| Topic Name: |
KTNV "resignation" |
| Message Name: |
My fav Tuna Story.... |
| Date Posted: |
06/02/2005 |
| In Reply To: |
According to various reports; Gevers, FTV. Tuna is in as interim ND. Odds are, excuse the Vegas pun, Tuna could get the nod just because he's probably the kind of man that Journal wants. It's interesting how Tuna turns up from time to time, he's like driftwood, you never know where he'll wash up, or wash out, next.
On the other hand, guys like Craig, who actually have some original thinking and vision, tend to scare most of the suits. They would rather change the tires and start from scratch every two years. Craig may not have pulled the numbers that Journal expects or demands, hence Craig's departure, but 13's action news format was starting to gain some momentum. Their competition has been very critical of it, but that in itself tells you Craig got their attention, prior to that, they didn't give 13 a second thought. His mark and momentum on 13's on-air product can't be disputed, and will probably be credited to a successor who sucks up better and tows the company line. ANY attacks (c'mon attacking the guy for managing his own time?) on Craig and his abilities are most likely coming from disgruntled ex 13'rs who were canned, and rightfully so. The place was a hellhole well before he arrived.
Note to TV ownership: Going from dead last to winning takes time and momentum. You won't find anyone who can do it in a book, or even a year or two. It just doesn't happen that way anymore, unless the competition implodes somehow, and it will never happen that way in a market like Vegas. You will need 2-3 years to accomplish it, and changing the ND every two years won't get you there. It only derails your momentum, and increases your operational and capital expenditures.
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| Message: |
Gosh..hadn't heard that name in years. Worked with the Big Fish (1985ish) in Cleveland, and that was probably 15 markets ago for him. How he gets around!
Anyway--if I ever write a book about the TV biz--this story is chapter 4.
It was a slow, gray day in February and nothing was happening at Hopkins ((airport))
or on the Lake--and Dick was in need of a lead.
Luck would have it, the state Lt. Gov in neighboring PA. chose that day to blow his brains out at a news conf. with TV cameras
rolling. Seems he was trying to avoid an indictment of some sort.
It was powerful, disturbing stuff. The guy tells the gathered media he's innocent--then he pulls out a gun, puts it to his head--and BANG. The body hits the floor--and all the camera sees is the blood and brain spattered wall. After a few moments of silence, someone in the crown is heard to say..."HOLY SH**".
((Bare w/ me--almost over))
After much heated debate--Dick decided run the story -(it was sweeps after all))
Boy, did the SH** hit the fan. When the phones lit up-- Dick ordered them taken off the hook. Undaunted by public outcry, he ordered the story to ran again uneditted at 11.
Outrage all over again.
The editorals in the Plain Dealer ripped the mighty TV5 a new one.(it was then!) and Dick was forced to explain the station's decision to air the video on "The Morning Exchange".
Wilma Smith lobbed him softball questions, and Dick talked of ethics and the need to cover the news--no matter how shocking. When asked why the gross part wasn't editted out,((as it was at the other stations)) Dick's answer was a classic.
"We don't edit the news," he said. Funny, the viewers never heard the "Holy Sh**",
It was editted out, on Dick's order.
Dick was gone a few months
later--to be replaced by Joel Cheatwood.
And that's another chapter.
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