The journey of a thousand miles… January 10, 2010
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: CBS19, Charlottesville, Newsplex
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OK, so it’s about 257 miles from Philadelphia to Charlottesville, Va. But the journey still begins with a single step.
Posts have been sporadic (or nonexistent) as of late thanks to my move to Virginia to work at CBS 19 and the Charlottesville Newsplex. Tomorrow, I’ll begin at the station as a Web producer and reporter.
Charlottesville is an interesting place, from my brief experiences so far. It’s a small, friendly city known for its Downtown Mall, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello and the University of Virginia.
My station is also pretty unique. The Newsplex is a group of network affiliates housed in one complex — CBS 19 (the flagship, WCAV), ABC 16 (WVAW) and FOX 27 (WAHU). The station is just more than five years old, and it’s the only country to have that combination of affiliates under one roof.
And that’s that. The plan is to try this out for a while and to determine what I’d like to do with my life. I’ll update every once and a while with behind-the-scenes information from Charlottesville.
For now, that’s the story. We’ll see how it finishes soon.
Channel 6′s Dave Roberts prepares to say goodbye November 19, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: 6ABC, Dave Roberts, Philadelphia, Weather
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Courtesy Mainline Magazine | Dave Roberts (pictured with his grandson and son, actor David Boreanaz) announced his retirement from Channel 6 after more than 30 years at the station.
And the call from AccuWeather is… A goodbye from longtime Channel 6 weather guy Dave Roberts.
6ABC promoted a “big decision” that Roberts made and wanted to share tonight on the 11 p.m. newscast. That decision was to retire from broadcasting after more than 55 years in the business.
The 11 p.m. newscast featured Jim Gardner’s one-on-one interview with Roberts. The show had no commercial breaks until after the tribute to Roberts, coming 23 minutes after the hour. When asked what he’d miss most in retirement, Roberts responded:
It’s the people… That’s what I’m gonna miss and I don’t know how I’m going to deal with it.
The Buffalo, N.Y., native began his career in Syracuse before moving back to Buffalo. The 73-year-old joined WPVI-TV Channel 6 in 1978 and began reporting the weather in 1983. With today’s weather technology and green screens, it’s not hard to forget Channel 6′s magnetic weather board, in front of which Roberts was a staple.
Thomas is the father of Bones star David Boreanaz. His last day on Channel 6 will be Dec. 11. Gardner said more features on Roberts’s life and career will be featured leading up to his final broadcast.
Philly.com finally launches mobile site November 18, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: Daily News, Fox29, iPhone, mobile, NBC10, Philadelphia Inquirer, philly.com
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The Web site for the Inquirer and Daily News, philly.com, recently launched its mobile Web site.
One would think media outlets in large markets — such as Philadelphia — would be ahead of the curve in mobile technology. However, as in many aspects of life, Philadelphia is trying. We’re one step closer with philly.com‘s mobile Web site.
Before the launch, mobile users viewed the regular Web site for the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News on mobile devices. While it’s fairly navigable on a computer’s Internet browser, philly.com was not so easy to navigate with an oversized finger.
As with many mobile sites, not everything found on the regular site is accessible on the mobile philly.com. For example, you cannot separate what appeared in the Inquirer or Daily News on the home page — you’ll find out by the article’s byline. But with larger links and quicker loading, it’s a welcome sacrifice for an easier way to get Philly news on the go.
Fox 29 is the only other local media outlet in the city to have a mobile site, though it’s bare and doesn’t offer links comparable to what you’d see on myfoxphilly.com. NBC10, however, does have a free iPhone application, the first of the market. But I still ask — where are the rest of Philly’s local news iPhone apps?
I appreciate the work of those at philly.com — I have no experience in creating mobile sites, let alone regular Web sites (hat tip to WordPress), and I’m sure much work goes into producing a mobile equivalent of a hefty Web site. Bare with them as they work out kinks, and I recommend following them on Twitter (@phillydotcom, @PhillyDailyNews, @PhillyInquirer) for continuing updates.
Stensland opens up to Daily News November 17, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Daily News, Dawn Stensland, Fox29
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Source: Philadelphia Magazine | Dawn Stensland Mendte discusses her life and challenges in a Daily News article.
Former Fox anchor Dawn Stensland Mendte offered the Daily News a tell-all interview that appeared in yesterday’s paper.
Nothing was off-limits. She discusses her job at Fox, a miscarriage last year and her husband Larry Mendte’s relationship with his former co-anchor Alycia Lane.
Despite the turmoil of the past two years, Stensland still appears to be optimistic about the future. She says she loves her husband more than ever, and she hints at a possible new career for the two.
Any thoughts?
Dawn Stensland released by Fox 29 October 23, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Coming Clean, Dawn Stensland, Fox29, Larry Mendte, Twitter
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It was the tweet heard around Philadelphia. On Tuesday, Fox 29 anchor Dawn Stensland updated Twitter to say:
Fox is not renewing my contract. I wanted you to hear that directly from me. Thank you for all your love and support over the years.
