking into his co-anchor's email when the two worked at KYW in Philly. 

"I could not be prouder to join iHeartMedia/Delaware and to continue to deliver news and opinion so close to where I was born and raised,” said Mendte. 

Staffers there might want to keep an eye on their email. 

Just saying....

WMAQ Hires New Managing Editor

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WMAQ (Chicago) has hired a new Managing Editor, but it is someone that knows the Chicago news landscape.

Former WLS Executive Producer Richard Maginn heads across the street to the NBC O&O as the ME. 

“We are fortunate to have someone with Richard’s local experience join our team,” Frank Whittaker, station manager and vice president of news at NBC 5, said in announcing Maginn’s appointment to the newly created position.

Starting June 22, Maginn will oversee all aspects of newsgathering, including daily coverage and major events, work with reporters in the field, and drive convergence with digital platforms and Telemundo Chicago sister station WSNS-Channel 44.

H/T Robert Feder 

Longtime Dallas Investigative Reporter to Sign Off

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Longtime KDFW Investigative Reporter Becky Oliver is signing off from the station at the end of the month.

Oliver joined the Fox station in March 1991 and won numerous awards in her time at the station. 

Oliver told Ed Bark that it is totally her decision to leave. “No, I’m not being forced out,” she says. 

“You get to do that at age 55 at Fox,” Oliver says in a telephone interview while on vacation. “You get a very generous pension, retirement and medical package . . . The hardest thing for me has been juggling motherhood with a full-time job.”

Her last day is June 29th. 

Reporter Cited for Contempt of Court for Tweeting

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KFSM Managing Editor Larry Henry admitted in court Monday he violated a judge's order by tweeting the verdict of a recent murder trial from the courtroom.

Circuit Judge Brad Karren found Henry in contempt of court for tweeting "BREAKING Zachary Holly guilty of capital murder in 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman's death" moments after the verdict was read.

The judge issued an order before the trial stated that all cellphones, cameras and recording devices in the courtroom must be turned off during all proceedings in the case. Danny Monjure, Karren's bailiff, said Tuesday the judge also made a point of saying he wouldn't allow any tweeting or text messaging about the case from the courtroom.

Holly was sentenced to death by lethal injection in the 2012 death, rape and kidnapping of the Bentonville child.

Monjure investigated the tweet after learning how quickly it was posted online. Courtroom cameras showed Henry using his cellphone shortly after the verdict was issued at a time that matched with his tweet, Monjure said.

The bailiff said he and the judge discussed possible sentences for a guilty plea and Karren came up with the idea of a news story in lieu of a fine or jail time.

"He thought a story could promote awareness of child safety and it was a good way to handle it," Monjure said.

Henry has 30 days to air the story

Of course this begs the question of whether a judge should take editorial control and force a station to air a story because of one Reporter's mistake?

Personally, I would not let the judge dictate what news stories my station does or does not air. I say let Henry face the penalty on his own terms and not get the station involved.

I do not feel the station should cave to the judge's order. It's a slippery slope that the station should not head down. 

A status hearing is set for July 16.

Stay tuned.... 

H/T NWAonline.com

Matt Lauer Hits the Links with Michelle Wie

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Today show host Matt Lauer hit the links yesterday and played with defending Women's US Open Champion Michele Wie.

Lauer tee'd it up with Wie in a Pro-Am with Lauer prior to the start of the Women's KPMG Championship.

Both were excited to have the chance to play with each other. 

"It really is so cool," Wie said, "Matt's a true golfer. He's really knowledgable about it and has some great stories. He's a ton of fun to play with."

From having been on The Today Show twice in her career, her last time being after her U.S. Women's Open win last year, Wie and Lauer have gotten to know each other. So they were sharing laughs and playable banter the whole day at Westchester C.C.

"You get to play with someone like Michelle, and it's great. Her swing is effortless and the ball goes a mile," Lauer said. "But to top it off, she's a nice person. Michelle takes time to talk to you, she's interested in you and is asking you questions, so she's made it a lot of fun."

Let's hope Michelle took it Wiesy on Lauer on the links. 

H/T Golf Digest

Atlanta Reporter Donates Kidney to Stranger

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WAGA Medical Reporter Beth Galvin puts her money where her mouth is.

The long-time Reporter went under the knife yesterday to have a kidney removed and donated to an anonymous recipient in Los Angeles

Galvin was inspired by a Atlanta area police captain’s similar journey that she covered for the TV station.

She posted this to her Facebook page:

I am taking a few weeks off from FOX 5 to do something I’ve felt led to do. On Tuesday, June 9th at Emory University Hospital, I will become a kidney donor through the Paired Kidney Donor program.

I will be the beginning of a kidney transplant chain that will stretch across the country. I do not know who will receive my kidney, except that it is someone in LA who needs it.

Props to her for making such a choice and bigger props for not doing this during a sweeps month. Really shows that her heart is in the right spot. 

H/T Atlanta Journal Constitution

LA Anchor Headed to Phoenix?

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FTVLive told you that longtime KPNX Anchor Lin Sue Cooney signed off from the Phoenix station.

So now the big question is who will KPNX hire to replace Cooney?

KPNX Anchor Mark Curtis may have spilled the beans on Twitter as to one of the candidates the station is seriously looking at.

Curtis tweeted to KNBC's Vanessa Ruiz, wishing her safe travels and telling her he would see her tomorrow. 

Don't be surprised if Ruiz is seen moving to the Valley of the Sun in the next few weeks.

Just saying..... 

Another Phoenix Anchor is Out

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KNXV is parting ways to Anchor Yetta Gibson. 

Gibson has been at the station for less than a year and has worked at just about every station in the Phoenix market. 

Back in May of last year, FTVLive told you that Gibson was leaving as Morning Anchor at KTVK.  At the time Gibson said she wanted to "spend more time with her family."

It appear that 3 months was more than enough time with the family and she landed a job with KNXV across the street in August of last year.

But now, 10 months later she is leaving that job.

Here is the internal email that was sent to the staff from GM Anita Helt:

We are saying goodbye to Yetta Gibson. We appreciate all the time and energy she has devoted to helping us launch The Now Arizona these last 12 months. She has also been a key player in many of our station initiatives this year, including Operation Santa Claus and ABC15’s PCH Telethon. We wish Yetta the very best in her next chapter! She will be with us through Friday, June 12.  Please take a minute to say goodbye next time you see her.

 

Birmingham News Director is Leaving

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WVTM News Director Tim Gardner is leaving the station after more than 8 years on the job. 

Gardner notified the staff this morning that he is leaving and moving to Dallas to be with his wife and family, WVTM General Manager Hank Price said. 

"As far as I'm concerned, he is an absolute professional, and I appreciate all of he has done for us," Price said. "He has given us notice, and he will be leaving in July.

"We will, of course, begin the search for a news director," Price added.

Gardner declined to comment and referred all questions to Price.

Gardner came to the station as news director in March 2007. He also previously worked at the station as a producer from 1979 to 1982.

H/T Al.com

Looks Like an AARP Commercial

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5 days ago, FTVLive told you that WGCL was bringing back former Anchors from Atlanta stations (except their own) to come on the air and do brief commentaries.  

The new segment on their 5PM newscast is called “Just a Minute”. The segment includes a Who’s Who of former Atlanta broadcast journalists spewing their thoughts at the end of the newscast.

The station sent along their promo for their new segment and it looks like it could also double as a spot for Geritol.

Now we know that old Atlanta Anchors never die, they just go on the last place station to say whatever the hell they want.

Let's go to the video:

Uploaded by scott Jones on 2015-06-10.