Veteran Weatner Person asked to take big Paycut

[Rick Rose 2.0]

Newsblues.com is reporting that a veteran Atlanta weathercaster has been asked to take a huge paycut. Does anyone know who? I doubt Glenn, Karen, David from 2, Ken from 5 so that leaves Paul Ossman from 11. The rumors already existed that Ted Hall took a paycut to stay at 11 so it only makes sense that Paul may be the weatherman that may have to take big paycut.

 

[fussbudget]

It isn't Dagmar. She's not a veteran and she certainly isn't a weathercaster.

 

[amlover]

Newsblues.com is reporting that a veteran Atlanta weathercaster has been asked to take a huge paycut. Does anyone know who? I doubt Glenn, Karen, David from 2, Ken from 5 so that leaves Paul Ossman from 11. The rumors already existed that Ted Hall took a paycut to stay at 11 so it only makes sense that Paul may be the weatherman that may have to take big paycut.

Well I see lately ch. 11 is playing musical chairs with it's weather host's anyway. They need to get their act together over there. This new morning weather guy Chesley, really is small market and adds nothing to the station. Chris was doing a terrific job and why fix something that is not broke. Paul Ossman may be a nice guy but he needs to go anyway. Come on ch. 11 get it together! We are tuning OUT!

 

[jal41]

Well I see lately ch. 11 is playing musical chairs with it's weather host's anyway. They need to get their act together over there. This new morning weather guy Chesley, really is small market and adds nothing to the station. Chris was doing a terrific job and why fix something that is not broke. Paul Ossman may be a nice guy but he needs to go anyway. Come on ch. 11 get it together! We are tuning OUT!

Chris Holcombe was the weekend meterologist before doing mornings on an interim basis, while bringing in Orleon Sidney part-time to fill the gaps in the interim. Chris never was meant to directly replace Flip Spiceland when he left.

I happen to like Chesley. He is adding a lot to the morning show. And yes...WXIA is starting to have a medium market feel to it...which is good, especially in this growing market that just entered the top 10 less than a decade ago. We need an alternative to the it-bleeds-it-leads mentality of major market news. WXIA is doing what it should do in a Southern market...albeit a top 10 one...and going the approach of a more balanced news.

 

[amlover]

Well I see lately ch. 11 is playing musical chairs with it's weather host's anyway. They need to get their act together over there. This new morning weather guy Chesley, really is small market and adds nothing to the station. Chris was doing a terrific job and why fix something that is not broke. Paul Ossman may be a nice guy but he needs to go anyway. Come on ch. 11 get it together! We are tuning OUT!

Chris Holcombe was the weekend meterologist before doing mornings on an interim basis, while bringing in Orleon Sidney part-time to fill the gaps in the interim. Chris never was meant to directly replace Flip Spiceland when he left.

I happen to like Chesley. He is adding a lot to the morning show. And yes...WXIA is starting to have a medium market feel to it...which is good, especially in this growing market that just entered the top 10 less than a decade ago. We need an alternative to the it-bleeds-it-leads mentality of major market news. WXIA is doing what it should do in a Southern market...albeit a top 10 one...and going the approach of a more balanced news.

I don't think WXIX would like to be considered a small market station in a big market. They need to attract advertisers. When you tune in to their newscasts you never know who will be on these days. They are going down hill fast. They sould have made Orleon Sidney a nice offer to stay. She is TERRIFIC and a real talent.

 

[jsb19]

Chesley is about as bad as gets in Market 8 at the big 3 stations. This is market Number 8 not a small market. What is happening at WXIA is shameful. Chris Holcomb was given the job as Morning and Noon Meteorologist and signed a contract as such. He was demoted by Ellen Crooke to the weekends. So don't comment about things you do not know about. Chris should have that job. Although I am sure he is taking solace in the continuing ratings decline at WXIA.

 

[jal41]

This should be said. NO ONE can compete with WSB-TV...period. As long as Monica and John are there...everyone else has just quit trying to compete for the time being. It sounds like WXIA/WATL has cut its losses, and is trying to carve an alternative niche. Same with WGCL (why do you think Dagmar is chief forecaster?). As long as status quo remains at WSB-TV...the local news game is set.

Another advantage WSB-TV has that the other stations do not have...boatloads of cash lying around, even in this economy. Cox is private, whereas News Corp (WAGA), Gannett (WXIA/WATL), and Meredith (WGCL) are publicly traded companies...which are currently dealing with the economy and have to cater to greedy shareholders. Gannett employees are under orders to take one unpaid week off. News Corp and Gannett have gone to centralized graphics systems, and both WAGA and WXIA/WATL have laid off employees. You have to spend money to make money. WSB-TV can do that, whereas everyone else cannot (thus...a competetive disadvantage).

I would love to see the latest ratings, as well as some ratings for the past year to make more definitive conclusions. Until then, the pecking order is #1 WSB-TV, #2 WAGA, #3 WXIA/WATL, and #4 WGCL.

