Oregon Media Insiders

I remember watching his youth reports on public access TV. Really has grown up and does a great job. He'll be missed. But hopefully will return one day to this market!

-Trevor
TV News Viwer

I know Wood will anchor the 4PM.. but with a new main anchor-type in the newsroom, will KATU be tempted to start shuffling anchors again? Or does this guy come in just to anchor the 4PM and report?

I had no idea he did radio. Was it his own show? I hear that station is flipping formats soon as well. The old Jammin will take it's place!

Here's the official NOTE:

I am sad to report that Austin Reed will be leaving Fox 12 for the bright lights and big apple of New York City.

Austin has been contributing to the station for nearly three years. His unique perspective and fresh approach helped us launch and grow the “Real Teen” segment. Austin’s “Friday Night Lights” live shots and high school spotlight breathed some energy and personality into the show. Austin’s media career has barely begun, so I am sure we will see many exciting things from him.

Austin’s last day at the station will be Friday 4/18. Please wish him the best of luck on his new media ventures in New York.

Patrick McCreery

News Director

KPTV Fox 12

This is going to sound harsh but it is from the heart and it is the real deal, something someone should have told this lad awhile ago. That said.... Maybe KPTV doesn't use him much anymore because the novelty has worn off. New York City is not Portland and freelance generally means you have nothing solid escept a few maybes. He may have been lucky here in Portland but in the big city he will be another teenager without a degree looking for a job. I wish him the best of luck but his confidence far exceeds reality. Maybe college would be a better choice. I have worked in both markets and New York City is a tough place espcially if you don't have a solid job. I know people with far more talent and experience than him who had a tough time because there are tons of so called freelancers roaming the streets. Not like Portland where a weekly cable show makes you qualified to be hired. Maybe there is a reason people call him a little teen reporter... because he is. I really hope he knows what he is in for. Maybe a big dose of reality will put that ego in check. Then you'll be alright. See you back in Portland in about six months.

showed up here in the KPTV newsroom, we've had to fight off the throngs of teenage girls trying to get in the door.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Reed lack a college degree? Even a (broadcast) journalism one?

They should of used him more. I thought his Friday Night Football coverage was great. He'll do good in New York and I could see him on a network one day, the kid has the drive and talent. I'm surprised another station in town never grabbed him up. Well good luck!

Working with Reed, he is far more talented and experienced with people who 1) have a degree and 2) have say three years experience in news. College is not for everybody. People learn different. Many succesful reporters and anchors are in the biz without a degree. As for the move, it will be tough and maybe he will realize how hard market number 1 is. But who knows, you never want to underestimate anyone.

Austin:

Good luck when you come here to NYC. I enjoyed working with you when I was working for PPS. Drop me a line when you arrive.
John Ray
City University of New York

Great place for young people. Back in six months though, I agree.

The kid wants to give NY a go, why not? Whoever said that his confidence exceeds his talent misses the point that in this industry, the former is much more important than the latter. Look at Ryan Secrest, who's making 19 million dollars a year, and with what talent? None at all, except for a radio jock's ability to smile it up and hit a post. The people I know in NY and LA are human manifestations of the law of attraction--even more than the law of attractiveness--and my own experience in "major" markets is that it's all about an ability to look past an even greater degree of dog crap than one puts up with here at Triple-A, where life is better and you can live abundantly by just finding the right spot and staying. Which is something you don't know when you're 18, or whatever you Austin is. Get a one-way ticket and go with God, there's always Greyhound coming back this way, but maybe you won't need it.

Let's face it, a college degree can be helpful but should never be a prerequisite in this business; there are too many success stories of people doing well and going far without a formal education. Then there are all of the memorable actions and decisions and 'qualifications' of college grads in newsrooms who adequately comprehend the directions to the best shopping malls but fail to know squat about American and world history and other things that make up a person's knowledge data base. In the end, real life experience is the basis of a person's true reporting qualifications. The motivation to undermine Austin's success is sad and unnecessary in my opinion. This motivated guy has paid dues and carried responsibility for years and years, prior to ever becoming a broadcast reporter at the age of 18 for KPTV. He has big hopes and big dreams and big victories under his belt and I am proud to have been here to watch much of it. I think Austin Reed will find success in New York City and I think he'll have a good time in the process, let's be supportive and not strike out against someone so bright and energetic and willing to step forward. So maybe New York didn't work out for you Simon, and you returned to Portland, but that does not mean the same will happen to everyone. Go enjoy the Big Apple Austin, you are ahead of your time, nothing ventured nothing gained!

Tim King

The barriers to entry were just as high as they are now for people without degrees, and when I left school to work in public radio I heard a chorus of "YOU'RE DOOMED." I would never have been hired at KINK--in fact, a couple of people strenuously objected to me being hired, and my interview with the GM was surreal--except that I came in as a disposable stringer and proved my worth before anyone knew about my lack of degree. Even then, I got crap about not having a degree, and I know it was used to keep my salary low. But my experience in the industry is that they would have found another reason to underpay me even if I had a masters degree.

