General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBay Area anchor Frank Somerville reportedly 'suspended indefinitely' by KTVU
Bay Area anchor Frank Somerville reportedly 'suspended indefinitely' by KTVU
Brian Boyle
Sep. 25, 2021
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/KTVU-Frank-Somerville-suspended-16487202.php
Updated: Sep. 26, 2021 5:19 a.m.
-snip-
The search for Petito has sparked a nationwide media frenzy, though some in the journalism industry, most prominently MSNBCs Joy Reid, have argued the attention it has received as undue. Reid is among those who believe coverage of Petitos disappearance is an example of the media phenomenon late journalist and broadcaster Gwen Ifill described as missing White woman syndrome, during which the media provides a lopsided focus on missing white women and girls without providing equal coverage for similar cases of missing women of color.
Somerville, who is the father of a Black adopted daughter, shared these beliefs, desiring to add a brief tagline critiquing the extraordinary media coverage Petitos story had garnered at the end of a planned straight news report updating the details of the case, according to the source.
-snip-
His request was denied by KTVU news director Amber Eikel, who said the tagline was inappropriate and questioned Somervilles news judgement to link the story to domestic violence before any suspects were convicted. Somerville allegedly was informed by station management of his indefinite suspension the next day.
Somerville had been attempting to raise the issue of providing additional context and statistics to the story since Petitos disappearance first breached public consciousness roughly one month ago but was continually rebuffed by others in the newsroom, according to the source.
-snip-
JohnSJ
(91,968 posts)Last edited Mon Sep 27, 2021, 01:33 PM - Edit history (1)
bias differs because of race in the media is quite correct, and it is quite sad that he was not allowed to point out the reality of that.
While the national fox enterprise usually does not exert their dogma on their local affiliates, with the overt racism expressed on their national platform, one has to wonder if this was influenced from the corporate level to censor and suspend Summerville
cojoel
(952 posts)It is not an independently owned affiliate. Presumably that creates a path for more direct corporate influence.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Sympthsical
(8,937 posts)Something has been going on with this guy. He's quite beloved in the Bay Area, but there was a lot swirling around when he disappeared for over two months. My first thought was neurological event at the time, but a lot of whispers about substance abuse/alcoholism have percolated since.
He just came back somewhat recently, and now he's clashing with people.
The article keeps referring to "the source." As in, one person. It feels like we're getting one side here.
The tagline wouldn't have bothered me. I don't watch a lot of TV news (or broadcast in general), but I've seen him give his thoughts in taglines before. So it has been a thing he's done in the past. And he has addressed racial issues in those, so it's not as if the newsroom reflexively has a problem with that subject in general.
So, I'm just kind of wondering a bit if there's background here we're not getting from the article and/or apparently the one source for it.
Edit: The Chronicle has two sources that I'm seeing. Still going to wait and see. Looked around at the Bay Area places I read sometimes, and the same thoughts are out there. Genuine problem with the content, or is something going on with the guy?
Now that it's a top story, I bet we'll find out more.
Second edit, because this article has a lot more:
His suspension marks the second time he has left the air this year. In June, a spokesperson for Fox Television Stations, the Fox Corp. subsidiary that owns KTVU, said the anchor was going out on medical leave for two months after he appeared to slur his words during a broadcast. Somerville has not commented on the incident.
He had already been disciplined this month for voicing what were deemed by the station to be inappropriate political opinions on Facebook, about the new Texas law that bans almost all abortions and about the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The station barred him from posting on Facebook, the two KTVU sources said.
On Sept. 3, Somervilles Facebook post about his perspective on abortion cited his own life and his two daughters. This Texas abortion law scares me, he wrote. It makes abortion illegal in almost all cases. And I think thats wrong. Then again I have the rare experience of having dealt with this issue personally from both sides.
On Sept. 13, Somerville told his followers on Facebook that he had deleted a portion of a post about 9/11, writing, It just didnt feel right. It was the part about how I lost all respect for bush Cheney Powell and rice because they never publically said they were sorry for the deaths of thousands of Americans and Iraqis based on false information that Iraq had wmd. I dont know how they live with themselves. But thats a seperate post for another day.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Frank-Somerville-suspension-How-the-dispute-over-16489078.php
So, this sounds like he wanted to inject his personal politics into things, and they didn't like it.
There's a lot more at that link, but it sounds like he's been getting into it with the directors since he came back. Interesting mess.
Treefrog
(4,170 posts)He did look and sound drunk. Hope hes getting help.
DanieRains
(4,619 posts)Adding context is not allowed. Unless of course Jesus. And war. And hitjobs. Squirrel!
Jilly_in_VA
(9,854 posts)I don't think he realizes that 98% of white women who go missing don't get any coverage either. Gabby Petito got coverage because she was a modestly famous person, being an Instagram blogger. The fact that she was young and blonde played into it, of course, but notoriety in general is what does it.
ffr
(22,649 posts)Auggie
(31,070 posts)Extensive, balanced, professional (IMHO).
wryter2000
(46,016 posts)I dont watch local news any longer (largely because of things like missing white woman syndrome), but I hadnt heard KTVU had declined in quality. It sounds as if a lot of issues are involved in this.
But good on him for his statement here.
Evolve Dammit
(16,632 posts)don't command high ratings from the media frenzy. It really is gross.
PS Fuck Faux News. They should be banned like in Britain. RWNJ Propoganda arm and it has hurt this country.
Oneironaut
(5,463 posts)Dirtdude
(47 posts)Its missing cute white suburban young woman syndrome. Lots of prostitutes and homeless white women go missing with nary a peep.
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Missing cute Black and brown suburban young women don't get covered.