Questions have come up regarding “AM traffic reporter Kiara from nwnews 1000 formally KOMO” — Actually, Kiera Giordan is not a KOMO or KNWN employee, but works as an iHeart traffic reporter. Many have also wondered about another “missing person”, and that is Frankie Katafias, weather reporter at KIRO, who also does street reporting there.
The answer at this point is in The “X Files”. No one is talking. Could there be a lay-off situation affecting Kiera? What about Frankie, who is still listed as an employee at KIRO 7 and mentioned each time someone steps in to replace her on newscasts. “Stepping in for Frankie Katafias” — Why? Where is she? Has something tragic happened? Another reporter taking a hiatus due to stress?
Nothing on social media and calls to the station go to voicemail. No response from reporters and anchors either.
I’m going to go with the latest social media conspiracy. These are all Subterranean Reptilian Lizard People who have been glitching. When the truth is revealed it will blow your mind!
Former KTVU/San Francisco co-anchor, Dennis Richmond suffered a heart attack and devastating fall last Sunday evening and is now in the hospital fighting to recover. Ex-KTVU/San Francisco anchor, Julie Haener, visited Richmond in the hospital. “Mark, Bill and I were fortunate to be able to spend time with him this week and were all reminded just how precious life really is. Dennis delivered the news to generations of Bay Area viewers during his 40 years at KTVU. We are all sending love, prayers and well wishes to him and his beautiful wife, Deborah who is always at his side.”
Never one to mince words, this is a take from a Rich Lieberman column @ 415Media in 2020: If he didn’t know you he had a habit of looking over your shoulder and pretending that you didn’t exist. That was the best of times. If you were a truly little person, I’m told, he generally treated you like a piece of shit. Again, this is/was common knowledge at KTVU and even in the good old days, pre-FOX ownership, he was a jerk. If you caught him at the right time, he could be respectful but that was rare. What counted the most was Dennis Richmond reading the news and that he did well for over 40 years and that’s the only thing that counts. But don’t tell that to some of the people at Jack London Square who had to experience him and his attitude.
BRUTAL!
Lou Robbins — Admin/Editor | Airchecks
KTOY | KVAC (WA-1974) | KDFL (WA-1975) | KTTX (TX- 1976) | KWHI (TX-1976) | KONP (WA-1977) | KBAM (WA-1978) | KJUN (WA-1983) | KRPM (WA-1984) | KAMT (WA-1986) | KASY (WA-1988) | KBRD (WA-1989) | KTAC (WA-1990) | KMTT (WA-1991) | KOOL (AZ-1994)
Total Traffic, (iHeart) has let go all local traffic reporters. All of the reports are coming out of Los Angeles. One recorded report is produced per market and sent out as a computer file. Some local stations have opted to reduce or drop traffic reports altogether.
Let’s face it, traffic reports are nearly obsolete. Better info is available on your smartphone. Reports aren’t useful if there isn’t a good, alternate route available. Most of the time, all routes are equally bad.
No surprise, as more corporations consolidate responsibilities, hubbing marketing or sales, news departments. Syndicating jocks, which is helping kill local radio.
Google results show layoffs started the first week of November. I like this employee review posted on Glassdoor:
Pros
Great for independent workers. Management trusts team to get work done. Laid back environment. Exciting and fast paced work at times. You don’t take work home with you. It’s a safe job in the broadcasting industry, mass layoffs are few and far in between.
I can assure you that I have met Kiera and your speculation is true. She comes from the planet Malmac, the same planet as Alf.