I've just watched some KATU News and think Steve Dunn is one of the most annoying anchors in the market. What's with the constant tilting, shifting and head bobbing/turning when he's on camera? I find his anchoring to be uncomfortable to watch and his bobble-head delivery distracting. Anyone share the same sentiments?
Steve Dunn's Anchoring is Annoying
I've just watched some KATU News and think Steve Dunn is one of the most annoying anchors in the market. What's with the constant tilting, shifting and head bobbing/turning when he's on camera? I find his anchoring to be uncomfortable to watch and his bobble-head delivery distracting. Anyone share the same sentiments?
Rush feels the same way about M.Fox
You're in good company?
As a Portland area native, Steve Dunn is a great anchor and a good person. I know that KATU is still in 3rd or 4th place in the news ratings, but Dunn has worked in Portland for over 20 years. Also, he won an Emmy for best anchor at the Northwest News Emmy Awards in 2004 or 2005. How can an annoying or irritating reporter win an Emmy?
The last sentence of this could be the funniest thing ever posted on this blog. No, wait: Some of the posts about Tracy Barry being a great anchor are more funny.
Special Edition newscasts featuring nothing but marionettes.
I think this post is silly. Let's focus on what's important in someone leading a daily large market newscast. He has a good head of hair, always neatly combed, and his ties look good. His smile is pleasant.
Have you ever watched popcorn? While it gets super heated, it changes from a docile kernel... to a wildly bouncing piece of popcorn! Over and over, you never know where it will go! Left, right, up, down! For that reason I can't watch it. Thankfully they make these cool little bags that go in a box. Press a button, wait, and a bell goes off. I like it a lot.
He is by far one of the best anchors around. Hands down - in any market. He's smooth, real, and engaging. You news types focus on stupid stuff the average viewer could care less about. I'd rather watch Steve than any other male anchor in this market, especially Jeff Gionola. Not to mention - I think a post like this is just downright rude. It's pretty cruel to pick out one person. We all have insecurities as it is. AND - if he was that bad, he would not have been sitting on that desk for 20 years.
Steve is one of the best the market has to offer and I find nothing distracting about those so-called "movements" you described. He is an excellent newsman.
I'm curious what just makes him an 'excellent newsman?' If you're so convinced he's an exceptional journalist - than feel free to make your case? All I know is he delivers the news from the set? Is there something else going on in the KATU newsroom to suggest he's leading the charge for editorial excellence? All I get is the bobble-head delivery.
Are you so cranky you feel the need to lash out at another human being you don't even know in the faint hope it'll make you feel better about your own miserable existence, cousin?
Low because your wife left you for the intern from Boise, scout?
Rain gotcha down, bunky?
Is that what's troubling you, friend?
WELL!
Lift your head up high and take a walk in the sun with that dignity and stick-to-it-iveness that you'll show the world, you'll show them where to get off, you'll never give up, never give up, never give up THAT SHIP!
Seriously, you guys, tone it down.
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Lynn Siprelle * Fairy Blogmother
...personal knowledge/friendship of someone is a required to have a discussion over their ability to do their job - in this case, communicate effectively.
not that personal knowledge is required but that this is turning into a bashing-for-fun thread.
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Lynn Siprelle * Fairy Blogmother
...this is more along the lines of creating some spirited debate about the current face of Portland's television news scene and some of the shortcomings. Is Steve Dunn a horrible anchor? No. Are his affected mannerisms small-marketish and silly? I think so. I'm sure he's a fine fellow and a 'voice of reason' on Sandy; yet he's the public face of the station's news department and subject to criticism and critique.
is that there's nothing wrong with spirited debate. Look at some of the posts in this thread. I wouldn't call them so much spirited debate as potshots.
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Lynn Siprelle * Fairy Blogmother
i don't know about that, lynn. i'd say the criticism is legit. everyone piles on about all sorts of external stuff here - what people wear, hair style/cut, etc. if one anchor is doing things that are distracting to the delivery and presentation of the product - a job he's paid very well to do - isn't that as legitimate an issue as editorial content? if it sends viewers packing - i think it is. of course, 2's newer more sensational production and stories are also spewing viewers away.
Everybody's throwing in shots at everyone now, was more my point, for the third time. ;)
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Lynn Siprelle * Fairy Blogmother
I find pdxtvinsider's blog post annoying.
just saying...
Are you kidding me..."annoying"? Steve Dunn is the best anchor in town and out of town!!!
this blog entry is crap! pdxtvinsider-- you're the one thats annoying creating this blog! I've been watching KATU news for about five years, no one in town even compares to steve.
What are you talking about pdxtvinsider? Maybe you should watch Kptv's 10 pm show? That's what i call annoying!
