The word intimidation often surfaces in talk about him. Other actions that have prompted anger toward Lippman include his withering array of personnel shifts and the reportedly ruthless manner in which he deals with people on a personal basis. Just like live TV, in other words, there are no safety nets. Buried deep in a two-page memo praising KCBS’ storm coverage, for example, was the following: “We learned to milk the drama from live situations, (moving) from live shot to live shot, allowing anchors to use pauses to increase the drama.”Īs if the news itself weren’t dramatic enough.Īlso alarming some staffers is Lippman’s astonishing new policy of not requiring reporters to show their copy to anyone before putting it on the air. “He wants to do lively, entertaining shows, not the news,” said one staffer. Lippman’s staff memos reflect his intense interest in stagecraft. What’s new is the extent to which it is being employed at Channel 2. The purpose is not journalism, but to demonstrate the anchors’ concern and involvement with the news. For example, virtually all of Channel 2’s live reports are now followed by anchors asking questions of reporters. Some changes instituted by Lippman indicate a desire to drive up ratings primarily by staging self-aggrandizing stunts and putting on a show. It remains to be seen whether the improvement is long-term. KCBS’ ratings have risen dramatically since Lippman’s arrival, at least in part because of last month’s high-rated Winter Olympics coverage on CBS. The vast majority here feel that, for the first time, there’s direction and someone here who understands news.” To vice president and general manager Steve Gigliotti, though, KCBS’ new news director is doing “an outstanding job. Based on the descriptions of 20 newsroom sources (all but one speaking on the condition that their names not be revealed), what Lippman has done at Channel 2 so far ranges from outright repression to “Geraldo-ization.” Says one news staff member: “He’s pimping away the credibility of our news.” Says another: “He’s cruel and mean.” And still another: “He’s slime.” The warnings appear to have been justified. One, which Lippman was seen ripping from a bulletin board, was a Valentine: “Roses are red, violets are blue, you have our news director, and our sympathies too.” It consisted of condolence cards sent by some of his former staff members at KIRO-TV in Seattle. And when it comes to absurdly gratuitous live shots-designed only to impress viewers-Channel 2 has now zoomed ahead of its competition.Ī storm alert coincided with Lippman’s arrival at KCBS. news series on criminals that was set to creepy music. It was Channel 2, however, that recently became the city’s first station to poll viewers on “the sexiest woman in Hollywood,” followed by its poll on “the sexiest man in Hollywood.” It was Channel 2 that aired “Southern California’s Most Wanted,” an 11 p.m.
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