MediaMaven

KOMO losses since main anchor Eric Johnson retired in June 2024: Denise Whitaker left, Chris Nguyen left, Lee Stoll left, Hannah Knowles left, Rebecca Stevenson left and now Mary Nam says goodbye at the end of March.  Reporters like Mo Haider, Ryan Simms and Paul Rivera also departed.   I may be missing a few. I don't know the specific reasons behind the individual decisions (good or bad, personal or professional), but I don't see 10 comparable talent departures anywhere else in the Seattle market.   Add in the KOMO News Director and News Operations Manager, who both retired in December 2024, and you have an even dozen.   The photog union isn't happy either these days.   BTW,  previous and current ND worked previously for Sinclair,in Tulsa and Vegas, respectively. True believers.  So, is it the political leanings? Makes you wonder.  Now, in fairness, I must make mention of budget-cutting Cox in Seattle.  Jesse Jones axed, ...

Anchor Mary Nam announced Wednesday that she is leaving KOMO at the end of the month after two decades to pursue a new chapter.   M ary, a WSU grad and Emmy winner, anchors the 4&6 and has also been teaming with  KOMO's Kelly Koopmans on a 'Hard Turn' podcast.    Sources are telling me that KOMO leads the market in ratings in afternoon-evening, so this will be a bit of a blow to the status quo.  It will rattle the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach.  But she was not pushed out, says my source, her call. “2026 is the right time for me to take the leap,” she shared in an email to colleagues. “Beyond that, I'm not sure what is next but given how long it's taken me to tiptoe to this ledge, falling into the next chapter will be the easy part. (Metaphor over. Don't ask me about the landing)” she added.   “I look forward to squeezing in as much conversation, laughter, and the good stuff during this month,”   https://komonews.com/new...

Seattle Police has paid the Seattle Times $160,000 to settle a suit about how the department handled public records requests.   Multiple public records were sought by a reporter about the tenure of ousted police chief Adrian Diaz, which was tied to allegations of sexual harassment and also favoritism in the hiring and promotion of former Fox 13 anchor Jamie Tompkins to be his chief of staff.  This settlement may pave the way for more reporting on the strange end to Diaz's run as the top cop.    Here's more: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/times-watchdog/city-to-pay-seattle-times-nearly-160000-in-spd-records-settlement/#:~:text=The%20city%20of%20Seattle%20on,requests%20from%20the%20same%20person. Tompkins

Rhonda Shelby, who once worked at Seattle's KOMO, is departing Sinclair's KATU in Portland this spring after 30 years there.  Emmy/Silver Circle winner and former KOMO Seattle. More at the link: https://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/2026/03/longtime-portland-tv-meteorologist-announces-retirement.html?utm_campaign=theoregonian_sf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

KOMO's Stella Sun posts that she was involved in a bad collision in Seattle. Thankful to be alive! I was at a red light waiting to turn left when a Honda coming from the opposite direction hit a SUV then slammed into my car. The video was shot moments after the crash. I was very close to getting crushed. Thank you @SeattlePD @SeattleFire for your help 🙏🏼 https://x.com/i/status/20285347596y60683456

KOMO owner Sinclair has ended weekend morning news at WJLA-TV in DC per a post from anchor Kellye Lynn, who worked for me years ago in that market at regional cable.  The ND there now is Jon Brady, ex-KCPQ news boss.  Makes me wonder about KOMO weekend a.m.   They do two hours sandwiched around GMA on Saturday and Sunday with lots of packaged segments.   KIRO has already abandoned its weekend a.m. shows.    Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18HAVTtSwp/