While I obviously don't have access to what goes on inside the walls of WXIA/WATL, My knowlege of business tells me that it would be far more expensive to hire a part-timer to fill five mornings a week (60 hours - assuming a 12 hour shift) then for a weekend (no more than 48 hours if the shift was continuous). Thus, Chris Holcombe had to go to mornings in the interim. Yes, they could have hired a new weekend meterologist, but it sounds like that was the arrangement that happened. They may have made Orleon Sidney an offer for a full-time contract, and she declined.

About contracts...a person that signs a contract only generally is guaranteed pay, unless they violate the contract in some manner. The station has the freedom to assign shifts at will, change shifts at any time, and can remove the person from duty. This is why radio personalities who are taken off the during because of a format flip are still paid through the duration of their contracts. While a person is hired for the purpose of fullfilling a certain duty...in most cases (unless there is language in the contract stating otherwise) the employer reserves the right to change those duties at any time, with or without consultation with said employee. This may vary on a case by case basis, but that is generally the rule.

 

[jsb19]

JAL- I am not going to get into a debate with you. You are good poster here, who brings a lot to the forum. However, in this case most of your assumptions about what has gone at WXIA are wrong. I am glad you like their current product. For me and many others it does not work for us. My statements about the situation at WXIA are correct and factual. That is as much as I can say.

 

[Mr11WXIA]

Can the fact the Paul Ossmann is constantly off duty be a sign he is not far from being gone? While some people criticize him for not being able to generate the graphics that Steve and Chris can, I like his personality. I have met him and worked on a project with him, he's the real deal in person-just a nice guy. I think he has a great personality but I'm thinking it may not be enough to save him from the viewers who want those graphics included during the forecast. It's a real shame to think he might be out of a job after being here since the 1980's. I don't imagine another local station would pick him up as a prime time weatherman since the slots are already full. Maybe he will get out of television like Skip did. I have a good friend who had been a TWC on camera meteorologist for many years and she said she had had it with television management politics. She had worked in local TV markets before coming to The Weather Channel and decided she wanted out altogether. It's a shame since she had a college degree in meteorology and the fact that people loved her on TV.

 

[amlover]

You know being a nice guy has nothing to do with delivering the weather. Paul may be the greatest guy to work with but when I tune in for the weather I want the best information available to me. It's not about your dog or how your day was, it's about the WEATHER. The graphics are a huge part of the delivery and if you cannot use them what good is it to pay for the expensive tv equipment to generate the on air look. When you tune into ch. 2 WSB you get the info you need and not all this silly chit chat that ch. 11 seems to want to do. I like ch. 11 as I like NBC but it's getting very hard to stomach their newscast now. The new morning weather guy on ch.11 well he still is un-watchable. Bring Chris BACK!

 

[jal41]

I have a good friend who had been a TWC on camera meteorologist for many years and she said she had had it with television management politics. She had worked in local TV markets before coming to The Weather Channel and decided she wanted out altogether. It's a shame since she had a college degree in meteorology and the fact that people loved her on TV.

This is what happened to Flip Spiceland. He worked in local TV, did CNN for 25 years before being fired, and went back to local TV at WXIA for a few years before quitting. The internal politics are the problem, especially recently in the department that handles the finances. Of course, no matter what line of work you are in, internal politics will always be there.

About Paul...he was brought over to WXIA in 1998 after a most unusual bonus was offered...a Merecedes with a weatherradio. Paul is a weather geek. He is the last member (entering and surviving) of the era of Guy Sharpe and Johnny Beckman when meterological training was not a requirement to do TV weather (I don't know if Beckman had any training in meterology or not...everyone called him the most dependable forecaster at the time). Paul made up for that with this passion for the weather. He is NWA certified, and just as qualified as those with degrees in the field. I hope WXIA doesn't lose him. But when the words "pay cut" are brought up...regardless of whether the economy is good or bad...and a person has to way his/her options, especially if they will be tied into an employement contract for a few years.

If this appears to be the case...WGCL does have a need for a more qualified weatherperson to replace Dagmar. If the new ND can make a good offer...and a late model car with a weatherradio... Keep in mind though that Paul may not mesh with WGCL's fast paced format. That is why he fits in like a glove at WXIA and their softer, slower format.

 

[jsb19]

By the time the severe storms had come in this morning Chesley was gone from the TV and replaced by Steve Adamson for the cut-ins and noon, and then all afternoon just Ossmann and Adamson at WXIA. I don't think Paul is being phased out, he is still the main guy at WXIA, but it is interesting that when bad weather loomed that they did move Chesley off air. Even early on today stories Chesley posted on the web were using terms like meteorologist Steve Adamson says. There is fight going on at WXIA as to what they want to be most of the time and what they have to be when serious news or weather presents itself.

 

[Junk Junk]

Remember that Chesley is relatively new to the area, so he may not be as familiar with the metro area's counties, towns, and cities as Chris, Paul, and Steve.

 

[jal41]

Remember that Chesley is relatively new to the area, so he may not be as familiar with the metro area's counties, towns, and cities as Chris, Paul, and Steve.

Fair assumption and good move to make. Chesley just came to town a couple of months ago.

