Save The Date! 

By Keith Sanders

Chapter President

      The Board of Governors of the San Francisco/Northern California Chapter of The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences left dry land last month for an annual summer retreat. 

      It was Saturday, July 18. The place: a 75-foot cabin cruiser named Five Stars, docked at Schoonmaker Point Marina in Sausalito. Governor George Lang arranged for the retreat location. Later in the day, he took board members on a cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge on his 43-foot yacht, Grace Note.

      The setting for this Sausalito summit was surreal. Locals practiced yoga on paddleboards as we navigated a stairway to board the ship. Fresno Vice-President Kim Stephens took notes as the meeting began with National Trustee Linda Giannecchini and Executive Director Darryl Compton giving an orientation for new and incoming governors: Alyssa Deitsch, Randy Forsman, Manny Ramos and Don Sanchez. Brief introductions followed a continental breakfast.

      Compton then spoke of the Chapter's major accomplishments over the last year: the completion of a four-part online Masters Class Series, the unveiling of a new WordPress website, the production of successful Emmy® Awards and Gold & Silver Circle Induction shows, and the addition of a fourth National Trustee to our board. The Chapter is now one of the largest in the nation.

     The retreat featured several vigorous brainstorming sessions. Governor Da Lin wrote down each idea on an easel for safekeeping. Compton asked for suggestions on how to raise money for the TV Academy Fund and for the Media Museum of Northern California. He also touched on the necessity to begin digitizing hours of donated film and video from local broadcast stations. I asked the board to name every possible Emmy® sponsor they could imagine, and also for thoughts on how to form long-term relationships with each one. Marketing Chairperson Patty Zubov solicited ideas about improving our new WordPress website after demonstrating all of its new features.

     After lunch, Program & Events Chairperson Cynthia Zeiden analyzed the results of a National Program Survey. She followed with a discussion about the importance of strategic partners. This led into a dialogue about recruiting new members at events. Everyone had a chance to suggest possible future event topics.

     Once an abbreviated afternoon board meeting was adjourned, it was time to cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge on Lang's yacht. He took everyone past Angel Island on the way to our destination. Once the bridge was in site, the water became choppy. But, that didn't stop the majestic vessel as Lang powered the yacht through the water at over 30 knots. Once under the bridge and in the Pacific Ocean, smartphones suddenly came out of pockets and purses as everyone recorded the culmination of their daylong maritime meeting with photographs.

By Joyce Mitchell

Chapter Governor, Sacramento

      Rewind. Then fast forward! At approximately 9 a.m. on Sept. 3, 1955, KCRA went on the air as Sacramento's NBC affiliate, broadcasting downtown from a remodeled dairy truck barn at the same location where the station is located today.

      At 2 p.m. that same day, KCRA went live from the California State Fair. Governor Goodwin Knight was among the many people visiting the KCRA State Fair set. 

      "I was really struck by how far technology has come," says KCRA Anchor Edie Lambert. "Back in 1955, they used every possible resource to broadcast live from the State Fair."

      During the early years, the station followed the network's 15-minute evening news program, The Camel News Caravan, featuring John Cameron Swayze, with five-minutes of local news. That local newscast was anchored by a then-22-year-old Stan Atkinson.

      Atkinson left KCRA in 1963, making detours at other stations, including KFTY in Santa Rosa and KTVU in Oakland, before returning to the KCRA anchor desk in 1976, where he remained until 1994. 

      "My memories are greatly enriched by foreign assignments," Atkinson says. "In fact, those were the most rewarding experiences of my career, and helped me grow as a person, immensely. There were so many good times, with so many good people and good professionals, and work we could all be truly proud of. That, for me, has formed a 'bond' which will last a lifetime."

      The history of KCRA is rich. From aggressive election coverage to international reporting, the past has helped to shape the KCRA seen by viewers today. From a five-minute local newscast, the station is now saturated with hours of daily live broadcasts seven days a week.

      Remembering that 2 p.m. broadcast in 1955, KCRA returned to the California State Fair on July 17, broadcasting live from an anchor desk with its news team to kick off the 60th anniversary celebration of the station. 

      "In these newscasts, we repeatedly went to Livecopter 3 for aerial views of a breaking news story affecting traffic in Elk Grove, and we had a live feed from another news helicopter that was over a fire that torched 20 cars and five homes on the Cajon Pass," Lambert says. "The commitment to good journalism hasn't changed, but we continue to find new ways to bring our viewers important news in real time."

