Ron Chapman Well, today was the big day that KTYS-FM (96.7) — the so-called “Texas Twister” in Citadel Broadcasting Corp.’s inventory — switched formats, ditching its new-country format for … music my mom will love, love, love. (At least, she loved this stuff back when it was known as KVIL’s…
William Dean Singleton Journalists love to gossip — so much easier than picking up a phone. And word around the anxious Fort Worth Star-Telegram newsroom is that the budget-slashing McClatchy Company is making such deep cuts over there — 130 staffers are losing their jobs, 50 of those from the…
Lisa Garza, chatting up idol Martha Stewart on the Food Network last night. As it’s been a day full of actual news, it’s been difficult getting to the fluff — as in, Suze’s Lisa Garza and her vying to become The Next Food Network Star. Once more, we had a…
An addendum to the downsizing at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: According to several sources, 17 staffers in the newsroom were let go this morning, among them managing editor Gary Hardee, science writer Carolyn Poirot, arts writer Todd Camp, Lifestyles columnist Mary Rogers, travel editor Judy Wiley and three librarians. Writers…
As mentioned below, The McClatchy Company this morning announced it’s laying off and buying out some 1,400 employees amongst the dozens of papers that make up the newspaper chain. Moments ago, the McClatchy-owned Fort Worth Star-Telegram announced precisely how many of its employees will be excised during the coming days:…
This morning, The McClatchy Company announced it is going to “reduce its workforce by about 10 percent,” or 1,400 jobs, ASAP — and, yes, that will likely include some cuts at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where several Friends tell us the mood is one of apropos doom and gloom. It’ll…
Hell of a thing. This morning, before posting the T. Boone Pickens item below, I came across an interview the Dallas billionaire gave to Charlie Rose last year. Turns out, on that same episode was Meet the Press host and NBC’s Washington bureau chief Tim Russert — who died today…
One’s talking. One’s making noise about talking again. Sat down with Mike Rhyner a while back for my upcoming (no, really, I swear it is) piece on former partner Greg Williams and stuff. As most of you know, he’s the world’s most stubborn 57-year-old curmudgeon. But when our confab turned…
Sheldon Drobny’s the mastermind behind Air America Radio, which departed the DFW airwaves in October ’06. But Drobny and his missus actually had little to do with the expansion and eventual contraction of the liberal-talk syndicate. Turns out, they started their own competitor: Nova M Radio, which broadcasts the likes…
Yesterday’s news that The News would be delivering a bare-bones version of its daily product to the front lawns of rich folks who really don’t want it has landed Dallas’ Only Daily on Gawker, with the headline: “Unwanted Free Papers Delivered To Uninterested Rich Readers.” Which, yes, more or less…
For those who read The Dallas Morning News’ announcement of its latest print product — Briefing, a “quick-read” freebie aimed at “time-crunched families” — the press release outlining the August 27 debut left out a few things. Which is why you should also read the Editor & Publisher piece, which…
Skip Bayless You know who people really don’t seem to like? Skip Bayless, who’s had more jobs in local media than Eric Celeste: The Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Times Herald, KTCK-AM (The Ticket) and even the paper version of Unfair Park for a while, after Belo shuttered the Herald…
When your dad starts yapping about “back in the day”, this is what he’s talking about. Wanna see something cool? I know where you can jump in a time machine. Back to the days of 57-cent gas. Back to the days of Kern Tipps. Back to the good ol’ Southwest…
The guy on the right will be the Father’s Day guest on Doocy. The guy on the left doesn’t give a damn. Apparently, Greg Williams’ recent TV appearance wasn’t as bad as some of you/us thought. At least not according to Fox 4 sports anchorman Mike Doocy and his perfect…
Thumbs down to John Mellencamp’s new album cover. And Gordon Keith’s prime-time TV debut. I’m going to couch this review of Gordon Keith’s prime-time TV performance last night with two pillowy caveats: 1. Gordo is by far the funniest guy on Dallas radio. 2. He’s better than I’d be on…
We extend this a.m. a hearty mazel tov in the direction of one Christopher Kelly, best known ’round these parts as the film critic for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and a Texas Monthly columnist. Only, this morning we note the huzzahs Chris received over the weekend from the Los Angeles-based…
They’re soon to be Dallas’ dynamic duo of daytime TV: Mark Donald, who wrote the first substantive profile of Phil McGraw for the paper version of Unfair Park way back when, notes that CBS Television Distribution is prepping a syndicated series hosted by The Potter’s House honcho and frequent Dr…
Did the Hammer nail it? Well, we all saw Greg Williams’ appearance on Mike Doocy’s Sports Sunday. It was nice to see him alive and seemingly well. But, like me, you probably weren’t exactly sure what you saw. Greggo? In a snappy suit? Admitting drug use we’ve known about for…
So, now we know what A. H. Belo Corporation CEO Robert Decherd meant in April when he wrote to shareholders of “creating sustainable incremental revenue streams”: He’s raising the newsstand price of The Dallas Morning News. A Friend of Unfair Park delivers the news this morning, and a customer service…
I’ve spent all day waiting for someone to post the video from Greg Willliams’ appearance last night on Mike Doocy’s Sports Adventure Happy Fun Time Hour, only, no luck. (Not even on the KDFW-Channel 4 site, which is the worst in the history of network affiliates.) Too bad too, because…
Sierra Club A Friend of Unfair Park sends word today that Scott Streater, who’s done important, top-notch and well-circulated work covering the environmental beat for both the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and its Planet DFW blog, is shuffling off to Colorado, where his missus got a new gig. Streater, who’s been…
Where’s Greggo? Would you believe sitting beside Mike Doocy come Sunday night? If you think Terrell Owens was just sooo believable and charming in his sit-com acting debut. If you can’t wait to see Greg Williams again. If you want proof why I became a writer instead of a TV…
