With MBM being the only anchor, there go the rest of the ratings at WMAR. Sad, WMAR has never tried very hard to get quality news people to attract viewers.
It's the same old personnel, how DULL.

One thing I have noticed on WBAL is they no longer seem to have a "man about town" reporter doing live shots from festivals, etc. Now on the live shot you just see people who organized the festival or whatever event, there is no longer a reporter there interviewing them. I assumed that was a cutback as well. Rob Roblin used to always do those kind of interviews, but I guess that is out for now.

Hi Gina, Maybe someone from WBAL will respond with an explanation as to whether or not there has been a cutback in this type of coverage. Thanks. Z

Z, I implore you, please stick to media stories like this. Baltimore needs you for coverage of the local media and your knowledge of the interworkings of these companies and their staff is great. Politics, however, doesn't offer you the same opportunity to be objective, clear, and to demonstrate your abilities.

Do you have any update on Jennifer Gladstone? Has she moved on to anchor or reporter in another market? It would be tremendous to see her on another local station.

Is that what happened to Emily Grace ?? The weekend weather reporter at WMAR.

The reason for the poor ratings is mostly because of the poor coverage of the news of the day. We never hear anything beyond what the White House agrees that is news. Nationally we only hear the liberal news. As a result conservative advertisers go elsewhere with ther commercial advertising. ... In order to get back your conservative veiwer base, try being more objective and complete with your coverage of the news. We don't care about your opinions, just the actual news. P.S., we love Mary Beth.

It will not get any better because Baltimore is a tumbling tv market as well it has gone from the 24th tv market to the 27th market. It will be much harder for the four news operations to attract news talent anyway soon it will be out of the top 30 tv markets and that is not good.Is there a chance that WMAR will drop its news operation all together?

PD,

I just had to say this because occassionally I read these comments even though I am from Ohio and it really does not relate to me except in the fact that our local news stations suffer the same economic downturn. However, I have to disagree that Z's political articles are not clear or precise. I learn so much from them and the debate that occurs as a result. Maybe Z could do more for the Baltimore area, but some of the commentors from other parts of the country and even the world - Norway on occasion enjoy the variety this blog offers. Keep up the good work Z on all of the issues, even Jon and Kate - we are attached to them too!

I actually prefer WMAR news over the other two options in this market especially for weekday morning news. I can't stomach Marty Bass and much prefer the banter between Jamie and Megan. They are a great match and present good solid news not option like Mr. Bass.

If WMAR is not going to have late news after the games, will they please stop lying to the vendors who compile the digital program guides? More than once I've stuck with a game, believing the program guide's claim that I'd get late local news afterward -- but a rerun of "Press Box" does NOT constitute evening news! GIGO...

(Or, if FiOS would archive daily newscasts in VOD, that would help too. The redheaded cable guy is beating you on that one, Verizon!)

Re: Carlin -- considering what happened to the Bowdens way-back-when, I wondered about the wisdom of a married couple both trying to stay at WMAR. Good for him for finding a dream-job alternative.

@Stevemq: Emily Gracey said goodbye on her last day but I forget where she said she's going.

These TV stations run bogus ads about how they're our "friends" or "family" -- but when personnel move on, there's no info, it's like they never existed. If you happen not to be tuned in on their last day, they just evaporate into the ether. Thanks, Z, for filling in the gap.

Who cares? Anchors should simply be news readers. Evaluating them as personalities is BS -aimed at those to whom THE NEWS means little. I would rather the local stations put their money into a reliable responsive world news service than have some local twerp with loads of makeup read old news and indulge in cutesy banter with his/her sidekick.

Dear Diogenes: Thanks for the comment. But it would be insane for local stations to put their money "world news service." Local is their franchise -- that is the only turf they can own. Their networks are supposed to provide the global coverage. Whether they do or not is another issue. Z

Gladstone was booted at Fox because they clearly want to gradually replace her with someone younger and cheaper (the blonde reporter in the mornings). That kind of thing has been happening in t.v. for years, not just during this recession.

