KTVZ: Barker Out

Submitted by LynnS on Mon, 10/29/2007 - 2:02pm.

Word this morning that KTVZ ND Jeff Barker is out for "family reasons." Bendies Bend people, what's the scoop?

Update: Corrected spelling of Jeff's name. Sorry about that, that's what I get for posting in a hurry. I got a note from a colleague of Barker's saying for once it really is family-related. I wasn't looking for personal problems, FWIW; it's just that when someone leaves for "family reasons" 9/10ths of the time it ain't family and I was wondering what might really have been up. Here's your tenth, I guess. I hope everything goes okay for the Barkers, whatever the trouble is.

Also noted: Bendies bad. Stricken from the OMI vocab.

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Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Mon, 10/29/2007 - 2:24pm.

we prefer bendites...not to pick nits, or anything.

Submitted by SeattleTVGuy on Mon, 10/29/2007 - 11:54pm.

If I remember correctly, Bendites is OK.
____

Formerly BendTVGuy

Submitted by newsguy on Tue, 10/30/2007 - 10:14am.

How about Bendonians.
Or, there's always Bendovers LOL.

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Tue, 10/30/2007 - 12:40am.

Yes, Bendites is fine. Never heard "Bendies" before.

Submitted by SeattleTVGuy on Tue, 10/30/2007 - 12:53pm.

____

Formerly BendTVGuy

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Tue, 10/30/2007 - 1:25pm.

I'd much prefer that to being called a "Bender"!

Submitted by Beckham on Tue, 10/30/2007 - 7:51pm.

Apparently there's nothing to this story besides the misuse of the terminology that describes people who live in Bend. I am in a state of lol.

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Tue, 10/30/2007 - 8:22pm.

How about a comment that relates to the purpose of this post in the first place? Anyone in KTVZ land care to share? I know you're out there...

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Wed, 10/31/2007 - 2:59pm.

apparently it's not that big of a deal ... the guy wasn't even there a year, maybe nobody noticed.

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Thu, 11/01/2007 - 7:54pm.

Is this what happens when you get to sweeps and you have no ND? Curious to know others' opinions on tonight's piece on "Buzzed Drinking": Apparently the the reporter got people drunk and filmed them at his own home to do the story. I realize there is nothing illegal (presumably everyone involved was of legal age and knew the scoop), but does it cross a line? Not showing on KTVZ.com (yet), or I'd attach a link.

Submitted by Tv_Viewer on Sun, 11/04/2007 - 4:19pm.

Anonymous Source wrote:
Is this what happens when you get to sweeps and you have no ND? Curious to know others' opinions on tonight's piece on "Buzzed Drinking": Apparently the the reporter got people drunk and filmed them at his own home to do the story. I realize there is nothing illegal (presumably everyone involved was of legal age and knew the scoop), but does it cross a line? Not showing on KTVZ.com (yet), or I'd attach a link.

Yes. It also smacks of someone creating the news rather than reporting on it. How did the drunk people get home?

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Mon, 11/05/2007 - 9:30am.

The "Buzzed Drinking" seems to be the only November sweeps story they have. You know its winter when you see KTVZ reporters drinking at home on deadline.

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Mon, 11/05/2007 - 3:17pm.

To be fair... they seem to be advertising another sweeps piece for tonight - which is the best beer: dark or light? ... I sense a theme, here... I couldn't make this stuff up.

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Tue, 11/06/2007 - 11:55am.

and what about the beer story. "Central Oregon is known" for it's outstanding craft beer industry and I had the good fortune of... Hey, if it's "known", then it isn't news...and don't you folks have something other to present than alcohol.

Think about it...if you turn the sound down and just see the pix, then the two stories are about drinking beer and booze. Hey, I like my beer just like anyone else, but is this news? Way to go Z.

Submitted by pdxtvwatcher on Tue, 11/06/2007 - 4:47pm.

It sounds like the kids at this station need a lesson from a former News Director of mine when I was first starting in the business. That ND preached over and over (to us kids at the time) that we ALWAYS should remember that we're not broadcasting to our peers; but rather to our parents. The implied meaning there is that young adults in their 20s don't watch the news, so avoid focusing on stories of interest to these young adults. Instead, look for stories of interest to the 40-54 year-old demographic. Those people are far more likely to watch to the news, yet they still fall in the coveted 25-54 demo group.

Stories about beer and buzz-driving, while still adult topics, are aimed too specifically at the 20-something party crowd -- which is exactly the audience NOT watching the local TV newscasts.

Submitted by Anonymous Source (not verified) on Wed, 11/14/2007 - 7:08am.

Sorry, drinking stories isnt all KTVZ has, I almost forgot about the bigfoot series. I guess when the ND quits there isn't any reason to even try to do something different.

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