* Robert Feder…
It’s only the first week in January, but I’m pretty sure we can already declare the dumbest TV executive of the year.
Dan Salamone, an executive producer at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32, this week told the women who report on “Good Day Chicago” not to wear hats during their outdoor live shots this winter, sources said Tuesday.
Salamone’s directive, which he did not issue to male reporters, said the women would “look a lot better without hats” and should go without them from now on. He’d be willing to make an exception, he said, “if it’s 20 below.”
* From last August…
“Growing the ratings in this time period is a big challenge and very important to the company,” Salamone told friends on Facebook. “I’m ready to dig in and help the entire team produce newscasts that will have the Windy City talking!” […]
Reputed to be an innovative news manager, Salamone attracted national attention in 2012 when he used puppets on the air to re-enact testimony from the corruption trial of a county commissioner after cameras had been barred from the courtroom.
From puppets to women’s winter hats.
Such innovation.
- The Way I See It - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 9:31 am:
Sex discrimination lawsuit waiting to happen …
- sal-says - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 9:32 am:
Is this guy 7 years old?
- Chicago - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 9:34 am:
I think former Senator Larry Bomke’s daughter is one of their female anchor/reporters.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 9:34 am:
Boy I wish this was in an email.
I’ve yet to turn off any reporter, male or female, wearing a hat because “You know, the hat just ruins it for me”.
I know, I’m alone in this, right?
Geez.
- Bogey Golfer - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 9:35 am:
“I’m ready to dig in and help the entire team produce newscasts that will have the Windy City talking!” Hey did you see the reporter standing over the Kennedy with the frozen hair? Guess he was right.
- AC - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 9:35 am:
At least he didn’t mandate Victoria’s Secret atire for female reporters. /s
- oldman - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 9:38 am:
This is a Fox news outlet, so why is anyone shocked?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 9:38 am:
You mean Fox hasn’t been hiring female reporters based on their knowledge and journalism skills?
Even for TV news, this guy is a special kind of stupid to put that out there. He didn’t think it would leak?
- Skeptic - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 9:40 am:
Maybe he took lessons from whoever it was that decided to make Jerry Springer an evening anchor.
- nikobey - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 9:41 am:
Rescind this dumb directive without delay!
- Lincoln Lad - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 9:45 am:
Sexist, and annoying. If this is part of the plan to boost viewers, I’d begin the search for his replacement.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 9:47 am:
what the what?!? yes, discrimination.
meanwhile over at the Chicago CBS affiliate, the new female anchor consistently astounds with one very low cut dress after another as she sits beside a man in a suit and tie. I cannot believe this is by accident. and it is offensive.
- Northsider - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 9:48 am:
TV “news” hasn’t been about news or journalism for quite some time. It’s infotainment. In this case, the effect is simply more overt because it’s Fox.
Of course, if the viewing public didn’t lap up this crap, TV execs wouldn’t do it.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 9:52 am:
Windchill or actual??? /s
- a drop in - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:09 am:
“Of course, if the viewing public didn’t lap up this crap, TV execs wouldn’t do it.”
Absolutely, they are marching in the streets demanding hatless female news announcers /snark.
- Flannery Fan - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:12 am:
Stop fooling around and give Mike Flannery the reins over there. Let’s put this in the hands of the professionals!
- Dave Dahl - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:12 am:
As they stand outside telling us telling us how cold it is so we should stay inside, and we can marvel, “No hat? Stupid.”
Coming up, stay in an interior room during the tornado, don’t go out and take video of it. But if you do have video, send it to us so we can play it on tee vee and put it online.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:13 am:
If Dan was smart, he’d go the other way and require hats on all telecasts. I might actually watch just to see if Larry Yellen was wearing a sombrero or a fedora at 9pm.
- downstate commissioner - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:14 am:
Amalia, what channel is this? Can we get it downstate? Us old men always like the news/(Snark)
- Dave Dahl - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:14 am:
I’ll bet more people could identify Bob Jordan’s “Big Bear” than watch a Channel 32 newscast …
- JoanP - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:15 am:
Read this article from the Trib’s Heidi Stevens: http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/stevens/ct-tracy-butler-abc7-wardrobe-balancing-20151223-column.html
Sadly, this sort of thing IS what viewers want (”Meteorologists, the women anyway, get a whole lot of feedback on their appearance”) and the on-air personalities acquiesce (”she keeps a daily wardrobe log”).
It’s pathetic.
- LizPhairTax - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:16 am:
The United Hatters, Cap and Millinery Workers International Union has been on a losing streak since inauguration day 1961.
- Facts are Stubborn Things - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:18 am:
should have said all reporters should not wear hats as part of a new dress code. Exceptions for extremely cold weather or health issues would be addressed. No different then dress code to wear suit or dress etc. Big mistake to say no hats for the ladies only. Appearance is part of the business but no hats for just the ladies….wow.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:20 am:
Anyone doing standups outdoors in the Chicago winter who is not dressed for the conditions doesn’t “look good,” they “look like an idiot.”
When The Hawk’s on the wing, vanity goes on to Florida.
- Joe M - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:21 am:
Standing out in a blizzard without a hat, to report the news, doesn’t make any sense. I would hate to work for someone like Salamone. I hope someone does file a discrimination complaint.
- Turn The Tables - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:24 am:
Just a thought. Would people care if the roles were reversed and the female station EP told a reporter not to wear a hat because it would ruin his hair? It has very little to do with sex discrimination…
- Amalia - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:28 am:
Dear Downstate Commissioner: thank you for proving—even with snark— just how difficult things are in the news biz.
Flannery Fan is right on!!!!
- Mama - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:28 am:
What century is this man from?
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:32 am:
TtT, you make no sense.
Your imaginary scenario did not occur.
