Mark Curtis fans are starting to weigh in on the staff change at KTVU. They're not happy with KTVU's decision. What say you?
We wrote this post on Mark Curtis back in late May. In checking our website stats today, I noticed that traffic coming into our site over the last few days is spiking on search terms associated with Mark Curtis and KTVU.
As you can see from the comments starting to collect on the earlier post, some of the locals are not happy with KTVU's decision to replace Mark with an outsider.
The situation raises the question about ratings and polls. It seems that neither the news nor the government can be run without the two. Is Mark Curtis' departure a testament to ratings or the continued Hollywoodization of broadcast news?
Will Mark be able to console himself with the words of Walter Cronkite??? – And that's the way it is…
Related Post on SF Gate
18 Comments
This is the letter I sent in…
Dear Pam and Sal,
I do not have the email address that this should go to and so I am sending it to you both. Please pass it along.
I just learned that Mark Curtis was replaced – sorry, this is totally unacceptable. Mark and Pam with Sal in the mornings were a great team and I would not trust my morning news to another team. No offense, but the new guy does not work for me. What were the network brains thinking. 14 years does count for something.
Please pass this on to them. I am not nobody and I am expressing my disastisfaction both here and in an editorial. If Mark Curtis is no longer in the morning with Pam and Sal, then I will simply change channels (no offense Pam or Sal as you are both excellent broadcasters.)
Network brains, please also know that I will now be forwarding this email to everyone on my contact list. You have the opportunity to do something right and not make the same mistake that Kron 4 did when they dumped their network status and lost their people. In this age of video news, to have figures of reliability and integrity do give you the edge. Your morning team was very approachable. In the past, I have had the opportunity to email Mark and received a professional and courteous response within a short time.
It is my hope that this email, along with others that I am sure you must have heard, will resonate, unless you do not care losing a longtime loyal viewer.
You may contact me for further clarification, if need be.
–
Andre’ Gensburger
Publisher/Editor
Clayton and Concord Expressions Magazine
MAIL: 5433K Clayton Rd., #275
Clayton, CA. 94517
WEB: http://www.ccexm.com
BLOG: http://ccexm.blogspot.com/
PHONE: (925) 429-0019
FAX: (866) 470-3998
I too have been watching KTVU morning news for several years now. I am saddened to hear that Mark Curtis is no longer doing the morning news. I watch the news every morning as I get ready for work. I will now switch to a new station in protest of Mark Curtis being let go.
Please get rid of the new guy (Dave Clark). He is just plain bad! He does not gel with Pam or any of the crew on KTVU. Did they even interview this guy?
When I heard KTVU was letting go of Mark Curtis, I thought it was just a bad rumor. I wish it was. It was a sad error in judgement to let him go and the suits at KTVU management responsible for this should have their heads checked.
I too will be changing news stations as this is probably the first in a string of management blunders to come.
The new guy, Dave Clark, is bad. He’s stiff, too “flashy”, and just plain sucks.
Hi All,
I just decided to google ‘Mark Curtis’ as I finally realized Mark Curtis wasnt coming back !
I really liked watching the KTVU team every morning. Mark Curtis seemed to be genuine person that tried to help where he was able as far as donating his time to local charities.
Sorry to hear that he won’t be back. I will send KTVU a message about bringing him back ! Bring back Mark Curtis !
There is nothing wrong with the new guy–Dave Clark. He is a well-qualified, experienced journalist! I really think when a strong Black man (or Black woman, for that matter) gets a top position, others always have a problem with it! This happens constantly in offices all across America! He’s good and very professional. I know, now someone will say I’m playing the race card. Maybe it wouldn’t be played if people of other races will stop giving us (African Americans) a reason to have to fight for something we deserve or have earned!
Dave Clark is very professional and would have been a fine choice for this position if Mark Curtis had left the station on his own. However, the news team is not the same . . . any chance of switching Dave to a different shift and bringing Mark back?????
This note is written the management of KTVU.
Born in San Mateo and now a member of the Redding community since 1992 I always felt that KTVU kept me in touch with my roots as what seems to be a life long viewer. I am very fond of the KTVU anchors and feel like they are family. Though the good times and bad you could count on KTVU news.
Mark Curtis has a special flair in his presentation and depth of knowledge. You always can trust Mark to provide a clear, honest picture. An excellent reporter with a sense of humor. You will be greatly missed in our home in the mornings.
