KING covered this honey of a story with their reporters wearing yellow jackets and called it 'un BEE lievable." Several KOMO news staff who arrived in Whatcom County were not only stung, but got the hives. KIRO TV called it a 'buzzworthy' story Police are still  'combing' thru the wreckage. Luckily no fatalities, or people would have become 'pollen bearers.' I'm here all week.

Brooke Pinkk worked at the KIRO 7 assignment desk before moving to media relations at Tukwila PD a few years ago.  Now, she's joined another police department in her post-TV career  (link is below).  BTW, I previously and incorrectly posted she left TV for a Federal Way PD job a while back, so this post allows me to correct my error. https://x.com/Brooke_Pinkk/status/1928580363334627584?t=d9c5FXlb7SBj_sqrqRWWHg&s=19

Checking around at random I found four jobs advertised on Linkedin.com for KING, including two news producers, a new talent for 'Evening' and a reporter.   A couple of posts have been up for awhile, others are recent. KIRO-TV has a bunch up, PT Traffic, two reporters and a Meteorologist, same site. KOMO has a reporter job posted on its web site Fox 13 has an asssignment editor and photog on its web site. Audacy Radio in Seattle looking for a part time on-air talent, Linkedin.com

And it's not another journailism award!   KING laid off this top notch award winning reporter in March, but she now has found something far more important.  Love and a proposal!   Congrats to Taylor Mirferendeski.   https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EKGKw2UsX/

Must be anti-Musk and Trump proposed cuts to public broadcasting, right? https://x.com/CascadePBSNews/status/1927460873922044236?t=cWa9GRjVzPFkRPe215nWhg&s=19  

ICYMI the Fox owned television stations ran a hour special called AFTER GEORGE FLOYD, documenting the violent aftermath of the man's death at the hands of policemen in Minneapolis five years ago.   It was produced by the company's O&O there and scheduled on all Fox stations.    KCPQ pretty much buried it over the holiday weekend with this broadcast schedule.   They couldn't find a more prominent time?? Seattle:  KCPQ Saturday 5/24 – 8pm, KZJO Sunday 5/25 – 4pm 

  UPDATE:  A reader says DeeDee Sun in on maternity leave.   Congrats.   Guess we will see more of Eric Thomas.  He is a little too strong for my taste in the mornings, but we shall see. Reporter Ranji Sinha and Eric Thomas hold down the fort on the morning show Tuesday.  Thomas mentioned he was sitting in for Linzi Sheldon but no mention of DeeDee Sun.  Her bio is still up though Saw Thomas on the a.m. show last Friday co-anchoring with reporter Madeline Otille.   

M's broadcaster recently maligned for his Aussie accemnt finally comments on the controversy generated by a Seattle radio host https://x.com/hyphen18/status/1925967635805524121?t=--LefjBAo1D0HaLwbPetnQ&s=19 .

 See you all next week.  Enjoy the holiday weekend.

Aerial on display: ttps://x.com/olenhogenson/status/1925900550974976459?t=z3ntVuX3loADFKU6E0TXPw&s=19

Another blatant example of KOMO Senior News Reporter Chris Daniels for stealing a sports interview for the 'Inside the Arena' podcast invented by Daniels to put himself first in sports coverage for KOMO.  Once again it undercuts the station's sports director, Niko Tamurian.   I still say he is positioning himself for a major jub with the Sonics if there is NBA expansion. It's just incredible self-aggrandizement. https://x.com/ChrisDaniels_TV/status/1926061498402513359

Missed this live but apparently KIRO 7 went sideways technically Thursday morning.   Here's what that station posted: KIRO 7 is currently experiencing technical difficulties and will not be on air or streaming for the 4:30 AM newscast. We are working diligently to get on air at 5 AM! 

  New Day NW host Kelly Hanson at KING 5 had her mom and day on the show as studio guests.    I hope they didn't have to pay for this.   Video at IG.   Of course, it's all relative(s), right? https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ8Jbf5RgqV/?igsh=MWZkdmJlZXJoN2k3Mg==

This is a question, not a judgment Are these selfies below of Claire Anderson of Fox 13 Seattle designed to promote the weather or her or both?   Could it be shot tighter?    Is that what she wants to post or her bosses?   Is it narcissistic?   Is it just fine?     Just asking. https://x.com/ClaireA_Wx/status/1925720955755610149 https://x.com/ClaireA_Wx/status/1924623135246320068?t=fLTmNDLA_GF0q-loZ_jBNw&s=19

Reading comments made by a relatively new KJR-FM talk host that has some folks upset.  It has to do with TV announcer Ryan Rowland-Smith's Australian accent.  Much ado about nothing, IMHO, but here's the link. https://www.si.com/mlb/mariners/news/local-seattle-radio-host-marc-james-takes-unnecessary-shot-at-seattle-mariners-former-player-and-broadcaster-ryan-rowland-smith#:~:text=Luke%20Arkins%2C%20who%20writes%20a,t%20be%20doing%20that%20again.