Stensland, who has been the main anchor on Fox for eight years, anchored the 10 p.m. news Tuesday night and followed it up with special post-midnight coverage of the Phillies’ NLCS clinch.
That broadcast would be her last. After gossipers reported that a timeframe for her departure had not been determined, it was announced on Wednesday, one day after her tweet, that she had been released immediately.
Kerri-Lee Halkett, Emmy Award winner for Best Anchor, will take over the 10 p.m. newscast.
As evidenced by Stensland’s Twitter page, many fans are outraged by the ousting. Her husband, ex-anchor Larry Mendte, called out Fox 29 in one of his tweets:
The amount of Love that my wife @DawnStensland is getting on her Facebook Page is insane – R U seeing this @Fox29Philadelphia
This week, King of Prussia-based company Banyan Productions announced its pitch of Coming Clean, hosted by Mendte. The syndicated show, which is being pitched to programming directors across the nation, would be a day-and-date show that would examine national and local headlines and “be an advocate for the truth,” according to the demo.
The Temple News: Then and Now October 23, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: Journalism, The Temple News
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The following is an article published in The Temple News on Oct. 13, 2009. Past staff members discussed how the newspaper has impacted their personal and professional lives. For some, it’s been decades. For others, it’s been weeks.
CHRIS STOVER
Editor in Chief, 2008-2009
I never aspired to become the editor-in-chief of The Temple News. As an unassuming freshman in 2005, I did what I was told. I wrote whatever the editors needed, covering topics from SEPTA to ramen noodles.
Little did I know these stories would prepare me to cover slightly more notable events, including a World Series run and a historic presidential election.
As a broadcast journalism major, I was a rarity at the paper. Peers always asked me why, as an aspiring broadcaster, I chose to spend my time writing and editing articles instead of shooting stand-ups. When I inherited the editorship in 2008, these questions made me realize that The Temple News should no longer be seen solely as the school newspaper. Rather, it should be considered Temple’s media organization. This thought always remained in the back of my mind.
Entering my senior year at TTN, I had the pleasure of leading 25 like-minded individuals from various backgrounds. And when you shove those 25 people in one newsroom under immeasurable stress, failure is a distinct possibility. It was a possibility I thankfully never experienced.
Instead, the staff channeled that energy into creating fantastic copy, design, video packages and Web products. Our hard work week after week paid off, as evidenced by numerous Keystone Press Awards, an ACP Online Pacemaker nomination and, perhaps most impressive, an Editor & Publisher EPpy Award for Best College Newspaper Web Site.
The TTN experience will always be a highlight of my life. Not only did I have the opportunity to refine my own multimedia reporting skills, but I was also able to witness the incredible talents of my peers.
To think that a job I initially had no desire to pursue would become one of the defining moments of my life continues to amaze me. It never crossed my mind that the irreplaceable experiences – and the lifelong friends – were part of the deal.
TTN has had a rich history in 88 years, and I’m privileged to have played a small role. In this evolving multimedia world, I look forward to seeing the accolades and achievements of TTN’s future generations
Update on Philly newscasters July 27, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Gerald Kolpan, Paul Deanno
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Two updates on a recent post:
Meteorologist Paul Deanno of Seattle’s KOMO e-mailed me and said he made the cross-country move to be closer to his wife’s family. He said it was a tough decision, but he wanted his 2-year-old to be closer to family in Washington state.
Also, former Fox 29 reporter Gerald Kolpan e-mailed to say “no lawsuit has been filed by me against 29 or anyone else.” Apologies for the confusion.
Where are Philly’s local news iPhone apps? July 13, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: iPhone, KOMO, Local News, Philadelphia, philly.com
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It’s no secret local TV news stations are still learning how to effectively use the Web — how to effectively incorporate unique stories, audio and video separate from their newscasts.
In Philadelphia, statistics show that most people visit philly.com, the site for the Inquirer and Daily News, for news online instead of TV news Web sites. The competition isn’t even close.
All four major network stations in Philadelphia have redesigned their Web sites within the last two years, but they still aren’t necessarily catering to their audiences’ needs.
It’s easy to find grammatical and spelling mistakes in local news stories. Copy editing does not seem to be a priority. Thankfully, the sites have begun rewriting broadcast copy for the Web instead of simply posting the scripts as stories. Navigability could use improvement on many sites, as stations attempt to wow the audience with the use of Flash instead of making it simple to find stories.
Side note: The fancy Flash sites also take longer to load, which is not fun for slower Internet connections.
One step in the right direction: an iPhone app. KOMO in Seattle (DMA No. 14) recently released an application that conveniently compacts all its news content in one easy-to-follow platform.
