KATV Losing News Director
Arkansas Business.com reports long time KATV News Director Randy Dixon is leaving the station. Dixon has been with Channel 7 for 31 years. AB.com says Dixon plans to start his own production company. This is just the latest of resignations at KATV. Last week AB.com reported the Assistant News Director and Chief Engineer at the ABC affiliate will also be leaving the station.
posted by ATN @ 12:55 PM
122 comments
122 Comments:
Let the speculation as to who will fill his seat begin.
It will have to be someone new. The Asst ND is gone and their website says they're looking for an EP, too.
Big changes coming to KATV -- I'm curious to see how it plays out.
I think the obvious choice is Rusty Mizell. He's been there forever and knows Channel 7 more than anyone.
There are a couple of former news director still here. What about Bob Steel? Too old? Maybe Mark Raines. Or will they go outside the market?
Ark Times blog broke this on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 - 15:51:15
What are the issues over there?
Which do they fill first?
I give rusty two months before he leaves to "pursue other opportunities." the only reason he has survived all the cutbacks is because he was randy's little scape goat. good riddance is all i can say. maybe katv can actually get some decent talent in there instead of women who have huge assets and dont mind doing a little extra "work" on the side for a pay raise or promotion.
Hopefully it's not Mizell. You think KATV has experienced hardship lately, let Mizell fill the news director's office and the whole thing collpases. I'd be shocked if Dixon left on his own, actually.
If Randy isn't leaving on his own it would be a bad decision on the managers side to let him go before they find a replacement.
Are they going to wait and fill the asst. ND and EP until they fill ND?
Mark Raines turned and never looked back at this business, it was literally giving him health problems.
Bad time for Randy to walk away when there are so many leadership roles open. Maybe he has some big deals he is working on and he can't wait until things are not so crazy at KATV.
All these changes could be really good or really bad.
He isn't even staying to say he went HD after 3 decades with the place. Weird.
Are there problems at KATV? Who is running the show? Lots of good people with experience.
Something had to be done. Hopefully someone will be hired that gives a damn, and they will clean house. The truth is, the crew at 7 has no respect. Playing computer video games and talking on cell phones during live news shows, studio lights that have remained burned out for months, camera operators that can't perform a smooth zoom because they would rather watch ESPN between newscasts than practice their craft, airing 1k tones because they are too lazy to preview a live shot. This all reflects leadership!
To the poster directly above: that is all news stations or any work place for that matter. Even the best employee will try and get away with a longer lunch break, playing video games, facebook, taking work supplies home, you name it. Lights and up keep with a news studio is under a manager, but (at some stations) engineers are directly responsible. One person can't be responsible for 50-100 people, that's why there are leaders every step of the way.
At least they will still have a good group of employees and talent. With that, viewers shouldn't see any obvious changes. That's depending on new leadership.
Any body interested? Has anyone come through the station?
Until someone gets rid of all the high paid anchors and gets in some GOOD reporters nothing will change at KATV. And that set has got to go!
I heard thv has the highest paid anchors, but lowest paid reporter. Plus their reporters shot and edit their own stuff. That's messed up. Katv needs a set with depth. Hope they get the opportunity when they go HD.
"Shoot" I mean.
Geez... will people never learn. Only the reporters care about reporters and the photogs about the photogs. No one in the audience knows the names of most TV reporters--even on the national level.
The only people who drive the ratings and thus make the bucks are anchors and featured reporters.
The flip side is that reporters can work into old age and have long careers. Anchors are always lightning rods. When have you heard of a reporters canned for ratings?
Rusty is a natural support manager.That's not a slam--some people are just meant for it. If there was a Broyles awards for assistants, Rusty would be the winner on more than one occasion.
I don't care whose whipping boy you think someone is, you can't last for almost 25 years without doing something right.
All stations need a good shake-up now and then. You will suddenly see better packages, clearer pictures, and more creative writing.
what do you consider over paid?
THV has lost 3 really good people in the past 2 weeks - 2 Friday from the news department. This makes a total of 7 overall since December that have bolted for better opportunities, or to just escape the mess at THV. There are at least another dozen or so who have resume's out. KATV is getting a new Assisant News Director from THV. The three that left had a combined 45 years experience at THV.
Good! 7 needs all the help it can get.
It is always nice for a station to get someone from down the street who knows what they're doing and doesn't need a lot of training.
As for the station that lost them, sucks for them but it shows they don't know what they have until they're gone and they are not willing to promote or pay. When I say pay I don't think these people are asking for much.
