mikemcguff.com

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Ron Stone's KHOU 11 report on people looking to be buried to break a record

KHOU 11's Ron Stone (yep, before KPRC 2) report on people looking to be buried to break a record. And check out those old Houston accents.

Friday, September 29, 2023

Erica Simon has baby gender reveal

Erica Simon let us know she is pregnant about a month ago and now we know the baby's gender.

Well, it's a boy.

The abc13 Houston KTRK 10pm anchor's firstborn Ella will be a big sister.

Simon announced the baby's gender on her 7th wedding anniversary too.

9.25.16.

7 years down … a lifetime to go! 💍 Amen for God’s grace, the gift of love and new life.

Happy anniversary Mr. Simon! 🥂 I love you. Let’s keep creating memories. pic.twitter.com/G3vNJDCDnK
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) September 26, 2023

Anchor and colleague Mayra Moreno even decorated Simon's desk at channel 13.

Sweet @MayraABC13 decorated my desk. 💙 pic.twitter.com/zF962wreFE
— Erica Simon (@EricaOnABC13) September 26, 2023

(Thanks Shad)

KVUE's Kristie Gonzales leaves for WXIA Atlanta president-GM role

Kristie Gonzales is leaving her role as president and general manager at KVUE Austin to take the same role for TEGNA sister stations 11 Alive WXIA and My ATL TV - WATL Channel 36 Atlanta effective October 23, 2023.

She will continue as vice president, media operations for TEGNA.

Since 2016, Gonzales has been president and general manager at KVUE, TEGNA’s ABC affiliate and one of the top stations in Central Texas.

During her tenure, KVUE launched the innovative series “Boomtown,” which highlights Central Texas’s explosive growth. The station received widespread acclaim for their investigative reporting into the school shooting in Uvalde and on the tragic death of Javier Ambler in the custody of the Williamson County Sheriff Department. During her tenure, Gonzales also grew partnerships with advertisers and helped spearhead community engagement efforts, including “All Together ATX,” which raised nearly $8 million for COVID-19 relief, and “Harvey Can’t Mess with Texas,” a benefit concert developed with Google that helped raise nearly $2 million for Hurricane Harvey relief.

KVUE was recently honored with six wins in the Texas Broadcast News Awards, including for best morning newscast.

Since 2021, Gonzales has also served as vice president, media operations for TEGNA with oversight of the following stations in Texas: KBMT/KJAC in Beaumont; KYTX in Tyler, KCEN/KAGS in Waco and Bryan-College Station; KWES in Midland-Odessa; and KXVA/KIDY in Abilene and San Angelo. Gonzales will continue in this role with new responsibilities.

“Kristie is an innovative thinker with a drive to deliver results, as she’s done in Austin and across the portfolio of stations she’s overseen in Texas,” said Larry Delia, senior vice president, media operations, TEGNA. “She’s an excellent collaborator and community partner with an ability to inspire and motivate those around her. We’re excited to have her join the talented team in Atlanta and continue the stations’ leadership in the market.”

Added Gonzales, “It is a privilege to join and lead the team in Atlanta. My passion is serving our local communities with news and helping clients grow their businesses. I’m excited to get started in Atlanta with a team that’s renowned for their game-changing investigations and award-winning reporting.”

Prior to joining KVUE, Gonzales held various television management roles across the country, specializing in news branding, multicultural marketing and harnessing the power of digital and social media. Before joining KVUE, she was the promotion and digital brand manager at WABC in New York City.

Gonzales graduated summa cum laude with double honors from the University of New Mexico.

She currently serves on the board of directors for the SAFE Alliance, Equidad ATX and United Way for Greater Austin. She previously served on the boards of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce and Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas. She is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and Austin Area Research Organization.

Gonzales spends her free time mentoring women and people of color. She received the 2023 Austin Toastmaster’s Communication Achievement Award and was named a Girl Scouts of Central Texas 2020 Women of Distinction Rising Star.

(Post taken from a release)

One Year After Eyewitness News Creator’s Death, Story of Houston Friendship Surface

Wendy Granato and Michael Quinn

September 29, 2023 marks one year of the passing of Al Primo, the man who created the Eyewitness News concept for the ABC Owned and Operated television stations in the mid to late 1960s.

