Another Personality Leaves KCRA

Catalina Martinez last day at KCRA is Friday Dec. 28th, 2007 the same as Sarah Gardner.
Unfortunately they were not able to come to an agreement on some sort (which isn't a surprise because we seen people come and go behind the scenes and in front of the camera due to agreements with the management). If Catalina considers to stay in Sacramento she should apply at News10 because they soon will be having an opening for a reporter after Monika Diaz left in November 2007.

The Yule Log comes to Sac TV

At last just right for Christmas morning, the Yule Log will air Christmas Morning from 5-6a.m and again at 8-9 a.m. If your not sure what the Yule Log is... It's just wood burning in fire (Like a fire place) with christmas music in the background. Between the gap of 6 a.m. you can catch FOX40 Morning news with Nataile Bomke and Evan Michael!
Merry Christmas everybody! =)

Sad News for long time KCRA Viewers

Sarah Gardner has been with KCRA 3 for the past 14-years, and on Friday Dec. 28th, 2007 will be her last day on-air anchoring after not coming to an agreement on her contract.

"We had hoped that Sarah would stay, but she decided for personal and professional reasons to move on," said Elliott Troshinsky, president and general manager of KCRA and My58. "We couldn’t reach an agreement that was satisfactory to both of us. We wish her all the best in the future."

"I love KCRA and love my job, getting to work with incredibly talented people," she said. "But it was one of those things where I wanted to make sure to give 100 percent to my family and 100 percent to my job, and the way things are now, it's impossible to do both." Released from the Sac Bee.

Gardner will definitely be missed on TV, but gladly will still be in Sacramento. Gardner and her husband Chuck are co-founders of the M.I.N.D institute at U.C Davis Medical Center
with the hopes of finding the cause and hopefully a cure for autism, Gardner's son was diagonsed with autism at an early age and her efforts have contributied to create an institute to find a cure.

Just a little history of Gardner, she graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1982 and worked at a DJ playing country music, later she moved into TV as a weekend weather anchor writer/producer at NBC-15's WMTV in Madison, Wisconsin. Gardner also spent time on the road as the local anchor of "PM Magazine" in Charlotte, N.C., traveling with the show to Europe, Egypt, Jamaica and Canada. Gardner has co-anchored with Kelly Brothers, Chris Riva and John Alston in the past. We wish Gardner the best in life!

Season Greetings From News10!

News10 has posted the News10 family holiday greetings up on their website.
If your interested in seeing the News10 family just watch News10, they will
appear during the commercial breaks if not then visit the link provided below.
Here are just a few families below.






http://www.news10.net/life/community/seasons-greeting07/season-greeting00.aspx

Jewish leaders wants to meet with Adrienne Bankert for a chit-chat

Some Jewish leaders in Sacramento County want to meet with Adrienne to try to educate her most likely of how its like to be a Jew. One person has said they were offened by her comments David Wechsler-Azen at Beth Shalom.

"As somebody who has been a poor Jew, as someone regularly approached by poor Jews for help, it’s just so factually inaccurate," Wechsler says. "It’s just really offensive for someone to portray Jews that way.

"She really needs to be made aware of all the Jewish philanthropies that make sure everyone’s taken care of. That’s the underlying Jewish premise: reach out your hand to the needy."

We'll see how the next step goes.

Apology Statement from KCRA

KCRA's news director Anzio Williams released a statement eariler this week about the comments said about Adrienne Bankert at a local college group not meaning to be harmful to the Jewish community.

"(KCRA) does not condone or endorse any comment that was made. We require all of our on-air talent to refrain from engaging in any outside activities or manners that impinge on our reputation of fairness, balance and accuracy.”

Adrienne's apology letter:
"I have been made aware that certain remarks that I made to a small student
group at Sacramento State last week could be regarded as offensive
stereotyping to some individuals and the community at large. I never
intended any of my comments to be hurtful or to stereotype any particular
group. I am well aware of the harm that stereotypical comments can cause to
specific groups and our society in general. I apologize if anyone was
offended by remarks."

