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Morning News Blues
By MARCIA WEISZMANN
A self-described news junkie
Why can't Chicago, the 3rd largest market in the country, come up with a decent early morning news show? After the demise of "Fox Thing" last year, ch. 32's new format is unwatchable. David Navarro's inflated opinion of himself is beyond annoying, and Tamara Hall is so perky she should be against the law at that hour. Unfortunately, the great and underrated Bruce Wolf doesn't have enough airtime to counteract the Ken and Barbie act. So I turned to WGN ch. 9's early show, and I tried to like it. I mean, I really, really tried, but I just couldn't lower my standards. Larry Potash is a smarmy, smirky Bob Sirott wanna-be who, if he outlived Sirott by 50 years, would never even come close. Roseanne Tellez is competent, I suppose, but bland. And then there's the rest of the "talent", whose names I never bothered to remember because, well, frankly, they weren't worth the effort. I always get the feeling that these people are working way too hard to project how much fun they're having. I've yet to figure out if they're trying to spoof a local cable access show or if they're being condescending to their audience. Come on folks, this is Chicago. There's a lot of talent out there, but until someone sees fit to utilize it I won't watch morning TV.
I still sorely miss Sirott and Murciano.
Stuff I Like
By JOHN F. KUCZAJ
While it's much easier to write about things in the Chicago News media that we hate or don't agree with, the good things about the news media should not be overlooked.
So, I thought now would be a good time to talk about some things I like about the Chicago News Media. As always, I'm looking for your opinions, so if you disagree with me, or if you think I've overlooked anything, let me know.
I like Channel 7's reporting team. First, they do a very good job of keeping their reporters on their beats (as general as those beats are). Chuck Goudie, Andy Shaw & Paul Meincke are the three best TV reporters in Chicago-hands down. On any given week, Goudie will attack organized crime, a corrupt politician and a run-of-the-mill scam artist. He makes a tough beat appear to be easy and is due for some major recognition. The fact that he wasn't plucked from our airwaves and onto the national stage is a blessing because Goudie is a prototypical throwback reporter that all young Chicago reporters need to emulate. Andy Shaw's brash style used to get on my nerves, but as corrupt politicians and shady political deals have become plentiful over the years, Shaw's wry, in-your-face style stands out next to the detached political reporting some journalists practice. Paul Meincke, like Goudie and Shaw, is a consummate professional who makes his job look so effortless that it's easy to take him for granted. As a general assignment reporter, Meincke usually gets the day's marquee assignment or the toughest assignment and always comes through. Aside from the "first team," most of channel 7's other general assignment reporters regularly impress me. Charles Thomas is like baking soda - he can do everything well. Sarah Schulte, Rob Johnson and Kevin Roy are each solid and versatile. Leah Hope is proof that some anchors that are "news babes" can be talented and dynamic in the field. Theresa Gutierrez can craft a mildly interesting story into a compelling tale. Frank Mathie is the king of sardonic wit, and makes CNN's Jeannie Moos look like a cable-access amateur. And of course, Harry Porterfield is, without question, someone you should know.
I like John Kass and Mark Brown. They both deserve to be the top columnists at their newspapers. Sometimes Kass comes off as too crusty while Brown can be a bit too goofy, but re-reading Mike Royko's columns is proof that Mike hit many home runs, but also many singles. Kass and Brown may not always get the dinger, but they both have high averages.
I like Ron Rapoport and Rick Telander. Unfortunately, I used the sports analogy to describe Kass & Brown so I can't recycle that again. Rapoport's column of pithy remarks, witty observations and biting commentary appeal to the news junkie as well as the attention deficit plagued reader. Telander's talent is reporting from an angle that no one had considered. He's a master at making his story relate to the reader then pointing out something new.
I like Walter Jacobson. His Perspectives continue to be must-see TV--'nuff said.
I like Danielle Serino. No, really. Her sarcastic wit and tough-as-nails style quickly established her as one of the top reporters in the city. While she's mastered the consumer reporting beat, I wish she would be transferred to a political, crime or investigative reporter beat. That having been said, any station in town would be foolish not to court Chicago's #1 news babe to be Chicago's next star anchor.
I like Michael Miner's "Hot Type" column and Steve Rhodes' "Press Box" column. Covering the media beat with tight, thoughtful writing that I continue to strive for.
I like the investigative teams from all the TV stations and newspapers. Investigative stories will always attract new readers and new viewers--it's just too bad those I-Teams don't crank 'em out more often.
I like Phil Ponce and the "Chicago Tonight" crew. Phil's done an admirable job following John Calloway and it's helped that the reporters and producers on the show continue to hold the high quality standard.
Quick Hits: I Like Renee Ferguson, Mark Giangreco, Rick DiMaio, Bill Moller, Randy Salerno, Mike Parker, Mike Flannery, Byron Miranda, Nesita Kwan, Anita Padilla, Phil Rogers, Sharon Wright, Dane Placko. All solid. All pros.
I know you are, but what am I?
By JOHN F. KUCZAJ
Check out the last item in Don Wycliff's column from the Aug 30th Tribune.
A long-time LA Times reader sent an e-mail asking why the co-owned Tribune was, in his opinion, "small-town" in comparison. Rather than point out Pulitzer prizes or other awards the Tribune has been bestowed, Wycliff decided to answer by ignoring the question and launching a pithy attack on the e-mailer.
Weird.
A new meaning to the term "news whore"?
By JOHN F. KUCZAJ
Channel 2 might hire a weather babe --Jennifer Santiago (Klarman) who has posed nude in the past. I'm not sure what I think about it yet. Amazingly, she's not from Kansas City, so I give channel 2 kudos for that.
Wanna see her? Check out her picture at: http://www.cbs4news.com/html/bios/bio11.htm or check her out at: http://www.geocities.com/kone2dabone/underwear070.jpg
Chicago Media Examiner e-mail delivery
Send a blank e-mail message to ChicagoMediaExaminer-subscribe@topica.com from the e-mail address you want the Chicago Media Examiner delivered to. Whenever a new issue of the Chicago Media Examiner comes out, it will be e-mailed to you automatically. It's that simple.
Take a look at the previous issue: Monday, August 20
Take a look at the issue before that: Friday, August 10
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