KIRO AM 710 actually beat KIRO FM 97.3 in the April PPMs for Seattle.   AM jumped more than 2 share points, from the 20's last month to the top 10 this month, just nosing out the FM.   M's have been pretty hot and in first place.  And lots of interest in NFL and Seahawks draft.   Meanwhile, KUOW hit the winner's circle for the fourth straight month and KZOK #2 as usual.  Both ratings basically flat month to month. Check out the numbers here: https://ratings.radio-online.com/content/arb039

Fox 13's Abby Acone doing some major self marketing about her success as a news co-anchor and meteorologist on the Fox 13+/ KJZO weekend morning shows, a channel with little news standing except as a side duopoly.   She says she gets a lot of support from the staff but that's because they don't have to work weekend mornings.  Personally, I find the show hard to watch, lots of fluff and inane banter.   It's a money and head count saver (they never formally replaced Jade Elliott on the show with a new hire), a small retention incentive and a news credibility killer, but carry on.   Weather people anchoring news causes me to experience a major journalistic cold front.  If it starts happening on main shows, run for cover.    Don't want to Marriott or Allard doing news either.   Here's a selfie and post.  It's all about Me TV.   https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Bno7QHTXc/

  Jordan Tolbert, a Gonzaga U. grad who worked in Kennewick, WA, TV, is moving to WBND in South Bend, Indiana, as main fill-in anchor and MMJ.   I'm pretty sure she will cover some stories on the Fighting Irish! Tolbert joins from Sacramento, Calif., where she was a morning anchor and traffic reporter.

Not sure how the Kraken games fared in ratings this season but KING 5 is pushing the product for next year at what's called an UPFront where the station or network sells for the future.    https://www.linkedin.com/posts/king5mediagroup_king5-thehometeam-k5krakenupfront-ugcPost-7328881878684389376-siei?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=android_app&rcm=ACoAAFWTKaUBTwc4NGLVz4TARZHYT8qQaNhaM2E&utm_campaign=share_via

Former Mariners play-by-play man Dave Sims had to bow out from the Yankees radio broadcast Sunday and it was for the first time in his career.  Laryngitis sent him to the showers, despite using all the home remedies he knew to try.      https://awfulannouncing.com/radio/dave-sims-misses-yankees-broadcast.html

1. Well, I did finally see some sports on KIRO7 during its 11 pm Saturday, but still puzzled on what Eric Thomas is doing,   He has a sportscasting background in Canada and was initially doing some sports on KIRO after the station axed its sports department.  Then he anchored p.m.news on weekends for awhile, although now Jason Sloss has taken over that role, including reading the sports highlights on the late show.   That happens a lot on KIRO during the week, as well. 2. I want to push that Stella Sun of KOMO (above) is the best up and coming talent in Seattle TV news.  Strong on weather, versatile and great welcoming look.    3.  KING5 New Day host Kelly Hanson (above) emceed the annual Tuxes and Tails big gala in Seattle this weekend, so she continues broadening her experience.   Nice get.  And K5's Chris Egan helped raise a bundle for Good Sam hospital as an emcee.    4. I still think Niko Tamurian should have sol...

Ok I surrender, first Seattle Storm game on KOMO Saturday night and Kelly Koopsman is co-anchoring the WNBA pre game with the sports director????  What's the credibility rationale there? She's a morning news anchor.   Looks desperate to get a female on a women's basketball show.   How bout hiring an expert, a former player.  No, too cheap. Nike could have pre-taped multiple analysis segments with Elise Woodward (even earlier in the week) and anchor the show himself.   Instead they throw Kelly on there.   And they continue to let Chris Daniels upstage him on social media sports poss.