Univision 19 Hires Producer from CNN

At last KUVS-Univision 19 has hired a producer Isabel Gonzalez from CNN en Espanol. Her begin date is next month and prior with being at CNN, she worked for Telemundo, TV Azteca and MVS in Mexico City. She will be replacing former news anchor and news director Pedro Calderon who left in September 2007.

Did you know?

Meteorologist Patty Souza has a sister (Tammie Souza) who is a Meteorologist as well at a FOX station in Chicago. They are the only female siblings in the nation to work in the same field. If your wondering why you see the clear NBC logo is because she used to work for NBC 5 in the same city until last year.

And what a coincidence they have the same outfits!

News Anchor talks about God

Tuesday Nov. 28, 2007 KCRA's Adrienne Bankert went to Sac State to speak to students from the International Students Christian Fellowship about her experiences of being a Christian. Avi Ehrlich who is one of the campus newspaper reporters wrote a wrote about a mini-controversy stemming from Bankert's remarks...

"Others took issue with parts of Bankert's message...One part of Bankert's presentation that (Sac State ethnic studies major Marc) Sorensen was uncomfortable with dealt with religious stereotypes.
As part of her presentation, Bankert asked: "Have you ever met a poor Jewish person?"

"I have never met a poor Jewish person ever in my life! Every Jewish person I went to school with had money, and if they didn't have money literally ... they knew how to get some. The Jewish people founded Hollywood, Jewish people were in banking, lawyers."

Bankert said she, herself, is a Jew in Jesus' name.

"I'm a Jewish person, because I'm saved by the blood of Jesus. He is Jewish, and I want what he's got for me."

For more on this story simply follow the link below...

http://media.www.statehornet.com/media/storage/paper1146/news/2007/11/28/News/Television.Anchor.Talks.About.God-3121664.shtml

News Anchor Gives Beer to the Homeless?

If you missed it, Morning anchor/reporter Chris Burrous during a live shot give beer and a McDonalds bag of food to a homeless women in the Natomas area which was set up by Bounty Hunter Leonard Padilla.

"We have reviewed the situation and discussed it with Chris. He has a good heart, but clearly made a mistake and we sincerely apologize to anyone who was offended by his actions.” According to Bruno Cohen General Manager for CW 31/ CBS 13 a statement released from the Sac Bee. The video can be seen below uploaded onto Youtube. You would think a news personality would do something like that? Its not the first for Chris, he has done and said some interesting stuff on-air which has disapointed viewers!

Fairwell Monika!

Monika Diaz said good-bye to the viewers Sunday night Nov. 18th with Dana Howard...If you haven't read she is moving off to Dallas, Texas number 5! in the US market. You can watch the video by clicking on the link below.

http://origin.news10.net/live/video_player_horizontal.aspx?aid=48406&sid=35325&bw=hi&cat=58

Did You Know?

What a coincidence! Three anchors in Sacramento birthday's are three days in a row!

Cristina Mendonsa, Nov. 11th 1968

Donna Cordova, Nov. 12th 1964

Kris Pickel, Nov. 13th 1968

New Nightly Anchor at 10 p.m.

At last KCRA hires an anchor for the weekday 10 p.m. My58 newscast. His name is Teo Torres and he comes from KRON 4 an independent station as a morning anchor in San Francisco, California. Teo will begin anchoring in January 2008 along with Sarah Gardner. Still no one to anchor the 6 and 11 p.m. newscast along with Edie Lambert, but Sarah and Edie make a great news team =)

On The Big Screen!

Former KCRA 3 anchor John Alston will hit big tonight on the show Law & Order which airs tonight at 10 p.m. on Channel NBC 3. His role will be playing a reporter according to a local source. So we will catch John tonight! TiVo its!

Dallas Here She Comes!

Reporter Monika Diaz has been with News10 since October 2003 and her last day at News10 is Sunday Nov. 18, 2007. I have definitely enjoyed Monika's reports on News10 for the past four years and will 100% miss her...personally I thought she was a great Journalist News10 had.

Monika will work at ABC WFAA-TV Channel 8 in Dallas, Texas as an anchor and reporter. Before joining News10 she worked at a Telemundo station in San Jose for six-years. She also is a native from Florida and graduated from Miami State University with a BA in Communications/ Journalism.

