Oregon Media Insiders

How is Don Pratt inexperienced? Manager in San Fran, News Director in S.C., Asst. News Director in Boston. Are you kidding me? You people are so ridiculous. You probably work right next to him and kiss his ass all day and then rush home to post on OMI. Pathetic. What other "inexperienced" people has Tamerlano hired? Name a few.

Nope and in my opinion all of the stations could do with cutting some of the newscasts. By the time the 6:00 or 6:30pm news comes on they have been saying the same things for the last hour.

I agree!! I am tired of KPTV's 10 o'clock news - it is just a big advertisement and tease for the 11 o'clock news. I watch the 10 o'clock news because I can't stay up til 11. So I made the switch to Kgw's 10'clock news..

While we're at it, let's get the used car salesmen to just tell us their best price up front!

Seriously, at this point in the industry this behavior is practically hardwired into our DNA. Producers and promo people train with consultants to do it better (aka, more obnoxiously). No one even sees it as phenomenally ironic, to be a news organization that is refusing to report news.

So, no. Put that on the growing list of ways local news continues to blast away at its own feet.

Um, when the victim is a licensed CCW holder and shoots/stops the attacker dead in his tracks?

I can't really even begin to defend this but what story was he talking about?

It's bad enough to breathlessly read from the coroner's report during the dinner hour, but Thom's backward baseball cap must have been squeezing his brain too tightly when he let that one fly.

It was in an edited pkg mind you, so it's doubtful that he was the only one to ok it. Perhaps his frat boy, roofie slipping, misogynistic, subhuman buddies work in the newsroom.

Seriously, when you can't self edit a horrible comment like that perhaps it's time to reevaluate your life and your career. Thom are you so desensitized to violence that this is acceptable to you? Is a 15 year old girl's life not worth respect or dignity. Perhaps she brought all this on herself?

To all who jumped in the fray and posted comments about KATU's Thom Jensen:

Thank goodness you're all out there! You, the few the fearless, the FLAWLESS, really. I didn't think your types existed in this glorious industry we so proudly lable "the media"...or in the world for that matter. I'm talking about you, the piss, vinegar and venom-filled sideline quarterbacks who, from the tone of your self-righteous blog responses, one could gather have NEVER, EVER made mistakes or "slip-ups" of any variety. Be they in a live shot tag, in one of the thousands of VOs you've written for a newscast you've AP'd, on the obituary page, on your audio board, from behind the lense of your P2 camera, or wherever you currently remain miserably holed-up. Never mind everyone from Charles Gibson to "Susie Reporter" at her first job in Bangor, Maine has a story to tell about when he or she "let something fly" on the air that was totally inappropriate--on accident! We all now know YOU never would, and, boy are we relieved!

The fact you point out is ture, Jensen made one of those unfortunate mistakes that hit the airwaves. It can't be taken back because it's out there. It was a verbal mis-step for which he's probably been reprimanded harshly by his superiors, fiercely criticized in viewer e-mails and likely endlessly kicked himself.

But while you, oh-so-mighty ones are blogging your brains out on this and other industry thread slam-fests, Jensen is out there spanking you and the rest of the competition on a weekly basis...something he did in particular with his Dani Countryman murder investigation stories. But you and the rest of the media-types who reported ONLY what Strovink dished out on the case probably already know that, and you were ready to pounce on ANYTHING just to do something but stand there with your fingers up your noses.

And, as you're out there trying to dream up ways to out-wit one another with "frat boy" repartee, he's probably coming up with yet another exclusive investigation or asking the questions you're too chicken sh*& to ask. While you and your media outfit are kissing the backsides of some PIO just to get a soundbite to package regarding the news release that's "hot off the fax," Jensen is probably digging up the exclusive angle you'll be scrambling to jam in your follow-up piece three days from now whe you realize you got your booties kicked.

In closing this rant, I'd like to offer up some words of advice: until you can pony up proof of your perfection, until your list of accomplishments reads like Edward R. Murrow's, or at the very least, until you bring one tenth of what Jensen has to this DMA since he's been here...get off this guy and all the other HUMANS out there you and the other blog-junkie vultures trash on DAILY because you're avoiding the heavy lifting guys like Jensen are doing for you!

And P.S., Had y'all done one speck of research--asked his friends and colleagues at KATU (like any GOOD reporter would) before posting you would have known he's not a Coors Lite guy...we're in Portland afterall, and you know what they say...when in Portland do as the Portlanders do...gotta reach for the microbrew. Cheers!

Some observations I would like to offer

1. You are responsible for what you say on the air. I don't care if it live or in an edited package.

2. No one is perfect and humans make mistakes but you are still responsible for what you say on the air.

3. Thom Jensen is a good reporter and did a good job with the story. But I'll say it again just in case you didn't catch the first time: you are responsible for what you say on the air.

4. Did Thom or anyone else at KATU apologize for what was said?

I don't work in the industry and would have been offended no matter who said that.

In addition to the stupid, reckless and insensitve characterization of the crime, this incident highlights a complete and total breakdown in the editorial controls at KATU.
Nobody caught it, now KATU cheerleaders are angry not at what was said, but because it is now an issue, and the newsroom does not/will not/can not acknowledge its responsibility.
It would feel pretty bad to kick ass on the story for a week straight and top it off with what is probably (hopefully) the most insensitive and stupid remark this reporter will ever make.