Former KNWS-TV51 anchor Michael Quinn tells us for the first time about his unique low-key friendship with the ‘Father of Eyewitness News’, Al Primo:

I never met Al Primo, but we talked several times a year. Only a few people knew that I had a connection with Al.
We became friends over the phone – either he would call me…or I would call him. We would talk about Detroit and WXYZ-TV, Channel 7, where that market’s legendary Bill Bonds once worked for several decades…or his time in New York when he ran the news operation for WABC, Channel 7, with anchors Bill Buetel and Roger Grimsby…and, there was stories about Philadelphia and KYW-TV where Mort Crim worked (where Al first implemented the Eyewitness News concept—KYW rose to #1 in the ratings—he would tweak the format when he left for WABC-TV), Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco…and of course we talked about Houston and KTRK-TV, our city’s own Channel 13, where we have our own legendary Dave Ward, now retired. Dave Ward and Mort Crim are the only two original Eyewitness News anchors left for us to honor and pick their brains for advice about television news.
How did our unique friendship begin?
Al Primo and I connected in 2013 on social media – then he called. He enjoyed talking about television. I was very nervous...this was the guy newsrooms around the country need to thank for starting faster-paced newscasts, ‘happy talk’ between anchors, better use of sound bites…the list goes on. When he called the second time, I was at ease. Year after year, we talked about the television news industry.
As many know, one of my long-time friends is former TV51 anchor Wendy Granato…now President and General Manager of KTRK-TV, Channel 13. Every year, I like to do something different for Wendy’s birthday –and for two- years in a row, once while Wendy was still Vice President of News and once as President and General Manager – I still remember where I was, in my SUV, driving up Kirby, I just crossed Richmond Avenue, Al was returning my call, “Al I have a favor to ask”…I had asked Al Primo to call her on her birthday. Al was happy to have been asked to do it. This is the kind of guy he was – I figured he had guided the ABC O&O’s in the late 1960s and into the 1970s – it would just be a nice gesture.
He really was the nicest person in the world—and he would call me back to tell me that he had called Wendy to wish her ‘Happy Birthday’. In August of 2022, I had checked in on him – his daughter had texted me from Al’s cell number that he was sick. Al Primo died on September 29, 2022.
It was really a great experience to know the man who thought up the concept of Eyewitness News. I was the kid who would draw news sets when I was age 4 and 5. There were drawings all over my room. At that age it was all I ever wanted to do. In college, to interned at WXYZ-TV, Channel 7 and to work years later at KTRK-TV, Channel 13 – and for a ten-year span to know the man who helped create what we see as modern-day television news, Eyewitness News. Al, thank you for your friendship and I know Wendy appreciated those kind birthday calls, too.
As the kid who drew hundreds of news sets, and dreams of being a television news anchorman…and made it...from me to you – may you rest in peace, my friend. I miss our conversations.

Texas TV meteorologist goes freelance...from home

Katie Frazier left her ABC-7 KVIA El Paso weekend meteorologist/reporter position in early September 2023 to strike out on her own.

"I'm becoming a Freelance Broadcast Meteorologist," Frazier said on X. "The news industry as a whole is struggling to find new meteorologists. I am hoping to fill, and/or bridge the gap for TV stations who are dealing with hiring difficulties."

And she is doing all of this from home. The embedded videos show Frazier setting up and testing her green screen chroma key wall. That green wall can be an actual wall or fabric backdrop. It's how the weather graphics show up behind the meteorologist.

After many news staffers worked from home over the last few years, I wondered if this freelance opportunity would take off.

Frazier joined KVIA in June 2021 after graduating cum laude with a major in meteorology and a minor in communications from the University of South Alabama.

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Michelle Choi moves to KHOU 11 days

KHOU 11 Houston reporter Michelle Choi tells us that she has moved away from her longtime morning schedule.

Hey #Houston! 🤗

If you’ve been wondering why your girl hasn’t been popping up on the morning show… I’m working a new shift y’all!

For the first time in 6yrs I get to sleep 7hrs straight 🙌… watch me on @KHOU Mon-Fri 12 & 4pm!

