MOST UNDERUSED NEWS TALENT?

[formeraa]

In your opinion, who are the best underused news people in Phoenix?

I will throw Linda Williams out there for discussion. I really think that she is an asset to FOX 10, but is underutilized on the weekend newscasts.

 

[oldtimeradio]

If you really want to know...in my opinion, there are no news people in this market that have talent. That is, using the standards that news people USED to have. Today's people can't talk, either reading news copy or ad libbing on location.

That school that turns out all these news people should be sued and/or shut down.

Your opinions may vary.

Mike

 

[KeithE4]

In your opinion, who are the best underused news people in Phoenix?

I will throw Linda Williams out there for discussion. I really think that she is an asset to FOX 10, but is underutilized on the weekend newscasts.

I'll second that statement and add Channel 3's Frank Camacho to that list.

 

[KeithE4]

If you really want to know...in my opinion, there are no news people in this market that have talent. That is, using the standards that news people USED to have. Today's people can't talk, either reading news copy or ad libbing on location.

Bill Close could talk? He may have been a top-notch journalist but his ability to read copy was --uh-- lacking. Walter Cronkite he wasn't.

 

[formeraa]

If you really want to know...in my opinion, there are no news people in this market that have talent. That is, using the standards that news people USED to have. Today's people can't talk, either reading news copy or ad libbing on location.

That school that turns out all these news people should be sued and/or shut down.

Your opinions may vary.

Mike

By all means, let's bring back Dewey Hopper to do the weather. He was really a class act!

 

[Ultimajock]

By all means, let's bring back Dewey Hopper to do the weather. He was really a class act!

...I'd be all for that, but only if we can still use him here at KPHX/1480 ;-) ...

 

[newschannel]

If you really want to know...in my opinion, there are no news people in this market that have talent. That is, using the standards that news people USED to have. Today's people can't talk, either reading news copy or ad libbing on location.

That school that turns out all these news people should be sued and/or shut down.

Your opinions may vary.

Mike

I completely and utterly disagree with you. There are a lot of people who have talents that comes out of J-Schools, but they need time. You are not giving them time, instead, you see talent as something that someone is born with. No one is born with talent.

 

[KeithE4]

I completely and utterly disagree with you. There are a lot of people who have talents that comes out of J-Schools, but they need time. You are not giving them time, instead, you see talent as something that someone is born with. No one is born with talent.

It's just like baseball. Few good ballplayers spend only a season or two in the minors before being promoted to the big leagues. They have to pay their dues. A few do and have existed, but they're a small minority.

Journalism should be the same. There are too many people in TV news here who just don't have enough real-world experience and it shows. This isn't 1970. Phoenix is a big-league market now. I would think that the stations wouldn't even consider anyone without at least 7-10 years experience in smaller markets. A couple of years in Wausau or Bangor right out of school, followed by another two years in Amarillo or Bakersfield, just doesn't cut it. That level of experience should earn someone a job in Tucson, not Phoenix.

 

[formeraa]

I have to agree that there are some horribly inexperienced reporters in this market. They need to go to Yuma, Amarillo, or San Luis Obispo to hone their skills first. There is a new reporter on 12 who constantly frowns and squints. They had her doing the traffic report one day last week. She is horrible and has absolutely NO BUSINESS on the air in Phoenix. Gannett and their inexperienced, "backpack" journalists! :

 

[2Son]

I completely and utterly disagree with you. There are a lot of people who have talents that comes out of J-Schools, but they need time. You are not giving them time, instead, you see talent as something that someone is born with. No one is born with talent.

It's just like baseball. Few good ballplayers spend only a season or two in the minors before being promoted to the big leagues. They have to pay their dues. A few do and have existed, but they're a small minority.

