Tough Times Equal Tough Decisions?

This is really the end of an era in eastern Idaho broadcasting. Steve Cannon was the remaining link to KIDK’s glory days. It was my pleasure to not only work with him, but learn from him.

As to your question as to why there are positions open yet they (station) chose to show Mr. Cannon the door, I would say this: KIDK is owned by Fisher Communications of Seattle. Their stock (FSCI) went from approx 51 dollars a share in mid 07 to approx 31 dollars earlier this year. Keep in mind this was BEFORE all the market crashing of this fall. Investors and those who observe media companies have long held that Fisher’s committment to local markets is short lived. They are driven by a quest for the quick dollar and constantly seem to be short of reaching that elusive benchmark: profitability.

There are and have been some good people inside of Fisher, but most have been chased off or will be soon. Just like Steve.

Its getting mighty scary out there. Lots of jobs are cutting to help costs even state agencies like the department of corrections which is now cutting cost and employees by starting to make them take background checks twice a year. This is to get rid of the ones that haven’t told anyone about their run ins with the police, or just had run ins. They are also cutting prison positions. Instead of cutting the chiefs they are cutting the (excuse this term) indians. We are the ones keeping these guys in the system and they are cutting us down to a dangerous level to save money. I think its amazing how when things get tough they cut the little guy when it would be so much easier to pinch the big guy.

Steve works community watch patrol on a volunteer basis, thus the police officer uniform.

He was offered a severance package (which by what I hear, he accepted) as well as part time opportunity to stay on air. Steve (again, from what I hear) is considering the part time offer to stay on air. He wasn’t just shoved out, which is what is being reported, but there simply wasn’t enough workflow in his department and he was offered (in my opinion) a generous and honorable “retirement”. The Post Register, as usual, didn’t let facts get in their way for the story.

On the sign for studio ops - 9/10ths of those employed in the position don’t know what the hell they are doing, and in order to get a good product on air, some need to be axed and replaced by competent individuals. Past management decisions allowed trash to remain employed.

The same is true for the receptionist that was let go. A good part time receptionist was employed, a bad part time receptionist was employed, and the bad employee was cut to increase “good” workflow and offer a better position to the deserving employee. The good part time employee is now full time with a benefits package - hard work pays off.

The sales manager was cut because the GM could handle both general and sales management, and again, an alternative was provided along with a severance package. Rather than perform normal sales duties, he chose to take only the severance package and move on in his career.

As for career availability on the website - a lot of that information is outdated. Several of those positions have been filled permanently. Some are still open, but are not related to economic decisions; purely based on employee performance. Six months to a year ago, Gina Berger made a bad business decision and changed responsibilities of the only employee that did any sort of updating on the non-news side of the website. Wonder why Gina Berger was pushed out?

All of these were smart business moves, all but Steve’s and Ed’s were (and are going to be) based on performance. Personally, I’m glad that some justice is being served within the company; too much had been allowed to slide under Gina Berger.

You wonder why KIDK has had low performance in ratings? Look to a majority of the employees running programming and newscasts. Things will be changing, I will promise you that, but none of it should be seen in a negative light. Do your work, do it well, don’t drink or smoke weed on the job, and you should be fine. Trust me, that crap was (and still is) going on.

Sad for Steve, loved the guy, but I’m sure if you asked him he would agree that what needed to be done was done. That’s the kind of guy Steve is. He’s like a father to me, and I mold much of what I hold high in values around what he’s said to me in every day conversation.

Bottom Line: The Post Register needed a winning front page article, and if they had reported the facts it would have been bumped back to A8 - 12. The Bradys are only interested in the Bradys.

Please note that I wasn’t referring to Steve as alcoholic pot smoking trash - these are entry level workers on the operations side. See the “Now Hiring Studio Techs” sign out front of the station. Steve had little to no interaction with these folks, and likely nothing of the sort got back to him.

Please ask Steve what he thinks before stating that the events that transpired were unjust. He has been around long enough to understand the actions that transpired in the last week and to accept the fact that these actions were necessary. First and foremost, Steve Cannon is for the community. Losing a PR position at a local TV station won’t stop him from fighting for what is right in the community. That is what you really need to be focusing on.

The new GM at KIDK introduces a level of professionalism that has been lacking for quite some time, and will definitely turn things around for the better. Be prepared to see great things come out of the station.

Fisher Insider #2-
Your comments about former KIDK GM Gina Berger are out of line. Gina kept that place afloat, in fact increased market share all while the parent company (Fisher) cut resources, continually undermined management and generally ignored any and all common sense guidelines about operating in this market. Without Gina, KIDK is nothing more than a rerun of “Everybody Loves Raymond” at 5-6 and 10pm.

