Catching up with the latest Orlando TV news … WESH 2’s Jim Payne was among several local anchors invited to the White House last week to interview President Obama — who was pushing his jobs plan. But why WESH instead of market-leader WFTV-Channel 9? I’m guessing the Obama team still hasn’t forgotten Barbara West’s satellite…
Barbara West
Barbara West leaving WFTV’s Eyewitness News
Veteran anchor Barbara West, who has been with WFTV’s Eyewitness News for 24 years, is leaving the station. NewsBlues.com reported today that West will leave the station sometime before Jan. 1. “She’s had a great run. We’ll miss her,” News Director Bob Jordan told NewsBlues. Despite a long career in Orlando in which she was…
Summer break over: Catching up on Orlando TV
After a nice summer break away from TV news, it’s time to catch up. And, wow, there has been a lot going on …. WFTV-Channel 9: Some of the most newsworthy changes have come from an unexpected place: the usually rock-steady Eyewitness News juggernaut. The big shocker: longtime anchor Barbara West is being taken off…
WFTV’s West back in news with Biden visit
With Vice President Joe Biden due to visit Orlando on Wednesday, Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker revived the discussion about WFTV anchor Barbara West’s controversial interview with Biden during the 2008 campaign. Boedeker asked WFTV News Director Bob Jordan if West would cover Biden’s visit for Eyewitness News. “Just for old time’s sake? That’s a…
Too many hugs for Casey Anthony? That’s what local stations say
Orlando’s local TV stations are so obsessed over Casey Anthony — especially now that it’s sweeps — maybe they just all need a hug? Sentinel TV Guy Hal Boedeker takes the local stations to task for overplaying a story about Anthony attorney Jose Baez hugging Casey twice while in jail. Boedeker wrote: “No way, Jose,” WFTV-Channel 9…
Spotlight still on Barbara West after Joe Biden interview
The spotlight continues to shine on WFTV anchor Barbara West in the wake of her much-discussed interview with Joe Biden. On Monday, West was on CNN and Bill O’Riley’s show on Fox News Channel to explain her oft-dowloaded interview with the Democrats’ vice presidential candidate. She also plans to be on more national shows Tuesday. (Here’s video…
WFTV goes from reporting news to becoming news
In the past couple of weeks, WFTV has gone from reporting the news to becoming the news. This past weekend brought national attention to Channel 9’s Eyewitness News for its Barbara West interview of Joe Biden. The anchor’s grilling of the veep candidate was the top story on DrudgeReport.com and FoxNews.com, and it was also…
Barbara West interview with Joe Biden getting national attention
Barbara West’s interview with Joe Biden for Eyewitness News is now getting national attention. The Orlando Sentinel blog post about the controversial interview is the No. 1 link on DrudgeReport.com right now on Saturday night. The Internet is abuzz about the interview. “Barbara West” is the No. 7 most searched term on Google right now,…
WFTV’s Barbara West defends much-discussed interview with Joe Biden (with video)
WFTV anchor Barbara West is defending her questioning of Democratic VP candidate Joe Biden. “I have a great deal of respect for him. I have a great deal of respect for Sen. Obama,” West told Orlando Sentinel TV critic Hal Boedeker. “We are given four minutes of a satellite window for these interviews. Four precious…
Obama campaign shuts out WFTV after West interviews Biden
Supposedly unhappy with how WFTV anchor Barbara West conducted an inteview with Democrate VP candidate Joe Biden, the Barack Obama campaign has told Channel 9 not to expect any more interviews through the duration of the presidential race. NewsBlues.com reports that what so offended the Obama campaign was when West asked Biden if “spread the…