Once upon a time, your analysis was semi-accurate. No more. The economics are far more complicated. Sexism is no longer enough of an answer. Z

I prefer to watch channel 2. I think they have a solid news team, and they do a good job delivering news. I think the only reason WBAL is successful is because of market loyality. For the last several years I do not think their news coverage as been impressive, I think because they know their going to win, it doesnt matter to them. I think that channel 13 has more to offer than channel 11.

It is a sad portrait of the American landscape right now. And, no "Obama Pep Rallies" are going to make me think different. We need job creation and think outside of the box to create jobs.

I am not sure if this relates to the post, but it was just on CNN that there was a facebook page for people to sign whether or not President Obama should be killed. Isn't this some form a threat punishable for threatening the President of the United States? Is this how far we have come in our disagreement on the issues of politics? That is not progress is it? That is just plain sad.

Is downsizing a reason why WBAL has Stan Stovall doing news in the morning and At 5pm? I am kinda tired of listening to him much less looking at him. I know Stan is a top notch news reporter but having do both is kinda ridiculous. I know they have others that are very capable of doing morning news. They also have Sarah Caldwell, who does traffic, fill in at the noon news. So now they reporters that are in different fields fill in other areas. Just a matter of time Sandra Shaw will be doing news also.

Who cares. Local news is a joke everywhere. Local TV is a dinosaur. I never watch. Who needs it with the net and cable news. The fact that they still act like they are relevant by making you wait until 6:55 for the 5 day forecast says it all.

In fact, local news has a very good future. It is the opposite of a dinsoaur. Now, the way it is delivered will probably change, but the local news franchise is still golden. Z

The TV stations could all save abundle of money by reducing the marathon newscasts. Do we really need the same news repeated over and over? Do we really need so called reporters bantering about useless things that have nothing to do with news reporting? Basically all they do is read a teleprompter.

If they spent less time telling us what they're going to tell us at 11, after the break, coming up, this Monday at 11 (telling us this one in particular on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, AND Monday), or whenever they finally get around to it, maybe we'd pay more attention. The half hour newscast doesn't seem to include more than fifteen minutes of actual news, weather, and sports. Even the weather shows up two or three separate times. Tell us once. If they only have enough to fill a fifteen minute program, they should do something else for the other fifteen minutes, instead of just "filling".

I do not know about other areas but South MS WLOX is a great channel and vital part of our community. Our anchors, coanchors and really all employees contribute alot to the landscape and future of our community.

I enjoy WMAR news and MBM does a fine job. WMAR seems a little toned down and that works too. TV news is a certain genre and most people who are really into news garner from several different sources anyway. Camaraderie and anchor banter can be annoying. As Joe Friday said "Just the facts....."

I was wondering what happened to Jennifer G at WBFF. Unfortunately, I think they made the wrong, but not necessarily a bad choice. I would much rather see her in the morning than Patrice.

Let's be real for a minute, WMAR's news broadcast hasn't been good since Jack Bowden was on it.

I think John Kestler is on to something. The anchors all have two of the tree skills needed to be elected president. Those who can organize a communitywill have a new career.

I watch WMAR news monday through friday, WBAL on weekends, WJZ-never.

What is really changing is the news delivery industry. Just as print papers have been shutting down all over, TV news is also about to shrink dramatically, and for similar reasons.

I haven't watched local or network TV news for the past 14 years. I can get more news on the web from sources I trust a great deal more in half the time, without having to wade through 12-14 minutes of inane and insulting commercials in a so-called 30-minute newscast. More and more people I talk to are saying the same thing.

Hi, Thanks for the comment. But I have to ask where you are getting your news online from if not the major newspaper and TV and cable sites? At least, that is where the majority of online news consumers say they are getting their online news from. So, you are right about delivery systems, but the providers are mainly the same, no? Thanks. Z

I agree with John F Kestler - the evening news marathons are ridiculous. I frequently check the local news during the day so I personally don't enjoy hearing the same information I just read.

If I want some real entertainment I tune into one of the 50plus (CNN, HLN, FAUX (Fox) News) channels on Comcast for some news with entertainment.

