Fox 2 cleaning house - Feldman, Carr and Thomas gone

**ScienceFair** · April-18-16, 09:57 AM

Watching Fox 2 new over the weekend, I was kind of shocked at how unprofessional the whole enterprise seems to be. With the integration of viewer tweets and facebook comments into the broadcast as if that is relevant content or actual news, as well as the Jerry Springer-esque Let It Rip segment, it's just sensational garbage. Isn't there some kind of regulation or guideline that stations have to follow as a publicly broadcasted station? I don't know anything about that kind of thing, but it's insulting to receive this mess on my tv antenna. I'll stick to 4 and 7, I guess.

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · April-18-16, 12:04 PM

ScienceFair I can't quibble with your complaints about news content these days. Social media is all over the place on news broadcasts. So are polls. I hate "polls as news". Instead of reflecting public sentiment about news, they drive it. And they can be worded to get any desired result. Fox 2 is definitely "out there" with non-news news content. But, frankly, so are 4 and 7; and they're all getting worse about it. But so are stations in other cities. So is cable news [[including CNN). Say what you will about news of old [[and it had many flaws), it was not overly filled with non-news. I think there are probably some days when social media, polls, and fluff fill out entire newscasts.

One thing I'll say in defense of TV news decision-makers: they are only following the public. Most people can't hold down an unbroken 10-minute conversation these days because they are used to checking their phones, communicating in emojis, and delivering important life information in group texts. Huntley-Brinkley wouldn't get a 1 share if it were on today, regrettably. If Mort Crim and Amyre Makupson were to today be announced as anchors of a new, straight-laced and serious Detroit newscast, it would get killed by everything else in the ratings.

The one thing I will quibble with in your post: we do not need government regulation of content on our airwaves*. That will neither lead to quality improvement nor a wider differentiation of ideas/opinions on TV. It would also trample on speech and press rights. Since there are unlimited [[literally, with the internet, let alone hundreds of cable and satellite stations) sources of news and entertainment, I think it is downright absurd for the government to treat broadcasting rights as fragile, exclusive things to be carefully shepherded by our all knowing and all loving Big Brother overlords.

*There is currently some regulation of content, but it is categorical, not specific. Stations have certain obligations to offer "community programming" and the like, and they can be penalized for profanity, but no one in government is charged with regulating actual content. Stations can be as a little or as much trashy or newsy or fluffy or whatever they want.

**ScienceFair** · April-18-16, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

The one thing I will quibble with in your post: we do not need government regulation of content on our airwaves*.

I totally get where you're coming from, and I don't take for granted the fact that we live in a place where we have the freedom to say what we want without being murdered like North Korea or something. But, isn't there some standard to be upheld in regards to what is being delivered to the public as "news?" Where do we draw the line? How do we draw the line? I saw a woman with no credentials or evidence other than Google searches debating a medical doctor on "Let it Rip" about whether vaccines cause autism. The way it was staged made it seem like both individuals had equal footing, even though it was completely absurd. If a television news station is reporting false or misleading information, is there no recourse? People have enough trouble trying to decipher which email forwards are legit and what's BS, now they have the same decisions to make when watching something that has historically been fact-based information. It really bothers me.

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · April-18-16, 10:04 PM

I also get where you are coming from, ScienceFair, but I think a Government-empowered Truth Squad is infinitely more frightening and harmful than a poor news operation. The State should not control information to the people. That's Freedom 101. You can always turn off the TV. But we shouldn't have someone from the FCC or anywhere else walking into a newsroom and declaring, essentially, "This is what you need to say."

**SDCC** · May-23-16, 03:31 PM

Jason Carr starts June 20 on WDIV...He was chit chatting on Channel 4 today.

**Ray1936** · May-23-16, 05:15 PM

Is Dick Westerkamp still on Ch. 4?

**Hypestyles** · May-23-16, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by SDCC

Jason Carr starts June 20 on WDIV...He was chit chatting on Channel 4 today.

So what's he going to do for Ch. 4? General reporting? They already have the "lifestyle/pop culture" hosts with Chuck Gaidica and Tati Amare at 10 a.m.
This is also interesting because there seemingly won't be a six-month gap, with these non-compete clauses that are often common with on-air personalities in media.

**daddeeo** · May-23-16, 08:14 PM

If the contract is up, I don't think it would apply. Usually, if you leave for another station job they would want a non-compete for their own purposes.
If they let you go, I don't think they could enforce that clause. Why would they let you go if you were so great?

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · May-24-16, 02:04 AM

Originally Posted by daddeeo

If the contract is up, I don't think it would apply. Usually, if you leave for another station job they would want a non-compete for their own purposes.
If they let you go, I don't think they could enforce that clause. Why would they let you go if you were so great?

Broadcast contracts tend to be VERY SPECIFIC. I knew 2 local TV people in NYC, and there were very specific terms for non-compete clauses, severance pay, etc. Such terms are a part of the negotiation, just like pay and benefits. Usually, stations will put a strict non-compete on a big name talent, so as to head off a damaging defection to another station. Lesser known [[and lesser paid) staff will have milder clauses, sometimes including a waiving of the the non-compete clause as a way to avoid paying severance when someone is let go, or to get out of a term of contract early [[i.e.: we want to let you go; go now, halfway into your contract, and you can work somewhere else immediately; or wait out your contract and we'll give you crappy assignments for the duration, followed by vigorous enforcement of your 6-month non-compete clause).

On the "why would they let you go" front, I think all 3 terminations from WJBK were financial. Murray was probably a very highly paid anchor [[although an excellent one), and the other 2 probably viewed as non-essential.

**jcole** · May-24-16, 07:40 AM

They waived the non-compete for him.

