Action News Reporters Being Let Go

[spuwho]

That's quite the housecleaning.

The state of local news is pretty pathetic in this area (not that it's great anywhere I'm sure). FCN, for what I assume is the top dog in town, gets laughably worse with every passing year.

They all suck........

So basically, to the local news station industry all around the country:

Agreed.

Even large metros have seen terrible declines in the quality of their local news.

In the 1970's we had the hey day of Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobsen of Chicago. These guys could get Mick Jagger in their news studio during prime time an hour before he took stage to perform with the Stones. They could get almost any politico on the air with no fluff (except for Daley Sr.) They recently had the two come back to do the news and finish a "final sign off" last year before they left to retire.  Ratings skyrocketed. People remember them for their hard hitting news, no "bleeds, it leads" junk here. Shoot, they took news updates right on their phones sitting on their desks during the commercial breaks. Today's anchors are more worried about the high def pimple on their forehead.

They were the first to drop news film reporting and going to minicam and then local sat. People were amazed they could get out to the streets of Chicago and still get back in time for the 6 and 10PM leads.

https://www.youtube.com/v/a4bOBW7jnjk

From 1974-1985 they were it in Chicago. Nothing today compares.

[coredumped]

Phil Amato (from FCN) is going to Action News:

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/news/local/anchor-phil-amato-joins-cbs47-and-fox30-action-new/nht4m/

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?&width=100%25&height=100%25&flashID=myExperience3865761205001&playerID=2503332981001&playerKey=AQ~~%2CAAACG-Z7hDk~%2CmkwlxmFZxJU1j5JweTbFlORrLvbtxm8s&%40videoPlayer=3865761205001&includeAPI=true&templateLoadHandler=cmg.brightcove.player8827674.onTemplateLoad&templateReadyHandler=brightcove%5B%22templateReadyHandlermyExperience3865761205001%22%5D&wmode=transparent&isVid=true&isUI=true&dynamicStreaming=true&linkBaseURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.actionnewsjax.com%2Fvideos%2Fnews%2Fphil-amato-joins-action-news-team%2FvCzCN3%2F&htmlFallback=true&autoStart=false&debuggerID=&originalTemplateReadyHandler=cmg.brightcove.player8827674.onTemplateReady&startTime=1414630594703

[Charles Hunter]

I think he was at WTLV when it was called Action News

[funguy]

How I wish WTLV (FCN) would get rid of all their sports reporters..
I always change channels when anyone of the drips come on...

[aclchampion]

I think he was at WTLV when it was called Action News

WTLV was never called Action News. Its been First Coast News long as I remember.
I guess WJAX figured out a way around that pesky non compete clause that all on-air types at FCN have to sign.

[jsjax37]

WTLV Channel 12 news was branded "Action News" in the 70's, maybe even into the 80's.
Note paragraph 4 of the following link.

http://archive.firstcoastnews.com/inside/aboutus.aspx

Also agree regarding FCN Sports.  Just horrible.  I expect to see wholesale changes at FCN once the ratings show improvement for Fox30/CBS47.  FCN might be heading for third in the market.

[aclchampion]

I stand corrected. Thanks jsjax. That was before my time there. I came onboard just before the Gannett takeover.

Speaking of sports on Ch12, does anyone remember "Charmin" Harmon Wages?

[coredumped]

How I wish WTLV (FCN) would get rid of all their sports reporters..
I always change channels when anyone of the drips come on...

Yeah, they seem like nice people and all, but they're not cut out for TV. Of couse I have no use for FCN whatsoever.

For me it's Ch4 for the news/weather, and ActionNews for sports. I don't care much for Sam, he never seems to care about what he's saying.

[I-10east]

Former Action News anchor Lynnsey Gardner and her husband former Action News reporter Bryan Baker are gonna open a Maple Street Biscuit Co. in St Augustine. That's very cool.

http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/food-and-dining/2014-12-05/story/former-action-news-anchor-open-maple-street-biscuit

[avonjax]

Since this was resurrected I have to say I don't like the new anchors at 47.