There is a case of musical chairs going on, but no one is going to THV like they are to KATV and KARK so that goes to show you who is not Mr. Popular (anymore).
THV has lost more than three since December.
(1) A morning show anchor left
(2) A sales person left
(3) the chief engineer left
(4) a reporter who went to KATV
(5) the assignment manager who will now be the asst. news dir. at KATV
(6) one of the best photogs in the state left
(maybe 7) and you know a photog put in his application at KATV.
I agree with a comment above. There are a lot more employees at THV with resumes out there.
Funny thing is, Management still thinks it's a great place to work. Word to the wise... if you decide to apply at THV be prepared to NOT make any money and get trapped in a 3-year contract.
Actually 2 sales people are have left or are leaving, a sat truck op left in November and there at LEAST 4 who want to leave NOW! So bring that total to 9! What a blood letting! All of these were good, successful people!
Change is a good thing... when it doesn't involve 9 or 10 people leaving within a span of a month or 2 - that's a red flag! Nick leaving is NOT a good thing for THV. Nick has a ton of contacts, he knows THV's flaws(which are many) and he know's how to win - not to mention 21 years experience - HUGE RED FLAG!!! Unfortunately for him - Larry was dictating EVERYTHING and cramming it down his throat, the producer's throat, the ND's throat and everyone else he could intimidate. Larry is even telling sales how to sell! Not to Larry bash - he is the boss and he's supposed to know best, but he has lost a lot over the past couple of months for Gannett not to take notice.
Sounds like we need to change the blog to THV imploding!
Its pretty bad in the THV newsroom when a new MMJ who has no experince and hasn't even hit the streets by herself asks how to get out of her 3 year contract. SHE'S ASKED SEVERAL PEOPLE AND SAID SHE FEELS SHE MADE A MISTAKE.
Its ok. THV knows what they are doing. When people with 20 years experience leave they fill it with one of their interns who will graduate college and take the job for 20k and a three year contract.
Assistant News Director and Chief Engineer all in one? Man, that's a combo you don't see everyday. They must be working that person's butt off.
Word to the wise. Get out of broadcasting, period. Most 99.9% of the people working in it will not have a retirement from any station to amount to anything when they reach that age.
Everything but Sales at a broadcast station, television or radio, is viewed by management as a necessary evil.
I love how every central arkansas thread turns into a thv blog. It means two things to me.
One is that they do most the gossiping about their own and two, they have the most problems to complain about.
Instead of contracts they need confidentiality agreements.lol.
About the new people under contract, they are under a 90 day probation period where the station can let them go if they're not cutting it. My question, can the employee also get out during that time and not be under the rules of the contract, meaning they can look for another tv job in or out of state?
9:44 PM,
Until a reporter signs an actual contract (which usually occurs after the probationary period), that reporter is not obligated to stay at the station. Nor is the station obligated to provide them with employment. Therefore, if they choose to leave or whatever, each party's hands are clean, legally.
This is a right to work state. Contracts aren't worth the paper they're printed on. Just takes time and money to get out and that's why most people don't fight em.
They both signed their first day at the station.
They don't need to jump the gun either, they are as green as you can get.
Green as you can get means you get them cheap. It also means low ratings.
sGreen as you can get means you get them cheap. It also means low ratings.
Speaking of green. Apparently, KTHV can't get the new weather map thingy with trees on each side in the Weather Garden lit correctly. I am seeing some "bleeding" at the top and behind the shadow of the weather person's hand. Could it be that nobody knows how to light it? C'mon Gannett, fork over some bucks and pay someone to light it.
I'm just saying that this is a reflection (no pun intended) on management, not workers.
Don't like the weather garden shot. The only reason i watch it is bc its hard to look away. Merediths so short/small, she takes up a tiny amount if the huge screen. Yes, even ppl not in tv can see the light problem. The wood surrounding the map looks like it needs to be painted. Don't like anything about it.
Why do viewers care if you are standing outside the station?
At least Ned goes somewhere everyday that's different and worth an outside shot and its free.
It's just a gimmick.
Does it add to the accuracy of forecast? No.
Does it add to the reliability of the forecast? No.
Is it hard to figure out why the trees (they look like conifers) are on each side of the wood frame. Yes.
Have they let their production manager go? A production manager should know how to light that set.
maybe they think viewers are stupid and just want something shiny and sparkly on the set rather than a veteran reporter.
employees were joking about how they had to really stretch to try and make Lisa Hutson's web bio look like she had some "real experience" other than an elective class in high school and they left out that she did 'sales' at the radio station so it might sound like she was a radio personality.
classic. way to go thv.
