ocmast

May 2014  

Link to Emmy Gala 



 
2014 Emmy� Awards
San Francisco/Northern California Chapter
National Academy Of Television Arts and Sciences 

Nominations Announced


Editor's Note
        
     
Welcome to your May issue of 
Off Camera!
       It's an exciting time around the Chapter -- and a busy time, too -- as many of us gear up for the 2014 Emmy Awards Gala, to be held in the Grand Ballroom of the San Francisco Hilton Hotel on June 14. 
       And, many of us have been waiting for weeks for the Emmy nominations to be announced this month. The suspense is now over! Above, click the link to find out who is up for an Emmy next month! Maybe you're on the list!! And if you are, good luck to you with our very best wishes!
       Several very special awards will be handed out at the Emmys. In this issue, learn more about veteran Bay Area television reporter Rita Williams and her
acceptance of the Governors' Award next month, the highest honor our Chapter can bestow.
       Also in this issue of Off Camera, learn more about Cynthia Zeiden, who will be honored with the Governors' Citation next month, and Richard Harmelink, Kim McNicholas, Julie Watts and Patty Zubov, all of whom will be recognized with a Governors' Service Medallion for their contributions and service to the Chapter.
      All of us at Off Camera and from the Chapter's Board of Governors wish you the very best with all of your success with the May book! Hope to see you next month at the Emmys�!!


Kevin Wing
Editor,
Off Camera

EMMY 2014
Governors' Award To Honor KTVU's Rita Williams

      The Board of Governors Award is the highest Award a local chapter can bestow upon any individual. Board of Governors Awards are for truly outstanding and unique accomplishments, or for achievements of some duration and durability. This year, the Board of Governors is proud to unanimously vote to award veteran Bay Area television journalist Rita Williams.

      Williams retired last year from KTVU in Oakland after more than 41 years of breaking barriers for women in TV news and setting a high bar of excellence for all journalists. Unlike most women who may have started at the same time, Williams did not leave the streets for an anchor chair. She loved reporting, and as she always said, it was a privilege and an honor to tell people's stories. 

      "I'm probably the only female television reporter who's still on the street 41 years later," Williams says, pointing out that she never wanted to be an anchor and sit on the set.

      Williams probably broke more stories and had more exclusives than any other TV reporter. One of her first was the only interview ever given by the wife of San Francisco City Hall assassin Dan White. She exclusively interviewed the man believed to be the Zodiac killer. In the moments after the Loma Prieta earthquake on Oct. 17, 1989, she and KTVU cameraman Tony Hodrick strode from the Hall of Justice up to the bridge, running onto the damaged structure as passengers were running off. Williams was the first nationally to break the story of Barry Bonds' indictment. Her last big "get" was a thorough, hour-long interview at the Los Angeles County Jail with the former BART police officer after he was convicted of killing an unarmed passenger.       Raised in Lubbock, Texas, Williams' first piece of journalism was a sports article for her junior high school newspaper. She also played basketball, but her team wasn't allowed to practice on a full court. That was the first lesson in Glass Ceiling 101.

      In 1969, Williams became the first in her family to graduate from college. From a working class blue-collar family, she was able to attend school on scholarships all four years. Her alma mater, Texas Tech University, recently honored her as an outstanding journalism alum.

     After graduation, she briefly worked for the Texas State Senate, then for her hometown Texas Congressman George Mahon who was also Chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee. She went to graduate school at George Washington University, where she received a master's degree in political science and international affairs. Then she was one of ten out of 1,000 applicants nationwide to be selected as a Management Trainee for Westinghouse Broadcasting, spending a year at WJZ-TV in Baltimore.

      She left there for her first on-air job at KSAT-TV in San Antonio. Williams says she was asked to cover a consumer goods story aimed at housewives. "I made it clear to them," she said. "I will not do quote-unquote women's news."

      Next was a two-year stint reporting for the end of the legendary Newsroom show at KQED-TV, the PBS station in San Francisco. Her biggest challenge came in 1980, when KTVU's legendary news director, Fred Zehnder, asked her to start a bureau in San Francisco. With the police being a harder group to penetrate than the politicians, she decided to stay close to them at the Hall of Justice. "Not only was I the first TV person there", she says, "I was the first TV broad."

     By Williams' account, the early 1980s were brutal years. Police blew her off, sometimes with a sexist remark or a sexist gesture. "You had to fight for everything," she says. "Nothing was given to you." The only way out, she figured, was hard work.

Back then, in the broadcasting business, "a lot of women didn't get married, or got married and divorced," she observes. "I was the first on-air reporter to have a baby and be pregnant on the air."

     She recalls working with longtime cameraman Bill Moore, Belva Davis' husband. He had orders not to show Williams' changing body, so he kept tightening up his focus, shooting closer and closer until he joked, "I'm just going to have to show your eyes."

     Williams was selected for a prestigious John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship at Stanford University from 1985-86, one of the first broadcast journalists. And in all the years since, she helped select the dozen journalists each year for the honor. She also taught broadcast news writing at Stanford and has guest-lectured at many other Bay Area colleges and universities.
          Along the way, Williams has won a Peabody award, two Emmy� awards, multiple RTNDA awards including a lifetime achievement award, an American Bar Association award, the PASS Award from the National Crime and Delinquency Center, Associated Press Mark Twain Awards including Best Reporter in the West, Edward R. Murrow awards, Telly Award honors and many more. She is a proud member of the Chapter's Silver Circle.
         Williams is very involved in the Bay Area community. She serves on the board of directors of Friends of Faith Fancher, Pathways Hospice, Valley Presbyterian Church, Celiac Community Foundation of Northern California and OICW Job Train. She frequently emcees and hosts events for non-profits and journalism organizations (including NATAS), mentors young journalists and participates in the Salvation Army Bell Ringing. Even her retirement dinner was a fundraiser, raising more than $37,000 for poor men and women with breast cancer served by Friends of Faith. For more than a decade, she's funded and sponsored an annual nationwide contest for high school writers. The winners come to San Francisco's Public Library each March to read their winning entries.

        Williams says she has always worked hard. "I've always felt I'm the eyes and ears of the public, I'm the watchdog. I competed with myself to do the best job every single day. I gave them more than 110 percent."

        This Chapter's Board of Governors will be awarding Williams with the highest award they can bestow, the Governors Award, at the Emmy Awards Gala on Saturday, June 14 at the San Francisco Hilton Hotel.  

Website
  
In "Off Camera" This Month:
Editor's Note
Emmy 2014: Rita Williams To Receive Governors' Award
Emmy 2014: Cynthia Zeiden To Be Honored With Governors' Citation
Emmy 2014: Harmelink, McNicholas, Watts, Zubov To Receive Governors' Service Medallions For Dedication To Chapter
Emmy 2014: Emmy Awards Gala In San Francisco June 14
Longtime KGO-TV ABC7 Anchor Carolyn Johnson To Leave Bay Area For KNBC In Los Angeles
Veteran Weathercaster Leigh Glaser Leaves KGO-TV ABC7 After Nearly 24 Years
Diane Dwyer To Vacate KNTV NBC Bay Area Weekend Anchor Desk, Will Focus On Special Projects
Northern California Stations Cover Fatal Tour Bus Crash
Former KNTV Studios Burn To Ground
Gold & Silver Circle Profiles
Soundbites: KNTV NBC Bay Area's Rob Mayeda
High School Awards Judging Complete
NATPE Hosts Career Day At KRON
KNTV NBC Bay Area Wins Big At National SPJ Awards
Sacramento Icon, Silver Circle Inductee Cal Bollwinkel Dies
KMAX's Brent Baader Leaves Longtime News Director Post
KSEE Anchor Bud Elliott Retiring This Month
KOLO News Director Relocating To Alabama
KHSL Recruits Alyssa Deitsch To Morning Anchor Post
On The Move
Do You Remember?
Skyline College's Unique Live Sports Programming
The Life Of Harley

Off Camera

    Kevin Wing, Editor 

the board of governors

 

officers:

