Richmond takes a no-nonsense approach to the news. (Bob Larson).
Over the past couple of weeks, photographer Bob Larson and I have been making the rounds with KTVU anchorman Dennis Richmond, visiting him at his home in San Ramon and at Channel 2’s Oakland headquarters. It’s all in preparation, of course, for Richmond’s retirement. He’ll end a 40-year career at KTVU on May 21, when he’s scheduled to sign off on his final 10 p.m. newscast.
We won’t be publishing our story on Richmond until just a few days before his retirement, but I thought we’d compile a few blog posts on the big guy to lead up to the milestone, including a few excerpts from our interviews with him and those who know him. Read the rest of this entry »
In today’s newspaper, I have a followup story to the layoffs that were announced at CBS 5 (KPIX) this week. For a print journalist like me, the news — at first glance — wasn’t all that earth-shaking when it came down. After all, we’ve seen hundreds of people in our industry lose or surrender their jobs in recent years. (Just this week, our own features staff said good-bye to three valuable employees). And as Tony Russomanno, one of the departing CBS 5 employees told me, “newspapers have it all over us in terms of the sympathy vote.”
Still, there are troubling signs in this week’s cuts — namely the experience level of the reporters who were let go. In a business that too often favors style over substance and youth over seasoned veterans (Hey, we gotta look good in HD!), this pretty much reeks. I’ve had several people suggest to me that it looks like a blatant case of ageism. Read the rest of this entry »
KPIX, which is owned by CBS, was hit by 14 layoffs, including longtime veterans Rick Quan, Bill Schechner and Manny Ramos. Also let go were Tony Russomano and John Lobertini.
In the case of KPIX, the station is losing plenty of valuable experience. Ramos and Schechner have five Emmys between them and decades of on-air experience. Schechner has been on TV in the Bay Area since 1972.
You probably know by now that veteran KTVU anchorman Dennis Richmond has announced his retirement, which becomes effective May 21. What you probably didn’t know is, a week after making that announcement, Richmond underwent successful surgery for prostate cancer at San Ramon Regional Medical Center.
A few days before the operation, Richmond informed me of his situation in an off-the-record conversation and requested that we not make the news public. But in recent days, he and his wife, Deborah, have heard from a number of people wondering why he hasn’t been on Channel 2’s nightly newscasts and/or if he has retired already. It hasn’t helped matters that, until this evening, viewers have been told simply that “Dennis Richmond is off tonight.”
“It makes me sound stupid — like I’m not working with a big election coming up,” he said. “It makes it sound like I’m just cruising into retirement. … … I want viewers to know that I‘m not taking days off.”
Per Richmond’s request, co-anchor Julie Haener informed viewers for the first time that he had undergone cancer surgery at the top of today’s 6 p.m. newscast. “… He’s in good spirits and hopes to be back as soon as he is physically able,” she said. Read the rest of this entry »
Tom Sinkovitz, yet another refugee from beleaguered KRON, has joined NBC11, it was announced this afternoon.
Sinkovitz will serve as a political reporter and fill-in anchor for NBC11 News, according to station spokesperson Meredith Smith.
Sinkovitz’s career began with the Armed Forces Vietnam Network when he was in Saigon in 1969. Before coming to the Bay Area 18 years ago, he anchored and reported in Pennsylvania, Cincinnati, Baltimore and Atlanta.
Sinkovitz was last seen as Pam Moore’s co-anchor on KRON’s late-night newcasts.
In a move that came as no surprise, Dennis Richmond, the longest-sitting anchor on the local news scene, announced his retirement, effective May 21. Dennis has long considered a departure and actually came close to leaving in 2006, before signing a contract extension. I’ll have more in a follow-up column in TimeOut on Saturday. For now, here’s my story that ran in the Times today:
Television anchorman Dennis Richmond, a steady fixture in Bay Area living rooms for close to 40 years, announced on Wednesday that he will retire from KTVU-Channel 2 in May.
“There’s a lot of apprehension that comes with this decision,” Richmond, 64, said. “When you’ve been at something for so long, you wonder if you’re doing the right thing stepping down. … In some odd way, it feels like I’m planning a funeral.” Read the rest of this entry »
KRON is for sale and I’m thinking that, if all of us here on the Freak blog put our pennies together, we can pull it off. After all, KRON can’t be that expensive the way Young Broadcasting has slashed payroll and run things so close to the bone in recent years. Did someone say, “Blue Light Special”?
So I say we buy the place and run things our way. Put on our own shows (Cartoons and pro wrestling all afternoon!), etc. etc. But, of course, we’d have some major decisions to make, like do we keep that Gary Radnich guy or not? Gary’s all right, but he gets paid an awful lot. Can we afford to hold onto him?
I’m actually stunned that it took this long for Vincent Young to put KRON on the block. Ever since he overpaid for the station and then lost the NBC affiliate, it has been a struggle over on Van Ness Street. There was a mass exodus of talent. The ratings plunged and so did the morale. (Along with the stock price).
“It has been more of an avalanche than a roller-coaster,” a KRON on-air personality told me yesterday. “A roller coaster at least has some ups with the downs. But this has been all down.”
My guess is that Rupert Murdoch and the Fox network would love to add KRON to its fold and perhaps eventually move its Bay Area affiliate there. I don’t know if that will happen, but the next few weeks/months should be interesting. For business writer George Avalos’ story on the KRON sale, click here.
If you’re a Tri-Valley resident who knows of an unsung hero in your community, TV 30 is interested. The latest feature on TV30 News Live at 4 is called “The Tri-Valley’s Heroes.” The weekly segment showcases people in the area who do great things without credit.
“I thought it would be nice to have a regular segment in which we highlight the unsung heroes of the Tri-Valley,” says TV30 News Producer Kevin Wing. “We’re looking for all kinds of great individuals, from the kid down the block who mows everyone’s lawns for free, to someone who volunteers at Thanksgiving at the community soup kitchen, serving food to the homeless and needy. The goal behind “The Tri-Valley’s Heroes” is to honor people who help others.”
The series recently launched with a feature on Linda Lamoureux, a Livermore special education teacher.
To nominate someone, e-mail the station at News@TV30.org or send a note to:
TV30 NEWS LIVE AT 4
4663 Bernal Avenue, Suite B
Pleasanton, CA 94566
TV30 News Live at 4 airs live on Channel 30 at 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday. It’s also repeated (same day broadcast) at 7, 9 and 11 p.m., and at 9 a.m. and noon (following day broadcast.
Sports fans in the Bay Area are going to be forced to change a long-running habit. The San Francisco Giants have broken up with KTVU (Channel 2) and are jumping to KNTV (Channel 11).
The Giants and KNTV/NBC 11 today announced a three-year broadcast partnership that gives NBC 11 the exclusive over-the-air rights to broadcast Giants games through the 2010 season.
Ever since Malou Nubla bolted CBS5 (KPIX) and her co-hosting duties on “Evening Magazine” a while back, I’ve gotten occasional inquiries into her whereabouts. The lovely and talented Bay Area native was one of the most popular TV personalities on the local scene and people want to know how (and what) she’s doing.
Well, I’ve got good news on that front: Malou will resurface this Sunday on KTVU with a new show called “Malou Review” (6 p.m., Channel 2). It’s a half-hour program featuring “reviews you could use” in dining, shopping, entertainment, travel, and more.
“I’m super excited and have been working on this for the past year,” Malou tells us. “I’m executive producing, writing, directing and hosting with a production crew I’ve hired.”