Yet Another CBS 13 Reporter will leave

CBS 13's Serene Branson will be leaving the station sometime in mid-late November 2007 to Los Angeles, California. She already had done some freelance stories for KCBS a station in Los Angeles and would like to go where she had a dream to work at. Serene says "Los Angeles has always been my goal," who grew up in Southern California and attended UCLA. "I worked in Palm Springs and Santa Barbara to get my feet wet. When the opportunity presented itself up here in Sacramento, people told me that Sacramento is a great news market and that people in L.A. will take you seriously from Sacramento"

"The one thing we tell our reporters, especially as we broguht people in to rebuild the station, is that we're a large company and we want to help our reporters stay within the company and go to a bigger market. That's a sign we're doing our job," Charlier says to Sacbee 21Q.

November 2007 Interview with Cristina Mendonsa

Emmy Award winner Cristina Mendonsa has been an anchor at KXTV News10 since December 1995. She came from KUSA-NBC 9 News in Denver, Co where she was the morning anchor for the top rated newscast. Since with News10 she has travled around the world on assignment and can be found on News10 at 5, 6, 11 p.m. weekdays. She has co-anchored with Alan Frio from 1995-1997 and Dale Schornack from 1997- to present. Cristina Mendonsa can be contacted at CMendonsa@news10.net

Name: Cristina Mendonsa
Height: 5'7''
Hometown: Fair Oaks, Ca
Birthday: November 11th

What made you become a Journalist?
I love to write, research and tell great stories. I worked in newspaper and radio and found a home in TV.

If you could Interview anyone famous, who would it be and why?
I have too many to mention.

What is your favorite type of music artist/band?
I like a wide variety of music. Right now I'm listening to Mika, my chemical romance, and a selection from the 80's

What is an interesting fact about you?
I like Star Trek. I attended a few conventions when I was younger

Where was your first TV job?
I was a writer at channel 31. My first on air job was at KRCR in Redding

Do you have any advice for someone who wants to get into TV News Reporting/ Anchoring?
Work hard, be patient, no job is beneath you and find the oldest, crustiest reporter in your first newsroom and listen to everything she/ he tells you.

What is your favorite type of food and dessert?
My favorite combo is red wine and dark chocolate. My favorite snack is crackers dipped in low fat cottage cheese.

What is something you usually do for fun (Hobbies)
Krav Maga, creative> writing, reading, running with my dog

If you weren't a Journalist, what would you be doing today?
Several things sound attractive: international business, federal law enforcement or political strategist

What is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you live on TV?
I've been caught in mid-yawn and I've been mauled by a drunk frat guy during a live shot.

3-year anniversary!

Three years ago KXTV News10 debuted their set on Monday Nov. 1st, 2004 on News10 Good Morning. And now today it has been three years and still looks new. Here are a few changes that have occured to the set since it debuted.
>It is now more brighter than it was 2-3years ago.

>And a wrinkled spot has occured probably about 1-2years ago on the tower bridge backdrop where Dan, Dana and Dale anchor from. Not sure if you can make of it.


Also an interesting fact here...News10 got the set from KUSA NBC 9 news from Denver, Colorado. But as you can tell the graphics center at each TV station make their own art as for the backdrop of the anchors. So i'd thought i share this bit of trivia.

CBS 13 News Reporter Quits

CBS 13 News Reporter Bridget Cannata has quit in the middle of her contract Tuesday Oct. 30th. Bridget joined the station in July 2006 from a TV station in Oklahoma. According to the news director Steve Charlier, says she has decided to spend more time with her family in San Francisco. She will most likely get a reporting job at one of the bay area stations as obvious. We'll keep you noted on what she does next!

Local Anchor Writes a Book

CW 31/ CBS 13 Morning Anchor Stefanie Cruz has wrote a book about the recent unexpected news of Delta & Dawn who came to visit us in the waterways of West Sacramento. The book who is published by "Big Tomato Press" on a release date of Thursday Nov. 1st, 2007, but it is already in a few stores at the price of $15.95 is about the whales journey and how it touched local news media crews covering the event. "It became emotional" admits Cruz. "There was this drama that was building every single day, and we were just rooting for them" This is what made her write her first book "Delta & Dawn: Mother & Baby Whales' Journey" The story is illustrated by Lily Toppenberg. For now others can relive the experience through Stefanie's new book. You can purchase Cruz's book at the following links provided below.