I'll take Steve over KOIN's Kelley "Barbie Is More Human Than Me" Day anytime.
...but you have to admit, Kelley Day is very attractive and fascinating to watch. I definitely think there are some control issues in her life and she's the one in control.
What makes Steve Dunn a good anchor is the fact that he's real! I don't know the guy personally, however he seems to really care about what he does. He's not playing a role, he is what he is and he's good at it! simple as that.
It is television news, not heart transplants. Steve does a good job.
It is TV NEWS.. that is all. dont take your self so seriously. If there was no TV news the world would survive just fine.
dont think that is true if all the doctors dropped off the planet.
You spent a lot of bread on your degree. Sorry your loans are more than your yearly income. but dont bitch that Dunn makes good cash and has the desk.
I have known Steve for over 5 years and agree that, yes, while he could improve some more with the looking down, he is a sensitive man who cares about his job and those he works with and takes pride in the job he does. He lookes for ways to improve himself and his coworkers.
I give Mike Donahue the #1 spot for the trust the viewers give him in his reporting but Steve is right up there.
you have no life!
steve dunn is an excellent anchor.
this blog simply a waste of space.
Some of you like Steve on-air. some don't. That's what makes a horse race.
But people in the building will tell you he is one of the BEST humans to work with in the industry.
I'd take that over ratings any day.
Obviously, you don't work in the industry. If you did, you would know that all announcers with anything above a liner card reader are animated when they talk. Those on TV all move to some degree. Those on the radio move their hands, their head, everything when they talk. It adds dynamism to their voice and makes them sound better. Except Imus. He is asleep when he is awake.
Some of the movements you see on tv news are not necessarily the anchor acting naturally. Shots and angles are set by the producer and some transitions are needed for those changes from camera to camera.
You may not like some of the movements you see but I am more offended by all the "clutter" on the screen. In addition to the anchor/reader, you have scrolls across the bottom, boxes with other stuff scattered across the screen, etc. Those are distracting. Some producers will tell you they are giving you information they would not be able to otherwise. Fox News Channel is one of the bad ones for clutter. I was watching the Fox Sports Channel earlier and it was far worse. The actual video was only half the screen with no less than about 7-8 boxes around it with stuff in them. How can you concentrate on the main source when you are busy looking/reading all the other stuff.
All that "clutter" is more annoying to me than a few head bobbles by an anchor.
Intersting that this string has been 'sidelined' off the main page. It's still available for people to read; it's just not as visible on OMI. I'm curious if a certain whiny GM e-mailed to complain?
Simple truth is that while we respect the idea behind the thread, it devolved pretty quickly, so we moved it off the main page a bit early to discourage further devolution.
Feel free to continue commenting, but try to keep it nice :-)
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DISCLAIMER: my opinions are my own, not those of OMI or any employer.
"Steve is one of the most annoying anchors in the market."
What a joke! Seriously, it actually makes me laugh! You have a lot of time on your hands boy. Since you decided to criticize Steve, why not continue wasting your time and create a blog about every anchors style!
He is a good anchor and good person! I'm a long time viewer of ch.2 and that wont change. Let it go!
Criticizing someone's anchoring style is a waste of your time. Portland has 4 TV stations that offer news. There are countless anchors on those stations.. If you don't like Steve then watch another station.. or watch a KATU newscast he doesn't anchor. Seriously, there are far more interesting and worthwhile debates we can have here.
What is I prefer the tone and coverage on KATU - but think the man leading the station's coverage is weak? I also liked the production and packaging on the CBS Evening News - but couldn't stand Dan Rather. I'll also say the animated gestures are purely affected. No other anchor in the market - in any market, twitches and looks and up and down as much or as obviously as Dunn does. If he were national [which will never happen] he would be ridiculed and mocked by everyone from SNL to Comedy Central. If he just anchored and delivered, he'd be terrific but his 'trademark' glances and gesturing is just....annoying.
go pick on someone your own size, that's all i've got to say.
his 'trademark glances' make him good! if you don't like it tune in at a different time. is that really too hard to do?
And so, closing the thread. "Is not," "is too" is not my idea of a conversation.
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Lynn Siprelle * Fairy Blogmother
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This blog entry is not needed. Post in the open thread.
Sometimes it is a bit much but it is not enough to turn me off of watching KATU news.
Steve is a great anchor. Anyone and everyone can always improve. Maybe this is an area he needs to work at. It is always possible that he is unaware that he does it, but don't be rude about it.
Michael
EDIT: How can you have "just watched" KATU news if you posted this at 10:15? (The time on the blog entry is wrong) Did they have some special newscast? I though 20/20 was on.