Keith Sanders, San Jos State University, President

Kevin Wing, ABC-TV/"Good Morning America," VP San Francisco

Christian Anguiano, KUVS 19, VP Sacramento

Richard Harmelink, KFSN ABC 30, VP Fresno

Justin Fujioka, KITV 4, VP Hawaii

Terri Russell, KOLO 8, VP Reno

Mike Garza, KXTV 10, VP Smaller Markets 

Terry Lowry, LaCosse Productions, Treasurer

Kim Stephens, KMPH FOX 26, Secretary

Javier Valencia, Consultant, Past President

 

national trustees:

Linda Giannecchini, KQED

(National Awards Co-Chair)

(Museum)

Alison Gibson, Media Cool

(National 2nd Vice Chairperson)

Cynthia Zeiden, Zeiden Media

(National Program Chair)

(Activities)

Steve Shlisky, KTVU Channel 2  (Alternate) (Education)

 

 governors:

Zara Arboleda, KGPE CBS 47

Kent Beichley, KRON 4

Luis Godinez, KDTV Univision 14

Pablo Icub, KUVS Univision 19

George Lang, The Big Picture

Da Lin, KPIX 5

Jen Mistrot, KPIX 5

Karen Owoc, The Health Reporter

Ross Perich, Trainer Communications

Greg Rando, KTVU Channel 2

Bob Redell, KNTV NBC Bay Area

Sandy Sirias, KFTV Univision 21

Matt Skryja, AAA 

Stephanie Stone, KFSN ABC 30

Karen Sutton, Beyond Pix Studios

Justine Waldman, KRON 4

David Waxman, KRCB 22

Justin Willis, KSEE 24

Pamela Young, KITV 4

Alice Yu, KVIE 6

 

committee chairs:

John Catchings, Catchings & Associates (Museum)

Craig Franklin (Awards)

Kym McNicholas, Kymerview (Membership)

Mark Pearson, ARC Law Group (Legal/Bylaws)

James Spalding, Spalding & Co. (Finance)

Patty Zubov, Platonic TV

(Marketing)

 

execUtive director:

Darryl R. Compton, NATAS 

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EMMY� 2014
Cynthia Zeiden
To Receive
Governors' Citation

By Keith Sanders
Chapter President

       The Board of Governors' Citation is awarded to individuals, organizations, or companies, in recognition of outstanding and unique achievements or accomplishments. 

       Few people have made such a strong impact on our chapter as Activities/Program Chair Cynthia Zeiden.

       She has produced hundreds of local NATAS events that have educated, influenced, energized and motivated thousands of media professionals over a period of 17 years. In addition, Zeiden holds national NATAS positions as Chair of the National Program Committee and a member of the National Website/Social Media Committee. Plus,she is a Trustee for the chapter.  

      Zeiden has also been a strong advocate for New Media in her interactions with the Board of Governors. She organized the webcasting of all local events so our members could choose to attend them or watch the archived webcasts. But, she didn't stop there. As National Program Chair, she obtained funding for a professional webcast production system that is shared by all chapters.  

     Zeiden started her PBS career as the Director of Broadcast Operations at WYCC-TV, a PBS station in Chicago. Zeiden's work was nominated for an Emmy� Award multiple times. She then moved to San Francisco to assume the role of Program Manager at KCSM-TV, a PBS station in San Mateo. Zeiden served as a Governor of the San Francisco/Northern California Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, eventually becoming Chapter President in 1998. 

     She has owned Zeiden Media since 1999. Her company distributes, develops, produces, acquires and markets programming for PBS stations around the country.

     Zeiden is a force of nature with many outstanding NATAS achievements to her credit, both locally and nationally. It's fitting that our Chapter reward her with the Board of Governors' Citation at the 43rd Northern California Area Emmy Awards for years of dedicated and skillful NATAS work. 

 

EMMY 2014
S.F., Fresno Markets Represented 
With Governors'
Service Medallions
Central Valley's Harmelink, 
Bay Area's McNicholas, Watts, Zubov To Receive Honors


By Keith Sanders

Chapter President

       The Governors' Service Medallion is awarded to members of the Board of Governors for their extraordinary service of time and talent to the Academy. This year, our Chapter is fortunate to have four members of the board who have played critical leadership roles.  

      The awards will be presented at the 43rd Annual Emmy Awards Gala in San Francisco on Saturday, June 14. 

      Kym McNicholas now serves as Membership Chair and is a former Secretary. She is also a key member of the Emmy Event Committee. Her efforts to expand our membership base by increasing member perks are welcome indeed. The Chapter is almost large enough to be represented by a fourth trustee (one trustee is allowed for every 300 paid members). We are one of the larger Chapters in the country and anticipate more growth in the coming year.  

     Patty Zubov serves as Marketing Chair, which includes oversight of the Off Camera newsletter, the Social Media Sub-Committee and a new WordPress website that is in the final stages of completion. Zubov is in charge of the Emmy brand at the Chapter level, and she has made major contributions to the Emmy Awards Gala.

    Julie Watts serves as Managing Producer of the Emmy Awards Gala and Chair of the Emmy Event Committee. Last year's show was the most successful on record and she produced it while pregnant, giving birth to her first child, Cecilia Ann Watts Panasiuk, exactly one week after the event. Watts has been instrumental in tightening up the format of the show and opening up new sponsorship opportunities.

    Richard Harmelink serves on the Executive Committee as Fresno Vice President. He has helped shape the board more than any person as Chair of the Governor Nominating Committee and Chair of the Officer Nominating Committee. He also travels more miles than anyone because he often attends San Francisco meetings in person, commuting from Fresno. He takes his NATAS duties very seriously and says "serving on the NATAS board is not only a privilege, but something everyone who works in the vast television industry should consider at least once in their careers."

      All four Governors' Medallion recipients also help the Chapter in many indirect ways, such as being superior collaborators and solution providers.   

 

EMMY� 2014
S.F./NorCal Chapter's Best, Brightest 
To Be Honored At Emmy Gala June 14

By Julie Watts

Emmy Gala Chairperson

 

     It is time to get out your gowns and brush off your tuxes for the 43rd Annual
Emmy� Awards Gala on Saturday, June 14 at the San Francisco Hilton Hotel.      

    Whether or not you are a nominee, you won't want to miss this year's event. 

    Festivities begin at 6 p.m. with a fabulous Emmy�Pre-Show Reception, featuring a bubbly bar, cash bar, red carpet and much more.

    At 6:45 p.m., guests will sit down to a four-course meal and the Live Emmy� Award Show courtesy of our marquee Emmy� sponsors - Steve Padis Jewelry and Forevermark.

    To keep things moving, on-stage acceptance speeches will once again be limited to 30 seconds and one speaker per award. However, each recipient will be invited to give a second speech on the red carpet where they can thank anyone and everyone who contributed to their success. 

    Both speeches will be broadcast live via our first-of-its-kind interactive EmmySF dual webcast. Speeches will also be archived and available to share after the show via social media, text, email or embedding courtesy of our Emmy� webcast sponsor -  Anvato.

   Congratulations to all of this year's nominees! We look forward to seeing you in June!