In the real world, the male exec told only female reporters not to wear hats because “they would look better.”
It’s still early in 2016. Resolve to improve your reading comprehension skills.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:34 am:
The question everyone wants answered in this: Are female PUPPETS banned from wearing hats?
- Flannery Fan - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:35 am:
Thank you Amalia.
If there’s going to be harassment charges, let’s at least put Chicago’s own Ron Burgundy at the top of the heap to call balls and strikes at this station.
- Joe M - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:37 am:
==Would people care if the roles were reversed and the female station EP told a reporter not to wear a hat because it would ruin his hair?==
If a reporter was wearing a hat, we wouldn’t even be seeing his or her hair - ruined or not.
- Soccermom - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:39 am:
FLANNERY!
- ??? - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:44 am:
Turn the Tables - if a station issued a rule that only one gender had to follow, regardless of the gender, yes, it would be sex discrimination. Which is what happened here.
- Flannery Fan - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 10:50 am:
Just saying if the station needs a new top cop then Flannery is the man and he should throw his hat in the ring. That way he could express his intentions to lead and stand in solidarity with his hatless female coworkers all in one motion.
- Turn The Tables - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 11:01 am:
I’m sure the station has different ‘rules’ for each gender because certain ‘rules’ do not apply to each gender. And wordslinger, it was purely a hypothetical…
- Wensicia - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 11:04 am:
Next up, no gloves either! All females should be properly coiffed and manicured!
- Stones - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 11:05 am:
Personally, I think a nice hat adds class.
- Flannery Fan - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 11:10 am:
Darn right it does, Stones.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 11:24 am:
–I’m sure the station has different ‘rules’ for each gender because certain ‘rules’ do not apply to each gender.–
What in the world are you babbling about? Do you have a clue as to what you’re trying to say?
- Jimmy CrackCorn - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 11:28 am:
I assume that when Salamone finished penning his directive, he lit his cigarette made a suggestive comment to his secretary, and scurried down to the bar to meet Roger Sterling and Don Draper for lunch martinis.
- FIREDup! - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 11:33 am:
“Ladies, I’ve given this a little more thought. No coats either! Racks = Ratings!” Yikes…
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 11:37 am:
I am sitting here ill - literally ill - after reading this.
I really hope this turns into a major law suit for Fox News.
- Anonymiss - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 11:39 am:
Um, I’m with @wordslinger, TtT.
“because certain ‘rules’ do not apply to each gender…” Huh? Only women have hair now? Or is that only women are supposed to look pretty and feminine and appealing?
It’s discrimination and sexist, plain and simple. Not to mention idiotic. Every see someone with long hair do a live shot in high wind without a hat?
- Amalia - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 11:46 am:
I look forward to an appearance of Mike Flannery on Men in Blazers as he is not a bald denier. (yes, only Gooner may understand this!)
- Jake From Elwood - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 12:16 pm:
Amalia, Flannery on MIB would not be sub-optimal! Also, Mike dons some cool Irish hats.
- Jake From Elwood - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 12:19 pm:
To the post, why is anyone surprised that a TV executive would want to “sex up” the local newscast?
Boorish behavior, yes. Shocking behavior, no.
- Anon221 - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 12:27 pm:
Jamie Yuccas and her promotion to CBS national desk- warning, this website has some strong language. Scroll down to the comments and see Devonna’s at 10:48 am
http://jezebel.com/female-reporters-at-chicagos-wfld-reportedly-banned-fro-1751337181
From the Trib-
http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/stevens/sc-fox-tv-newswomen-cannot-wear-hats-balancing-20160106-column.html
- Harry - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 12:45 pm:
Because nothing guarantees ratings like a woman with frostbitten ears?
- Amalia - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 12:59 pm:
and Jake From Elwood joins the football MIB loving pack! now you must divulge your side as I’m sure Gooner would want you to do!
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 2:32 pm:
I don’t watch television news anymore.
It isn’t entertaining, nor informative.
It wastes everyone’s time and is more interested in how people look, than the actual news.
I don’t want to see a reporter wearing a parka, looking at me and saying how cold it is. I don’t want to see a reporter asking strangers about how cold it is. Perhaps it is entertaining for my grandma, but it isn’t news.
Dan Salamone seems to be the kind of guy who believes the reason people stopped buying 78 rpm vinyl records is because the labels aren’t attractive.
Or is this entire story some kind of a prank?
- Amalia - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 3:13 pm:
more on tv reporter issues, is the NBC Chicago reporter Maragos related to New Trier Committeeman Dean Maragos?
also, Jay Levine has turned in his everyday credentials.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 4:10 pm:
Apparently this guy has had his er, hat handed to him and has been overruled and disciplined by station higher-ups.
- JoanP - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 5:21 pm:
“Apparently this guy has had his er, hat handed to him . . .”"
Aw, that’s a shame. They should take it away from him and make him stand outdoors.
- steve schnorf - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 6:51 pm:
Northsider has it exactly right> Almost none of these people are reporters, and most also aren’t journalists: they are news readers in some cases and infotainment personalities in others, and who knows whats. There aren’t many Walter Chronkites out there any more. Nope, blazing white teeth, a great smile, nifty wardrobe, glib patter, and breathiness when something that might be important is being read passes now.
Chronkite, Edward R Murrow, Eric Sevareid, Charles Collingwood, Howard K. Smith, Daniel Schorr, Bill Downs, and on and on. God, must they weep. Many times I think we should too.
- Gregory Tejeda - Wednesday, Jan 6, 16 @ 7:13 pm:
This issue couldn’t help but remind me of the local TV station that once tried to decree its female reporters ought to only wear silk blouses on-air, as it made them look more feminine — in the eyes of a producer. And people wonder why I cling to the newspaper form.