Out & About

[l_miro 245]

16 hours ago, GraphicsMan said:

Something tells me that Gen Z tv personalities especially females will be very colorful people. My generation is just weird man. I like the millennial tv personalities a little better, I just have this awful feeling about my generation it why I’m afraid to go into tv news I’ve considered to look at other things.

 

nah. The old guard just didn't have socials so the only way you'd know someone on TV had disordered personality would be to work with them or somehow interact. God forbid if they're the ND's or GM's favorite... newsies can tell stories. Just recently we learned about Barbara Walters, although discerning people would've picked up on what she's really like just by watching her interviews.

 

The late Ike Seamans from WTVJ said this in the late 2000s too - most new talent coming in wants to see themselves on TV, not do journalism. The socials made this even more apparent and now they get to feed off it twice - TV *and* socials.
 

All that's much harder to hide nowadays probably why you're noticing it and think there's more of it. It's always been there. Come to think of it the news business, from my interactions with people within it for 25 years, tends to attract a lot of unsavory people, narcissists primarily, who can feed off small things like saying they work at so and so station up to the fact they're on air and known. This especially true of the big-name stations. Which isn't to say there are no nice, normal people.

 

I don't think you should let the messyness stop of you from trying out a career you might enjoy. I believe there's a video of Marilyn Mitzell, who used to work at WSVN, on Youtube where she specifically tells people - keep your head down, stay away from office drama - simple yet 90% effective imo. 

 

And if you land at a shop whose management does not suffer employee drama it very likely would end up being a very fulfilling career.

 

 

[MorningNews 1711]

I’d tend to agree with that. I’m just imagining reporters of the past like Max Robinson in the age of social media where you’re inclined to share as part of the engagement strategy. Imagine Mark Giangreco or Steve Bartelstein in the current age of social media given how unhinged they could be on air at times?

[GraphicsMan 345]

5 hours ago, l_miro said:

 

I don't think you should let the messyness stop of you from trying out a career you might enjoy. I believe there's a video of Marilyn Mitzell, who used to work at WSVN, on Youtube where she specifically tells people - keep your head down, stay away from office drama - simple yet 90% effective imo

See that entails another problem I’m autistic I worked in a newsroom and I loved it because it was mostly if not 100% virtual. But since KMSG shut down I had to work office jobs my disability can’t handle the social interaction I get extremely burned out. So imagine if I was working in a big city newsroom like the newsroom of WPVI in Philly or WABC in New York or KABC in Los Angeles those narcissistic folks the ones who wanna be on tv like you said would have a field day with me everyday because I just figured out I can’t mask my disability anymore and in a big city newsroom I could see myself getting made fun of a lot. That why if I ever decide to reenter this business I wanna work in a small market, or Raleigh-Durham (my home market) or in a mountain town, because being in a small market being autistic and different is more acceptable there than in a big city. I considered moving to Asheville, North Carolina after school is done or working in a smaller NC market there 10 markets that cover all 100 NC counties (believe it or not Clay County, NC is covered by the Atlanta market). So they’re are only technically 3 big markets serving North Carolina. Anyways there is hope though there this autistic meteorologist who works at WITN in Greenville, NC about an hour and 90 minutes outside of Raleigh I could see myself being a reporter in a market that size, because that great for an autistic person it’s small mistakes can be accepted there, and you won’t feel bad for being different it’s that or the mountains. Btw that meteorologist might be the first autistic tv weatherman in broadcast history. Also on TV you have to be yourself I will say as an autistic person being yourself gets you fired from your job that what’s masking does. Now I’m saying all this because the job I just had made me accept my autism because of how bad I was treated at first I hid it but a week or 2 later I came out and told them I was autistic. That wasn’t until the boss was talking about marijuana use in the workplace, and we had a meeting and he pointed me out specifically and said you’re different you don’t need marijuana. A few days later I told him I was autistic he said I know. Long story short I was called retard*d a few times and when he left the company the big boss said that he said that I was a failed abortion. Now I forgave him, though I was hurt I felt like I was the problem for a minute I later left that job. After that I was like I just can’t see myself doing tv news at least not in a big market, not even outside the state of North Carolina. I don’t think It could work. 
 

