Time finally ran out for WB17 news director Rich Scott, who
will leave his position at the end of February. As news director
since December 1996, Scott was able to survive more than twice
as long as the average tenure of that position, which is 18-24
months.
According to WB17 vice president and general manager Leslie
Glenn, the stagnant ratings of the newscast were to blame for
Scott's ouster.
"Everything at the station is going in the right
direction, but our news ratings are flat. We need to do a better
job of competing."
WB17, which expanded the ten o'clock show to an hour in
September, has no plans for additional newscasts. Glenn said,
"We have to get this right first. The newscast is our
number one focus this year."
In the November ratings at 10 p.m., WB17 had a 2.2 rating,
well behind the 4.6 rating of Fox-Philadelphia, which has done
some major housecleaning of its own, changing its news director,
anchors and weather anchor within the last 12 months. Each
rating point equals 28,010 homes.
In contrast to NBC 10, whose staff was practically singing
"Happy Days Are Here Again," when news director Steve
Schwaid departed last month, the WB17 staff (many of whom Scott
hired including Mike Missanelli, Karen Jordan, and Steve
MacLaughlin) was saddened by the announcement.
Glenn said a new news director would probably come from
another station in the Tribune line up. Scott, a 30-year news
veteran in the market who started his career at WBCB-AM in
Levittown said, "I've had a great run. I have no
regrets."
BIG SHOES TO FILL
Meanwhile, the "new kid in town," news director
Chris Blackman of NBC 10 is not worried about the pressure of
continuing the legacy of predecessor Steve Schwaid, who led the
station to two 11 p.m. sweeps victories in 2001.
"There is no doubt I have big shoes to fill. I had a
chance to learn a lot. Steve is one of the smartest news people
I've ever met," said the former assistant news director.
"We have the Olympic lead-in, and I'm hoping to get our
station to the next level," said Blackman, who grew up in
Barbados.
After graduating from Stanford in 1981, Blackman's career has
taken him to Baltimore, Chicago, Hong Kong, and Singapore before
arriving in Philadelphia this summer.
Blackman, whose father was once the ambassador to the U.S.
from Barbados, has a twin brother who is a producer for NBC news
in Washington, D.C., and a younger brother who is the head
tennis coach at American University, who also played on the
junior circuit with Andre Agassi and Michael Chang.
NOOOOONAN
Wondering why broadcasters usually don't get to stay on the
air when they are fired? Just check out what lame-duck anchor
Rich Noonan did on the Fox-Philadelphia "Ten O'clock
News."
In a tacky move, Noonan made fun of the copy written by a
behind-the-scenes person on a recent broadcast. It's obvious
that Noonan feels he can get away with things since he is
leaving at the end of the month. Hey Rich, if you don't like the
copy, here's a novel concept - write it yourself!
E-mail questions and comments to [email protected].
Laura can be heard on WBCB 1490-AM Monday and Friday at 8:45
a.m.
Thursday, February 7, 2002