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I’m pleasantly surprised. Action News is known for not hiring from other stations in the market. But I love Jessica’s work. They made a great choice.

This longstanding reluctance and defiance to adapt is why I’m rooting hard for the continued erosion of the broadcast networks newscasts. Everything from GMA to WNT to Meet The Press just objectively sucks compared to 10 years ago.

I'm guessing with the close of the DC bureau, the Cox stations will likely have to lean on their respective networks and/or CNN for news in the nation's capital.

New York City is America's media capital and co-cultural center next to Los Angeles. It's also the "mascot" American city for foreigners. In a way the country and part of the world revolves around NYC. Accordingly, producers might be thinking what matters there matters everywhere. I think this is indicative of a larger problem in American media. Because so much of our media is based out of NYC and LA their cultural attitudes bleed into that media while a large portion of the country goes underrepresented.

Okay, I am so excited for this and this is stuff only public television can do. KTCA Twin Cities PBS has produced a three-part series called Broadcast News. Produced by Minnesota news legend Cathy Wurzer, It takes a close and unique look at the Twin Cities television market from the 1960s onward. I have yet to see them but I WILL be watching them. To paraphrase the descriptions of each episode a.k.a. TL;DR (these are my descriptions based on titles and descriptions used at TPT.org): Episode one mainly focuses on the 60s and 70s as Stanley E. Hubbard is a pioneer in broadcasting which leads KSTP to dominate until an unknown Dave Moore and WCCO take over, skyrocket, and create a fierce battle between the two. Also, women and POC fighting to be included into newsrooms. Episode two gets to the late 70s into early 80s, continuing to showcase women and POC fighting to be included, weather and meteorologists now becoming an important part of the news, and production values becoming more mainstream and polished. Episode three gets into local news from the 80s to today. KARE 11 is the laughingstock... until its no longer and becomes a major threat to WCCO and KSTP, the Hubbards are investing in their stations, and continuing shifts in the media landscape as newscasters have their private lives thrusted into public view. Watch them now before KTCA puts them into PBS Passport and then is paywalled. https://www.tpt.org/broadcast-wars/

I don't have any insight or information, but having a new job and an ongoing relationship with the station makes me think this was a planned exit by him. A quiet and short notice without the pomp and circumstance is the ideal departure for many people. News anchors come and go, and maybe he didn't want to make himself the news or at least minimize the time when he is the center of attention. The tribute and retrospective PKGs are awkward and have no viewer benefit. Newsroom cakes and speeches are just painfully awkward.

From Columbus, it's a WTVN-TV "Action News" cut in with Earl Green from 1978, with a "Bringing It Home to You" ID. News open at 1:59:10. Fun fact: WTVN was using automated cameras at the time.

I can't find a thread for general discussion about Cox Media Group, so let's start one with some actual news! WSB-TV anchor Justin Farmer is leaving the station after 16 years for an undisclosed finance job. Here's what's odd about this. WSB management announced the news to employees today (November 25) at the morning editorial meeting, and Farmer's last day is tomorrow (November 26th). A 24-hour turnaround from announcement to goodbye? This reeks of either a budget cut or a failed contract negotiation.

Well…that was a bit of a surprise