5 hours ago, l_miro said:

The late Ike Seamans from WTVJ said this in the late 2000s too - most new talent coming in wants to see themselves on TV, not do journalism. The socials made this even more apparent and now they get to feed off it twice - TV *and* socials.

Yeah so this is another thing this maybe because of my disability or not but I formed romantic parasocial relationships with tv meteorologist and tv news anchors and reporters. I think that is dangerous as well as it was for me and its why I’m rethinking going back into this industry. But yeah that another thing they just wanna be on tv and share there pretty looks. It could be because of my disability since I get no relationships of friends that I feel attached to people but still I think Ike was right it more about being on TV than the job.

Edited July 18, 2025 by GraphicsMan

[AaronQ 309]

WSOC-TV's investigative reporter Jason Stoogenke got sworn in as an attorney today, he's still staying with Action 9. 

 

 

[MD TV 389]

Parella Lewis is leaving WYFF to become chief meteorologist at KING:

 

https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/greenville/2025/07/16/wyff-4-meteorologist-parella-lewis-leaving-moving-back-home-to-seattle/85236534007/

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

Known for some time, today was retirement day for KSDK's Kay Quinn after 36 years.

 

 

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

I didn't know about this until now... apparently at some point this year, Gray and Sinclair filed with the FCC to swap stations and have since been consummated.

 

South Bend: Sinclair now owns both WSBT and WSJV.

Peoria: Gray now owns both WEEK and WHOI.

 

I'm not expecting them to go back to their former affiliation days (WSJV goes back to FOX and WHOI goes back to ABC), but this is interesting nonetheless but happened under the radar.

[nathannah 2792]

9 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said:

I didn't know about this until now... apparently at some point this year, Gray and Sinclair filed with the FCC to swap stations and have since been consummated.

 

South Bend: Sinclair now owns both WSBT and WSJV.

Peoria: Gray now owns both WEEK and WHOI.

The swap was mainly because WSJV is the ATSC 3.0 lighthouse in South Bend (their pet project, of course, with their 1.0 subs spread across WSBT, WHME and even WNIT) and they transmit from the WSBT tower, so they pulled the swap since SInclair doesn't have a sister station in Peoria and FAIAP WEEK had been controlling WHOI anyways. I was surprised when I read it myself a few weeks back.

 

And WSJV does carry SBT2/Fox in 3.0 format so you are correct in a roundabout way that it did come back home.

 

 

-----

 

 

Meanwhile an update on the WTMJ meteorologist situation; Tyler Moore posted that he is leaving the industry because of exhaustion (on a self-described in-market 'dream job', so you have to wonder how much pressure Scripps/station management puts on their young hires);

 

And because of that, Michael Fish is back on a freelance basis.

 

 

[GraphicsMan 345]

On 7/20/2025 at 4:28 PM, nathannah said:

Meanwhile an update on the WTMJ meteorologist situation; Tyler Moore posted that he is leaving the industry because of exhaustion (on a self-described in-market 'dream job', so you have to wonder how much pressure Scripps/station management puts on their young hires);

That really unfair, especially that a lot of young tv personalities get to large markets in under 10 years more like 6 years a face pressure. A long time ago it would take a decade to hit a large market. Honestly I don’t like big markets personally I prefer small markets even with the shitty pay because at least you’re comfortable mistakes are made but at least you don’t have to deal with high pressure and inflated egos of being in a big market. I told myself if I reenter I’m not even gonna go my hometown, ima try to stay 30 and up. Kansas City is the most tolerable market.

Edited July 21, 2025 by GraphicsMan

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

A big loss in Oregon television is coming up in November... Jeff Gianola's retirement.

 

43 years on television, 42 of them in Portland. The first 15 years at KATU, and now the last 27 years at KOIN.

 

Not surprising to say that his last newscast will be late November, which sounds more likely he'll retire before Thanksgiving and the holiday season.

 

https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/longtime-portland-anchor-jeff-gianola-to-retire-in-november/

[Recovering Producer 410]

Nexstar's Hagerstown MD station cosplaying as a DC station, WDVM,  switched at least part of their morning newscast to "Sunrise on the Hill" - with anchors Cory Smith and Hillary Howard.