 




Padis ad half
Carolyn Johnson Leaving KGO-TV,
Heading For Hollywood And KNBC

By Kevin Wing
Regional Vice President, San Francisco

      Carolyn Johnson, the longtime KGO-TV ABC7 anchor who, since 1988, has been an integral part of the San Francisco television station during a span of two tenures, is leaving the Bay Area to become an anchor and reporter for KNBC in Los Angeles. 
      Johnson will co-anchor KNBC's hour-long midday newscast, NBC4 News At Noon, as well as the weekday evening NBC4 News At 6 p.m. When she is not anchoring, she will be working as a reporter. 
Carolyn Johnson 
Heading for KNBC this summer
      Johnson's last broadcast at KGO-TV is May 23. Her first day at KNBC is July 14.
      In 1988, Johnson began as an intern in KGO-TV's programming department, eventually being promoted to producer. In 1994, she left for an anchor and reporter position at KSBY in San Luis Obispo, where she remained until 1998, when she returned to KGO-TV as an anchor and reporter. 
      Since 2007, Johnson has co-anchored KGO-TV's 6 p.m. newscast with Dan Ashley. Additionally, for the last five years, she has co-anchored the station's 4 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. 
      "I've had a wonderful career at KGO, beginning as a production assistant while still at Stanford," Johnson says. "It's been a dream job for me, working with a team of incredibly talented people.  I will miss my colleagues at the station, my friends in the Bay Area and the viewers who have been so supportive. I never imagined I would leave, but i'm so fortunate that as one door closed, a window opened, allowing me to move on to this exciting opportunity.  I am thrilled to be joining KNBC in July. I grew up in Southern California, so in a way, i'm heading home." 
     "Carolyn is not only a fantastic colleague and trusted news woman, she is also a very dear friend," Ashley says. "I am so fortunate to have worked with so closely all of these years. I miss her already, but am thrilled about her great new opportunity."
      Penelope Dunham, a former longtime KGO-TV producer who worked with Johnson, says "Carolyn is the total complete package of a gorgeous, humble, compassionate, intelligent, caring human being. KGO is stupid to lose her because she has always been their best hire. And one of the most genuine, sincere, scintillating and real people in TV."
     "I watched Carolyn deservedly rise the ranks from producer to lead anchor at KGO-TV," says Lynn Friedman, longtime KGO-TV editor and former president of the San Francisco/Northern California Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. "She did the work and somehow, someway remained a real person. Any station would be lucky to have her. Any person would be lucky to have her as a friend."
KGO-TV Not In Leigh Glaser's Forecast 
Longtime Weather Anchor Leaves ABC7 After 23 Years  
Leigh Glaser 
Left KGO-TV in April after 23 years

      Leigh Glaser, veteran meteorologist for KGO-TV ABC7 in San Francisco, has left the station.

  Glaser, who had been with KGO-TV for 23 years, joining the station in late 1990, had been the weekend meteorologist for 10 of those 23 years. She had also worked on the station's weekday morning and evening newscasts.

      When Glaser arrived in the Bay Area in 1990, she came armed with several years of experience in Los Angeles, where she worked at KCAL.

      Glaser told colleagues that she wanted to spend more time with her family and to attend many of her daughter's activities, most of which occur on weekends. 

      Her last newscast will be this Sunday, April 6.

 

New Role For KNTV's Diane Dwyer

Longtime Weekend Anchor To Leave Desk; Will Focus On

Special Projects At NBC Bay Area, Weekend Family Time


By Kevin Wing
Regional Vice President, San Francisco
 
      Diane Dwyer has been a fixture on Bay Area television for nearly 25 years. One could say she has had a couple of chapters in her career in the Bay Area. And, she is about to embark on another.
Diane Dwyer 
More family time, and a new role at NBC Bay Area 
 
Photo Courtesy
Diablo Magazine
     That first chapter in Dwyer's career was at KTVU in Oakland, where she was an anchor and reporter for 12 years, from 1990 to 2002. In 2002, she started a new chapter at KNTV, then the newly-christened NBC station for the Bay Area. For these last 12 years in the South Bay, Dwyer anchored and reported for NBC Bay Area News, but for most of that time, she has been the station's weekend mainstay, anchoring the station's weekend evening newscasts.         
      On June 8, a new chapter will begin yet again for Dwyer. 
      That is when she will deliver her last weekend newscast on NBC Bay Area.
      But, she's not going completely away from the station: she will be involved in special projects.
      The change in Dwyer's job title at NBC Bay Area has much to do with scheduling. 
       Dwyer says station management wanted her to also report during the week. But, during the week, she also teaches at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. And, her family is important to her as well. Her two children are now teenagers. Dwyer is also involved with the Institute of Design at Stanford University, and sits on the board for several non-profit organizations, including the International House at UC Berkeley and the Curry Senior Center in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood. 
  
In Their Own Backyard: 
Young Reporters From Small NorCal Stations Cover Interstate 5 Tour Bus Crash

By Kevin Wing
Regional Vice President, San Francisco

      One of the nation's biggest stories this year happened to occur in our Chapter's Chico-Redding market, the 132nd largest television market in the country.
     Chico-Redding continues to serve as a training ground for young television journalists who eventually move on to larger markets around the state or across the nation. The region is, however, far from being considered entry level. Not in this day and age.
     During the late afternoon of April 10, a FedEx tractor trailer and a chartered tour bus carrying aspiring college students from the Los Angeles area collided on Interstate 5 in the small town of Orland. The FedEx truck had been traveling south on the freeway, the chartered bus was heading north. While the National Transportation Safety Board continues its investigation into the crash, one thing is clear: the FedEx truck crossed the center divider, hitting the bus head-on in the northbound lanes of the highway.
     Ten people died, including the bus driver and the truck driver. 
     I work for ABC News, based in the Bay Area, and I was sent north to Orland to cover the story for Good Morning America the next morning. Of course, I was expecting other news media to be on scene as well, including reporters, photographers and engineers from the Bay Area, Sacramento and Chico-Redding. Within hours, news crews from Los Angeles, where the bus originated from, arrived in Orland as well.
    For many young reporters just starting their careers in the Chico-Redding market, the opportunity to cover a big story such as this unfortunate fatal crash was like nothing they had ever seen before.  
    "Watching this story develop from its infant stages was fascinating from a news standpoint," says 
Evan Schreiber 
KRCR
Evan Schreiber
, a news reporter and anchor for KRCR in Redding. "Working in a small market like Chico-Redding and having an incident like the Orland bus crash happen in our backyard was like nothing I had ever seen. Seeing satellite trucks line a residential street for a news conference in a town of about 7,000 people was unique to me. While my heart goes out to those affected by the tragedy of this incident, it was fascinating to watch it traverse from a local story to the top story on every major national network in a matter of hours."
    Another reporter, Brian Johnson, of KHSL/KNVN in Chico, dropped everything he was working on when he heard about the accident. 
Brian Johnson
KHSL/KNVN
    "I had just finished fronting a story on water rights and allocation for local water districts in the north state for our 6 p.m. news when I caught my news director in the hallway quickly saying something of a fatal bus crash. Soon after in the newsroom, our 5 p.m. anchor confirmed with the Glenn County Sheriff's Office that there were fatalities as a result of a tour bus crash. I packed up my gear, and after going in circles and dealing with heavy traffic around the I-5 on-ramp near Highway 32 (odd to see in the small town of Orland), I arrived on scene."
    "Standing directly on the northbound lane of I-5," Johnson adds, "I was quickly approached by a CHP media person, who told me there were nine fatalities as a result of the crash (later that number rose to 10). One of our other reporters managed to speak with a girl who was on the bus, while I called our news director and fed him the facts. While shooting B-roll as hastily as I could, I got my first call from CBS Radio in Los Angeles, where I did my best to calmly explain what I was seeing and give the most important facts. That was a little scary for me, knowing the information I had quickly gathered was going out to the greater Los Angeles area, where all of the students on the bus were from." 
    Schreiber says he has always wondered to himself if his station would be capable of handling a story of this magnitude in his market. 
    "We were," he says. "While there were many times I felt overwhelmed - like at the California Highway Patrol scene re-creation where I was the only multimedia journalist for my station when every other news outlet had at least two people, the coverage was smooth and concise."

 

Fiery End To Former KNTV Studios
5-Alarm Fire Destroys Historic Station Facilities        

      The historic television studio at 645 Park Avenue in San Jose is no more. 

      The building that once housed KNTV Channel 11 (today's KNTV NBC Bay Area) was gutted in early April by a 5-alarm fire. 

      KNTV had been housed in the building from its inception in 1955 until 2004, when it moved to more larger, modern digs in north San Jose. The station was an ABC affiliate and later, an independent station, when it was housed at the Park Avenue location. The first two years of KNTV's tenure as an NBC owned-and-operated station also began at Park Avenue.