This is from Mike Gastineau, who long-starred in Seattle radio with Dave Grozby as Groz and Gas, has written an incredibly touching story about Mariners radio guru Rick Rizzs and his late son.   Highly recommended. https://x.com/gasman206/status/1923746777209110554

KBTC, public broadcasting from Bates Technical College, gets high tech with host Tom Layson posting this: https://www.facebook.com/share/1P19r6Zd3R/

  Still seeing the overworked Steve McCarron handling the KOMO Live Desk in the morning, but I am no longer seeing it in the 4-6 pm shows, which used to feature Hannah Knowles and Ryan Simms doing updates on stories and showing the phony Pulse Poll, often populated with questions that play to the KOMO base, IMHO.   No Live Desk at 4 or 5, despite Breaking News on I-5.  Maybe it's because the KOMO anchors are pictured on every story in an adjacent video box.  The new News Director at work.

  It's KJR Radio, the Seattle Sounders and adding the Reign Here's the broadcast team:

Former NFL QB and now NYC sports radio host Boomer Esiason blasted ex-Mariners voice Dave Sims, who left to do Yankees Radio, for taking a few days off prior to the TMobile series with the Bombers that started Monday   Sims wanted some time with family, and possibly even had it is his contract after seeing how the schedule played out.  Anyway, here's a link: https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/boomer-esiason-yankees-dave-sims-missing-series.html

KING won 11 of 14 categories includiing Overall Excellence and one for Taylor Mirfendereski in the Series category. (She was laid off).  KPTV in Portland had two, KOMO took one.    KIRO and Fox 13 usually don't enter, saving money until Emmy time.     BTW, we will now be inundated with KING awards promos.   They should ask 18-49 viewers if anyone even knows who Edward R. Murrow was.   The Radio TV Digital News Association runs the contest.   Some day an influencer will own the name. In radio, KUOW took five and KIRO 97.3 took three including Overall Excellence, OPB 3, KNKX one List of regional winners: https://www.rtdna.org/2025-regional-edward-r-murrow-award-winners?fbclid=IwY2xjawKPWN9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHpyiRN7sDF84G-QDnNDR9J3lo0MuFk3SysrZdySxTugGbv4GvaQfTwdiwqY4_aem__PwLFGAl1klQhTJz9SmbZA#region1

Steve Scher (bottom), a longtime show host at KUOW, leads an upcoming discussion with journalist and author Steve Oney about "On Air: The History of NPR.  There'll be a lot to tallk about with public radio funding cuts looming.  More info at the link. https://townhallseattle.org/event/steve-oney/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKPGc1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHmjgSIpMqZ1yIZmsgJmmr7ocp1hkfJImZB_CZ8xcR_I8odT7rbghxQ_UKs4T_aem_hF9QTy0NY_1-n65447Nt9g

While the White House works to cut funding, Cascade PBS brings announces some name guests for a late May event. https://www.cascadepbs.org/festival?utm_source=Facebook_Mobile_Feed&utm_campaign=2025-ideas-festival&utm_medium=paid&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0BMABhZGlkAAAGKl-JAtQBHjdoto7u90f4i2n5Zol3Z5FZi0hDY-4zxV_m8aA4sS_ItbJ7ljnVoF-mUGoH_aem_rSqGR0Z0DehTBUJzIhBfrg&utm_id=6763775418164&utm_content=6767698523964&utm_term=6767698523764

  Nice tip from a loyal reader that Gwen Baumgardner has left KIRO7 in Seattle.  No word on when she left or where she is headed.   The defections are deafening.

First of all, where is Eric Thomas, who had been anchoring weekend and even doing sports for the sportsless KIRO?  Jason Sloss, who has a monotone delivery for every story with no urgency or change of inflection or tone, has been anchoring weekends the last couple of weeks with Haveson the realtor doing weather plus there was NO sports on Sunday at 4 or 5 for either hour, despite the third straight loss by the Mariners to Toronto.  Must be a tariff thing.  BTW, the voice over video throughout has no nat sound.   Wallpaper. And how about this goofy, phony franchise segment name: WESTERN WASHNGTON GETS REAL with Deborah Horne interviewing a Pulitzer Prize winning author.  Great interview idea but a junked up with absolutely no meaning  No surprise with this station, which wanders in the wilderness daily. Hard to watch.