They're now airing The Hill's "Rising" at 9am as well. 

 

[Georgie56 3661]

2 hours ago, Recovering Producer said:

Nexstar's Hagerstown MD station cosplaying as a DC station, WDVM,  switched at least part of their morning newscast to "Sunrise on the Hill" - with anchors Cory Smith and Hillary Howard.

They're now airing The Hill's "Rising" at 9am as well. 

 

It is indeed presented as a DC News Now program.

 

 

[nathannah 2792]

Sad news out of Charleston/Huntington, as Tom McGee, a longtime anchor considered equivalent to Ron Burgundy in the area has died in hospice at 78.

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

A third newscast at 7:00 p.m. is coming to Baltimore. WBAL is launching theirs on September 15th.

 

https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/baltimores-wbal-to-add-evening-newscast-shuffle-meteorologists/

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

Three departures to note...

 

Today was WVLT's Chief Meteorologist Heather Haley's last day after 17 years. She's off to join the Univ. of Tennessee, her alma mater, to be an associate professor in journalism but will remain on the air as she'll do weather too for 91.9 WUOT.

 

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=731756496258348&id=1165737145583115

 

https://cci.utk.edu/blog/2025/06/09/emmy-award-winning-chief-meteorologist-heather-haley-to-join-cci-and-wuot-in-fall-2025/

 

Today was also Michal Higdon's last day at WCSC after 10 years. The UF grad (Go Gators!!! ) will join WVTM Birmingham as their new evening Breaking News anchor. Plus, she'll be closer to family.

 

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1275691704177146&id=100052089851415

 

Finally, I've mentioned it before but today was the day. KYTV's Lisa Rose after a stellar 41-year run there.

 

She just finished her last newscast but a special half-hour on her career is airing as we speak.

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ky3.com/2025/07/24/celebrating-lisa-rose-why-lisa-decided-retire/%3foutputType=amp

Edited July 25, 2025 by TheRolyPoly
Added UT link.

[Glimmer 340]

Missed this a couple weeks ago, but in “about time” news WDJT is moving Bill Walsh back to weekdays starting in late August as Mike Strehlow retires from regular anchoring (he will continue as host of CBS 58 Sunday Morning)

 

https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/television-radio/2025/07/08/bill-walsh-named-news-co-anchor-at-noon-4-p-m-at-channel-58/84503523007/

[Breaking News 888]

On 7/23/2025 at 10:37 PM, TheRolyPoly said:

A third newscast at 7:00 p.m. is coming to Baltimore. WBAL is launching theirs on September 15th.

 

https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/baltimores-wbal-to-add-evening-newscast-shuffle-meteorologists/

Access Hollywood in Baltimore moving to WMAR-2 this fall at 7:30pm.

Edited July 26, 2025 by Breaking News

[newsdude 68]

On 7/23/2025 at 11:56 AM, Georgie56 said:

It is indeed presented as a DC News Now program.

 

They're producing this out of the Nexstar DC bureau, not from DC News Now's studios. Definitely not producing this for your everyday local news audience. 

 

[tyrannical bastard 4676]

Mark Johnson, who was dumped from WEWS, has accepted a role with Tegna as a contract meteorologist...

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2025/07/29/mark-johnson-hired-by-wkyc-parent-company-tegna-meteorologist/85418856007/?tbref=hp

 

We all know how this story ends...

Once the non-compete expires, cue Mark on WKYC in 3, 2....

[Breaking News 888]

1 hour ago, tyrannical bastard said:

Mark Johnson, who was dumped from WEWS, has accepted a role with Tegna as a contract meteorologist...

https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/news/2025/07/29/mark-johnson-hired-by-wkyc-parent-company-tegna-meteorologist/85418856007/?tbref=hp

 

We all know how this story ends...

Once the non-compete expires, cue Mark on WKYC in 3, 2....

https://www.clevescene.com/news/mark-johnson-hired-by-wkyc-parent-company-tegna-for-freelance-weather-work-outside-of-cleveland-47085336

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

This took place in May but I'm only starting to find about it now.