What WXIA needs is a new radar, which appears to be their stumbling point. Their radar, Titan is the same one WAGA has, only it does not have the capability to show rotations (WAGA's Titan does. WAGA also has a second radar which may be Vipir). WSB-TV and WGCL use Vipir, which can show rotations as well as other stuff. WXIA's radar software does not look like it has been upgraded since it was installed. It still shows countywide warnings, which the NWS phased out. Without the bells and whistles the competition has on their radar systems, all they can do is sit by and guess and make conversation.

 

[Mr11WXIA]

jal41 I am a friend of Johnny Beckman. He has every certification one could obtain during his career. He is one intelligent man, though he is gracious not to make you feel intimidated when you don't know as much on a subject. You won't find a better mix of knowledge and good humor than Johnny. TV viewers who weren't around or living here during his career really missed something.

 

[tlyle]

Speaking of Johnny Beckman, we were in a Tornado in Clayton County on 3/31/1973 that destroyed my house (Rex, GA). When the storm had passed, we went back upstairs to find that our telephone was still working (amazing). The roof was gone as were 2 of our outside walls. My mother called my grandmother who called Johnny Beckman when he was at channel 2. Johnny was already on the air indicating that some severe weather was in the area, but he was using the old black and white radar that channel 2 had at that time. Channel 2 was the only station who had radar. We did not get any advance notice like you do today. There were no tornado sirens at that time. He did his best to intrepret the radar since it did not show Google type maps like we have today.

The biggest thing that I remember is that he stayed on the air showing that radar all evening as the storm system tracked from just south of Atlanta through Conyers, Monroe, Athens, and on into South Carolina.

 

[jal41]

jal41 I am a friend of Johnny Beckman. He has every certification one could obtain during his career. He is one intelligent man, though he is gracious not to make you feel intimidated when you don't know as much on a subject. You won't find a better mix of knowledge and good humor than Johnny. TV viewers who weren't around or living here during his career really missed something.

I was really small during the late 80's, but my parents told me that whenever there was bad weather...the TV was on WXIA. I didn't have any knowlege about his background (why I was asking), but the 80's appeared to be the middle of the transition between weather readers and qualifed meterologists.

I also recall that WXIA was the #1 news in Atlanta during the 1980's...a combination of Mr. Beckman, John Pruitt, and Chuck Moore. I also remember reading a few years ago about the (apparently) profanity-laced op-ed Mr. Beckman sent to Creative Loafing in 1993 that almost cost him his job. That next year, he and John Pruitt were fired from WXIA at the hands of Greg Dubrow, who is now CEO of Gannett.

A real ratings winner will always involve people that have earned the trust of the viewers (why WSB-TV is #1 now). And the best people...like Mr. Beckman...are willing to publicly call out their employers and their industry, even when their jobs are on the line. That is a person that can easily earn my trust.

Mr. Beckman (and Ken Cook and the WSB-TV team) have set the bar high in Atlanta. That is why we complain about Dagmar at WGCL, or anyone else who is not qualified (and why other posters are questioning Paul Ossmann's qualifications).

 

[Tim-In-Houston]

Newsblues.com is reporting that a veteran Atlanta weathercaster has been asked to take a huge paycut. Does anyone know who? I doubt Glenn, Karen, David from 2, Ken from 5 so that leaves Paul Ossman from 11. The rumors already existed that Ted Hall took a paycut to stay at 11 so it only makes sense that Paul may be the weatherman that may have to take big paycut.

To answer your original question, Fox 5 Chief Ken Cook was asked to take a pay cut. The full story says he was given 5 days to respond. If he's still on the air, I assume he did.

 

[daryll]

I don't recall seeing any ratings that indicated WXIA was number one in news in the 1980's. NBC's prime did offer an attractive 11pm lead-in, though. They did have some high face value veterans like Pruitt, Moore, Beckman and Sharpe but they didn't reach number one in that decade. WSB and WAGA were nip and tuck for number one in the early part of the decade due to the big 1980 affiliation swap and CBS prime that was monster strong. At TV-5, Pam Martin and Forest Sawyer had developed a huge following, too. WSB eventually pulled away from WAGA. Ron Belik was the news director that released John Pruitt at the end of 1993 while Craig Dubow was the GM of WXIA and he's now Gannett's CEO.

Ken Cook has been on WAGA since 1979 and Glenn Burns joined WSB in 1981.

 

[RichardWarner]

Actually, Dayrll, Ron Bilek didn't make a move with John Pruitt.

Bilek brought in Fred Khalil to replace Art Eckman, moved me from 6am to 6pm and hired Bill Liss for the morning show. He also boosted Bruce Erion, brought in Terry Merriman to replace Kelly Morgan (who went to KNBC) and hired Bob Sokoler from Orlando.

Craig Dubow then arrived as GM, replaced Bilek with News Director Mark Pimentel...and it was that pair who went nuclear on the main anchor team. Pimentel's #2, Laura Newborn was the one who pushed me out, and I went to WAGA for 10 years.

WXIA was very competitive in the market with their "Mount Rushmore" team of Pruitt, Moore, Beckman and Eckman, but Gannett decided they needed more diversity and eventually crafted a multicultural face to the community.

It's the same thing that goes on in every industry...it's just that in TV, the changes are followed by lots more people.