      Lambert, along with anchor Gulstan Dart, Chief Meteorologist Mark Finan and Sports Director Del Rodgers, delivered the news, sports, and weather during a particularly warm summer evening. While California Gov. Jerry Brown didn't visit the set, like Knight, his predecessor of 60 years ago, people flocked to catch a glimpse of KCRA's news personalities and get a flavor of TV. 

      KCRA was launched by Ewing "Gene" Kelly and the Hansen family, who owned Crystal Cream and Butter Company across the street from the station. 

      After Ewing Kelly's death, sons Robert (Bob) and Jon Kelly reorganized KCRA in 1962 into Kelly Broadcasting Company. 

      "I salute the KCRA people who have contributed to making a reality of the phrase 'Where The News Comes First'," says Bob Kelly. 

      Kelly Broadcasting was sold to Hearst Corporation in 1999. 

      KCRA has been an NBC affiliate since its inception.

By Joyce Mitchell

Chapter Governor, Sacramento

     Sacramento news veteran Paul Thompson, who at one time was news director of KCRA, died peacefully at his home July 13 surrounded by his loving family. 

     Thompson was 93 years old.

     Thompson is described as a true giant of the television news business by retired Sacramento KCRA and KOVR Anchor Stan Atkinson. 

     "Paul was a dear, dear friend," Atkinson says. Atkinson and former KCRA reporter/producer Steve LaRosa spent quality time with Thompson last year at his Sacramento-area home. "His memory was fully engaged," says Atkinson. "Other than a heart condition, he seemed just fine displaying the typical Paul Thompson humor."

     Though he possessed a quick wit and dry sense of humor, Thompson was a serious newsman. Having started at KCRA in 1957, Atkinson met and got to know Thompson over late night libations at the then-popular watering hole, The Elbow Room. Thompson was city editor at the old Sacramento Union newspaper. He had been a print journalist since 1948. 

Former KCRA News Chief Paul Thompson Dies Thompson (center), last year with Steve LaRosa and Stan Atkinson

     "I harangued him to come over and talk to Bob Kelly about a job in TV," said Atkinson. "He finally did and later talked about how horrified he first was over the lack of discipline in a TV newsroom, pushing deadlines and every show being cross-promoted."

     Eventually, the TV bug got him and Thompson signed on as KCRA news director in 1961. He ran the news department until 1976, giving numerous people their start in the industry. 

    "Imagine the quintessential news director," LaRosa says. "That was Paul. Central Casting couldn't beat him. He lived and breathed the news. He was a commanding presence in the KCRA newsroom, but if you worked hard and dug past that imposing thin veneer, you discovered a great sense of humor and a heart of gold. I loved the man."

     LaRosa was one of dozens of people Thompson introduced to the business. In 1972, LaRosa was driving a delivery truck and working the switchboard. Thompson spotted talent. "He hired me in the mid 1970s, paying me $25 dollars per story," says LaRosa. "When I first started in the newsroom, it was akin to being a batboy for the Yankees. The staff was filled with larger than life figures that I still look up to." 

     LaRosa worked at KCRA until 1987 as a producer and feature reporter. Today, he runs Steve LaRosa Productions.

     Atkinson left KCRA during Thompson's reign as news director, heading to Los Angeles and the Bay Area. He, ironically, returned to the station in 1976, the same year Thompson was replaced as news director. From Sacramento, Thompson took a job as news director at KMGH in Denver, worked a stint as news director at Sacramento's KOVR and KCPM in Chico. He returned to KCRA in 1982 as executive producer of the news magazine programs, Weeknight and Look Who's Talking. Thompson retired in 1987.

     At one point, Thompson said that working at KCRA meant getting gray hair, hard labor, sleepless nights, anchor "ego-itis", severe depression, extreme happiness, lifelong contempt for news consultants, great joy in talent development, and terrific lunches. "Plus, I wouldn't trade my tenure at KCRA for anything," Thompson wrote in a KCRA 1999 yearbook. "I cherish the friendships with some great people."

     Joan Lunden, who co-hosted ABC's Good Morning America from 1980 to 1998, was a Thompson hire. He said that she didn't have any experience and was attractive but it was her determination to break into the TV business that got his attention. That was in the early 1970s. She worked as a reporter, anchor, and producer, covering hard news including fires and crime.