Says she was in high school in 2006. Great to know this is now market 200.
KTHV- Can't properly light new weather board. I would suggest not using it and go in another direction that will work. Need to put some stain on the wooden frame to make it darker (Hint, Hint). It won't make the "bleeding" go away but will improve the looks of the frame. Gannett won't open purse very wide for other needs.
KARK- Can't control loud audio on some commercials. Still using a tinny mic on news set that gets swapped from person to person on a daily basis. Usually weather man at 5p and 6p gets stuck with it. Getting to the point where I don't recognize any of the new on-street reporters.
KATV- ? Don't watch any programs on this channel so can't comment. Station really screwed up when they lost Allen F. their chief.
KLRT- Quick to iron out any problems. Best picture resolution of any station in LR market.
Thanks for commenting Allen F. - I see you think highly of yourself.
So, back to the topic at hand -- has KATV interviewed anyone for the News Director's job?
The brand new Asst. News director is a candidate which might be good bc there is a katv employee who would be a good asst. news dir.
That's the only candidate they have?
Im sure candidates don't want you to know they applied especially if they are known around here.
Who are the locals applying??
The EP at THV?
Does Dixon leaving change the cheerleader hiring formula at 7? I heard they were looking for a news reporter. They will probably move up the blonde who covers all the heavy news stories such as the polar bear plunges and all the hs pep assemblies. I saw a dark root on her the other day, oh nooooo!
There isn't a blonde reporter at KATV. The girl your talking about is a fill in for 'fun' live shots on Saturday morning. They'll never put her on news or a newscast. I think she is an ass't. Producer.
The blondes both literally and... you know... are the two new girls at THV. They shouldn't be leading a newscast in market 200 much less here.
With a new ND will 7 finally see a (brace yourself) new black on-air person hired?
KATV is what's wrong in general with TV news: hiring inexperienced people who "look" like TV reporters. Sure, the dorks over at 7 look the part. But the viewer who looks for information and news is shortchanged when an ND hires glamor-casters instead of journalists.
They need to give Beth a package to get her out of the studio. All she does now is read the telepromter and that her hair has the one perfect curl below the shoulder blades. Joan Early and Beth have a cush job and probably the same colorist.
Beth and Joan both have lost the drive. Give
me a reporter with some fire like Rupp and Simoni.
To heck with Channel 7 and give us more Ashley Blackstone. She can ask the tough questions and love the short bob haircut. If KTHV wants ratings, Ashley is the one who will produce them, not some darn cat.
Ashley is a ticking time bomb. She pretends to be happy but she cries in her car at work, at her desk, in the bathroom and walks in with red puffy eyes with a fake smile. She has also attacked a co worker. She obviously doesn't treat people close to her well. Photogs say she screams on the phone with family members and talks down to her husband and wont let him do anything.
Is she the female Win Noble? She is very watchable and the camera loves her. She could very easily replace Liz and the newscast would not skip a beat. I'll send that idea up the flagpole and you know the rest.
In regards to Ashley - she did NOT attack a co-worker. So get your facts straight before you accuse someone of something so harsh and cruel. She is a happy person in front of and off of the camera. Whatever may or not be going on in her personal life is her business and she doesn't let it affect her work in any way.
Steve get off the blog! Quit hating on everyone. I would never want to work at THV. All you people do is attack one another. Nice to your face and then stab you in the back.
Ashley needs to get her teeth fixed. Can't watch her more reasons though.
When is ch. 7 going HD?
Anyone know how the new Asst. News Director is doing at KATV? Props to them for stealing him away!!
Not sure when 7 is going HD but I hear Fox 16 is pretty close.
Seems to be a waiting game for everyone as far as HD.
Will 7 get a new studio set?
FOX is next!!!
May?
7 will be lucky if they are there by may sweeps. and as far as the set, i have heard that they are sticking with the current set. i did see that they did a sweeps piece in HD last night. looks bad having to do a cut in master control to roll an hd package. but they do have at least one HD field camera up and running now so they are making progress
7:20, February 19, 2011 said:
"There isn't a blonde reporter at KATV. The girl your talking about is a fill in for 'fun' live shots on Saturday morning. They'll never put her on news or a newscast. I think she is an ass't. Producer."
FYI, there is only one natural blonde on TV in LR and she ain't at 4, 7, or 16.
Heard David Bazzel on the Buzz yesterday talking about Beth at KATV. Does he have a major crush on her or something? They were talking about stars to play the roles of the local TV anchors at 7 and he said Pam Anderson could play Beth. Really? That seems insulting being that Pam could be considered a porn star.