**jcole** · May-24-16, 07:43 AM

They were all let go as a money saving measure but not by WJBK; it was a Fox News decision. They waived Jason's non-compete, but I don't know about Lee Thomas. Murray is staying on WWJ radio and will stay in Detroit. Jason will be contributing to the "Live in the D" show as a sort of mixed media specialist, using social media on there and to broadcast shows.

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

Broadcast contracts tend to be VERY SPECIFIC. I knew 2 local TV people in NYC, and there were very specific terms for non-compete clauses, severance pay, etc. Such terms are a part of the negotiation, just like pay and benefits. Usually, stations will put a strict non-compete on a big name talent, so as to head off a damaging defection to another station. Lesser known [[and lesser paid) staff will have milder clauses, sometimes including a waiving of the the non-compete clause as a way to avoid paying severance when someone is let go, or to get out of a term of contract early [[i.e.: we want to let you go; go now, halfway into your contract, and you can work somewhere else immediately; or wait out your contract and we'll give you crappy assignments for the duration, followed by vigorous enforcement of your 6-month non-compete clause).

On the "why would they let you go" front, I think all 3 terminations from WJBK were financial. Murray was probably a very highly paid anchor [[although an excellent one), and the other 2 probably viewed as non-essential.

**Hypestyles** · May-24-16, 05:34 PM

Going on the WJBK jobs website [[consolidated to Fox TV Stations Careers), almost the only thing I could find in recent months was an Administrative Assistant role... they still haven't called me back yet. Ah well...

**birwood** · May-24-16, 08:53 PM

Yeah Ray…Sonny still does weather and Al Ackerman on sports

**MikeyinBrooklyn** · May-24-16, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by birwood

Yeah Ray…Sonny still does weather and Al Ackerman on sports

If only! Mort Crim circa 1982 is forever etched in my head as the prototype newsman. I realize that TV "news" today [[on all stations, local and national) is just a part of programming, and not a standalone information enterprise. But those olden-days newscasts were great. I was addicted. I watched the news [[usually Channel 4) before school, in the evening, and 11 whenever I could. I felt that I knew what was happening in Detroit & Michigan after watching. And we always loved Dwayne X. Riley, and my Mom would try [[badly) to imitate Bob Bennett's deep voice. No offense to anyone working in the biz today, but it just ain't the same.

**SDCC** · May-25-16, 02:01 AM

Originally Posted by Hypestyles

So what's he going to do for Ch. 4? General reporting? They already have the "lifestyle/pop culture" hosts with Chuck Gaidica and Tati Amare at 10 a.m.
This is also interesting because there seemingly won't be a six-month gap, with these non-compete clauses that are often common with on-air personalities in media.

Not sure, I was working [[playing) on my computer and the tv was on. It didn't even dawn on me what the conversation was, or who the two WDIV station personalities were talking to, until the very end of what I would describe as a snip-it of a story.
I do remember Jason saying how actually working and reporting in downtown Detroit would give him a better perspective on Detroit news and events, as opposed to reporting Detroit news from Southfield.

**Smirnoff** · May-25-16, 06:46 AM

Originally Posted by Ray1936

Is Dick Westerkamp still on Ch. 4?

Yep, and Dick Wolfe is still on Channel 7 & traveling around with the wandering wigloo.

**preserve** · May-25-16, 04:59 PM

What happened to the morning person, I think her name was Anquenette, or something like that.
Haven't seen her in awhile. Where do they get these squeaky voiced blondes? I remember a long, long time ago when the voice on the radio had to have some resonance and no accent.
Carolyn Clifford also has an annoying voice, and why do they all talk over one another? When you have a problem hearing, that high pitch is quite annoying and then when they all talk at once..The 7 Action News in the morning is really the one that violates that rule all the time.
You guys forgot Ven Marshall....he was tough roving reporter, going after Jimmy Hoffa.

**jcole** · May-25-16, 08:40 PM

Anqenette has MS and has been on medical leave for at least a couple months now. She's supposed to be coming back but no word on when.

Originally Posted by preserve

What happened to the morning person, I think her name was Anquenette, or something like that.
Haven't seen her in awhile. Where do they get these squeaky voiced blondes? I remember a long, long time ago when the voice on the radio had to have some resonance and no accent.
Carolyn Clifford also has an annoying voice, and why do they all talk over one another? When you have a problem hearing, that high pitch is quite annoying and then when they all talk at once..The 7 Action News in the morning is really the one that violates that rule all the time.
You guys forgot Ven Marshall....he was tough roving reporter, going after Jimmy Hoffa.

**Bigb23** · May-26-16, 12:49 AM

Originally Posted by MikeyinBrooklyn

If only! Mort Crim circa 1982 is forever etched in my head as the prototype newsman. I realize that TV "news" today [[on all stations, local and national) is just a part of programming, and not a standalone information enterprise. But those olden-days newscasts were great. I was addicted. I watched the news [[usually Channel 4) before school, in the evening, and 11 whenever I could. I felt that I knew what was happening in Detroit & Michigan after watching. And we always loved Dwayne X. Riley, and my Mom would try [[badly) to imitate Bob Bennett's deep voice. No offense to anyone working in the biz today, but it just ain't the same.

Mort Crim and I have a thing going, He calls me at home a couple of times a week reminding me of a medical alert service that he recommends.

Ah, good times.

**Cincinnati_Kid** · May-26-16, 05:45 AM

Originally Posted by Bigb23

Mort Crim and I have a thing going, He calls me at home a couple of times a week reminding me of a medical alert service that he recommends.

Ah, good times.

He calls me also, about offering a good deal on some windows.....