Deltadawnbook.com
Amazon.com
The Sacramento Zoo and Avid reader and other area bookstores.

Former anchor comments News10's Studio set

Former News10 Anchor Kiran Chetry (Who left the station in 1999 and is now with CNN News in New York) commented the News10 studio desk saying it has not changed one bit since she left eight years ago. This was after she introduce the story of the News10 Good Morning folks being spoked by a couple of dressed up people in the Halloween spirit put on by the producer Kevin. You can watch her introduce the mini story provided by the link below.


http://edition.cnn.com/video/

New Graphics!

On Tuesday Oct. 30, 2007...News10 debuted their new graphics package, and I must say its looking good! They are simliar to ABC's Good Morning America's lettering graphics. If you remember the News10 weather got a new package in late 2006 which made it much more easier to know what type of weather each town was going to have, and of course "Foreast First" which was later debuted in late summer of 2007...All we need know is for News10 to go in a full-HD Newscast and a new set, which wont probably happen until 2009.

A New Member Joins the KCRA family

KCRA 3 weekend Sports Anchor Danny Pommells wife gave birth to a baby boy on Saturday Oct. 13th, 2007 named Julius Sterling Pommells.
Since the birth Danny has had a few weeks off to help take care of the baby. Chris Riva who was a former sports anchor in Colorado has been filling in for him. When Danny returns in late October to his regular duties, Chris will return to his regular position as the morning anchor from 7-9a.m on KCRA's My58 TV network. A bit history of Danny, he came to KCRA in August 2005 from WGAL-TV NBC 8 in Lancaster, Pennsylania to take in Del Rodgers spot who took Ron Hyde who was the former Sports Director.

Remember her?

Former News10 Traffic Anchor/ Reporter Julie Durda who left News10 in July 2006 to KRON 4 in San Francisco to a similar position and then to CBS 5 in Pheonix, Arizona to be a Weather/ Traffic anchor is now making bigger jump to WSVN-FOX 7 News in the Miami/ Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to a become the morning/ afternoon Weather Anchor.


Julie is going to be replacing Elita Loresca who was a former flipino model in the area will be stepping down from that position. Julie starts Thursday Nov. 1st. According to a statement released by the Vice President of FOX-7 Alice Jacobs...
"Julie is the perfect fit for a new Today in Florida weather anchor, she is knowledgeable, energetic and has a passion for weather." If you might remember Julie had left the independent station (KRON-4) from the bay area in late 2006 because of a despite that she accidentally blurted the F*** word on-air

It is expected Julie could move on to a national network market in no time. Go Julie!

Did you know?

The Sacramento and Company set is right across from the News10 news set?

Thats right it is in the same exact studio. And did you know the Sac and company set can be taken down to put up which was formally known as the 'Midday Set' before Sac and co. with the Red chairs and State Capital background? They usually set that part up if there are special guest during the show that are going to be interviewd.

A Halloween treat for the anchors

The anchors of News10 Good Morning got a scare from the Gyros Haunted House people on Friday Oct. 26th during the 6a.m hour. It was so hilarious to see Monica and Melissa hide and run from these people...and especially Kelly with her hands in the air. This was a once in a lifetime scare put one from Kevin one of the employees at News10. The people ran from the weather center and around/ behind the anchor desk. You can watch the video below

News faces to come soon!

CBS13 News director Steve Charlier has hired four new reporters to join the team! Thats right four!

Elyce Kirchner- From Providence, Rhode Island, WLNE ABC TV.


Kristina Lee- From Chico, California KHSL NBC 24/ CBS 12


David Begnaud- From Shreveport, Lousiana KSLA-TV


Reggie Kumar- From Palm Springs, California, CBS 2


You can catch these reporters in the coming weeks!

KCRA loses Investigative Reporter

Josh Bernstein joined KCRA 3 back in November 2005 as the only Invegtisgative Reporter in town (and still was). Josh has decided to join the Investigative team in Phoenix, Arizona at KNXV-15 an ABC affiliate. He will be replacing Abbie Boudreau, who left the station in September to join CNN as an investigative reporter. Josh's last day is Wednesday Oct. 31st.
A little bit of Josh's history he came to KCRA from WPMI-TV NCB 15 News in Mobile, Alabama.