I was tangentially involved with KIDK for a long time- back to the days when it was KID-TV.
I think Terry Miller is gone now, and I’m very sad Steve Cannon is, too. I’m equally sad to see that some of the senior management left is now hobbled- too many good people got pink slips.

While I was never an insider to the workings of the station, my work was sometimes done on-site in the studio, and I saw first hand how things steadily degenerated there over the years. The facilites ran down, and the people got into ego and territorial battles. I don’t know what the fights were about, but I saw some.

KIDK was once a huge influence and a source of community information to Idaho Falls, and I watched all that largely fade away.

But recently, I’ve seen some comeback, and I think they are getting back on track; the on-air talent is better, the stories are better written, and the news has more depth of inquiry now than it has had for years.

I just wish the on-air folks would use better diction; the word ‘get’ has permanently vanished, and replaced by ‘git’. That’s just an example, but everyone sounds like a bunch of valley girls these days. I know that KIDK and the other stations are mostly a stopping-off point for new careers on the rise, and a resting place for careers that have fallen, but the diction of the old-timers was crisp, clear, and professional.

KIDK isn’t the only station that has this problem- they all suffer from it. But the mark of a real pro is how clear and distinct their pronunciation is. Folks can hear common speech all day, but real pros have to deliver the goods, not the mush-mouth that the rest of us git away with.

Peter Jennings never graduated from high school, but he sure could pronounce English clearly and confidently, and he did pretty will for himself with this ability.

Back in the beginnings of KIDK, Roy Southwick and all the others spoke with the same quality. I wish the kids on air would do the same. Steve was one of the last good speakers, and has a natural warmth that isn’t faked.

They may have told you that she left of her own accord, but companies often give the “mutual agreement” option to long-timers or management higher-ups. She was axed, plain and simple.

I worked with Terry a few years back, he was a good guy. I heard that he retired? I know he was planning on it for a while.

Who really cares?

Fisher has been struggling for some time, locally and system wide. (what 5,6 COE’s in ten years) Locally KIDK really doesn’t have a lot to work with regarding viewership. Eastern Idaho has a very conservative dma and the programming CBS provides, well it doesn’t jive.. Must suck for AE’s.. Someone earlier wrote about diction, they’re right, but look at the pathetic broadcast KIFI puts out.. Where’s the journalism? And if you think 6-10 is bad, just try to watch their morning program.

Now back to KIDK, Cannon is a fine person, pleasure to have know him, but seriously I think he did quite well with the resources he had. I have to blame KIDK management for not getting more involved in the community, very poor effort.. Clearly they need a new promo person. Ted Dawson, had the misfortune to listen to him doing Boise State football…. I felt bad for J Anderson and Larry P… what a great opportunity Fisher had when they got the BSU contract…

Now let’s hit on sales…. Gosh they’re nice people, yet to see them miss a chamber lunch… I’ve also never met a group so willing to give their product away..

Engineering, Must admit, Mr Smith is a damn genius, wouldn’t be surprised if he is the real person behind Obama’s campaign..

KIDK Facility - I think Gary’s largest budget item is duct tape…. The KIDK marquee says it all…

Creative - Southwick’s largest budget item, is the same as Gary’s

Why didn’t KIDK do anything for Steve Cannon. Nothing was said on air. Steve Cannon WAS that station. Anchors and reporters would go, but Steve was always there. You would think KIDK would have a big thing for him, just like when Wayne from KLCE died. Granted, death and being fired are too different things, but come on. Do something for the guy. But no…kick him out the door with nothing. Thats sad!!!

Ya’ll make me giggle like a little school girl. Who is who is what I want to know.

I’d throw names out as far as who my guesses are…but that wouldn’t be very professional at all. I’ve burned enough bridges in my time.

“Again, it just shows the level of class (or complete lack thereof) of upper management at Fisher Seattle.” So are you saying that it was the “Upper Management” decision not to give Mr. Cannon a good some off? It was “Upper Management” who didn’t care to show a man’s 30+ years of work any kind of respect, and we had to hear about it from a newspaper and not the station itself. That’s a load of garbage. If KIDK or Fisher cared about their image or how people see them, they would have done a better job. Sometimes when given a task, you can do it the right way or the wrong way. KIDK and Fisher did it the wrong way.

So now I’m really confused…I read in the Post Register that Steve Cannon is laid off due to economic circumstance. The new GM claims he had nothing to do with it. I pay a visit to the Fisher website to find out who is the GM–a man named James Wareham. Interestingly enough, right below the Idaho Falls, ID Market information is the Pocatello, ID Market information. The general manager there? A man named Greg Wareham. No room for Steve anymore, but KIDK can afford two Wareham boys on the payroll. Anyone (Fisher Insider #2–you seem to know everything) care to explain how that happens? At this point, I’m done doing business with KIDK and anyone else who chooses to advertise with them.