Also, meet my awesome new photog — John King! pic.twitter.com/YMaM4vchCC
— Michelle Choi (@MichelleKHOU) August 23, 2023

(Thanks Shad!)

Big Houston TV anniversaries in September!

Congrats to KHOU 11 Houston weekend sports anchor/sports reporter Matt Musil who arrived with the station in 1980 and is celebrating 43 years this September!

The semi-pro baseball player and college athlete graduated from Kansas State University and began his career with KNDY 1570 AM/94.1 FM Marysville, Kansas.

He later moved to KWNS AM-FM Pratt, Kansas (now KWLS).

Television came calling at KTVH 12 Wichita, Kansas (now KWCH). Before Houston, Musil worked as sports director for WTVM 9 Columbus, Georgia.

Another big anniversary coming up for the sports journalist will be multi-decade fund-raising through the Matt Musil All-Star Charities.

And while she did not apparently post anything about it, Live at Five anchor Melanie Lawson is celebrating 41 years at abc13 KTRK!

Next, it's off to FOX 26 Houston KRIV where weekend anchor Tom Zizka is celebrating 25 years, and morning anchor Melissa Wilson is celebrating 23 years with chief meteorologist Mike Iscovitz!

William Joy leaves WFAA DFW

William Joy left WFAA 8 Dallas- Fort Worth in September 2023 where he was a reporter.

Here is a portion of what Joy posted Instagram about his television departure:

"That end comes with an exciting beginning. I’m thrilled to be joining Haynes and Boone, an international corporate law firm headquartered here in Dallas, as a Communications Manager.
I’ve had a love for journalism since I was a kid. My parents taught me to read with The Tennessean’s sports section.
I’m filled with overwhelming gratitude and pride when I think of the talented journalists I’ve worked with and learned from.
Journalism has taken me from Columbia to Charleston, Louisville, Kansas City and Dallas. I’ve talked to governors and presidents, covered the Masters and Kentucky Derby, hurricanes and tornadoes, and witnessed world-shaping events."

Joy joined WFAA in January 2020 from KMBC 9 News Kansas City, Missouri where he was a reporter.

He previously worked as a:

- Reporter/MMJReporter/MMJ for WAVE 3 News Louisville, Kentucky

- Reporter/MMJ for WCSC Live 5 News Charleston, South Carolina

- Reporter/Anchor KOMU 8 Columbia, Missouri

The Missouri School of Journalism grad at the Fox News London Bureau and NewsChannel 5 Network WTVF Nashville, Tennessee.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by William Joy (@williamjoy3)

WOAI News 4 San Antonio to Host “Crisis in the Classroom: Texas School Choice”

SAN ANTONIO – “Crisis in the Classroom,” Sinclair Broadcast Group’s national education franchise, today announced it will host a panel discussion, “Crisis in the Classroom: Texas School Choice,” ahead of the upcoming Texas special legislative session.

The discussion will focus on families’ K-12 education options through school choice policies in Texas, and a proposed voucher system that would allow parents to use public school funds to send their children to private schools.

The 60-minute panel, hosted by Armstrong Williams at WOAI/KABB in San Antonio, will stream on YouTube and across Sinclair’s Texas stations on Thursday, September 28 at 8pm CT. In addition to WOAI and KABB, Sinclair’s footprint in Texas includes KVII in Amarillo, KTXS in Abilene, KEYE in Austin, KFOX/KDBC in El Paso, and KFDM/KBTV in Beaumont.

The panel discussion is the latest installment in Sinclair’s “Crisis in the Classroom” franchise, part of Sinclair’s ongoing commitment to addressing the vital issues in education that resonate with families. You can follow “Crisis in the Classroom” on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and CrisisInTheClassroom.org.

“Crisis in the Classroom: Texas School Choice” panelists, renowned experts in the field of education policy and advocacy, will include Staci Childs, attorney and member of the Texas State Board of Education; Corey DeAngelis, senior fellow at the American Federation for Children and a visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution; Mandy Drogin, Campaign Director for Next Generation Texas and Jaime Puente, Director of Economic Opportunity for Every Texan.

(This post was taken from a release)