      The building near downtown San Jose had been abandoned since 2004 and sat across the street from the San Jose Fire Department's training facility.      

      Former employees took to Facebook to post pictures of the fire and remember the building where many of them started their careers. 

     "This is the old KNTV studio .. On fire," wrote current KNTV NBC Bay Area reporter Scott Budman, who posted a picture of the fire on Facebook. "Lots of good memories there. Hope everyone nearby is safe."

  
Gold & Silver Circle Profiles   

GSC Profile Header_new
 

Off Camera is ramping up for the summer series of Gold & Silver Circle Profiles. It all gets started in next month's issue of Off Camera. Please join us when we return in June!

Soundbites

Soundbites/Kevin logo
 
This month, learn more about KNTV NBC Bay Area's longtime meteorologist, Rob Mayeda. He has been with the station for more than a decade. Find out why he likes the business of weather forecasting so much. And what is up with all that weightlifting lately? Find out more, right now!
 
Where did you grow up?  
 
In West Hills, on the western end of the San Fernando Valley northwest of LA.  Spent some time in Central and Northern California visiting family as well especially during the holidays and spent Summers in Hawaii at times which makes me feel somewhat "Califorhawaiian".  
 
Do you have siblings?
 
No, though I grew up with two dogs who looked out for me, and tried to make sure I stayed out of trouble.  Many times that included barking wildly as I created my own "special effects" with model ships and planes which got me into trouble).
 

When did you first realize that you wanted to be in television news?  

I think when I realized what I wanted to do with weather forecasting would probably require working on TV. 

 

When did you become fascinated with the weather?  

Around the 3rd grade when I was more interested watching thunderstorms instead of running away from them.

 

Who has inspired you in your career?  

I'm partial to those who really helped me at my KNBC news internship. For broadcast meteorology I would say it was Fritz Coleman at KNBC who gave me plenty of room to work in the chroma key wall, gave tremendous advice and wrote my first recommendation letter.  You will not find a kinder, funnier and more helpful person in the business.

 

Who has inspired you as a person?  

My wife for all her academic and professional accomplishments overcoming many obstacles in getting where she is today.  Both my Mom and Dad for their creativity as artists and their patience and understanding as they trusted me in a career path that must've seemed almost impossible to achieve.  What are the odds your child wants to a be a tv weatherperson and actually does it?  If the roles had been reversed I'd like to think I'd be just as supportive.

 

Before NBC Bay Area, where did you work before?  

Its sort of like a Johnny Cash song, I've been everywhere up and down the West Coast but in order we have: ABC Network News Bureau/KNBC in LA, KESQ Palm Springs, KSBY San Luis Obispo, KCRA Saramento, and KIRO in Seattle. 

 

As a television journalist, every day at work is different from the one before it. Can you describe a "day in the life of Rob Mayeda"?  

Well, like the weather things change sometimes in subtle ways and other time substantial.  A more typical routine is being up at 2:30am if I'm filling in on a morning shift, spending an hour or so going through forecast models while applying makeup (still hate that part of this business) and then going on-air.  Good or bad, I'm almost always on Twitter and even off-air, I'm posting news stories or weather/science images I find interesting.  I guess the news cycle for me, never really shuts down. The days may also include doing some work for my Cal State East Bay course I teach from time to time and helping with some family businesses focused on the "other" cloud, as in cloud computing software. 

 

You've worked at NBC Bay Area for a decade. Do you think you've changed, as a person as well as a meteorologist, since you began there?  

 think I've changed with the technology of the times.  I really enjoy the immediacy and connection you can make viewers via social media and other apps these days.  Now having spent 17 of my 20 years in television forecasting for California weather patterns, I feel more confident than I did back when I joined KNTV nearly 11 years ago.  Its nice not having to always look things up for a change and feel like you can be more of a resource.   

 

Do you like ice cream? 

Okay, that's a ridiculous question. Up to now, no one has said that they don't. What's your favorite flavor?  Usually anything mint is a safe choice, though I'm also partial to chocolate with some peanut butter added in. 

 

Tell us about your home life. How do you spend your weekends? Do you have any hobbies?  

Well the weekends are pretty much 24/7 on television with naps in between, so my hobbies and home life fall on weekdays... I enjoy getting time to do storm chasing or working with the talented group at the SJSU meteorology dept. on some projects, especially their Fire Weather Research Lab.  And then, there's Spartan Races and CrossFit.

 

Tell us more about your workout routine. Seeing what you post on Facebook, I'd say this is anything but routine.  

I'd say it first began with training for a Spartan Race. I just wasn't inspired running treadmills or hitting the same weights and machines so I decided to kick it up another level and give CrossFit a try. http://robmayeda.wordpress.com/2013/01/01/obstacle-racing-101-this-is-spartan/

 

As a 40s something athlete getting my run times faster, lifting more and doing some gymnastics moves that looked more like Jedi mind tricks before all have been a pretty wild experience.  Its physically and mentally challenging at times too, but it feeds my inner wanna-be-stuntman mentality plus the teamwork/community experience CrossFit brings is second to none.  You get work done there and enjoy every bit of it. 

 

Please tell us more about your passion for fitness and exercise and staying in shape. 

It serves many purposes in my life - like a Swiss Army knife where the benefits are diverse.  There are days you just like the stress relief off tossing down Olympic weights, or going for a hill run with your favorite album on, or slowing down your heart rate as you draw back on a bow and release an arrow toward the target at the end of the hall.  I spend way too much time in front of computers and smartphones like most of us in this business, so this is my escape.  So why not train like a superhero?  Its fun, stress-relieving and generally a natural energy boost and who wouldn't want that?

 

 

What charitable organizations are nearest to your heart? 

I think I know of one that you consider very special to you.  The Lupus Foundation of Northern California and Lupus LA. They do some great work providing information and outreach services for those suffering from lupus which does run in the family.  We're also active with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Asian Americans for Community Involvement.      

 

Perfect meal for dinner?  

I guess it depends on the day, but I will rarely turn down a nice rib-eye steak and giant baked potato.  Others call for a supersized plate of Italian food or sushi.

 

Have a guilty pleasure?  

Well I'll admit at least to one and that's Netflix.  Darn you taking away my free time releasing an entire season of a show (House of Cards) like that, but I also love you for it.  On the topic of TV I'd call watching "Ghost Adventures" a guilty pleasure.  Sometimes you just need to see people scaring themselves over nothing in the dark to get a laugh after a long day. 

 

What do you enjoy most about your work?  

Getting a chance to share my love and interest for science in a televised setting is pretty neat.  I've also enjoyed "paying it forward" helping several production associates, news and weather interns get their careers started. I'm especially proud of LA weather producer Ferd Furer, KOLD's Aaron Pickering, KNWA's Gina DeVecchio and most recently a very talented Tracy Hinson now at KSBW getting out there as broadcast meteorologists.  When I'm long gone, it feels good to see people you helped leading the way as the next generation of TV talent.

 

Have you had any mentors, and if so, who? Who do you look up to? 

Back to my KNBC days as an intern and later news desk assistant it was assignment editor Paul Skolnick who taught me the importance of persistence and accuracy.  I certainly looked up to Fritz Coleman who reviewed my videotapes (dating myself there - M2 cassettes) and was a constant source of support.  Wendy Tokuda as well, provided great guidance on my writing and reporting.  I was really very lucky.    

 

What do you do to relax?  

Well if I had an unlimited budget, I'd go to Hawaii as much as possible.  I feel a real connection to the Hawaiian Islands and its is immediately calming every time I've been there.  It may sound a bit strange, but I find my endurance and CrossFit competitions and workouts help too.  Perhaps not in the relaxing sense, but they are great stress relievers which is something equally important when you work in TV news.

What do you like most about working at NBC Bay Area?  

The people, and I know it sounds clich� - but its true.  I remember the place from its Park Avenue days and now getting some momentum with some really innovative platforms that are changing the ways news and weather are presented which I really enjoy. 

 

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 to 10 years? 

