Oregon Media Insiders

Thanks! I agree with everything you mentioned. I will report back to you. If I recall, I remember hearing KGW once had a tour guide and gave tours frequently. They need to get back to this. All the stations need to open up to their viewers and show us what they're really about.

I have tours but only because I have connections. I think that is the only way unless they freely offer it.

tours pretty much went bye bye after 9/11.

after the bullet-proof glass and the the lay-off's. Sometimes there's no one left at the end of the day to turn off the lights, much less give tours. If you want a tour these days you had better know someone or win a tour at a school auction.

I have connections with and have toured other stations in the USA. But, I live in Portland now and would like to (friend's of mine would like to as well), tour one of our station's. I am told KING 5 in Seattle gives tours. Why can't it's sister affiliate here in Portland (KGW) do the same?

Who knows....it's also too bad that they are going to get rid of (or already got rid of) the AM Northwest audience.

The highlight at KGW for me was the studio. A lot bigger and different than what you see on TV....

The highlight for me at KATU was almost everything!

I can only imagine what KOIN must be like.....

I remember hearing back in the 80s that Kathy Smith was originally a receptionist and that she conducted tours of the station?

Just a reminiscence... :-)

Viewer Rick

If she was a receptionist it was long before than.

Kathy Smith was never a receptionist at KGW in the 80's or any other time. There was a receptionist in the late 60's/early 70's, Beverly Williams, who became an anchor at KGW and then went on to anchor at KYW in Pilly. From receptionist to anchor..a story that would never happen today in a major market.

I believe Rhonda Shelby was in some sort of administrative role (not necessarily a receptionist) at KATU before she tried out on camera and got the job.

Yep, something to do with HR

...had been a newscast producer in Seattle before that

I believe this will be the trend for more and more locals in the next decade. Chicago will have all of the big 3 affiliates streetside by next year. (WLS, and WMAQ already are there, WBBM is coming).

The national parks and the bus lines are run as non-profits. When broadcast stations are run as non-profits, maybe that line of reasoning will hold up.

-----
Lynn Siprelle * Fairy Blogmother

Just because the private sector is wiser in how they spend money... so profits can go back to shareholders? I wish the public would operate that way. But if you think tours should be part of station agreements, call you Congressman and get them to change the FCC licensing agreements. And good luck to you on that.

Boy that's a blanket statement if I ever heard one...plus having worked in both public and private sectors, I can say anytime you have HUMANS involved in spending decisions, you have all sorts of opportunities for self-interest.
Plus, do the profits really go back to shareholders? Or just right in the top dogs pockets.

That's just factually incorrect. The agreement between the public and the stations is not "watch if you like the show, if you don't, don't watch it." In order for stations to receive and hold licenses, they must agree to provide programming that meets "public interest, convenience, or necessity."

If that were not true, we would not have seen a huge fine levied for the Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake Superbowl boob-gate, or the recent calls for local TV stations to have their licenses revoked.

Does that mean they need to provide tours? No.