MediaMaven

Despite the powerhouse station in Washington DC (WTOP) switching to ABC Radio News from the imminent CBS network closure, no decision yet that I have seen from 97.3 KIRO on hooking up with a new national/world news provider.  Management apparently still mulling options.   

Chris Daniels of KOMO says his detoured Q&A with Seattle Mayor Wilson by a ballcapped PR bozo has kicked up a bit of a national ruckus.  Good. Seattle mayor's verbal missteps prompt national and viral attention, leadership questions https://komonews.com/news/local/seattle-mayors-verbal-missteps-prompt-national-and-viral-attention-leadership-questions-katie-wilson-democratic-socialist-election-policy-shooting-homeless-drugs-mental-health-cost-of-living-public-safety-starbucks-staffer-press-mistake-economy  

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18jvHTGNLm/ 425 Magazine has awarded KING morning anchor Jake Whittenberg as Best TV personality, something every journalist hopes for, uh huh.  "Congratulations @jakewhittenberg! @425magazine readers voted him Best TV personality! Check out the latest “Best of 425” issue."    Should drive subscriptions, right? 425 mag probably has fewer readers than the eyeglass end cap stand at Walgreens.  For those who have barely heard of the magazine, join the club.     In other words, meh.  What was the line?  "Damned by faint praise."  https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18jvHTGNLm/ He's ok, I guess, but what's next for him.   Not sure.   

Monday's The Ultimate Sports Show featured a long interview with the sports producer of Brock and Salk from KIRO 710.   Who?   So far the program is using mostly media folks for interviews and a radio producer is not a draw on any platform.    Would you stream a show to watch someone who is basically anonymous?   I also think the lighting on Silvi and Egan is awful. The zoom guest was brighter.    I love the producer of the program joining the show live, but the backward ball cap is worse than Barstool on FS1.   Lots of work to do.   Seems to be struggling to find feet so far.   Debate is needed between the hosts.   Take some positions on NIL, sports betting restrictions in WA, expanded CFP, tanking, etc., involve viewer feedback. 

Found this interesting tidbit here in the post-Jones era. You may remember PJ Randhawa, who was a Race and Equity reporter for KING 5 for about 18 months before moving to Chi-town in June 23.  I wish she could have done a series like that here, on why it is so hard to get a doctor's appointment:        "WMAQ, NBC 5 Chicago, the NBC-owned station, is airing a weeklong, five-part NBC 5 Responds: Doctor Deficit series led by PJ Randhawa, WMAQ’s consumer investigative reporter." I think there's been a void in strong, showcased, consisten consumer reporting in Seattle since Jesse Jones was cut from KIRO, although the station still uses various reporters to tell occasional stories.    KOMO is pushing Waste Watch and KING has its Investigators Team but not in the same genre.  Not sure what 13 does, so fill me in.

She has a Masters from USC, has taught at Seattle U, but seems lost on ARC Seattle, just a reader with no depth.   She couldn't offer a knowledgeable, tangible thought about the gun violence issue in Seattle the other morning.  I previously posted about it .  I expect much more journalistic and anchor skills.  I observe lots of bragging about accolades and glam pics on website. Build traffic reports into a transpo beat? Offer some stories you broke, or any substantive coverage.  Where's the cred? https://www.tyrahmajors.com/

I have often criticized KOMO's Chris Daniels here for overstepping on sports news, but this video when he was trying to do a hard news interview Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson is worth a watch. A PR guy is a ball cap is a joke for intervening and then Wilson ducking.  Kudos Chris. Poised and polite and credible. https://youtu.be/8HZZWdV2O48?si=vQ0bY9esD_OdJa3d   https://x.com/komonews/status/2050294684988428299