You can't be talking about Meredith, because all the blondes at 11 have dark roots. If Meredith is going curly,it needs to be much shorter.
Lauren clarks hair looks so unhealthy, dry and brittle with all the bleach and blow drying she does.
Lisa Hutson hair always looks gross when you walk by her as if she washes it once a week.
Meredith does too many hair dos. Keep it simple. Too many drastic looks makes you do a double take to make sure its her. Some are cute, some are not, but much better than her mullet when she started.
Lauren Clark seems like a KATV girl, all looks and no substance. Hutson, like a KARK reporter, all investigator and no looks, and finally Meredith, smart but needs a lot of hair magazines to look through and a good stylist and knowing she needs a makeover.
Meredith rocks! No changes needed.
Backtracking a bit .... the new garden on THV ... not an improvement. The lighting - the shadows are horrendous. The use of natural wood, old, poorly painted windows & colored siding - terrible. The furniture ... looks like my grandmother's back porch. Chris O is ok, but he is no P. Allen Smith. I think he was going for artsy but missed the mark. IMO
Ah, sounds like you might work for Channel 7. At least Olson isn't as fruity as P. Allen Smith. And second you'd never get the Channel 7 crew to do the weather outside. All the people at Channel 7 are glued to their chairs. I sometimes wonder if Beth Hunt and other ladies of the morning have legs!
I guess you miss Ned outside everyday at 5?
Gosh, I think Beth was at the Flower show today. Facts?
And beth was sitting on her asss. I think she has a chair attached to her assss. Good thing she don't have hemorrhoids....
And by the way I normally don't watch Channel 7. All on there seem too snotty. Especially that jason pederson quack. He's worse than that DEEEEWAYNE Grahammmmm
People rarely speak their true thoughts in first person. Give them a mask, and the truth flies past their lips like a bullet from a rifle. The blows hit their mark before even the sound of it can catch up. I work at KTHV. You, the ones of you on here posting the mean, nasty, rude, clumsy, petty, childish,... (you get the picture) things about your co-workers and your place of employment, make me angry and sick. If you don't like it here, LEAVE! I don't want to be associated with you in any way. You people suck! You are not building or even maintaining what you have and what you are if all you do tear things up and tear them down. You are dissing on some good people here. A truth that's told with bad intent is worse than any lies you could invent.
The proceeding brought to you by Michelle Chism who has become more of a martyr than ever.
Larry really, really showed his colors in how he treated Nick Genty. He obviously has had a disdain for most people on air. After all, he has shown since the firing of Andy Pearson that no one has lived up to how good he was when he was the long-foreheaded chief o' the anchor desk.
However, with Nick, who was the glue of his newsroom, he treated him like a common jerk and disrespect.
I predict, a year from now, Larry Audas will not be with Channel 11.
I hate how some people get so much stuff said about them, and others like Steve Payne, who are the most negative, gossiping, and backstabbing, never get brought up.
I know this is off the subject but this has been bothering is what happened to Aaron Nolan doing sports with Kark and then going to KNWA out of nowhere during the middle of October during the height of football season when he was in the middle of being a play-by play on tv cohost highschool football . I thought he had potential to be something special and steal the clout from KATV and THV of covering razorback football . Now they have O'hair where she mostly leads into an already written script from razorback nation while still messing it. Why even have her if she knows nothing about sports. This was a really big time downgrade for KARK and should of made Neil Sumerlate their lead sports guy on Kark after Aaron Nolan disapeared.
Is big Dave mentoring her?
She has the two arttributes that wii make her successful, good looks and a desperate nd trying for ratings.
With that "Farrah" hairstyle, that takes away all her credibility at first glance, then she opens her mouth, then you know for sure, all she is, is a pretty face.
Way to go Beth, it was nice seeing you out of the studio.
I have seen Hannah Storm, I have heard Hannah Storm, and Kerrie is no Hannah Storm.
Steve Payne and BJ Steed are the biggest gossips in the THV newsroom.
Steve does it to be hateful and mean. Just like what he did when he found out Neil filed for divorce from Ashley Blackstone.
Steve will talk about everybody but you to your face and then you hear he added you when talking to someone else.
BJ does is because he is friends with everyone and loves to talk, but he is going to get others or himself in troube.
When is Fox 16 going HD again? Is it May?
Who cares about 16. Their main news team is terrible,I do like Kelly and Justin though. Terrell has to much hair,very distracting.
