DeMentri bio yanked from Web site August 13, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Larry Mendte, NBC10, Vince DeMentri
add a comment
Hat tip to tom shannon on this previous post for some breaking Vince DeMentri news.
NBC10 has apparently pulled the plug on DeMentri’s bio on the Meet the News Team page (not the title of the page — “NBC Philadelphia, PA female and male news anchors.” Weird.).
If you try going directly to the link, NBC10 doesn’t let you.
The story you are trying to view is no longer available through this Web site.
What are we to assume here? Apparently NBC10 still doesn’t like to release information about their talent even after he or she is let go from the station (if that’s even the case) because Google News isn’t coming up with anything recent, either (as of Aug. 13).
In somewhat related news, larrymendte.com got somewhat of a facelift. I only get a link to e-mail — still no site, as was first reported by the DN. Anyone find a way around it?
Ed Note, 8/22/08: I’m going to toot my own horn (with great gratitude to tom shannon). We were one of (if not the) first ‘official’ source to break this news. Just sayin… ;)
The columnists respond… July 24, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Alycia Lane, Daily News, Larry Mendte, Philadelphia Inquirer
add a comment
It wouldn’t be Philadelphia without angry journalists. So these angry journalists have called out a fellow one.
First, Inquirer columnist Daniel Rubin gave an interesting view of a day in the life of Larry Mendte. Perhaps his title — “The obsession of Larry Mendte” — is a double entendre. His obsession with Alycia Lane, our obsession with him?
The second comes from my new fave Jill Porter. She’s followed up her Alycia Lane column with a Larry Mendte column, simply asking, “What more could he want?” And she hits each question that every one of us has in the back of our minds. Answers, however, are hard to come by.
Just passing them along. Feel free to share your thoughts!
Photo courtesy DN.
Remember when… July 22, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Larry Mendte
add a comment
It’s been more than seven months since our favorite duo, Larry Mendte and Alycia Lane, anchored Eyewitness News cohesively.
Remember that philly.com page, “Alycia Lane in the News”? It’s now officially been changed: “Larry Mendte and Alycia Lane in the News.”
So, let’s reminisce. We have this infamous blooper of Larry reporting on a flood. We see Alycia toward the end.
Now we check out happier times, almost one year ago when the duo did a promo together.
Larry said goodbye to Alycia…
Channel 6 sensed troubled waters…
…And Susan said goodbye to Larry.
And that was Seven Months in the Life of CBS3.
The media respond July 21, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Larry Mendte
add a comment
Chris May could barely finish his introduction as his co-anchor, Susan Barnett, informed CBS3 viewers about Larry Mendte’s felony charge at 11 p.m. Walt Hunter had the story.
Same happened over at NBC10, Mendte’s former place of employment before he “made the switch” in 2003.
6ABC waited until after the weather. Commendable.
CNN jumped on the story once the AP got a hold of it. Mendte made their list of top stories.
Isn’t that why Lane got fired, too? Because she, a reporter of the news, made the news herself?
And what about Fox 29? Anchoring the Fox 10 O’Clock News is Dawn Stensland, Mendte’s wife. She was absent from air today, but Kerri-Lee Halkett did release this statement after a package:
Mendte’s wife, Dawn Stensland, anchors right here at Fox 29, doing the News at 10. News management has decided that Dawn will not take part in the reporting or coverage of this story. This hopefully avoids any problems and keeps the process transparent.
Mendte snooped into former co-anchor Alycia Lane’s e-mail at least 537 times between Jan. 1, 2008 and May 28, 2008. But he’s been doing it since 2006, and overall, prosecutors say he has checked her e-mail between 7,000 and 8,000 times.
Reports are saying he had been doing this to ruin Lane’s career.
The Philadelphia media (and beyond) haven’t been the nicest to Lane. She’s made the cover of the New York Post a few times for unflattering stories. These could have been little blips in the radar, but perhaps Mendte made them bigger. What was in it for him, we probably won’t know. Maybe it was for a solo anchor gig, thus more money. But it doesn’t seem worth it now.
Daily News columnist Jill Porter wrote an article about Lane I linked to a few weeks ago, and it seems even more relevant now.
And though she may never have the career she once had, at least she might be able to find some closure.
Mendte may face jail time July 21, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Crime, Larry Mendte
6 comments
It’s so big, even CNN picked it up.
Fired CBS3 anchor Larry Mendte has been charged with one felony count of intentionally accessing a protected computer without autorization and thereby obtaining information in furtherance of a tortious act.
In other words, he allegedly snooped in Alycia Lane’s e-mail accounts (Yahoo! and .mac) and divulged private information — especially privileged communication between her and her lawyer — to an unnamed Philadelphia Daily News reporter (although, one…er, many names are swirling).
Regardless, that DN reporter won’t get charged. Only Mendte will.
A source says that Mendte is expected to plead guilty at his arraignment in the coming weeks. Snooping can get him zero to six months in prison, though according to a philly.com poll, most think he’ll just get a “slap on the wrist.”
The Information given by the district court in United States of America v. Lawrence Mendte lists every time Mendte accessed Lane’s e-mail account since Jan. 1, 2008. It lists from where he accessed it — usually from KYW, his Chestnut Hill home or his “vacation residence” — multiple times per day.
Since Jan. 1, he’s accessed it about 537 times until May 28, when his computers were confiscated.
The information (linked below) really is an entertaining read and gives those unfamiliar with the case (I know, laughable) can get caught up, stemming from Alycia Lane’s initial arrest in December 2007. Fun stuff, right?