Nice story for Root Sports/Mariners announcer Angie Mentink from Seattle Times writer Tim Booth.  She's making her mark in a major league booth.  Worth a read. https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/

  Good takeout on what mandated cuts for PBS and NPR would mean for Seattle Public Radio and Cascade PBS. Quick sample from article with link to full story below: If these defunding efforts succeed, they will likely  do real harm to local news . KNKX  has warned  that it would lead to “difficult decisions and sacrifices at the expense of access to local journalism.” KUOW  has signaled that it would  “immediately need to raise 1 million dollars” to offset the loss in federal funding. https://www.postalley.org/2025/05/10/defund-public-media-the-news-landscape-in-washington-state-shows-why-thats-a-bad-idea/ Thanks to a reader for passing this info along.

  No Taylor Winkel on Fox 13 Sunday morning (Mother's Day?), so reporter AJ Janavel co-anchored with Meteorologist Abby Acone, who read the lion's share of stories.  

  Fox 13 promoting the return of summer campaign called Zip Trips for its morning show.   They'll be live in Snohomish later this month with Poulsbo, Vashon, Steilacoom, and Woodinville also on tap. ARC Seattle mornings has been doing a little of this as well.  

Scratching my head after watching ARC. Seattle at 10 Thursday night.  Anchor tosses to standard local reaction to the new Pope but has Jackie Kent in a news car talking with Preston Phillips!!  What, she couldn't find a more relevant backdrop along the way to file, even in Tacoma??   No Catholic church fronts there?  It's comical.  And there was no premise for it.  Those in-car shots are usually for traffic stories or sweater coverage, but this idea flopped. At least she was wearing a seatbelt! In general, I think Steve Soliz in more of a host role is bringing a relaxed touch to a late night newscast which features several longer-form community interviews, something you won't see on the competition at that hour.  Fox 13 is machine gun at 10, but it's a rehash from 9 as is KONG, so this can be an alternative.    

  Here's a link from the Seattle Times for an early update: https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/how-mariners-root-sports-hit-deadline-for-long-awaited-streaming-app/?utm_source=marketingcloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=

  First of all, I have to laugh at the lede writing on the follow up to the destructive UW protest at and in the engineering building.   The copy read:  Senior Reporter Chris Daniels was "GIVEN A TOUR." Huh? Really, a tour?   No, he asked to see it and the university permitted him inside to observe and document the damage.   That's not a tour.  Look up the definition.   I can just hear the PR folks at the school saying, "Hey Chris, we want to give you a tour.''  Unimpressive self-aggrandizement.   Surprised he didn't tie it into Husky sports. Next, what happened to major acquired anchor Steve Soliz, who trapsed across the street from KING? Monday, he was not on the 5 or 6 or 11, only the ARC at 10.    Tuesday he anchored the 3:30 with Mary Nam (the 3:30??), while Preston Phillips, who did all the main shows Monday, co-anchored the 5 and 6 Tuesday.   So, have we moved from "Where's Waldo? to "Where'...

KIRO 7 has the story of two-bit vandalism https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/statue-seattles-iconic-clown-jp-patches-defaced/VFPGVBW4BNEIFK2IFHRQO5A7CQ/

  Bill Kaczaraba, who headed three different newsrooms in Seattle and was most recently the digital news editor for KIRO 97.3, is leaving Seattle and moving to Florida.  He is an alum of the U. of Miami.   I love this line from his bio at MyNorthwest.com: While at CNN, he was instrumental in producing the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, the Tiananmen Square uprising, and Gulf War I.    I think someone left out the words COVERAGE OF after the word producing.   

McDonald's revenue was down 3.6 per cent Jan-March.  Is that a Quarter Flounder???  I'm here all week.

The Seattle Reign and the Sounders have formed a new partnership with Fox 13 Seattle.   Tegna's KONG had 11 Reign games in 2024. https://www.reignfc.com/news/seattle-reign-fc-and-seattle-sounders-fc-announce-historic-regional-media-partnership-with-fox-13-seattle So to recap, KING-KONG has a Seahawks partnership  and a Kraken partnership .  FOX13/FOX13+ now  has the soccer deal wrapped up, the  Rugby Seawolves, Thunderbirds hockey  and the majority of Hawks games during the season.  KOMO has the Storm and CW now which will be showing plenty of WSU Cougar football next fall.  KIRO seems handcuffed with a hedge fund owner, no sports department and no team partnerships.  KTSW is CBS-owned but the network has other issues right now with top management changes and 60 Minutes fallout.   Not much left anyway for those two stations. Root Sports still has the Mariners , of course, but it costs a subscription fee (and nobody knows how...