Hopefully I could still be delivering your daily weather forecast in some way. I think as broadcast news evolves into an on-demand mobile platform I'm hoping there were always be a need for a local weather specialist who can explain the nuances of the forecast in a way computers really can't.  I'd also like to work more on the research side of meteorology and continue as a CSU guest lecturer.  Then there's the other cloud, as in cloud computing where I'm lending an assist to family-run startup called Avadencia that looks pretty disruptive for job cost forecasting for energy and construction companies.

 

Who is your favorite television journalist?  

Tom Brokaw.  I grew up watching him as the Nightly News anchor and was always impressed with his calm, insightful delivery.  I'm also a fan of Diane Sawyer as I once worked with her at the ABC Network News Bureau in Hollywood many, many years back.  She endured being put on hold, late scripts and poor penmanship on my field tape log notes and did so with a smile.  She never treated me poorly even though she was a network correspondent at the time, and I always admired that about her.  I love her for that because there were other monster egos I also had to deal with who shall not be named who would've made Ron Burgundy look like a cub scout. 

 

San Jose Mercury News, or USA Today?  

USA Today for the backpage weather infographic and the Merc as a local news source. 

 

What's your favorite TV show?  

There are a few in no particular order.  Game of Thrones, True Detective (spoiler alert: outstanding finale), House of Cards, and Arrow (I'm a big comic book fan)

 

Go to the movies lately?  

Last may have been "American Hustle" Not lately, but looking forward to the "Godzilla" reboot and "Captain America 2".  I tend to gravitate toward science fiction films since my dad worked in art direction, matte paintings and special effects design (which may have inspired my own backyard attempts with model ships and planes).       

 

Personality-wise, are you more of a goof than you are serious?!  

I'm mostly serious, but when I get goofy - watch out.  I can turn into Phil from "Modern Family" pretty easily. 

 

If you could do it all over again, is there anything you would change about your life?  

I'd like to live once and know once was enough. So the goal is to live without regrets and I hope I don't have any when my time comes.

 

During your career, has there been a weather story or stories that you've "owned" that, up to now, has defined who you are as a journalist?  

As a meteorologist, I think the handful of flooding and severe weather days from Sacramento, Seattle to San Jose were watermarks on the TV career.  As a reporter/editor/journalist, I think it was "On Thin Ice" our climate change broadcast from Alaska to the Bay Area that was on the leading edge of trends in Arctic and West Coast weather trends and research.  We did that series in 2010, earned the AMS award for science reporting and have subsequently seen the mainstream media far more climate change awareness savvy today than just a few years ago.   

 

What's the most favorite thing about your job? Least favorite thing, if anything?  

I really enjoy the people I work with, many I consider good friends I've known for years.  I've really enjoyed working on projects such as "Dreams to Dust" the NBC Bay Area Japanese internment special and "On Thin Ice" which won an American Meteorological Society award for science reporting.  Winning Emmys felt great to do at least once, but I feel more pride helping a handful of interns land jobs in the business as broadcast meteorologists.  That's my way of paying it forward and doing it four times so far feels really very good.

 

Least favorite?

That's easy, I'm not a fan of wearing make up and dressing in suits all the time.  The morning show hours can be tough too when I tend to be more of a night owl.   

 

 

Favorite music? What's in your iPod (if you have one) or collection of CDs?

What's playing on my iPhone right now is a diverse list of mostly alterative/rock/movie soundtrack songs.  Here's a sampler in case you're really curious: Young Man Dead - The Black Angels, Feral Love - Chelsea Wolfe, The Beginning of the End - Nine Inch Nails, Whaddup (LL Cool J, feat. Chuch D., Travis Barker), some random Hanz Zimmer tracks and "The Angry River" - from the True Detective series. Note: those are great gym/running songs. ;-)

I do have a pretty extensive collection of U2, Prince and Peter Gabriel albums and of that group I was a pretty huge Prince fan growing up and met him once at his old LA nightclub many years back.  Prince remains the most amazing musician I've seen.

 

Wine tasting, or a cold bottle of beer?  

Don't get me wrong, I love Napa and Sonoma and enjoy wine but I'll generally take a beer 95% of time. 

 

What's the craziest thing you've ever done?  Which one?  

In no particular order there are:  bungee jump from a hot air balloon (which by the way dropped too low seconds before I jumped so I held on while they fired the burner to gain enough height), skydiving, riding above the cable rig on the top Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and then some would say there's CrossFit.

From a journalistic standpoint, how would you prefer viewers to see you?  

I'd like to be seen as someone who is a reliable meteorologist who can break down scientific concepts into something understandable and relatable.  At my inner core, I'm a science and weather nerd and I still get excited to show that off at every opportunity.   

 

Favorite spot in the Bay Area? Favorite vacation destination? Where have you yet to travel to?  

Locally, there are several and like most people I do enjoy Napa and Sonoma though I'm also partial to Santa Cruz and the boardwalk down there.   Favorite vacation destination would be Hawaii and I'd love to travel to in no particular order to Japan, Australia/New Zealand and France/U.K.  

 

What do you like about social media, such as Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus? Does it help bring in new viewers?  

I think Twitter of the bunch is the most news relevant of the three yet all have strong value.  Twitter has become an unfiltered stream of beat checks, news tips and breaking news feeds that it really has redefined news gathering and aggregation of content and that applies in my field too with broadcast weather. We need to lose the idea of our newscasts being tied to hours and times.  Sooner than later I believe there will be no such thing as 5pm, 6pm, 11pm etc. newscasts, rather you will just have the news on demand.  That is where social media and Apps really should enhance the viewer experience and hopefully drawn in folks who wouldn't normally watch your newscasts. I believe you'll soon see stations employing their own "App stores" to encourage more of this platform cross promotion and I'm excited for those possibilities especially as they apply to science and weather reports. 

 

-----

Stay tuned!
Join us in June when we give the Q&A to Tom Sinkovitz, the former Bay Area anchor from KNTV NBC Bay Area and KRON, and in July, when we showcase NBC Bay Area's Diane Dwyer!

High School Awards Judging Complete;
Entries Up 50 Percent Over Last Year

By Steve Shlisky
Chapter Education Chairperson 

 

       Early every spring many local NATAS members anxiously await the local Emmy nomination announcements.  These professional broadcasters can likely relate to local high school and college students wishing for professional recognition of their own work.

       Beside the local Emmy celebration, Norcal NATAS presents two other similar events focused on broadcasting excellence: the High School Awards and College Scholarships.

       Judging has just finished on this year's High School Awards. A total of forty-eight entries (a greater than a 50% increase from last year) arrived from a dozen schools in northern California and Hawaii. The ten program and craft categories included news programs and individual news stories to animation, music videos and long-form fiction. Volunteer judges from the NorCal Board of Governors score entries in a similar fashion to our local Emmy Award. Each judge gives a one to ten rating in each of three areas, Content, Creativity and Execution.

      High School students from the Oakland Unified School District can hone their broadcasting skills at TV station KDOL. Media Enterprise Alliance (MEA) runs this station located near the Oakland Museum. Executive Director of MEA Jeff Key says: "NATAS provides an opportunity to have their work judged by professionals in the field, add a prestigious award to their resumes, and to expose their work to a wider audience." 

      Mt. Tamalpias High School AIM teacher, Sharilyn Scharf says "The NATAS Awards are our students' greatest validation of their film work.  They look forward to the competition every year and take great pride in winning." According to Scharf, two students who received NATAS awards last year were accepted into the University of Southern California's film school this year.

     As this year's high school awards finish running their course, it will be time to judge then distribute college students with scholarships. There is $16,000 available this year for talented young broadcasters. The deadline is June 16th 2014.

     The San Francisco Northern California Chapter of The National Association of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) sponsors seven awards: five $2,000 scholarships and two $3,000 scholarships. Each award is named for former NATAS members who have honored our chapter.

     Four are memorial: The Peter J Marino Jr. $2,000 award recognizing production; The Sheldon "Shelly" Fay Award, recognizing videography; The Kenneth Sloat Langly Award recognizing writing; and the "Miss Nancy" Besst Award recognizing an outstanding graduate student.