 

WJAN, long known as America TeVe in my home market of Miami, is still on the air but all live and originated content is on pause thanks to a court order resulting from a shareholders dispute.

 

Its messy so long story short, it is currently airing pre-recorded content and reruns of their programs to keep the station's license on the air.

 

Their sister radio station, 1260 WSUA (which I don't believe is even owned by them, yet, somehow has control of it) is unaffected and their programming remains as normal. The website is still posting as normal too, which is making me think its still going with WSUA and not WJAN.

 

I just checked and instead of the 10pm news and El Espejo (news, debate, and analysis), it will instead air the comedic and talk program La Mesa Nostra instead, meaning that live weekday news at 4, 7, and 10pm are all cancelled. The Hialeah Gardens facilities (I'm literary five minutes away from the site by drive) are shuttered and now a sign is displayed that says another company has taken over, shut it down, and let all WJAN employees go.

 

I won't go into more details because I'm still learning about it and trying to process it but its shocking and surprising that it was very abrupt. Hell, its almost three months since this happened and only now I'm learning about it.

 

https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2025-05-09-u1-e43231-s27061-nid302435-desalojo-despidos-america-teve-canal-41-miami-cierra

 

https://www.cubaenmiami.com/en/america-teve-pone-pausa-a-sus-transmisiones-en-vivo-y-despide-empleados-tras-orden-judicial/

[l_miro 245]

21 hours ago, TheRolyPoly said:

This took place in May but I'm only starting to find about it now.

 

WJAN, long known as America TeVe in my home market of Miami, is still on the air but all live and originated content is on pause thanks to a court order resulting from a shareholders dispute.

 

Its messy so long story short, it is currently airing pre-recorded content and reruns of their programs to keep the station's license on the air.

 

Their sister radio station, 1260 WSUA (which I don't believe is even owned by them, yet, somehow has control of it) is unaffected and their programming remains as normal. The website is still posting as normal too, which is making me think its still going with WSUA and not WJAN.

 

I just checked and instead of the 10pm news and El Espejo (news, debate, and analysis), it will instead air the comedic and talk program La Mesa Nostra instead, meaning that live weekday news at 4, 7, and 10pm are all cancelled. The Hialeah Gardens facilities (I'm literary five minutes away from the site by drive) are shuttered and now a sign is displayed that says another company has taken over, shut it down, and let all WJAN employees go.

 

I won't go into more details because I'm still learning about it and trying to process it but its shocking and surprising that it was very abrupt. Hell, its almost three months since this happened and only now I'm learning about it.

 

https://en.cibercuba.com/noticias/2025-05-09-u1-e43231-s27061-nid302435-desalojo-despidos-america-teve-canal-41-miami-cierra

 

https://www.cubaenmiami.com/en/america-teve-pone-pausa-a-sus-transmisiones-en-vivo-y-despide-empleados-tras-orden-judicial/

 

their building was being shopped around for a while, we considered it for self-storage at some point but I think they were hoping to sale/lease and get cash to operate.

 

Are Mega/SBS still on the air? Their facilities on the Palmetto were for sale until very recently after VOZ botched the MegaTV purchase

 

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

2 hours ago, l_miro said:

 

their building was being shopped around for a while, we considered it for self-storage at some point but I think they were hoping to sale/lease and get cash to operate.

 

Are Mega/SBS still on the air? Their facilities on the Palmetto were for sale until very recently after VOZ botched the MegaTV purchase

 

 

Yes, Mega TV is still on the air. HQ is still there along the Palmetto (SR 826 in Doral).

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

A new movie-focused diginet quietly went live as of today. Backed by Lionsgate, introducing MovieSphere Gold. TelevisaUnivision is the charter group for the bulk of the new affiliates, including my Miami station WLTV-DT 23.4.

 

https://moviespheregold.com/

[TheRolyPoly 3510]

20 years at WHO Des Moines was enough for Jannay Towne.

 

The longtime anchor is leaving the station, though not sure when will be her last day.

 

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=698667833173025&id=1168489295085924