     Thompson always maintained that Lunden was resourceful so he created an innovative, new beat for her, a consumer beat. He said that Lunden attacked it, enrolled in consumer classes at a local college and amassed two filing cabinets with information. In 1975, Lunden went to New York City, joining WABC before moving over to Good Morning America. 

     In the words of Atkinson, a member of this Chapter's Silver Circle with 45 years' experience working in the television industry, he says, "rock on...ole' pal! And a toast to you for the pot you stirred that so helped create today's KCRA 3!."

    Thompson was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Dorothy, and is survived by his three daughters, Linda, Nancy, and Sandra.

By Joyce Mitchell

Chapter Governor, Sacramento

      Early on when KTXL was a UHF channel, local news was a priority. In 1974, the station became the first in the market to carry a primetime newscast called The Ten O'Clock News, airing five days a week."Having been at a station that really just started news, there were all kinds of issues," said Wong. "I've been able to not let it get to me. You have to have a good attitude."

Lonnie Wong Joined KTXL in 1980

      Along with a good attitude, Wong's longevity is attributed to his passion for news. "I earned a degree in English at UC Davis but while in college couldn't stay away from the student-run radio station KDVS," said Wong. "I'm still doing what I was drawn to then. If there was a protest on campus, I was there recording and reporting it. I love what I do."

     "Since we started as a FOX affiliate, we have almost everything going on," said Crandell. The NFL is the big dog, Major League Baseball (MLB), NASCAR, soccer - Women's World Cup - and golf. All televised by FOX."

     This past October, ratings and fans exploded when FOX carried the World Series and the San Francisco Giants hit the ball out of the park, winning the World Series. The Giants are entering MLB as reigning champions, making it an exciting time in Northern California sports. "FOX sports production is quite spectacular," said Crandell. "Without question, to have all those events on our air and with the Giants, we had all those games right here on our station. We would do post game shows that would follow programming. Oh yeah, it's been great for us."

  

Jim Crandell Joined KTXL in 1984

   Like Wong, Crandell is passion-driven. "It is very exciting," said Crandell. "I know fans and viewers want to see more and it's been great to give them something I know they'll enjoy in the post game broadcasts. Some of the sports fans are fanatical about their teams and the more information, the better. It's been great to be able to provide it."

     Crandell also loves what he does for a living. "Production of the sportscast is work but when camera and lights go on, that's five minutes of fun right there," said Crandell. "Lonnie was here when I came to the station and he was one of the first people in the newsroom to introduce himself and offer to show me around. Lonnie has been awesome and he is genuinely a good guy. He's a pro as a reporter."

     "FOX40 appreciates Lonnie and Jim for their tremendous work ethic and drive," said FOX40 Vice President and News Director Ed Chapuis. "It really sets the tone for everyone here. They bring a unique perspective and understanding of what's important to viewers in Northern California. They play such a key role in mentoring other journalists in the FOX40 newsroom."

     If a new hire in the newsroom needs guidance, Wong is there. "I'm busy but will bend over backwards to help someone who asks," said Wong. "The best part of my job is meeting new people in the newsroom and out in the field."

     Wong believes viewers have come to depend on him for delivering information. "You have to know what's happening in the community to do that," said Wong. "It's a responsibility to be the disseminator of information. Much like a teacher who delivers information to students."

     Unique. People are truly unique and 35 years at FOX 40, Wong knows that firsthand. "You think you've covered all the big stories out there," said Wong. "The stories may be similar but the people are all different. It's hard to find a fascinating person that's similar to another fascinating person."

    No plans for retirement coming from either Wong or Crandell. They both say their jobs, even though they involve a lot of work, are too good to give up.

By Richard Harmelink

Chapter Governor, Fresno

          KFSN  ABC30 in Fresno has recruited Oakland Raiders quarterback and former

Raiders QB Joins KFSN ABC30 Derek Carr to special contributor at Fresno station

Fresno State football star Derek Carr as a special contributor for the upcoming NFL season. 

         Carr will record a weekly report with ABC30 sports director Tommy Tran, covering everything from Carr's second professional season, other National Football League news and his thoughts on the Fresno State Bulldogs.

