My approach as a journalist was always to try to keep it simple – to clearly see things for what they were, and find the core of truth. In so doing, it was not uncommon to run up against what you might call the “limits” of journalism. Objectivity and fairness are basic tenants, but so […]
Messing with my mind: Chrysler & America
February 6, 2012 by
I knew the Chrysler commercial featuring Clint Eastwood struck a chord when my youngest son instantly hit me with a text that simply read, “America!” http://youtu.be/0RLGuPx3N6A What does that tell me? That the emotional drivers associated with a brand are far more important than the facts. Does he not realize that Clint’s tough guy voice […]
Love Dilbert, but not like this
February 6, 2012 by
The News Tribune is a good newspaper. Without its powerful voice in the South Sound, this community wouldn’t be anything close to what it is. With that said, long hours and late deadlines make editors vulnerable to following habits that sometimes come back to bite. Case in point: Page A10 in today’s News Tribune. In […]
KIRO AM saved by a hair
January 19, 2012 by
Minneapolis-based Hubbard Broadcasting is buying all of Bonneville’s radio stations, but that looks like it will NOT include KIRO. Hubbard is a family owned company. A dysfunctional family. The deep thinkers at Hubbard have presided over the demise of several formerly fine properties. Jeff Simpson will now take the reigns over the remaining Bonneville properties. […]
Get Jesse
December 17, 2010 by
Best wishes to Jesse Jones who is going back in for more cancer treatment. The Tacoma native has beaten it before, and there seems to be wide agreement that he’ll do it again. Jones is one of the few really branded reporters in the market, and he’ll be missed at KING.
Don’t look at me!
December 8, 2010 by
So let me get this straight – everybody in the world has a Facebook page where they share enough information to get them convicted on just about any charge, but don’t want retailers and marketers to “track them” on the web? Well okay, then kiss the entire Raison d’être for the Internet goodbye. Without the […]
What does it mean?
November 26, 2010 by
As if Brian Williams’ halting delivery in the promo he shot for KING isn’t strange enough – there’s the “Look at the richness of life, it doesn’t get any better than KING5.” It’s just so weird. What’s not weird is Williams new promotion of the idea that we all DVR the evening news. “Appointment viewing” […]
World ending
November 23, 2010 by
Not really – I’m just getting back into my TV news groove a little. I don’t know what’s better for a local TV station, election spending or a major snow event. Oh, I know, having them both in the same quarter and during sweeps! Viewership goes through the moon during weather crisis’ and stations throw […]
Yucks at KOMO
November 11, 2010 by
Seattle television is a notoriously personality-free zone which has always meant there’s room for one of the big brands to come in and own the space. Yes, there have been exceptions over the years, but generally – we’re pretty darned matter-of-fact around here. With that said, I think KOMO is doing the best job of […]
LIVE – taking the cake
October 29, 2010 by
Ever since the first little aluminum mast poked skyward barely clearing a nearby high voltage wire to put a live reporter on television, the TV news world has been embroiled in the “live, for live’s sake debate.” It is one of the greatest time-wasting, navel-gazing, angst-ridden conversations to be had in any TV newsroom. I […]
What are they THINKING?
October 22, 2010 by
Chris Daniels at KING5 did a nice story about local football officials running afoul of the Pacific Northwest Football Officials Association because they chose to blow pink whistles at games to help raise money for breast cancer research – without permission! Association Chair Todd Stordahl actually went on the air trying to defend the indefensible. […]
Phone books gone bust
October 11, 2010 by
I will mention none of the too many phone books by name – because I know what a sore subject this is having a couple of friends who toil long and hard selling very expensive space in the things. While I’m sure the books can produce a pile of research that will show us what […]
Let’s get mobile
October 11, 2010 by
The Seattle TV stations have always had a national reputation for excellence. Ownership and business model changes have watered that down a little, but even so, our big three still stand above the crowd when looked at as a group compared to other markets where there may be one standout, but the rest are dogs. […]
Tribune Fiasco
October 6, 2010 by
We have one Tribune property here in Seattle – Q13. There is nothing worse working at a local TV station, 2,000 miles away from the throne, knowing that the bosses are idiots. That’s the sad situation every Q13 employee finds him or herself in however. Wonder why a TV newsroom might have a culture that […]
LOUDNESS!
October 4, 2010 by
Coming in only behind parents locked in bitter custody battles that wanted news coverage, prisoners who didn’t do it who wanted news coverage and people who knew our signal was controlling their thoughts, complaints about loud commercials has always been among the biggest gripes coming into a TV station. What’s funny, is that the industry […]
The Peacock has croaked
September 29, 2010 by
It’s hard to believe, but NBC is worth a negative $600 million. That’s ($600,000,000). An analyst from Wunderlich Securities was looking at the Comcast deal when he came up with that number. He figures NBC Universal (a mere division of GE) is worth about $32.5 billion, and that 78% of that valuation comes from the […]