     One of the named scholarships is still active in our academy: The Rigo Chacon Reporting Scholarship.

     The Big Picture's George Lang will generously underwrite two $3,000 scholarships, each to go to one outstanding Graduate and one outstanding Undergraduate student.

     These scholarships memorialize two former Lang co-workers and KGO-TV journalists: Jerry Jensen, who co-anchored at KGO-TV from 1969 to 1984; and Steve Davis, an anchor/reporter at the station from the 1970s to the early 1990s. 

      Scholarship applicants must be actively engaged in a collegiate-level curriculum in one or more areas of the television industry. They must attend a college in Northern California (Visalia to the Oregon border), Hawaii, or Reno.

      All entrants submit a sample of their work, their transcripts, an essay, and a letter of recommendation from their professor or dean. All entries are screened by a panel of judges culled from the NATAS Education Committee. The Committee meets to decide the recipient in each category. The Committee can award or not award a scholarship for each category.

      In 2013, the panel could have awarded seven scholarships. Keeping with the high standards enjoyed by our local chapter, The Scholarship Committee decided to only award those individual entries that rose to the highest professional level. The $2,000 The Peter Marino Production Scholarship, the $2,000 Rigo Chacon Reporting Scholarship, and the $2000 Kenneth Sloat Langley Writing Scholarship had no recipients.

     This year we would love to award all seven prizes. The deadline for submissions is Monday June 16, so if you know of any qualified college students, please let them know about these awards or send them this link: http://emmysf.tv/graduate.html

     The scholarships will be presented during this year's NATAS Silver & Gold Circle Induction event on November 1 at the Parc 55 San Francisco Wyndham Hotel. For more information go to: http://emmysf.tv/silver-circle.html

     This chapter awards these scholarships to encourage individuals who demonstrate leadership and talent in advancing the artistic, cultural, educational and technical qualities of television.

 

NATPE Education Foundation 
Sponsors Career Day At KRON

By Justine Waldman
Chapter Governor
 

"How do I become a news anchor?"

"What does it mean to work on the assignment desk?"

"My professor says writing is the key to working in news. Do you agree?"

"Is it hard to read a teleprompter?"

"How often do you use Twitter?"

"Are internships important to getting a job in news?"

"What is the difference between a producer and a director?"

"How do you decide what stories to cover each day?"

 

     Those are a sample of questions some curious students asked during a Career Day and Job Fair on April 12 hosted at KRON in San Francisco.

     The NATPE Educational Foundation along with the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Academy (NATAS) and the California Broadcasters Association sponsored the event.  Students from 38 Bay Area Colleges and Universities were invited to the free event.

     About 160 students packed KRON's Studio B where a panel of nine media professionals from radio, television and cable told the students about their career paths and gave valuable advice on getting started in the business.  The panel included Candace Hirleman Archer, vice president of Creative Services at KGO-TV; Michelle Griego, news anchor at KPIX; Tom Raponi, president and general manager at KTVU; Joshua Johnson, morning newscaster at KQED; Kimberly Tere, general assignment reporter at KNTV; J.D. Freeman, media and entertainment market president at Clear Channel Communications; Emily McLaughlin who works in public relations at PAC-12 Networks; and James Crowe, digital sales manager at KRON.

    The two-hour session also included a "mock interview" between Scott Howard, news director at KHSL and a student from Santa Clara University. This allowed the students to see how to prepare for a possible internship or first-time job interview.

    Following the panel and lunch, the students attended a job fair where they had the opportunity to speak with representatives from KRON, NATAS and Clear Channel Communications. To give the students motivation to join NATAS and to work hard for their own award one day, they got their picture taken with an Emmy!

    KRON news staffers, including reporter/anchor Justine Waldman and anchor Grant Lodes, took the students on a tour of KRON.

    It started in the newsroom where students learned about editing systems, how the breaking news set works and saw what happens behind the assignment desk.  The students also visited the control room. But the highlight was a tour of the studio. Students took turns sitting in the anchor chairs and reading the teleprompter. They also played around in the Weather Center and tested out the weather wall. They were fascinated by everything from the computer-control cameras to the lights hanging high above. There was plenty of time for selfies and a great group photo.

     The entire day gave the students a chance to learn what life might be like if they work in news one day.  They said they felt energized, inspired and enlightened by the experience. Lots of students said they appreciated the chance to network with professionals and see a newsroom, many for the first time.

     Clear Channel Communications awarded three very deserving students each a $1,500 scholarship.

     Pat Patton, the director of programming at KRON, was instrumental in organizing the event. He was on the NATPE board for a number of years and was the CEO/Chairman of the organization. His involvement is why KRON was chosen to host this bi-annual prestigious event.

     This was the 26th Career Day sponsored by the NATPE Education Foundation. Both Foundation President Lou Klein and Career Day Producer Dick Block said this was one of the best panels and most successful Career Day events in the organization's history.

 

Link to watch seminar 

 

KNTV NBC Bay Area Garners National 
SPJ Awards For Bay Area Proud Series

 

       KNTV NBC Bay Area's Bay Area Proud series has been honored with a national award from the Society of Professional Journalists for the best feature reporting among the top 50 television markets in the country. 
        The Society of Professional Journalists today announced the recipients of the 2013 Sigma Delta Chi Awards, recognizing NBC Bay Area with three awards, the most any local television station has won in recent history. The station was honored for its coverage of the Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crash landing at San Francisco International Airport last July along with an expose of the local district attorney's pay practices and feature reporting as part of its Bay Area Proud franchise.

       "The Asiana Airlines Flight 214 crash was one of the most tragic and important stories impacting the Bay Area in more than a decade," says Jonathan Mitchell, Vice President of News, NBC Bay Area. "I could not be more proud of our team's professional, sensitive and tireless coverage on behalf of our viewers. We are both honored and grateful for this recognition."

       NBC Bay Area received Sigma Delta Chi Awards in the following categories:

       Breaking News Coverage (Large Market Station: 1-50 market)

Asiana Flight 214 Crash and Investigative Details - NBC Bay Area News Staff

       Feature Reporting (Large Market Station: 1-50 market)

Bay Area Proud - Garvin Thomas

o    Bride with Terminal Cancer Gets Amazing Wedding Gift Story

o    Students Give Choir Teacher Emotional Musical Tribute Story

      Public Service in Television Journalism (Large Market Station: 1-50 market)

The Gift of Time: Exposing a District Attorney's Secret Perk for his Appointees - Jenna Susko, Julie Putnam, Jeremy Carroll and Matt Goldberg

      The Sigma Delta Chi Awards recognize exceptional professional journalism in categories covering print, radio, television, newsletters, art/graphics, online and research. The awards date back to 1932, when the Society of Professional Journalists honored six individuals for their contributions to journalism. The current program began in 1939 as the Distinguished Service Awards.

      NBC Bay Area will be formally presented with the awards at a reception which will take place at the National Press Club June 20 in Washington, D.C.

 

Cal Bollwinkel, 88
Sacramento, Bay Area Television Icon

       Cal Bollwinkel, a longtime veteran of Sacramento and Bay Area television, has died, two weeks shy of what would have been his 89th birthday.
       Bollwinkel died April 17.
   
