Why Not Just Fix The Mess?

The Maven has become aware that management at WPTA has become aware of criticism of their error-filled newscasts by at least one former employee, and countless others. Another source indicates that an un-named media blogger has also caught the attention of the folks from Quincy.

The Maven understands that with anything new, there will be hiccups. But the hiring of an inept and domineering Chief Meteorologist and monotone anchor can't be chalked up to technical issues. Plus the abandoning of a 38 year-old logo, 21Alive has been considered foolish by many in the advertising and marketing community. The 21Alive moniker is the second most recalled brand in Fort Wayne, second only to the Fort Wayne Komets.

Now that WPTA management, and one would assume the suits in Quincy are aware that their product is being criticized publicly by persons considered to be experts on local media.....the Maven has a question: Will Quincy take these criticisms seriously and return their "product" to a state of acceptability, or will Quincy move to quash and quiet their critics in one manner or another? Would they do that? History provides us a few examples, read on.

A few years ago, a local anchor spent thousands of his own dollars to hire a private detective to find dirt on someone associated with an outfit called Fort Wayne Media Watch. No one knows if Mr. Edwards was successful in his efforts to identify Mr. Reynolds, but it is not beneath Fort Wayne media outlets to locate and harass their critics. The Maven recalls a WANE TV GM, many years ago, who lost his job, in part, because he attempted to intimidate a man who took the station to task, publicly for not taking a Bears game from CBS one weekend and substituting another game. The GM's attempt to get the man fired from his job did not sit well with those at WANE TV's corporate HQ, so the story goes that the GM left town and corporate had to write a 6-figure check.

So, how does Quincy react? Will they attempt to intimidate and silence their critics? The Maven thinks they would be smart to turn their efforts into improving their product, and leave those throwing stones alone.

And, by the way, Quincy, your NBC Fort Wayne news cast still hasn't premiered yet...it's two weeks late, and the Maven hears things are being pushed back further......New Years maybe?

A Point of Clarification:

With the exception of hiring that Clown Carlo, now famous for nearly pissing himself during a tornado outbreak.....most of the Maven's criticisms do not pertain to on-air personnel. Funny, cartoon-character names and bad hairstyles aside, the Maven has genuine empathy for those in front of the cameras who must endure technical and home-office, top-down mistakes and blunders. Clearly, the issues are caused by empty suits, sitting behind $4,000 oak desks in Quincy IL making decisions that affect the lives of their staff (many now former staff) their audience and those who feel compelled to advertise on the station.

One more thing: Has anyone seen Linda Jackson? How long will Quincy's blunders keep the NBC Fort Wayne newscasts on ice?