Journalism should be the same. There are too many people in TV news here who just don't have enough real-world experience and it shows. This isn't 1970. Phoenix is a big-league market now. I would think that the stations wouldn't even consider anyone without at least 7-10 years experience in smaller markets. A couple of years in Wausau or Bangor right out of school, followed by another two years in Amarillo or Bakersfield, just doesn't cut it. That level of experience should earn someone a job in Tucson, not Phoenix.

[/quote

I think that last statement was uncalled for. I would go so far as to say that the news teams in Tucson are on about the same level as the ones in Phoenix. I could name a few true journalists (anchors and reporters) who are still on the air in Tucson (as well as a newer one) who would blow most of the "talent" in Phoenix out of the water. Why does a journalist need to move to a big-league market anyways to enjoy what they do? I know they need to start somewhere, but let's not use Tucson as an example when speaking about experience or "inexperience". This is probably why Fox News affiliate doesn't show much ratings wise (thanks Heather Moore).

 

[tmartin993]

its easy for some to be the back seat driver,when it comes to saying something about an other persons job.it has to be hard to be in front of a camera let alone doing a live shot.i have seen other markets and i think we have a pretty good bunch here in phoenix.we cant all be perfect like some.

 

[dhett]

That level of experience should earn someone a job in Tucson, not Phoenix.

I think that last statement was uncalled for. I would go so far as to say that the news teams in Tucson are on about the same level as the ones in Phoenix. I could name a few true journalists (anchors and reporters) who are still on the air in Tucson (as well as a newer one) who would blow most of the "talent" in Phoenix out of the water. Why does a journalist need to move to a big-league market anyways to enjoy what they do? I know they need to start somewhere, but let's not use Tucson as an example when speaking about experience or "inexperience". This is probably why Fox News affiliate doesn't show much ratings wise (thanks Heather Moore).

That's the point, 2Son. Phoenix talent is no better than Tucson's, and that's wrong. Phoenix is the 12th largest market in the U.S.; Tucson is 68th. Sure, there may be talented people content to stay in Tucson, and that's fine, but Phoenix stations should be able to be more selective with talent. KeithE4's last statement was not uncalled for; it's a fact of life.

 

[KeithE4]

I think that last statement was uncalled for. I would go so far as to say that the news teams in Tucson are on about the same level as the ones in Phoenix. I could name a few true journalists (anchors and reporters) who are still on the air in Tucson (as well as a newer one) who would blow most of the "talent" in Phoenix out of the water. Why does a journalist need to move to a big-league market anyways to enjoy what they do? I know they need to start somewhere, but let's not use Tucson as an example when speaking about experience or "inexperience". This is probably why Fox News affiliate doesn't show much ratings wise (thanks Heather Moore).

It wasn't uncalled for. It is a fact.

First of all, I was making a generality about the level of experience that should be required to work in a major market like Phoenix. I wasn't trashing anyone in particular.

Second of all, Tucson is Market # 68 - Lexington, Dayton, and Green Bay level. Phoenix is Market #12, right behind Detroit. Deal with it. Tucson and other markets that size are Class AA in the TV world.

If there's talent in Tucson that can blow Phoenix out of the water, then those people should get some tapes sent to Chs. 3, 5, 10, 12, and 15 if they want to do so (that's their choice). They're ready for the big-time if that's the case. If someone likes Tucson enough to stay there for their entire career, then more power to them, but the ambitious journalist won't be satisfied in the minors. If they're good enough, they'll be able to get to Phoenix and then move up to NYC, LA, Chicago, or to the network level - the real Big Time.

 

[Bug on the rug]

Brad Cesmat (Ch. 3 sports reporter).

He's just chomping at the bit for our town's absolute WORST Sports Director Ross Shimabuku's job (just tries so hard to be "American"). If you know Brad, you can see it simmering in him.

(By the way, notice how KTVK lights Brad's nearly balding head? Started about six months ago).

 

[lloydpalmer]

I think on AZ-TV Chuck Van-Gough was too much of a "no-go" for Season 1 of Starquest TV Challenge. Let's get him off the bench and back on prime-time!