Former Philly newscasters: Where are they now? July 11, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Larry Mendte, Fox29, Angela Russell, Billy Vargus, Don Tollefson, Gerald Kolpan, Etta, Sally Ann Mosey, Paul Deanno
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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. Other TV projects may be in the future.
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 with Fox 29.
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.
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.
Good TV news gone wrong July 3, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: Anderson Cooper, CNN, Fox News, News Bloopers
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In the spirit of good TV news gone wrong, here are a few more fine examples of reporters taking embarrassing live moments in stride.
First, Anderson Cooper gets a surprise on his birthday.
Next, a one-man-band reporter in Missouri is at the wrong place at the wrong time. (Side note: is it wrong to hope something like this happens to me one day?)
And, finally, Fox News anchors don’t really know what they’re supposed to report.
When reporters attack July 3, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: Journalism, Las Vegas, News Bloopers
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Everyone wants to be on television. Some people go to school for training. Others let alcohol do the work.
Exhibit A: Las Vegas Action News reporter who went to school. Exhibit B: Drunken man on the street. The horror in the anchors’ eyes completes the presesntation.
Mendte sues the Inky after house arrest June 4, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Inquirer, Jill Porter, Larry Mendte, Michael Klein
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Fresh off house arrest, former CBS3 anchor Larry Mendte is suing the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Also involved in the suit is Inqy columnists Michael Klein and Jonathan Storm and retired Daily News columnist Jill Porter.
The suit alleges that the three columnists put Mendte in a negative light and prevented him from salvaging his broadcasting career. He says Klein and former co-anchor Alycia Lane formed a close friendship that, in essence, distorted some facts in his reporting. The inaccuracies, the suit says, caused the district attorney to up the charges from misdemeanors to felonies.
Mendte is seeking $50,000 in damages.
Meanwhile, Lane is still in the process of suing Mendte, CBS3 and Daily News gossiper Dan Gross.
CBS3 launches sleeker site June 3, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: CBS3, cbs3.com
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Can’t wake up with Wakeup News June 3, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: CBS3, CW Philly, Natasha Brown
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Following the news of the Philadelphia Bulletin’s folding yesterday, the CW Philly followed it up with the announcement that the station is halting its morning newscast.
The CW Philly Wake Up News, which airs from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m., will broadcast its last show on June 26. Eyewitness News This Morning, anchored by Ukee Washington and Liz Keptner, will continue to air its normal time — 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. — but will add two hours, which will air on the CW.

CBS3's Natasha Brown
This means the three-person crew who hosted Wake Up News — anchor Natasha Brown, traffic guy Sean Murphy and meteorologist Christa Quinn — will be somewhat displaced. Brown, who also reports for CBS3, will move to the field for the morning show. Murphy and Quinn will serve as back-ups.
CBS3 began consolidating the CW a few months ago, adding the aforementioned personalities to the CBS3 bios page and making the CW Philly’s Web site a Web page hosted on cbs3.com.
Will you pay for philly.com? June 1, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: Philadelphia Inquirer, philly.com
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Along with its 180th anniversary celebration, the Philadelphia Inquirer made an additional announcement in its paper yesterday.
In an article titled “Print will live in a digital age,” publisher Brian Tierney said users will pay for the Inky’s and Daily News’ Web site, philly.com, by the end of the year.
As subscription service is one thing, but a paid subscription is something I doubt many in the Philadelphia area would buy into (literally).
AP Stylebook tweets you right May 31, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: AP Stylebook, Associated Press, Twitter
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My life just got a little more complete.
I previously vowed on this blog that I would not become a Twitter fiend, yet I find myself strangely addicted to the social networking site. Yet, thanks to a few certain Tweeters (such as LarryMendte, Captn_Morgan and AlexsLemonade), I’ve embraced this ridiculous Web service.
But now, the ultimate product joined Twitter — the AP Stylebook.
The AP Stylebook is the fundamental product any aspiring journalist should worship, regardless of the type of journalism (even broadcasters). Marketing manager Colleen Newvine tweets to followers who ask AP style questions. I think this might be my dream job (next to host of Wheel of Fortune, of course).
I encourage everyone to follow APStylebook and learn a thing or two. And while you’re at it, follow me, too.
Battle of the Egos: Broadcast vs. Print May 27, 2009
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: Bill Martin, News Bloopers
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Cleveland doesn’t take criticism lightly.
More specifically, Fox 8’s Bill Martin doesn’t take criticism lightly.
Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal Constitution wrote about the city he was visiting in unflattering terms. On the local Fox newscast, Martin interviewed Bradley (hence the broadcast vs. print).
As a journalism student, I could tell you some tension between certain print majors and certain broadcast majors. I hope there is a way to avoid such situations as that which occurred below. It’s a somewhat awkward three minutes in which the softspoken print guy stands by his statement and the broadcast guy immaturely “interviews” the “other side.”
I just feel bad for the co-anchor.