As far as Mary Beth Marsden goes - luv her !

no one will ever replace
jerry turner or al sanders.

baltimore news went downhill
after both of them sadly
passed too young....

they brought a special bonding
between two different races
who could laugh and also
do serious broadcasting stories..

they are truly missed even
today...

bob moffett

This worries me for the fact that this is my dream job when I get older. Is there a chance that when the economy improves Staff positions would be added back?

You think the fluff in local reporting is bad in Baltimore? The Los Angeles local news market is HORRIBLE!! The difference in reporters and their reporting is mind numbing. I'd take Marty Bass over the botox riddled anchors out here any day.

Is WMAR still on the air? Stopped watching them during the first Bush Presidency. Give me WBBF and WBAL. IF A TREE FALLS IN THE FOREST AND NO ONE IS WATCHING IT WHO CARES!!!

For the past half a dozen years, maybe since 9/11, this station has been the "be very afraid" station, with an abundance of news about national threats and such fluff as a kind of consumer
be aware of scams. I'm not surprised that few are watching.

i would eliminate traffic--no point. If there's an issue, cut in or do crawl. Shorten the weather forecast. Local news is personality driven yet many don't have personalities (e.g., S. Caldwell) or are guarded with their comments. The last good one was Dominica Davis and she went national.

WMAR is very cheap on news. They have no air choppers, and they do not believe in weekend morning news? If there is a news story that requires a chopper, like the one on the Bay Bridge not too long ago, they hope that Channel 7/WJLA will cover it and provide an ariel view. I have never heard of an ABC affiliate that operates like this!!

More than 20 years ago, there was a book called On Bended Knee, the thesis of which was that the Reagan White House fed the press a "line of the day." No reporting: just reiteration of the W.H. line. Line of the day's now tradition; local news provides something more but just barely. I only watch local broadcasts; natl. networks are just more lines of the day: dull, duller, dullest.

Thanks. I read the book, and I do not agree with your characterization of its message. And I can tell you, the press is far too diverse for it to be working that way today. I think it is unfortunate that people believe it works that way. If the press were that poor, democracy itself would be impossible. Let me recommend that you read "Elements of Journalism." It will goive a much more balanced picture of what citizens should expect of the press. Thanks. Z

It's truly a shame what is happening in the world of broadcast television news - as it is a shame what is happening to newspapers. Staffs are cut and, as a result, the quality of the product suffers.

Citizens need their local journalists now more than ever. Unfortunately, news is a business...and so those who control the cash have to do what is necessary to remain profitable.

Personally, I think it's terribly unfortunate that more people don't watch WBFF. There is some really great in-depth and daily storytelling going on over there...and a lot of people are missing out.

Rob Roblyn is the best on-air reporter in
Ba;yimore. Channel 2 would be dumb to lose him.

There so many dumb program and talent decisions made today, one has to wonders if the collective IQs of all programmers, locally and nationally could reach 300 points.

I don't see much need for television news channels. Most people, under the age of 80, get their news from the Internet. When I do watch the news the commercials are for medicines, wheelchairs and adult diapers.

When I was young and so was TV there were no sports casters and no weathermen/women. The anchor just said what the weather would be; no digitalized graphics, no cutesy perky blondes or funny men. The only sports mentioned were pretty much the World Series and the Olmpics. If the stations want to cut back get rid of these two extraneous news segments. And to save us time, the only time the Orioles should be mentioned is when they actually win a game.

JB

The state of newsrooms in Maryland is sad to say the least. Ratings aside, it becomes difficult to produce quality news when so many reporters are being let go. I see it in my journalism classes at Towson University. In the last year I've been taught by four professors who at one time worked for major news stations or newspapers, including John Anglim--an award winning photog-- who recently left his position at WMAR to pursue freelance work. I understand the decisions that are being made. If there is no money to pay your staff, you must eliminate part of the staff, but how will the issue of sharing hard-hitting news coverage be resolved without seasoned reporters at the helm?

Can someone please dismiss the loud talking, know it all, arrogant Marty Bass from Baltimore TV, please. I believe Don and Tim would do a lot better. By the way on the promos for the weather "people" on channel 13 why is Marty not mentioned as a meteorologist? I believe at one time he was a "weather man".