The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
Well-known reporter and anchor Les Smith has left WTKR NewsChannel 3, the station’s manager said today.
The news comes a day after WTKR said that its news director and assistant news director are “no longer employed at WTKR effective immediately.”
Jeff Hoffman, the station’s general manager, said Smith left his job on Wednesday. Hoffman said he couldn’t comment further other than to say that Smith was not fired.
The CBS affiliate has lagged in news ratings behind NBC’s WAVY and ABC’s WVEC in Hampton Roads.
WTKR hired Smith in April in an effort to boost ratings. He worked at WAVY for 22 years before abruptly quitting without comment in April 2007 and cutting ties with WAVY.
Thursday, Hoffman said that news director Shane Moreland and assistant director Melissa Klinzing are gone.
Hoffman said WTKR is trying to create a new focus.
“Everything we do relates to our putting ourselves in a better position to compete in this market,” Hoffman said in an interview.
The station is searching for new managers, the memo said.
Hoffman took over as WTKR’s manager in early June. He replaced Dave Bunnell, who spent a year as WTKR’s general manager.
Patrick Wilson, (757) 446-2957, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com.
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ABOUT "ROSETHORNIL'S' COMMENTS CONCERNING ME
First let me begin by saying I was never fired from WTKR. I have a medical condition that requires me to be heavily medicated 24 hours a day seven days a week. So yes I should have proof read before posting but when one is on powerful pain medication one may be prone to making a few mistakes here and there. Just for the record the people I was talking about in a negative light in my previous post nolonger work at Newschannel 3. I do know Les Smith,he's a good man and when I learned of his departure I thought,here they go again.
about "ex news' achors" comments...
It's hard to believe "exnewsanchor" was really employed by the media, because his/her post is rife with grammatical errors and typos. If ExAnchor was fired, maybe it's because he/she was not able to express their ideas very clearly in written form, which is an essential trait in this field.
As to bashing WTKR for the lawsuit they filed a couple months ago, they were trying to force Suffolk to FOLLOW THE LAW and that's a good thing. Once we start restricting the media's access to newsworthy events, we'll all be in trouble. If you don't like the law that allows the media to access disaster areas, then you should fuss at the state legislature, not WTKR.
A Joke
I haven't watched WTKR news since 1996 when they fired Dr. Duane Harding. Now that was a bright move. Fire a very popular guy that actually had a PhD in meteorology, then hire an ever changing lineup of weather readers who couldn't predict a correct forecast if they're lives depended on it. I read a Va Pilot article from 1996 that said WTKR was restructuring its format after being purchased by the New York Times. And -- they've been restructuring ever since. Twelve years and they still can't get it right. Maybe someone needs to tell the WTKR owners that Tidewater, (yes Tidewater not Hampton Roads), ain't New York.
Too bad...
...that most posters here are beating up on WTKR. Maybe they were not viewing the station 3 weeks ago on Sunday afternoon when the violent storms swept thru NC and Hampton Roads. Around 4pm that day WTKR dropped their CBS sports coverage and put their VIPER radar display ONLY on the screen for 2 hours with their weather reporters voices detailing and tracking these storms and warning each and every town, county and locality as to when the storms would hit them.
For you computer news geeks, you would have loved this! Nothing but the VIPER weather radar display for 2 HOURS! And the weather reporters talking to us in the background about the vicinity of the storms to us and warning each town, county and locality as to when it would hit.
Chief meteorologist Mike Harvey linked in by telephone from his home and reported and tracked what he was watching on 3, adding to the weather reporters that were at the station.
WTKR Channel 3 local news coverage is a hidden gem that not enough HR residents have discovered yet. Compare their local coverage to 10 and 13 and by far 3's local news and coverage is more extensive.
Want to be different and try something new? Try WTKR for a wee
No news from 5 to 6
This is something WTKR should try. Put in a talk show or something and build a promotion around it, they can try to compete against Dr. Phil on 27. Andy Griffith actually does very well at 5:30 on WDBJ in Roanoke. Run a newscast at 4:30 and an hour of news at 6, Katie at 7... that concept has worked well for CBS stations like KDKA in Pittsburgh.
character issues...
Remember that WTKR is the only media source to file suit against the City of Suffolk over their lack of access to the tornado ravaged neighborhoods. That alone shows the character of their management. I stopped watching right then. Too bad!
Bring back...
the re-runs between 5-7PM. Give us some wind down time. We need to release stress and laugh. I get my bad news from the web and radio during the day. When I get home after a long day I need "happy time". Bring back the Partridge Family, 222, or Mork, Wings, or even Laugh-In...now that's funny stuff and you can see all the major stars before they were bigger than life. What about some of the old Game Shows? Good stuff...
I don't watch WTKR much, so will someone please fill me in on why so many people don't like Barbara C? But keep it above the waist!
jimmyf...
The "hoax" about Bush was never proven to be false. Please get the facts correct. The letter in question had dubious origins but that does not mean that the content was incorrect. There are many questions about Bush's disservice to the nation. I have read through all the so-far released documents and a few of the comments made on Bush's service records include: "non-locatee"-look up what that meant at the time, "he is ineligible for assignment to an Air Force Squadron, "has not been observed at this unit" (for an entire year so Bush could not have his OETR-Officer Effectiveness Training Reportcompleted), "Not rated for this period 1 May 72 through 30 Apr 73.", "failed to satisfactorily participate", and much more. Bush was legally obligated to service until 5/74 yet the last medical exam on record is in '71, i.e. he lost his flight status due to not showing up for his physical. There is not record of any service after 5/72. The Bushes have been good at deflecting the truth and demonizing anyone who tries to get at it.
Les Smith
I worked for WTKR NEWS Channel 3. The problem with 3 began in the 1980's when half the news anchors were fired after the 6 o clock newscast. They were losing their grasp on first place, thats right first place.WTKR then WTAR had been number one in local news for decades.Stan Garfan long time sportanchor was fired. Viewers were apalled WTKR never recovered. As for me working there was the worst experience of my life. I came to Nightmare on Boush Street from a larger market. I wasn't there long before I realized I was being set up to fail. I was there to see Dr. Duane mistreated. I could be wrong but I dont think he agreed with doing the weather in the rain from the roof. Jane Gardner the areas first 6 & 11 female anchor was also disrespected. On that day several anchors were informed their contracts were not being renewed. I agree with the previous comment the problem is not with the staff but stems from the top. I've seen first hand the sacrifices made by WTKR employees in their commitment to excellence but by the same token the backstabbing was the worst I've ever experienced. I had a career spanning two decades 8 television stations and 3 radio stations including working in a t
Re: monteye55200's comment
LOL to monteye55200's comment about playing the storm game! Hilarious!
I really liked Les Smith's broadcast style, his presence will be missed no matter which station he was working with. Seemed like an average guy, just wearing a suit behind a news desk. I wish him luck wherever he may go next.