Word that Nikki Torres, reporter and weather anchor at Fox 13, is back on the air after a leave of some sort. Meanwhile, have watched KIRO weekends for the last few weeks and I see Eric Thomas anchoring, but no sign of Jason Sloss, who anchored those shows for a couple of months. Anyone have intel? Maybe he is on family leave for awhile. His bio and pic are still on the Meet the Team page at KIRO7.
Good to hear that Nikki has returned. Hope all is well with Jason, though.
ReplyDeleteHe did a couple field stories from north sound last week. He wore the same shirt for both.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update. I guess he is in the field for now with Thomas on the weekend anchor desk.
DeleteBeing a station in Market #13, KIRO seems to operate as a Top 100 station given all that has been going on as of late. They're perhaps recruiting even their non-news people to go out and cover events since they have very few reporters on staff and not to mention bringing photogs from Florida to cover their own. By the time we inch closer to the active weather season, November sweeps and into the holidays, it will be all hands on deck. Its really sad to see KIRO fall through the cracks.
DeleteKIRO's legacy in this market rivals that of KOMO and KING. It is a shame to see it being tarnished the way it is.
DeleteI doubt it was the same shirt, lol. Don’t you own multiple shirts that look alike because they’re comfortable? Although I have seen Morgan wear the same tie for back to back nights a few times - it’s noticeable because of the pattern. Purple stripes. Anyway, I saw him doing the Live Desk … I think maybe last week . And he was covering the Mariners at T-Mobile for the last two games, while Jake Chapman was handling the Seahawks. I guess when you're versatile, they move you around to fill in where needed. Management probably appreciates that flexibility, but I imagine on-air talent might find it frustrating, being shuffled around constantly with no real consistency. I noticed some new faces on 13 last night helping with sports. Freelancers, maybe? Off topic question: who is helping Niko with sports for KOMO? Are they not bringing any freelancers in to help him?
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question about who is helping Niko at KOMO with sports, Niko is pretty much the only sports guy in the newsroom when it comes to sports, along with a photog or two. There are many folks here (including Wayne) who think that their Senior Reporter Chris Daniels moonlights or fancies himself as the go-to guy for Seattle sports (considering he buddies alongside with Niko on a podcast they do together and the occasional screen time on TV), but other than that, there really isn't anyone else. Most of the freelancers at KOMO are those writing pieces for the their "Seattle Refined" website and not appear on the show itself. Cheers!
DeleteSpeaking of Seattle Refined, one of their on air staff, Brandon Burnstead, produced Northwest Sports Tonight for me at NWCN and the old Fone Zone call-in show after Hawks games. He could be a secret weapon for KOMO, because he knows sports, for sure! So far, thought, no reinforcements appear yet to be helping Niko.
DeleteNow there's an idea!
DeleteDidn't SF's Managing Editor Jennifer King also work with you when she was starting out her career? I think she interned at KING and worked on the assignment desk at NWCN and graduated back to KING. As for Brandon, one news manager that I met at a retreat awhile back told me that Brandon is more seen in the media circles as a kind of "magazine person”, code for someone interested in doing television than "hard" news (even though sports is seen as rather "soft" if you pardon the expression) and akin to one of those guest "contributors" on the network. However, Brandon does a good job nevertheless although I enjoy Anthony Bourdain's style. That's my hot take. Cheers!
DeleteSR Exec Prod Jenna Luthman worked for me at NWCN as did Brandon and Jen King, yes. I think he is very versatile; he also produced newscasts for NWCN before moving to sports shows.
DeleteI know 13 hired a lady from the Green Bay market and they have used a producer from KJR radio on sports coverage as well, including WA Sports Wrap. So those might be the faces you saw. As far as KIRO is concerned, I think everybody may need to pitch in for Mariners coverage. This is reaping what you sow when you kill off your sports department. I have a hard time monitoring the station because I see very little positive going on.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update on 13, Wayne. Coming from Green Bay, she actually did a solid job. And I’m with you on KIRO - I watch all 4 stations on multiview so I do get a mix from each, but when it comes to sports, KING is definitely king. Chris & Paul are my go-to for local sports. I like KIRO for weather, especially Nick, and I usually flip around for general news. You’re probably right that they’re using a mix of reporters for Mariners coverage. Last week I saw both Eric and Brandon Thompson on it. But last night, after the Seahawks game (which aired on their station), they seemed disorganized. Gary, Elle & Eric were in studio, and when Eric tossed to Jake Chapman at Lumen Field, neither seemed prepared. Definitely felt like something was going wrong behind the scenes. Honestly, that station could really use a change in ownership. They’re struggling & need fresh leadership to bring it back to life.
