Media Buzz: More Bra News, Reporter beats Slap Flap, Bragging Awards out

Friday, March 25, 2011

Jeff Derderian, GoLocalProv Media Critic

New Channel 6 Owner Calls Bra Info-mercial "Unfortunate"

Phil Lombardo, who just took over as the new owner of Channel 6 tells Broadcasting & Cable that next week his team will go into the station and "crawl all over the place" and "get a game plan together". Recently, GoLocal told you the station aired an info-mercial about a Bra in its 7pm news slot as a way to generate revenue. In fairness, all the stations here and across the USA run infor-mercials all the time on all kinds of products. This one obviously got attention because of the subject matter. Lombardo said the attention the station received because of it was "unfortunate" but gets why the station did it to raise cash. He added "we would never do that".

Former Channel 12 Anchor Beats Court Case:

Vince DeMentri who used to anchor mornings at Channel 12 was cleared in the Big Apple related to charges he slapped a chauffeur. DeMentri says no one believed that he was innocent and now that it is over he says he wants his old job back at WPIX in New York City.

Channel 12 Demos #1

Some high-fives happening at Channel 12 now that the February ratings connected to demographics are out. 12 says Eyewitness News at 11 was #1 in key demographics (ages 18-49 and 25-54). Advertisers use demographic numbers to help decide where they spend money so the numbers are real important to a TV station. For the record, Channel 10 edge 12 out in actual ratings at 11pm.

Associated Press Awards Handed Out

Nearly all the stations here, TV and Radio, scored an Associated Press Award. This is how the industry recognizes and separates good work by journalists. It is definitely a bragging right among all the stations who obviously compete for ratings but also for who has the best content. Congrats to the winners. Here is a rundown of the highlights:

TV:
Channel 12: 5-awards total. Breaking News, Continuing Coverage, Election Coverage, Feature Videography, Web Site category
Channel 10: Feature Reporting
Channel 6: Documentary

Radio:
WPRO-AM: 5-awards total. Best Radio Newscast, Best Documentary, Investigative Reporting/Hummel Report
WRNI: Sports Feature, Use of Sound

College Radio:
WBRU: Breaking News, Investigative Reporting, Sports Feature

Hall Of Fame Names Coming

The RI Radio Hall of Fame is set to announce its newest name of honorees coming up on March 30th. The Hall of Fame has a mission of recognizing Rhode Island radio talent including people on-air, off-air, management, technical folks etc. An awards dinner will be held with proceeds going to Special Olympics of Rhode Island. John Rooke and John Colletto have done a great job getting the Hall of Fame off the ground to help bring to life the state’s 89-year history of radio broadcasting.

Jeff Derderian is a former television news reporter and anchor both in Providence and Boston. He is one of the founders of the Station Education Fund. He can be reached at [email protected]