         "I'm excited to recap the game we just played and give a little preview of what's to come," Carr says. "I'm sure that we'll have fun with it," 

         ABC30 President and General Manager Dan Adams is excited as well.  

         "We couldn't be happier to partner with Derek Carr for the upcoming season," Adams says. "He truly is an outstanding person and a tremendous football player. Derek really cares about the Central Valley, and we look forward to connecting him with his loyal fans every week.

      Ross Palombo is returning to the Bay Area.

      The former KRON 4 reporter has been hired by KTVU FOX 2 to serve as a weekend co-anchor for Mornings On 2, joining Claudine Wong.

      Palombo's first day is Aug. 5.

Ross Palombo Joins KTVU as weekend morning anchor

    Dana Hahn, KTVU's vice president and news director, says Palombo will also serve as a political and investigative reporter for other station newscasts.

      "We are excited to bring Ross back to the Bay Area," Hahn says. "He has a passion for breaking news and for storytelling and we are looking forward to him joining the KTVU team."

      Most recently, Palombo was an investigative reporter at WPLG in Miami. Prior to that, he worked with CBS News as anchor and correspondent for 365. Previously, Palombo was an anchor and reporter in San Antonio. 

      Before that, Palombo spent five years as a reporter at KRON.

      Previously in his career, Palombo was a reporter for KNXV in Phoenix, WHBQ in Memphis, and WKLG Fort Wayne, Indiana.

      A graduate of the University of Missouri, Palombo holds a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism.

      "I'm honored and thrilled to be permanently coming back to San Francisco as a part of the Bay Area's most experienced news team," Palombo says. "For more than 15-years, I've either lived in the city full-time, part-time, or spent most of my free time back-and-forth from assignments there. This is truly a homecoming."

      Palombo replaces Mike Mibach, who now anchors KTVU's new 4 p.m. newscast.

By Joyce Mitchell

Chapter Governor, San Francisco

     With a smile and commanding demeanor, Ty Steele hit the Sacramento airwaves, debuting as FOX40's weekday evening news anchor alongside longtime Anchor Stefanie Cruz, Sports Director Jim Crandell and Chief Meterologist Kristina Werner. 

Ty Steele Joins KTXL as evening anchor

     Along with anchoring, Steele will also enterprise investigative special reports.

     Steele made his debut following the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star game July 14. He co-anchors FOX40's 5 and 10 PM newscasts. 

     "Northern California is such a terrific news market and I like the way FOX40 really lives up to the 'News That Matters' brand, covering hard-hitting stories, getting out there in the community and talking to real people," Steele said.

     Prior to KTXL, Steele worked as the lead evening news anchor for four years at NBC affiliate KMTR-TV in Eugene, Oregon. 

     Steele, a committed broadcast journalist, is excited to get his feet wet and hit the streets in search of good stories to cover. 

     "To me, being a journalist is about living with integrity, seeking truth and telling the stories that really matter to my community," he says. "I feel blessed to be able to do what I love for a living in northern California."

Story and Photographs 

By Jamie Lee

News Intern, Hawaii News Now

Student, University of Hawaii
 

        Thousands of visitors are drawn to Hawaii each year. They fantasize about floating in the crystal water, soaking in the warm sun, and embracing the serenity of the islands. However, what most people don't realize is that their idea of Hawaii as a vacation spot is fabricated from a drugstore postcard. 

        This summer, I had a chance to intern with Hawaii's leading television news station, Hawaii News Now. My time with the station was spent exploring one of the state's top issues, homelessness. Hawaii is beautiful, but is currently masked by tents and cardboard homes, which blanket the streets, and intimidate tourists, locals, and businesses alike.

Kakaako Waterfront Park, on Hawaii's island of Oahu, was once a tranquil family-picnic area along the ocean. Now it is home to a growing homeless encampment of nearly 200 tents. After attending a Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) meeting, the state entity that oversees the area, and speaking with people who are feeling the impact of the homelessness issue, I can see why public health and safety issues are being raised.

       At the Children's Discovery Center, a children's museum and learning center in Kakaako, a homeless-man was caught on surveillance video defecating and urinating on the property.

       "The health and sanitation conditions for those in the encampments, as well as for the families who come to visit the Center, are of great concern to us.  Conditions have intensified as the encampments have grown," said Loretta Yajima, president of the Children's Discovery Center. "Trash is scattered everywhere on our property and the daily clean-up of human excrement takes up a huge amount of our time and energy, not to mention the growing financial cost to the center as a result of this situation," she continued.