As of 5:50 p.m. Monday, all the major stations in Philly except 6ABC have reported it. NBC10′s All That and More dedicated its call-in topic to it: “Is snooping e-mail the same as snooping snail mail.” They’re probably just trying to cover up their own anchor troubles.
Not to be outdone by CBS3 July 10, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Journalism, Larry Mendte, NBC10, Vince DeMentri
1 comment so far
First, it was not to be outdone by Alycia. And now, it’s this.
Apparently, NBC10 anchor Vince DeMentri was jealous of the press CBS3′s talent has been getting. So he decided to get some of his own.
Eternal newser Dan Gross reports that DeMentri may have allegedly vandalized cohort (and possibly former companion?) Lori Delgado’s car in the NBC10 parking lot. The DA has called it a “non-issue.”
DeMentri wasn’t on the air last Thursday and Friday (after an apparent argument with the station manager) and has been off the air this week for a planned Jamaican vacation, though he apparently never left the country.
As I’ve said before, I don’t like to comment on these situations publicly. But I will say this. I want a job in the future. A job where I can be credible. But I’ve got a few more years. So please, while there’s still a little bit of time left, let’s maintain some sort of credibility in Philadelphia!? Please!?
A slow day in Philly Gossip July 3, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia, Random Rubbish.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Gossip, Larry Mendte
add a comment
Poor Dan Gross. He must be bored.
The Daily News columnist recently posted a gossip blurb first reported by CityPaper. The next stars of Eyewitness News of our Lives haven’t officially been separated yet. At least, according to the Palm Restaurant.
The eatery, known for throwing caricatures of famous Philadelphians on its walls, has a pairing of Larry Mendte and Alycia Lane posing near each other. Still no word on plans to either separate or remove altogether.
In the cell phone image on the left, I think we can make out CBS3 sportsguy Beasely Reece. And is that Kathy Orr on the right? Maybe Michael Colleran next to Larry?
In related news, rumors abounded that Mendte would be appearing in federal court today. But that’s the magic of gossip. Not all of it’s true.
In more related news, I find out in three weeks if I made the cut for Wheel of Fortune. That is not a rumor.
Our local soap is coming to an end… June 25, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia, Random Rubbish.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Journalism, Larry Mendte
add a comment
Thank you, philly.com.
The Web site that is Philadelphia assembled for us an archive. An archive entitled “Alycia Lane in the News.”
Don’t worry. Larry’s on there, too. It might as well be called “CBS3 in the News.”
And the latest story comes from the columnist who is Philadelphia, who assembled for us her thoughts defending Alycia.
Jill Porter wrote a column that many people will laugh at. Many people won’t take it seriously. It’s questionable if she even takes it seriously.
In a nutshell, her column says that we, the news-crazed Philadelphia public, never gave Alycia a chance. Maybe she’s not the ditzy diva the Philadelphia media has made her out to be.
We ought to believe that, Porter says. But we probably won’t.
That’s because this long saga that began December 14 after an incident involving a news anchor, a New York City cop and a taxi cab (sounds like the setup for a joke) is finally coming to an end. There are only two more milestones to come – the future of Mr. Mendte’s federal investigation and the outcome of Lane’s lawsuit against KYW.
Well, unless Mendte files a wrongful termination lawsuit. But let’s pretend that’s not an option.
But these outcomes aren’t what we care about. We cared about the public destruction of two beloved news anchors – those whom we loved to watch and who will likely not be on the Philadelphia airwaves anymore.
And you know what? We’re going to miss them. I already do.
Way to go, Philadelphia.
Happier Times: a key to success June 24, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Cut to the Chase, Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Journalism, Larry Mendte, Television
add a comment
But the big story tonight is…
Larry Kane coined a variation of that title phrase on WPVI’s Action News in the 1970s. Afterward, he moved on to KYW-TV in 1993 and retired 10 years later. His replacement?
Well…Marc Howard. He lasted at the 11 p.m. anchor desk for about eight months before moving to 4 p.m. His replacement(s)?
Larry Mendte and Alycia Lane.
It seemed like a beautiful partnership. Mendte, stolen from NBC10, and Lane, wanting cooler temps than Florida, began to liven up a recently rebranded station that had been sinking in the ratings.
I was one of those who “Made the Switch” with Mendte and meteorologist Kathy Orr. And I haven’t gone back since. CBS3 hasn’t given me reason to.
No More Mendte June 23, 2008
Posted by Chris Stover in Journalism, Philadelphia.Tags: Alycia Lane, CBS3, Larry Mendte
1 comment so far
CBS3’s Susan Barnett announced today on Eyewitness News at 6 that her former co-anchor, Larry Mendte, has been released from his contract.
The result of the federal investigation into Mendte’s alleged snooping of previously fired CBS3 diva Alycia Lane’s private e-mail has not come, but Barnett said a private investigation by CBS3 led to the dismissal.
CBS3 had a short blurb on its Web site shortly after the announcement, but does not have any official statement yet.
No word on who will replace Mendte in the anchor chair. He’s been off the air since May 29. Anchor/reporter Chris May has been filling in at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. since.
This release from contract may come at a convenient time for Mendte. His wife, FOX29 anchor Dawn Stensland, is in need of a co-anchor for the FOX 10:00 News since the dismissal of her co-anchor, Dave Huddleston. Could Philadelphia see its first married anchor team?
Last summer at CBS3, three on-air talent had nice offices overlooking the city while most other anchors and reporters had oversized cubicles or less. Those three offices – occupied by Mendte, Lane and retiree Marc Howard – have all been vacated.
Weeks of logging on to CBS3 looking for one particular story have finally been validated. Not because I’m taking a stance…just because I like network news drama.
Just another day in the Philadelphia media market.