ReplyDeleteI can only sum up with all that has been going on at KIRO with this quote from the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke: "What we've got here is failure to communicate".
DeleteHer name is Lauren Helmbrecht and the KJR guy is Ethan McReynolds, I believe. Meanwhile, with Gary and Elle working weekends, a lot of comp days may be ahead and they will either take them before the Nov. sweeps start on Oct. 30. Or look out for more than usual subbing in Dec.
ReplyDeleteSounds like there could be some interesting subbing going on at KIRO in the coming weeks.
DeleteI think for the time being that I write this comment not that of an (aspiring) newsman, but something more in the lines of Kurt Russell's Herb Brooks in "Miracle". I want this to be seen as a "spec" memo I would draft if I was in Laura's position at KIRO and whether this gets through to anyone there. It's better than nothing at all.
Delete--
Team:
I know it’s been a wild ride lately. Between the sports department getting cut, Frankie moving on to start a new chapter, and Deborah counting down her final hours before retirement — it’s fair to say the ground has shifted beneath us.
But here’s the thing: every newsroom goes through storms. It’s how we handle them that defines who we are. We can either let the chaos shake us, or we can use it to shake things up.
Yes, the support from above might not be what you hoped for. Yes, it feels like every day brings a new curveball. But this — right now — is our moment to prove what we’re made of. The viewers don’t tune in for management memos. They tune in for us. For the stories we tell. For the heart and hustle we bring every night, no matter what’s going on behind the scenes.
So, let’s move that needle — sorry Wayne, had to borrow one of your radio terms — and end 2025 on a high note. Let’s show them that when KIRO is tested, KIRO rises.
Every person in this room matters. Every story we tell counts. We're only a month out before the start of the November sweeps and another before the year closes. Let’s make every second worth remembering.
We might not control the decisions from upstairs — but we do control how we show up.
Let’s show up proud. Let’s show up together.
Let’s finish this year like the professionals we are — together.
Ethan is not a KJR guy. They have used KJR talent for in studio guests for the sports show but Ethan is a MMJ do it all guy. Also hosts a podcast. I think that is what it is for 13's web site. Also saw Chris Swanson on 13 post seahawks game. Seems like since Furness went to Kraken TV they have never been able to replace that position with any success. Still better than what KIRO does or doesn't do and having one man band in Niko at KOMO
ReplyDeleteI thought he was a radio show producer and sometimes-talent on KJR. They have definitely missed Ian, because he brought credibility, so 13 does have a missing link. Chris Swanson worked for me at NWCN for a time and I hope he will be seen more. He knows the market. Also, Alyssa is getting a fair amount of sideline on the football telecasts.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see who fills in for Alyssa once she has her baby. (Any day now I think) I agree she has been playing a large part for Fox’s sports department.
DeleteWould you say Nikki is one of the most versatile talents? News and weather? Or maybe master of none. I like her though. Good at breaking news and solid in many situations.
ReplyDeleteShe is a versatile utility talent, but not a draw. C+ When you have too many roles, you can't stand out very much. SHe could be stronger in live shot situations with urgency and command of the content.
Delete"Mark" -- and my apologizes if I don't know your real name, but that is the best memo and/or motivational speech I have ever read! I've read some of your comments over the past year on this blog and it surprises me how is it you're not even working in TV news. Your dry wit and thoughts are very insightful and make it seem like you're an actual veteran. Wayne, you need to feature this person (keeping their persona a mystery) or a small interview with them. We could use more folks like them in our newsrooms today.
ReplyDeleteHello Steve, my apologizes for the late reply back as I have been busy fall-proofing around the mancave. Aside from that, thank you so much for your kind words! I certainly appreciate the sentiments if I could really believe it. I hardly could call myself a veteran in the world of broadcast journalism when there have been others like Wayne on here who have done this longer than the one lonely year I have. Long story short, I've never been given a break or had a news director who took a chance on me even after applying throughout the country (and that includes KXGN5-Glendive, also known as the smallest TV market in the US, Market 210 if my Nilsen research is still up to date). Still, health matters and other personal business is likely going to keep me in Seattle for the rest of my life. Even though this is Wayne's blog, I am happy to have had the opportunity to offer my two cents here and perhaps throw in a bit of TV lore and good ol' belly laugh. Being a journalist has been the only thing I've wanted to do in life and nothing else, even when you're told that you were even born at 6:30pm that really something rather than nothing. Either way, I send you my thanks. I'll keep looking up! Cheers!
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