      The general manager of Restaurant 53 By The Sea described how having a homeless camp near his business puts the safety of his guests and employees at risk. Tony Castillo said members of the homeless community trespass onto the property, disrupting dinners and harassing employees to the point where they feel unsafe going to and from work. Twenty-five couples called-off their wedding reservations in the first 6 months of the year after seeing the homeless encampment. The cancellations amount to a loss of $125,000 in revenue for the restaurant.

     The concerns don't only pertain to visitors and workers at the park, but also to the homeless children who live there. According to Virginia Henshaw, the Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Hawaii and professor at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, unsupervised homeless children play in the parking lot and on top of electrical boxes.

      "I myself nearly ran over an unsupervised homeless child while backing out of a parking space. The child was too small to be seen over the back of my car, yet was there alone running back-and-forth behind the cars in the lot," said Henshaw.

      Although the problem is harshly impacting the community, the homeless feel that Kakaako is one of the few places they feel safe and have opportunities. Tabitha Martin has been homeless for two years after medical bills piled up from her husband's heart attack. The couple now lives behind the Children's Discovery Center with their 3-year old daughter.

      "Fortunately, Kakaako was the only place we found that very rarely would they bother us, except when they swept. But not because of the stopping of sweeps in that area, but a lot more people got jobs, and a lot more people are working, and a lot more people are living normal lives" said Martin.

Jamie Lee Hawaii News Now intern, learns about Hawaii's homeless issues through internship assignment.

      After years of complaints, the city and state recently reached an agreement to shut down the Kakaako homeless camp and move people like Martin to managed 'safe zones'. The residents of the camp will be given a notice to move out in advance, and the opportunity to meet with social services and housing facilities. Any leftover tents or makeshift homes will be torn down by officials. Kakaako will become a 'no trespass' area patrolled by city police to prevent the establishment of another camp.

Despite recent negotiations, members of the community have doubts plans to move the homeless will work.

      "What's gonna happen to them? Because not everybody's going to want to go anywhere," said Bob Lyon, a regular park goer.

      It is too early to tell whether or not the efforts of the city and state will be a success. As an intern who has followed this story intently, I know the homeless problem in Kakaako will not be resolved overnight. Effective communication between government entities is vital in solving this complicated issue permanently. My hope is to once again see Kakaako as a sought-out destination where locals and tourists feel safe to visit.

By Joyce Mitchell

Chapter Governor, Sacramento

      Browsing through old photographs, long-time Sacramento Political Correspondent and Consultant Steve Swatt strikes gold under the Capitol Dome. In 1982, Swatt who worked at NBC Affiliate KCRA for 22 years reporting the news and politics, was given rare access to Governor Jerry Brown's understated apartment. As 34th Governor of California (1975-1983), Governor Brown lived a simple personal life, refusing to move

Steve Swatt with Gov. Jerry Brown, mid-1970s

into the newly constructed governor's mansion. Instead, he rented a modest apartment at the corner of 14th and N Streets across the street from Capitol Park in downtown Sacramento. "This photograph was taken inside of Governor Brown's Sacramento apartment," Swatt says. "We were the only TV station given access to his apartment. His bed was on the floor and there were books everywhere. There were only two photos in the entire apartment. One was taken with his father and another was a governor's staff photo. In this picture, we are discussing some of the books on his bookshelf."

      Governors to presidents, Sacramento Political Correspondent and Consultant Steve Swatt conducted hundreds of interviews with politicians. Here he is photographed with Ronald Reagan during an interview for NBC Affiliate KCRA's Noon newscast in

On the campaign trail with Ronald Reagan, 1976

Sacramento. The 1976 photograph was taken as Swatt talked with Reagan about his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination. Originally an actor, Reagan served as the 33rd Governor of California from 1967 to1975. After an initial unsuccessful run for the White House, Reagan was elected President of the United States in 1980, serving two terms.

      In 1984, Swatt is photographed here with KCRA Photographer Ed Ray at the 1984 Republican Convention in Dallas, Texas. It was at that convention that Reagan was re-nominated for president.   These photographs capture a flavor of Sacramento television history. They are golden moments from under Sacramento's golden Capitol Dome.