Tag Archives: TV news

TV Journalists Can be Hot Mamas Too

Nicole Kidman and Camila Alves aren’t the only hot mamas grabbing headlines this week. She might not have Alves’ figure or Kidman’s salary, but MSNBC Washington bureau chief Norah O’Donnell has something else that some women might envy—three beautiful and healthy children… under the age of two. Okay, maybe the last part is not as enviable as the first part… Truth be told, all three kids are not under the age of two. Actually, two of them are barely a year old while the other is less than a week old. Grace and Henry are O’Donnell and husband Geoff Tracy’s … Continue reading →

Tom Brokaw Meets the Press

Did you hear that? The high pitch screams came from NBC bigwigs after veteran news anchor Tom Brokaw agreed to moderate NBC’s “Meet the Press” through the November election to fill the vacancy created by the death of Tim Russert. Did you hear that? It was the nation breathing a collective sigh of relief. Simply put no one can replace the highly revered and dearly beloved Russert. However, if anyone can help fans deal with Russert’s tragic and untimely death while still holding presidential candidates responsible for their words and actions it’s Tom Brokaw. Brokaw will begin his moderating duties … Continue reading →

Fox News Blasted for Calling Michelle Obama Degrading Name

I sure wouldn’t want to be the news producer who came up for the graphic on this one… Fans of Fox News Channel have likely seen this story ad nauseam but if you are not a regular cable channel viewer allow me to get you up to speed: Last week some producer who thought that he/she was being clever referred to Michelle Obama (wife of presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama) as “Obama’s baby mama” in a graphic that aired during a story in which she appeared. The full graphic read: “Outraged liberals: Stop picking on Obama’s baby mama.” It was … Continue reading →

Katie Headed For Iraq

Just a few weeks shy of celebrating her first anniversary as “CBS Evening News” anchor–Katie Couric is ditching the desk and heading for Iraq. In what network insiders are calling an “ambitious reporting trip,” Couric leaves today for the war torn country. She is scheduled to anchor the “CBS Evening News” from Baghdad next Tuesday and Wednesday, then from Damascus on Thursday and Friday. This will be the first time Couric will be reporting from the region. She is the second major network anchor to travel to Iraq since ABC News’ Bob Woodruff was nearly killed by a roadside bomb … Continue reading →

Do You Watch The Evening News?

When the clock strikes 5:30 p.m. (in Hawaii) my father dutifully stops what he is doing and sits down to watch the nightly national news. Looking at the time you may have figured out he is old-fashioned in the sense that he still gets his news from one of the three major networks and tends to shy away from the glitzy 24-hour news channels. Yes, my dad is part of a dying breed of loyal network TV news viewers. These days executives at ABC, CBS and NBC would pay a pretty penny to delve into my father’s mind and learn … Continue reading →

Diane Sawyer Slammed By A Fellow Journalist

I like Diane Sawyer. Whereas I have never met the award-winning television journalist in person, as a former television news reporter, I often studied her work to improve on my own. I certainly don’t think she is perfect (who is), but I must say I disagree with the recent move a fellow journalist made in publicly bashing Sawyer during his review of her primetime TV special on poverty, which airs tonight. The ABC News special focuses on poverty in the United States; specifically struggling families in Camden, New Jersey. Yesterday Sawyer revealed she was inspired to do the program because … Continue reading →

The Year In Review: Television

Oh what a year it’s been… in television that is. Some of your favorite shows may still be on (“Desperate Housewives”) while others may have bit the dust (“Will and Grace”), but look back at 2006 and you’ll see definite trends existed in the world of make believe. More Dramas Taking a cue from hits like “Lost” and “Desperate Housewives,” the networks debuted one drama after another – too many, in fact, according to media analysts, for busy viewers to keep up with. The winners: NBC’s “Heroes” and “Medium.” The losers: Fox’s “Vanished” and the CW’s “Runaway.” Nightly News ABC—-Tragedy … Continue reading →

Morning Show Anchors Swap Holiday Gifts

Like co-workers around the world the hosts of the network’s morning news shows participated in a seasonal gift exchange this week. I got to watch most of it and found it quite amusing. On NBC’s “Today” show Matt, Meredith, Ann and Al gave each other fruit and vegetable baskets, state-of-the-art luggage, racecar driving lessons, tote bags, yoga lessons and cooking lessons. Meanwhile, on ABC’s “Good Morning America” the gift exchange was a bit more, um, tearful. Here’s why: this year Diane Sawyer was the Secret Santa for her co-host Robin Roberts. But, instead of getting her a day at the … Continue reading →

Katie Couric Needs Your Help!

Incoming CBS evening-news anchor Katie Couric wants to hear from you. The former “Today” show host named as the first woman solo anchor of a network evening newscast, is embarking on a six-city tour where she will meet informally with viewers like you to hear what you’re interested in seeing on the news. Couric’s first stop will be Denver, Colorado on July 13th. While her visit is still a few weeks away, starting today (June 26, 2006), Denver residents can visit cbsdenver.com and fill out a questionnaire. One hundred people representing a cross section of the community will be invited … Continue reading →