Philadelphia stations could greatly benefit from a similar application, as none of the stations’ Web sites are particularly iPhone (or Blackberry) friendly. All of the stations currently use Twitter, mostly to link to recently-posted stories, but an iPhone app could put these stations on the cutting edge of local news Web site success.
CNN.com is my personal favorite news Web site, and its mobile site is also easily navigable. At the very least, the stations (or the networks themselves) can work on more accessibility via mobile sites.
It’s important to note that KOMO is an affiliate of ABC, not owned-and-operated by the network. Therefore, KOMO has more flexibility in content management, whereas stations in cities like Philadelphia, New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago, for example, may not.
Former Philly newscasters: Where are they now? July 11, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Alycia Lane, Angela Russell, Billy Vargus, CBS3, Don Tollefson, Etta, Fox29, Gerald Kolpan, Larry Mendte, Paul Deanno, Sally Ann Mosey
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Philly loves its newscasters. Philly loves it more when its newscasters have drama. Stations have seen many come and go, so here’s a look at where some of them went.
Alycia Lane
Lane was last seen on the air in December 2007 after the now-infamous incident involving an NYPD cop and a few choice words. She was no stranger to making news in Philly, not necessarily for good reason.
Lane has sued CBS3 for wrongful termination. But she is leaving Philadelphia behind and following her beau, radio host Chris Booker, to Los Angeles. She says she hopes to get a job in TV, although rumors of a future in real estate are also swirling.
Larry Mendte (larrymendte)
Mendte is a household name in the Philadelphia area — a local guy who people trusted. However, he was convicted last August of illegally accessing former co-anchor Alycia Lane’s e-mail account hundreds of times. He recently got off his sentence of six-months’ house arrest.
He has kept himself under the radar lately. He has started a blog in which he shares stories, poetry and other writings. Mendte’s wife, Dawn Stensland (dawnstensland), anchors the 10 p.m. newscast on Fox 29.
Gerald Kolpan (geraldkolpan)
Kolpan was a 21-year veteran of Fox 29, the most tenured member of its on-air staff. Kolpan was the go-to features reporter, known for his quirky stories and quirky delivery. He was released from the station earlier this year.
His release came just months before the release of his book, Etta, which is a fictional tale of the Sundance Kid’s companion. Kolpan is also keeping busy with an age discrimination lawsuit against Fox 29. (See the update.)
Don Tollefson and Billy Vargus
Within a year, Fox 29 canned two of its three sports anchors. Don Tollefson, a well-known broadcaster in Philly, was released last year (literally days after returning to the air after recuperating from a car accident). Billy Vargus was released this spring after 12 years at the station. No word on any future in the Philadelphia sports scene, though. Vargus still has a link to Fox 29 — his wife, Sue Serio (sue_serio), is the meteorologist for Good Day Philadelphia.
Joe Staszak is now the lead sports anchor/reporter, occasionally getting help from former Eagle Hugh Douglas and 610 WIP’s Anthony Gargano. Senior sports producer Tom Sredenschek has also taken up anchoring duties.
Angela Russell (thenewslady)
Russell was an anchor/reporter at CBS3. She co-anchored the 4 p.m. newscast with local news legend Marc Howard and reported for the 11 p.m. newscast. Known for her conversational tone and engaging reports, she was released from the station in January.
However, she quickly landed on her feet. She picked up the lead anchor job at KIRO in Seattle, Wash. She anchors the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts.
Paul Deanno (pauldeannoKOMO)
Deanno was a popular morning meteorologist for CBS3. He was one of the few reporters to (reportedly) leave on his own terms to become chief meteorologist at WTVJ in Miami a few years back.
Miami must not be like Philadelphia. There were no reports on why Deanno quietly left Miami in the fall of 2008, but he is reunited with former CBS3 colleague Angela Russell in Seattle. He is the morning meteorologist at KOMO. (See the update.)
Sally Ann Mosey
SAM, as she was known by colleagues, was a popular, cheerful meteorologist at 6ABC. Like Deanno, she (reportedly) left on her own terms, making a name for herself at WNBC in New York City.
However, WNBC announced some hefty layoffs beginning in December 2008. The station released many of its big name personalities, likely to cost cut. Mosey was among the cuts.
Rumors quickly swirled in Philadelphia about a possible return to the area, much like Fox 29 meteorologist John Bolaris after his stint in NYC. Mosey has followed his example. She is now a freelance meteorologist for WTXF, and her first appearance back on air in Philadelphia will be on July 19.
Alycia goes Hollywood July 11, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Chris Booker
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Former CBS3 anchor Alycia Lane has left PHL en route to LAX.
Lane is moving to the Hollywood Hills to follow her boyfriend, former Q102 DJ Chris Booker, who is working at KAMP in Los Angeles. She reportedly has a house in the Hollywood Hills.
Not familiar with the Lane name? You will after reading a few posts. She’s been absent from here for a while.
Her future plans — Lane said she hopes to land a TV job. Just no more trips to New York City this time.