It was a sad day when we were notified that Mark Curtis would be replaced by “Daveâ€. I have given Dave a chance and have decided that every time he speaks it sounds like a lead in to a joke. I am sure Dave is nice man but he can never replace Mark Curtis. I hear Dave reporting I change the channel to CBS. Of course I am hoping for Mark to return to our mornings but know how it goes in big business entertainment. The corporate bureaucrats rule and don’t care much what the people think . Also, I am hoping that management is not thinking of replacing Dennis Richmond with Dave.
Thanks for listening….
I’ve changed my morning routine since Mark Curtis is no longer with KTVU. I’ve substituted by reading the news (with his voice) on the Yahoo website. He was that much part of my life. I will continue until Mark Curtis resurfaces. Good Luck Mark!
As a long time viewer of the KTVU morning news, I always enjoyed how Ross, Mark, Pam, Sal and the rest of the team presented the news and other segments. (I’m not crazy about the weather guy, but that’s another matter.)
When Dave Clark joined, I decided to give him a chance as he’s the new guy. After nearly 4 months, I’ve had enough and I’m changing to another station for my morning news.
The whole dynamic of the team has changed, and not for the better. Dave seems condescending and pompous in his delivery; it’s almost like he’s talking to a group of kids.
Please find another person to co-anchor the news. Dave Clark is a talented man, I’m sure. But his manner and style don’t seem to fit with anyone else on the team.
I posted the first time – just came across this again so thought I would update. It’s simple – I switched to Ch 5 CBS and enjoy the John Kessler Sydnie Kohara team. He is sarcastic and funny and she is a great foil. Ooops, too bad KTVU.
We are so sad that Mark Curtis has left the anchor chair at KTVU!!
Mark was a total professional as well as a caring, compassionate person. My daughter worked as an intern at KTVU several years ago. Mark was one of the nicest, most supportive people to work with, according to her. When her dad and I visited the station, we found Mark to be so gracious, caring, and generous with his time. He was obviously very intereted in the interns and their careers in tv news. He offered stories of his Washington days the political news arena as well as career path suggestions for our daughter.
Mark, you are a class act and are very missed by this family!! (P.S. What happened to the announcement that Mark was being taken off the anchor desk, but being put out in the field?)
This guy cuts off Pam and Tori, I just cant watch him anymore, I cant listen to him either. I have been loyal since 1980 but have to give up ktvu in the morning. If Dave goes to evening anchor he’s obviously related to someone at the news station.
I just say Dave Clark in the movie “Hancock”. I find him acceptable in the morning. My wife and I watch KTVU to see how “tore up” Sal is. I never watched Mark Curtis. I would like to see Ross get the boot. I find him very condescending and pompous.
The void @ KTVU is getting wider. We tend to watch it less and less. Mark was the glue that kept the group together. Something that hasn’t been mentioned was Mark’s direct questions to the guest he interviewed in Ross McGowan’s absence.
Speaking of McGowan …. the previous comments are his “condescending and pompous” approach are right on! We got tired of his interviews time-after-time with the old buddies.
For the interviews to be effective they need to have both side of issues addressed rather than just McGowan’s partisan pet postions …. Oh, well … let him have fun with his drinking buddies …. we left when Curtis left and frankly now enjoy the Today Show and their different weekly themes.
Change is difficult. Mark Curtis is a good reporter, but things change for a reason. I will not “armchair” production companies, but I will say, Dave Clark brings about less horseplay and more news programming.
KTVU-TV use to be “that station” with “Dialing for Dollars”,”Creature Features”, “Captain Cosmic”… but as people change, so should programming.
Do you even remember Steve McPharlin… and the fact that bought over Ross MacGowan? I didn’t hear the belly aching about Brian Copeland or Mark Pitta or the fact that there are no more public live sets. People change and so should programming.
Get on board, get over or get another life, but shut up already.
I have been wondering for quite a while just what did happen to Mark Curtis. There was no announcement from Channel 2; Mark just disappeared. Mark is a very good Anchor and Reporter. He seemed to interact well with the other staff. I don’t have a problem with Dave Clark, but Mark was more friendly while also being professional and knowledgeable. I realize that times change,but sometimes Mgmt. just needs to understand the meaning of “If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It”!!!! Bring Mark back….
Mark Curtis is now working in Providence, R.I. http://ww.abc6.com/story/14955933/mark-curtis
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