Cal Bollwinkel
Veteran of Sacramento and Bay Area television
   Born Calvin Bollwinkel on April 30, 1925 in Brooklyn, New York, to Elmer and Loretta Bollwinkel, he and his brother, Hank, were graduates of Ridgefield Park High School in New Jersey. In 1943, Bollwinkel interrupted his studies in broadcasting at Michigan State University in East Lansing to serve his country in uniform. 
       Bollwinkel fought in the Pacific during World War II and was honorably discharged as Staff Sergeant in the US Army. Upon return to MSU he was elected President of Delta Sigma Phi fraternity. He would earn his degree in Broadcasting. It was at college where he met Julia Stewart of Kalamazoo, Michigan. They were married on June 3, 1950. 
       Bollwinkel began his distinguished broadcasting career at WAUC radio in Hudson, New York and WHFB radio in Benton Harbor, Michigan. He became a popular morning disc jockey at WOWO in Ft. Wayne, Indiana and transitioned into television at KYW, Philadelphia. Moving to California in 1967 he worked at KPIX, San Francisco before settling into 28 years of program operations management at KXTV 10 and KTXL Fox40 from which he retired in 1999. 
      While at Channel 40, Cal was also Editorial Director and was known throughout Sacramento as the stations' on air editorial voice, receiving an Emmy nomination for his work. Recognized throughout the industry for his integrity, honesty and kindness, upon his retirement KTXL established a scholarship for future broadcasters in his name. He is a member of the Valley Broadcast Legends. Volunteerism was a core value for Cal Bollwinkel throughout his life.       Bollwinkel was a passionate San Francisco Giants fan, transferring his allegiance from the New York Giants when the team moved to California in 1958. He played golf throughout the Sacramento area with many, dear and life-long friends. 
      Calvin A. Bollwinkel is survived by his wife of 64 years, Julia Bollwinkel; son Mark and daughter-in-law Bonnie Bollwinkel; son Paul and life-partner Robert Atanasio; daughter Karen and husband David Drake; daughter Jan Bollwinkel-Smith and husband George Smith; five grandchildren: Daniel Bollwinkel (Lindsay) and Matthew Bollwinkel (Sara), Ian and Evan Drake, and Julia Smith
      A celebration of Bollwinkel's life will be held at 2 p.m., May 10, at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 2391 St. Mark's Way, Sacramento. 

End Of An Era In Sacramento
After 21 Years As News Director At KMAX, 
Brent Baader Saying Goodbye After May Book

         Brent Baader, who has served as news director of Sacramento's KMAX for the last 21 years, is leaving the station in June. 
       Baader's primary responsibility has been the oversight of the station's popular Good Day Sacramento program.
       The CW station, which is part of a CBS-owned duopoly which includes KOVR, has yet to decide on a replacement for Baader. 

KSEE Anchor Bud Elliott Retiring 
After 23 Years At Fresno's NBC Affiliate
 
       After 23 years, KSEE's Bud Elliott is calling it quits.
       Elliott, anchor for the Fresno NBC affiliate, has announced he will retire this month. His last day will be May 23.
Bud Elliott 
Retiring from KSEE after 23 years
       "My career with KSEE 24 has given me the opportunity to meet and work with incredible people," Elliott says. "Now, I'm looking forward to spending quality time with my family, including a brand-new grandson in Sacramento, and focusing on some recently discovered health issues."
       Elliott has not disclosed what those health issues are.
       "Central Valley viewers, as well as of those of us who have had the pleasure of working with him, have all benefited from Bud's talent and dedication," says Matthew Rosenfeld, KSEE's vice president and general manager. "I know he is looking forward to retirement and the additional time he'll have to spend with his family."
       KSEE is remembering Elliott's personal and professional accomplishments this month, leading up to his last day on the air.
       Elliott's career began in Denver, where he worked at KHOW radio. He then joined CNN as an anchor for what eventually became CNN Headline News. Before his arrival in Fresno in 1991, Elliott worked at WRIC in Richmond, Virginia.
 
KOLO News Director To Alabama
Jennifer Hardy To Be News Director In Huntsville
     
      KOLO News Director Jennifer Hardy has accepted a news director position in Huntsville, Alabama. 
      She leaves Reno for ABC affiliate WAAY.
      Hardy has been with KOLO for two years and came to the station after working at KVVU in Las Vegas, where she was assistant news director.
      Her last day at tKOLO is May 21.
      KOLO General Manager Matt Eldredge says "a true measure of someone's performance is whether they leave a position in a better position than when they started, and in Jennifer's case, I can honestly say she has helped grow KOLO 8 News Now's news operation in the two-plus years she has been with us. For that and many other reasons I thank her for her hard work and wish her well in all her future endeavors."

 

Back Home To California
After Two Years Away, Golden State Native
Returns With Morning Anchor Gig In Chico
  
By Kevin Wing 
Regional Vice President, San Francisco 
        
     
       San Francisco Bay Area native Alyssa Deitsch is back in California after two years in Wyoming, where she worked at KCWY in Casper as anchor, reporter and producer of
Today in Wyoming, a program which appeared weekday mornings on the state's only NBC affiliate. 
Alyssa Deitsch 
New morning anchor in Chico

      "The newscast was seen throughout the state of Wyoming," Deitsch said recently from her home in Chico, where she now works for KHSL and KNVN as morning anchor of Action News Now
      Deitsch joined KHSL/KNVN in March.
      "I'm very happy to be back in California," she says. "I'm closer to my family in the Bay Area."
      Deitsch, who anchors weekday mornings from 5 to 7 a.m., must rise by 2 a.m. to get to work and prepare the newscast for air. 
      Originally from Mountain View in Santa Clara County, Deitsch graduated from Arizona State University's esteemed and highly-regarded Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Already an award-winning television journalist, Deitsch received a Society of Professional Journalists Award for her contributions to a story on drug tunnels near the border town of Nogales, Arizona. 

On The Move

Who's Arriving, Who's Leaving Around The Chapter

 

Dave Pera, longtime photojournalist at KGO-TV ABC7 in San Francisco, is retiring after 37 years at the station.

 

George Kiriyama, a general assignment reporter at KNTV NBC Bay Area in San Jose, has left the station to pursue new opportunities. Kiriyama had been a nightside reporter for the station's 11 p.m. newscast since his arrival there in 2006. He and the station parted ways in late March.

 

Mark Mathews, formerly of KGO-TV in San Francisco, has joined KNTV NBC Bay Area in San Jose as a general assignment reporter. He began April 21. 

 

Simone Aponte, executive producer at KFMB-TV in San Diego, joins KTVU in Oakland as its new executive producer of special projects.  

 

Azenith Smith, general assignment reporter at KVVU in Las Vegas, joins KTVU in Oakland in the same capacity. It's a return to the Bay Area for Smith, who is a South Bay native.

 

Melanie Woodrow, investigative reporter with KCBS/KCAL in Los Angeles, joins KTVU in Oakland in the same capacity.

 

Chase Cain, reporter at KNTV NBC Bay Area, joins XETV in San Diego as a weekend morning anchor. Cain's first day on the air will be May 17.

 

Chris Pelletier joins KHON in Honolulu as local sales manager. Previously, Pelletier served as marketing and research director and senior account executive at KITV in Honolulu. 

 

Valerie Abati, meteorologist at KSBW in Salinas, joins KOAA in Colorado in the same capacity. 

 

Got a new gig?  Got a promotion? "On The Move" and Off Camera want to know and help you spread the word! Please drop us a line at kevin.offcamera@gmail.com and let us know! Congratulations!

 

Do You Remember?
The Program is 
Dance Party
Who is the emcee, and who is the guest?
Write us at kevin.offcamera@gmail.com if you know the answer and we'll mention your name in next month's Off Camera!

Last Month...
 
In the April issue of Off Camera, we asked if you  
could identify these two gentlemen and the TV station.
  
Answer: Art Finley, Jack Hansen 
and KRON-TV in San Francisco 

Thank you to Bob Anderson, Don Gold, Terry Lowry and Al Sturges
for writing in and correctly guessing their names! 

Skyline College Hits Home Run 
With Live, Unique Sports Telecasts

 

      "This guy must be a base stealer. They're spending a lot of time on him here," Jim Petromilli says into his headset. "It's a bunt! Get on him! Get on him!"

      Petromilli's instructions during Skyline's April 17 baseball game against Cabrillo were exacted from his control console in the Carl Vallero Press Box at the Skyline College Baseball Diamond. A Skyline professor of electronics and communications, Petromilli is in the process of fine tuning a pet project several years in the making.

      With the vision of Petromilli, and approximately $30,000 in Skyline College monies, the community college's athletics program has integrated fully functional television-style live streaming internet broadcasts into its basketball and baseball games, for which Petromilli serves as executive producer.

