Rowlett Upset Over ‘Shill’ Accusation

Preston Hollow resident and longtime local television-news anchor Tracy Rowlett decided this week to share with us his reasons for leaving KTVT (CBS Channel 11) and heading for Shale.TV. The online video channel is sponsored solely by Chesapeake Energy Corporation and is dedicated to covering the Barnett Shale. 

Rowlett said his decision to leave KTVT (CBS Channel 11) stemmed from his frustrations with current television news reporting practices.

“This isn’t really news that we are getting today. It is more of a smattering of less important information that is being presented for a specific age group,” Rowlett said. “That is women, 18 to 49. So we are getting a lot of car wrecks and fires and vanity pieces — that is the latest diet or the latest plastic surgery or whatever. But these are not important items in our community.”

Rowlett was also less than pleased about being called a shill by members of the Dallas media. 

“’He’s sold out, he’s a shill,’” Rowlett said as he parroted his critics from the confines of his Preston Hollow home. “That is the easiest thing in the world to say … It takes a little more brainpower to understand what we are doing.”

You can read more about it here. Once you’ve heard Tracy speak his peace, leave us your thoughts and opinions in the comments section. 

Do you think Tracy and the rest of the Shale.TV staff can provide an unbiased view of drilling in the Barnett Shale? Or is it some elaborate PR campaign aimed at improving Chesapeake Energy’s public image?  

Mourning a Loss at Celebrity Cafe

UPDATE: The reader tells us he got his facts wrong in the first version. The following story took place at Celebrity Cafe in Highland Park Village, and the woman in question was 24.

A reader shares this story, which is a great reminder that we need to take the time to appreciate the people we come in contact with on a daily basis, even if it’s just the person behind the counter at the restaurant or the dry cleaner:

My wife came home crying the other day because she had stopped by the City Café to go to pick up and iced tea, and instead of the cheerful attractive lady that usually greats her, there was a framed photo of that same lady. The mid 30’s lady had died in a car accident the day before, her 3 children, aged 2,4 and 7 were also injured. (more…)

Re: Journalism at its Finest

My personal favorite YouTube news story is Bubb Rubb and the Whistler Tips

I Got Kicked Out of Starbucks

So I was in Oak Cliff this morning working on a story about the closing of its location on Illinois Avenue. It’s one of only three Starbucks in Oak Cliff. When I went in the store to get some reaction from the Starbucks’ staff, they were very nice, but made it clear they didn’t [or couldn't] talk to me, and quickly handed me a phone number for the corporate office as a manager held the door open for me ushering me quickly out the door.

Ah, such is the life of a nosey reporter…

Journalism at Its Finest

It’s a slow news day here at the paper. I’m thinking it was also a slow news day in Mobile, Ala., when this broadcast package came out a few years ago.

Enjoy.

Merritt’s Mailing it In

She asked me to post this from Frontburner. Wonder who their media buyer is?

Who Needs Photos?

So it’s really close to the day of my wedding, and I’m frantically finishing all those billion last-minute details (that’s why I’ve been a little nonexistent today). Anyhoo, last night, I got a call telling me my photographer no longer works for the studio we booked her through. I’m currently searching for a new one. Did I mention my wedding is literally right around the corner?

The point of this post (beside allowing me to tell my sob story) is: Have any of you had any wedding planning horror stories? Let me hear them. But. Please. Do not tell me wedding-day horror stories. I don’t want to dream about that.

Stafford on Davey O’Brien Award Watch List

Former Highland Park and current Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford has been selected to the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List.

Stafford is one of 31 players named to the list. The award is given annually to the top college quarterback for a Bowl Subdivision team.

The winner will be named Dec. 11. (more…)

Kershaw Looks Sharp

After a stint in the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers, former Highland Park star pitcher Clayton Kershaw is back in the minors.

Kershaw, who is now at Double-A Jacksonville, had one of his strongest outings of the season last night in an 8-0 victory. He went five innings, allowing just one hit against the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.

Map of Closing Starbucks Locations

Maybe Overheard is quiet today because cnn.com posted  this map for Starbuckers to figure out if their fix must be re-routed with the closing of 600 locations.

Overheard is Lame Today

Is anyone reading?  Make a comment - even a random, mundane, “I-just-washed-my-hair” comment.  Come on, it’ll be fun.