Josh released a statement to Sam McManis from the Sacramento Bee...

"I'd like to see more commitment, not just here at KCRA - but at every station in Sacramento - to investigative reporting," Bernstein says. "That's a way a station can make its mark in this market, because, frankly, we don't see much of it here." "I'd like to see more commitment, not just here at KCRA - but at every station in Sacramento - to investigative reporting," Bernstein says. "That's a way a station can make its mark in this market, because, frankly, we don't see much of it here."

New 7-Day forecast graphics

News10 has new a 7-day forecast format. And it is lookin' pretty good. They also updated the tab on the top of the local area forecast when the meteorologist steps out of the picture...and it looks HD format. I have a feeling when News10 goes to a full-HD newscast the graphics are going to be great! So watch News10 weather!

She'll be back

If you are wondernig why you haven't seen Sharon Ito "Live_Online" its because she has a medical condition that she is going through and will be back sometime in November '07. She has not been Live_Online since early September '07. I'm sure Sharon will be back to tell us how shes doing, lets keep Sharon in out prayers shall we =)

News10 loses Financial Expert

News10 Good Morning lost their Financial Expert Kelly Brothers who joined the show back in January '06. You can now catch him weekday mornings on KCRA 3 (His former job).

Southern California Firestorm

If you watched the news for the pasted three days, then you have notice the top story on each station is the horrible wilde fires in Southern California. Almost every station in Northern California has sent their reporters out to cover this over grown story. The only station in Sacramento that did not send a reporter out is KTXL FOX40, probably because of Tribune's budget (The ownership of FOX40)
Here are a list of local area reporters covering the story.

KCRA 3
Edie Lambert (Mon-Weds)
David Beneick(Mond-Weds)
Sharokina Shams (Tues-Weds)
Pamela Wu (Thurs-Fri)
Mike TeSelle (Thurs-Fri)

KXTV News10
Deborah Hoffman
Jon Baird
Dan Adams
Patty Souza

KOVR CBS 13
Serene Branson

Familar face, but at another time

Kris Pickel, the CBS 13 KOVR anchor has switched from anchoring the news at 4 p.m. weekdays to now anchor them on the weekends. You can catch her at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday along with Ron Jones.

The reason for this? Well Anny Hong who used to co-anchor with Ron got a degree in Meteorology and now does the weather in the evenings. She took over Angelique Frame who left in late July '07. For a while Anny was doing both anchoring and heading over to the chromakey wall. Now the team is put together.

So here's the set anchor list.

Anchors:
Ron Jones
Kris Pickel

World and National News Desk:
Steve Large

Weather:
Anny Hong

Remember!

Sign up at News10.net!

Did you know??

When FOX40 conduct their live reports from the newsroom (Dark blue background with tv monitors in the back) located in South Sac. they set up a field camera in the newsroom. Most stations have a permanent teleprompter camera already set up. But 40 has a really small building so things can't really fit in as much as people would want to.

New Segment: Did you know?

I have decided to post a new segment on my blog about what you actually don't know what goes behind the scenes on TV. I plan to do write-in about two times a month...And hope you will find it very interesting. =)

Shes back!

FOX40 weeknight Meteorologist Kristina Werner returns back to work from maternity since July 2007 after having a baby girl. J.D Maher and Louisa Hodge have been filling in for her since then. So watch tonight at 10p.m. on Channel 40!

Congratulations Dana and Sharon!

Congrats Dana! its been 15 years with News10 since September 1992. Before joining News10 he worked at WWL-TV CBS 4 in New Orleans, Louisiana. And prior to that KPIX CBS 5 News in San Francisco as an Assignment Editor. Go Dana!




Congrats Sharon! Its been 11 years with News10 since she joined in September 1996. Sharon joined News10 several times before in her life. First in the late 80s as a producer and reporter. Then she left to a LA station and then came back to Sacto at PBS 6 and in late '96 she become the weekend solo anchor at News10 until early 2002 where she did the morning show. She is also married to News10's reporter George Warren. Go Sharon!