I'm used to it, it doesn't bug me, but then, to quote Twain, I never let schooling get in the way of my education. I know I'm ahead of most degreed people in terms of knowledge, and my own satisfaction with what I'm learning is more important to me than someone else's reading of my resume. We all learn differently, and I am very much an autodidact; I couldn't spend those four years prostrate to the higher mind, I had things to do and learn.

I don't recommend it for everyone, but you can live well, even spectacularly well, without a college degree. I'm telling my kids that it depends on what they want to do with their lives. If they want to go the usual route, they'll need a degree. If they want to make their own ways, like their father and I both have, they can have one or not. I'm raising my kids to depend on themselves for their livelihood. If they decide that livelihood is teacher or doctor or lawyer, obviously college will figure in there. But it's up to them.

The guy upthread who says talent will out in the majors is absolutely right. I have a not-entirely-baseless hunch that Austin has some things on the burner in NYC already or he wouldn't be making the jump, and I fully expect great things from him. You can always go to school. Some things, you just have to make that leap of faith. That's what I did in 1981, and that's what he's doing now.

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Lynn Siprelle * Fairy Blogmother

NEVER went to college. END of story.

True about Jennings, in fact he never got a high school diploma.

People need to realize that Austin isn't ordinary. I know the kid and he'd be fitting in the college scene quite well. You see, his story is rare and not ordinary. He discovered his talent early, got lucky, and is already an accomplished journalist at a young age. I'm sure he'll do fine without a B of A degree when they see his background.

Good luck to you sir.

pretty well. I have watched him do his news thing since he was about five years old. In the five+ years I spent working with over 70 youngsters at MetroEast (formerly MCTV) public access and over a year on Comcast channel 14, son or no son, I have seen few people of any age as motivated as he is (and some of those kids are among them in their own right).

That said, I will miss him and hope he is successful in New York. But I also know if he is not successful there, he will move on until he reaches his goals. I doubt he will return to Portland and not because Portland has not been good to him. Look at all the comments here as an example. Even those of you who are not totally convinced he'll make it, or is good enough, are still civil in your comments. This is a truly wonderful city and I am glad we moved here 11 years ago. Portland has been great for him but he has reached the point where he is ready to move on. Somewhere. He chooses New York.

He knows this is not going to be an easy move. I will say only that he has spent a lot of time investigating options and planning for this move and he is, by no means, going there on a blind.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank so many of you good people here in Portland for helping him make this dream come true, among those the staff and many volunteers at MetroEast, and especially Patrick McCreery, KPTV's news director, who believed in Austin and as a teenager, and gave him a great start in the business. Austin is doing what he truly loves and how many of us could say that when we were his age?

Finally, I have to say college has its pluses. I don't see it as necessary for everyone. Time will tell in his case. However, if he does find the lack of a degree is holding him back, I think I know what he will choose to do.

Again, many thanks to all of you for your kindness and encouragement to him, which extends to me and his mom, Monica. We are both appreciative of all your comments.

Chris Reed
(Proud Dad - can't help it!)

Come August, who will replace Reed for the football coverage? By far the best part of the show. Totally reminded me of Drew Carney. Maybe he'll be back by then by the response of most people. In the meantime: Have fun in the big city!

that he wanted to be in the broadcast news field. From the age of four he was setting up cereal boxes and other products at a small desk and asking me to film him discussing his products. Then he would watch his performance over and over and do it again and again until he was satisfied. He's had a PASSION for this and the drive and discipline to MAKE things happen. During his middle and high school years he watched many news channels, developed his own technique and involved many other teens in his shows. He spent more than five years of doing this after school and on weekends. We all learned a lot about television production. This was and is his PASSION!

Not everyone is cut out to go to college. Having been in the teaching field (yes, I have a four year college degree) for over twenty-five years, I know that I learned the most from actually working in the classroom. Austin has been working, volunteering and practicing in his field for many years. He will have his ups and down as everyone does in this competitive field but in my opinion he has what it takes to succeed! It's time for Austin to spread his wings and see where he lands. We will miss him.
Thanks to all of you for all your support over the years.

Monica Levin
(Austin's mom)

Seriously. Whatever you were at his age, he is not that guy. I've said this since this site was founded. Watch for him. He's not just a nice kid (which he is), he's a natural talent who's spent years already honing his craft. He's a real gone cat, as in, he won't be back with his tail between his legs.

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Lynn Siprelle * Fairy Blogmother

How about another great reason for a young man to go to college...tons of young women!

I will miss the positive stories he would air. Any bets they won't be replacing him? It seems to me they were the only station that had a "nighttime special features" reporter. He will be missed.