MORE CHANGES ON HORIZON AT KCTV5; NEW MORNING ANCHOR TEAM
Dana Wright
If there is one word to explain KCTV5 in Kansas City these days it would be: CHANGE. Since Robert (Bobby) Totsch left KMOV in St. Louis after 21 years to take the reins as general manager at KCTV last October, virtually every aspect of the CBS affiliate has changed. And now, according to reliable sources, more changes are under way. Here are some of the changes Totsch has implemented since his arrival: * Award-winning investigative reporter Ash-har Quarishi and veteran investigative producer Chris Koeberl were given their walking papers as part of the gutting of the station's prominent Investigative unit. * The station made a commitment to bringing in "backpack" journalists, who will shoot their own video, narrate stories and even edit them. * A series of commercials made it very clear that meteorologist Katie Horner's "Chicken Little" severe weather forecasts have been dialed down. * Seven-year veteran KCTV reporter/anchor Chris Pisano was removed as co-anchor on the morning news; Surae Chinn's reporter's post was unfilled and reporter/anchor Shaun Broyle was let go. * Stacey Cameron was brought in as an investigative reporter (LINK). * Mike Cukyne was brought in from KMOV as general sales manager (LINK). * A new Friday night show aimed at the Hispanic community was started in February (LINK). * The station, which had reduced its sports coverage considerably, announced it was bringing in Michael Coleman from New York as its new sports director. The changes, are still not over at KCTV5. Bottom Line Communications has learned that stalwart morning co-anchor Dana Wright will be removed from that position and replaced by Kelly Jones, who currently is a reporter at San Diego CBS affiliate KFMB-TV "News 8." (SEE FULL STORY) Wright will remain with the station as an investigative reporter and dayside reporter. KCTV5 reporter Greg Adaline will fill Pisano's spot as morning co-anchor with Jones.
04-19-2010 SMALL MARKET JOURNALISM "One-man-band reporter/photographer is SOOOO small market.Right out of Topeka and Garden City. "So much for quality photojournalism.More dialing down of the content starting at 5, but it will probably spread as TV is cutting costs because of reduced audiences and less money for commercials. "I've worked with fabulous photographers in my career.One NY Intl Film Festival medal and an NPPA (National Press Photographers Assn) award.The TV News art is starting to look like knockoff Chinese imports we're stuck buying at Walmart. "What a horrible shame.I predict one of the 4 'news depts in town will be gutted or eliminated fairly soon.Like radio stations, which is more and more automated as live jocks are let go, times they are a changin!And the loss is craftsmanship!"
Copyright 2010 Bottom Line Communications. BLC is a Media News Web site that analyzes media and marketing issues. Please give credit or link to http://www.bottomlinecom.com when using any materials. Click on the FEEDBACK tab to send any media tips/comments/thoughts to us. We honor all off-the-record requests and will correct/clarify any information found not to be 100% accurate.