Love Kevin!
Kevin who!!!
Couldn't disagree more about the fox 16 main anchor team. Kevin and Donna are very good together, and David Raath is a solid sports dude. Still not sold on their weather, but overall they're a quality group.
All their female reporters are going bleach blonde if I want that, all I have to do is switch it to. KATV.
Have you seen the talent at Katv. Who is bleached? Most the men and women have dark hair and the blondes have 'a good' color blonde.
Joan Early, Beth Hunt, the reporter who does the fluff stuff on the weekends, Heather Crawford, who is not total bleach. The person with the best hair at KATV is Michelle Rupp hands down!!!
Peoples hair is a matter of opinion. Ill just say no one in the market sticks out as having the wrong color hair... some may look better with a different length or style.
If you like michelle rupps hair that's fine, but it won't look good on anyone else.lol.
Peoples hair is a matter of opinion. Ill just say no one in the market sticks out as having the wrong color hair... some may look better with a different length or style.
If you like michelle rupps hair that's fine, but it won't look good on anyone else.lol.
A truth that's told with bad intent is worse than any lies you could invent.
8:06 PM, February 25, 2011
Thank you, Reverend Jackson.
I have to say that the "new" THV Weather Garden appears to be a dismal failure. Terrible lighting, terrible looking camera shots due to terrible lighting, interview area (if that's what it is supposed to be) looks like something left over from a F-4 tornado that was trucked in from some hillside in Arkansas, Where did the plants go?, frame where the weather maps are inserted lighting is pitiful with too many shadows that "they" can't seem to get rid of(hint, lose the trees and stain the frame dark, did I mention poor lighting yet?
Many, many things wrong. Should have left it like it was. Overall, it looks like crap and appears to be more trouble to do the weather from the "garden" than it is worth.
Just saying.
Welcom to THV - soon to be a dismal failure.
I am so tired of the layered shag flippy cut everybody has it. Can they not keep it out of their face? A year or so ago, Simas got a bob to the chin and it looked stunning. Dawn use to have short hair, and it looked great, etc etc....When the female anchors do a profile shot and all you can see is their nose. I want to see face!!! Am I the only one that thinks like that? LOL
No, you are not the only one!!! They are playing to the 18-34 age group, RATINGS !!! Some hairstyles are really distracting and make you lose focus on the news story. Face is important, no doubt. I guess, there are two of us!
Watched KTHV Thursday, Dawn was WOW!! It is no wonder why she is the favorite female anchor. She had our attention and focus all through the newscast Change is good!!!
Thanks Dr. Jones
Not Dr. Jones!!!! Just like seeing a person reading the news without Hair in the anchors face. Good job Dawn!!!
Big changes to KATV better happen fast. Watching news and other local shows at KATV is starting to become entertaining in way that probably is not intended. I'm now looking at the Saturday morning show and seeing for the third time at least today a dark screen appear for no reason. Todd and the group are handling it well, though.
Wow, Saturday Daybreak train wreck in progress!
This is the most embarrassing TV I have seen in a very long time.
Bigger train - wreck - KTHV's Saturday Show! GAWD Awful to watch!
THV Channel 11 (Actually VHF Channel 12) would be a great place to build a TV station.
Tom, Ed and Joey are about the only on-air people with any sense. They are keeping the station afloat.
There are a lot of hard-working, off-air people that do not get any credit for their good work and that is true at all the stations and that is a crying shame. Management says your thanks is reflected in your paycheck.
Thv's morning show is boring. The talent is awful.
"Wow, Saturday Daybreak train wreck in progress!
This is the most embarrassing TV I have seen in a very long time."
Their switcher took a power hit during the storms early Saturday resulting in many problems.
Pam Baccam has no facial expressions and the other girl I think her name is Jessica, her voice is like finer nails on a chalk board.
Hot off the press: Larry Audas has lost another one-- BIG one...
Way to go Larry.
Saturday Daybreak is quite possibly the worse two hours of television in this market!! its bad when I watch KATV strictly for the entertainment value to see who is going to screw what up.
KATV has always had weird stuff going on. People that deserve to stay get fired. People that don't deserve to stay have been there eons. There is something strange in the air there, that's for sure. Long time employees get the ax all the time. It is almost sinister what goes on there. Wouldn't touch that place for employment if it was the last company on earth. Believe me, I know too well what goes on there.
often Wonder How Pam Smith still has a Job.
I believe one and all must look at it.
Quite worthwhile information, thanks so much for the post.
Post a Comment
<< Home