      And after the bunt play on which Petromilli chimes directions to two of three cameramen, Timo Chavez and Derrick Gorospe - who work atop opposing dugouts amid the multi-camera broadcast - Petromilli kicks it back to Will King on the camera behind home plate with a casual: "Alright Will, back to you."

      Petromilli is accustomed to making big tech-media strides from behind the scenes.

Since he assisted Cupertino Electric, Inc. in wiring College of San Mateo's football facility for audio, he has installed audio systems at many a San Mateo County athletic facility, including CSM's Bulldog Field, Woodside High School's football stadium and the Skyline gymnasium.

In his first foray into television, using the internet service UStream.tv, Petromilli has overseen six Skyline basketball and three baseball broadcasts.

     "We're learning as we go forward here," Petromilli said. "Every sport has its challenges. And we're getting good audiences."

     For Skyline baseball's maiden voyage on the fiber-optic television waves April 3, the broadcast netted 92 live views. Using history as a guide, Petromilli expects the archived broadcasts to grow views exponentially.

     The streaming broadcasts were born two years ago as a way to air Skyline College's 2012 graduation ceremony. With the ceremony taking place in the gym with limited seating, streaming video allowed family and friends, who could not secure a ticket, an opportunity to witness the ceremony.

    According to Petromilli, the graduation ceremony got 120 live views, with the archived version gaining 546 views. In 2013, they again used the technology to broadcast graduation, with 220 live online views and 949 post views.

    "I was amazed," Petromilli says. "We had no idea. We had done it initially to put into classrooms on campus so people could come in ... and watch graduation and they could cheer and all that stuff. We didn't think we had any viewers and it kind of took off."

It was then the enterprising Petromilli, who had worked to bring internet radio broadcasts to local community college baseball games in recent years, turned the idea loose on the school's sports community.    

    "I knew after the first event that we were on to something," Petromilli says.

The baseball broadcasts utilize three high definition cameras - Sony HXR-NX5U models - which run approximately $3,300 apiece.

    But the broadcasts' driving force is play-by-play man Jason Neil. A 2013 San Francisco State grad, Neil's baseball-game calls are reminiscent of a young Hank Greenwald and he has compiled a strong resume in his young career.

    Neil's first venture into community college sports was fronting radio broadcasts for CSM football. He previously served as sports manager at KSFS where he broadcasted baseball, basketball, soccer and volleyball games. As a student intern, he worked at KNBR and 107.7 The Bone, and has even been on the air with legendary radio personality Steven Seaweed.

This is Neil's first live television gig though. And he's in the running with current Skyline baseball public-address announcer Dino Landucci as one of the best voices to be heard in the Trojans' baseball press box in quite some time.

    "I've done it where we edit it and post it online," Neil says. "But we get tons of (live) viewers with this online."  

    The nine games Petromilli has produced this scholastic year are merely something of a warm-up though, as the broadcast team is ironing out the system to launch a regular operation for high school and college football in the fall. But the design, with using UStream.tv as its server, is to keep the broadcasts free going forward, according to Petromilli.

    "We do not want to charge people," he said. "Some schools think this is a cash cow and it may be. But we want to serve the people for free."

    Working as engineer for the crew is longtime Skyline tech guru Rich Tidd, who, along with Petromilli, is still trying to hammer out instant replay for the broadcasts.

    "We have an instant replay machine, but we don't know how to use it yet," Petromilli said.

The system will be utilized for educational purposes on campus as well. The next broadcast will take place April 24 when author Tim Wise holds a lecture on campus. And on April 30, the system will broadcast a guest lecture by famed activist Cornel West.

    "We're expecting a huge audience for that because he's a very popular speaker," Petromilli said. "And you can watch him on the internet for free."

Baseball broadcasts can be found at UStream.tv by typing "Skyline College Baseball" into the website's search field. The final live baseball broadcast aired Tuesday for Skyline's final home game of the season against Hartnell. 

 

The Life Of Harley
Death Of Journalist's Beloved Dog At 14 Inspires Her
To Share Their Love, Friendship Online --
Facebook Community Loves Post, Gets 27,000 "Likes" 

By Terri Russell
Regional Vice President, Reno

      "He was quite simply the greatest dog that ever lived. My beloved Newfie of 14 years, Harley passed away tonight. Everyone who knew him loved him, and he unselfishly loved them back. I know I will see him on the other side."
      I wrote that on KOLO's Facebook page on the evening of March 11.
Anyone who knows me, knows I'm not a fan of Facebook, but after finding my dog dead in the backyard with my barn cat Lincoln watching over him, I was compelled to let people everywhere know just what had happened.
      I got Harley when he was 2 years old for my boyfriend as a Christmas present. I thought he would walk the dog, get healthy and lose some weight. Within 2 years the boyfriend was gone, Harley stayed. He was 150 pounds of character.  Harley greeted people at the door and then sat on their feet so they had to keep petting him. He would at times escape from the backyard, often going to the elementary school down the street. When I'd go there to pick him up, people--kids, teachers, counselors, principals, parents--all were waiting in line just to hug him. Once I got Harley in the back of the car, I told him, if he could find it any better than our home, just point the house out and I would drop him off. He smartly kept silent.
     I would take Harley to the station at night when I had to edit. He would often run head on into the crotch of our evening anchor leaving a giant drool spot. The anchor was annoyed, Harley unfazed, just continued on his way to meet and greet everyone there,  making sure they knew he was around. On the weekends when I filled in anchoring, it was just good timing the show was only 30 minutes. By that time he had pushed his head hard enough and long enough to push doors  between studio and newsroom open to come find me on the set. No, he did not wait for the "on air" sign to go off.
     I would take him to station food drives, Christmas bell ringings, and clothes drives.
He would wear pilgrim hats, Hawaiian shirts, holiday lights without fuss.
Parents would ask if their children could get their picture taken with him. This often happened at the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Drive. Those same parents would ultimately put some money in the kettle, Harley would stick his nose in the slot as if to see how much the donation was.
     I always got the same questions. How much does he weight? What kind of dog is he? How much does he eat? Does he bite? Other dogs showed deference to him. The only ones to challenge him were small dogs, to which he would go nose to nose. With no growl or bark from him, the small dogs would quickly learn their place. He knew he would never have to raise his voice. There was a majestic dignity about him that everyone respected. If they didn't, he didn't care. He loved you anyway and just overwhelmed you with kindness. "Just get over it," he seemed to say, "Come over here and pet me."
    We walked just about every night rain or snow. That was until he got too old to make the mile around the block. For the next two years I watched him slow down, changed his food, and chopped up chicken to stimulate his appetite. In February of this year my vet's new partner couldn't believe such a big dog had lived so long. "Every day is a gift from him to you," he said. "Appreciate it." I took his advice and watched Harley slowly deteriorate. His breathing became labored, his movement unsteady. Then after work on Tuesday, I came home and found him. It wasn't totally unexpected, but no less devastating.
    I miss him every day. My friend says when I am ready, Harley will send me another dog to love and take car of. I buried Harley in a small grove of trees just behind  my bedroom window. My sister, an artist, had a welder friend make a grave marker. It's dog bone with Harley's name in the center. Later in May, when my brother and his
wife make their yearly trek back home from out of the country, and my other sister comes in from out of state to join him; they along with the rest of my family will gather at Harley's grave for the official unveiling.  It will be a celebration of the greatest dog that ever lived.
    By the way, that Facebook posting received 27,000 hits in less that 24 hours with more than 250 comments. Many of those responding were parents and kids that had met the big guy in person and shared their pictures to prove it.
 

Contact Information:

National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
San Francisco/Northern California Chapter
Darryl Compton,
Executive Director
4317 Camden Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94403-5007
Phone: 650 341-7786 or 415 777-0212
Fax: 650 372-0279
darryl@emmysf.tv

 

The name "Emmy�" and the graphic image of the statuette, are registered trademarks of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.