I usually do not even respond to these gutless, bathroom wall blatherngs. But, you are correct I made a mistake under deadline pressure when I wrote "...rape gone wrong." I cringed when I heard it on the air.

I apologize to anyone who I might have offended. Surely you (gutless one) have made a mistake before. Thank God this is the biggest thing you have on me. I can think of a few other mistakes I've made that were much more severe.

But this rant sounds like someone who is jealous about getting his ass kicked on the story for a week straight.

Have the balls to write your name when you start name calling. Don't be a gutless wonder.

I do, however apreciate the "frat boy" refernce. I didn't know I looked so young. It's been 20 ears since I've been in a fraternity (Phi Alpha SAE brothers).

By the way, I only drink Oregon wines and micro-brews-- not Coors Light. Please send any donations to 2153 NE Sandy Blvd.

-Thom Jensen (not afraid to sign my name)

You cringed when you heard it on air through your ifb, which means it wasn't live was it.

It was in an edited pkg.
You thought it.
You wrote it.
You tracked it.
Perhaps it was reviewed by someone else.
It was edited in probably by someone else.

Butch up Thom. Your "frat boy" MENTALITY, certainly not age, shone through like Deb Knapp's fake tan. You had plenty of time, even under deadline pressure, to realize it was a huge mistake. Deadline pressure by the way, that every reporter feels every day without making grotesque comments like that.

Clearly (brainless one) I have made mistakes before. You are not putting me on the defensive to avoid the heat you deserve. All the ass kicking in the world flew out the window when that comment left your lips...into a mic, then on tape.

Here's some free advice: Shut up already!

Perhaps a sign of the times or the difference between Katu and other television newsrooms that still get it right: quality control. I can't imagine a script with that verbiage getting on the air at most medium/major market television stations - unless there's absolutely no quality control. No EP, no Assistant News Director/Managing Editor, News Director? Not one producer with a head on his/her shoulders who could take a moment and read it for style, sense and clarity?

Katu staff and their apologists - go ahead and attack those who notice, care and call you on the carpet for it. If this blog wasn't around it would be one more mistake swept under the rug and forgotten over some 'micro brews' at the dive down the street. Katu used to be one of the better stations in town - now it's bottom-dollar bottom-feeder like Koin - barely getting it on the air - and obviously not even doing that well. Katu and the Spirit of the Northwest? Not my Northwest.

KATU used to have a great system for reviewing copy before it got on the air. People there used to talk on the street about working with a managing editor who help them made their stories better.

Now, it seems, the only edits are time edits (Producer: "I told you it has to be 1:15!").

Everyone - and I mean EVERYONE - needs to have their scripts reviewed for clarity and content. Just "banging it out" isn't good enough.

Who hasn't made a mistake that they wish they could take back? The difference here is that most of those kind of mistakes are live. The anchor or reporter on a live shot says something, and then realizes "Oh, I shouldn't have said that!" Usually, they hear about it once they get off the air, either from management or a viewer who takes offense. But in an edited package? That shouldn't happen. There should be at least two sets of eyes on every script. Someone should have caught that rape comment before it made air. Deadline pressure or not, everyone has at least a couple of minutes to give a script a last once over before it's tracked. That being said, Thom did do a very good job of covering that story, other than that unfortunate comment.

Obviously there is a lack of oversight in the Katu newsroom. So instead of bitching about it - fix it and have done with it. It's happened once; it will happen again. The notion that there aren't enough people to insure quality control over the content of a newscast is bs. Figure out a system where every on-air piece of copy gets reviewed - and the name/time/approval is recorded for follow-up.

Thom...way to hold your ground, I have watched you in San Diego on 10 news and you are an amazing reporter with integrity. Dont listen to these backwoods hillbillies, please come back to San Diego.
Later Frat Boy....shootin gootin gootin!!!!!

I did not take offense with Thom's statement but took it like I believed he meant it to be taken. Many women in this country are raped - which is a horrible, violent attack upon them - but are not murdered during the crime. I believe that is what he was trying to impress upon us. During the commission of this violation of Dani, the suspects went overboard - for whatever reason/s, a "rape gone wrong" and killed her.

Okay. I can buy that but did he actually say that and I stand by what I said before: you are responsible for what you say on the air.

Pratt couldn't give a shit less about being liked! Unpredictable and unprofessional - maybe - but the last thing he's doing is kissing employees asses. They're the ones kissing his ass... so he doesn't go hire a buddy from his old market(s) and give away their job!

Nice response, wisenheimer, but you didn't read the note. What the poster is saying is that instead of just doing weather for CNN, Rob is now anchoring ala Ted Baxter, one of the people who sits behind the desk and yaks. He actually did a pretty good job last week. Weird watching him though...

It was weird to watch him do weather when he was at KATU. At lest he lost the sideburns!!

It's only been months since he started anchoring at CNN.. You're only painfully out of touch.

Someone here a while back predicted talent changes on some of their low rated newscasts. Anyone over on Sandy Blvd know if this is still going to happen.. Who and when?

The only person who would care about the answer to your question would be someone jockeying for one of the positions or looking for a promotion. Weekend anchor upgrade? reporter upgrade?

From what I remember, he was just a temporary hire till they hired the permanent weekend guy. In my humble opinion they should have kept him instead of hiring the new guy.

Scott is at KATU now.