THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 26, 1995 TAG: 9510260075
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Larry Bonko
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
BRING DUANE down off the roof. Now!
That's the message from nine out of 10 readers who buzzed Infoline (640-5555, Category 3333) to comment about changes that have swept over WTKR like a tsunami since The New York Times Co. bought the CBS affiliate.
There is a new identity (``News Channel 3''), expanded weekend coverage, a new cool blue set for local newscasts and Operation Rudolph - sending meteorologist Duane Harding and the station's other weather reporters to the roof when doing their forecasts.
Readers are generally pleased with the new set, although several wonder about the ``window'' in the shape of Virginia, where reporters appear when calling in from the field. Nina Beam in Virginia Beach said she had friends visiting from out of state who were puzzled by its shape.
``What in the world is THAT?'' they asked, to quote Beam.
Of the more than 100 callers who took part in this unscientific survey, many said they approved of WTKR's hiring of LeAnne Rains to be co-anchor along with Tim Randles at 6 and 11 on Channel 3 and at 10 p.m. on WGNT.
Fred Minchew, Portsmouth: ``LeAnne Rains is definitely the best thing to happen to the station since Ed Hughes was hired to do the news. As for her hair color and style, I'd watch even if she had no hair. LeAnne is wonderful.''
In the opposite corner are a handful of readers, including Linda Dyer in Virginia Beach, who prefer Jane Gardner and the recently fired Carol Novotny Horton to Rains. ``She could use some of Gardner's warmth and congeniality,'' said Dyer.
As for sending Harding to the roof in rain or shine, the Infoline callers reject the notion that just because you stick your weather guy on the station's roof, he will deliver a better forecast. A sampling:
George Wishart, Virginia Beach: ``It's a bit much to see such a professional as Duane Harding on the roof acting the part of the weather clown. Bring him back into the studio where he belongs.''
Joe Goldberg, Virginia Beach: ``It is just plain ridiculous to have a weather reporter up the roof with his jacket on, his hair blowing all over the place while trying to be heard over the roar of airplanes passing overhead. Who came up with such an idea?''
Diane Jordan, Virginia Beach: ``The idea of sending Duane to the roof in all kinds of weather is the most bizarre, adolescent stunt I have ever seen in local television here. The man doesn't deserve to be treated like that.''
Rodney J. Van Houten, Virginia Beach: ``Having a weather reporter on the roof is nothing but a stunt. With all the electronic means available to forecast weather, who needs to be outside? It's ridiculous.''
Ted Grayson, Norfolk: ``Forecasting the weather from a rooftop is for younger guys like Don Slater on WAVY. But an older, classy guy like Duane looks very much out of place on the roof. ''
Not everybody dislikes Operation Rudolph.
Leonard Dobrin in Virginia Beach: ``What does it matter where Harding stands when he does the weather? He's clearly the best trained and most competent meteorologist we have on local television.''
Laverne Jones in Portsmouth: ``I love the new set on Channel 3, and I love to see Duane do the weather from the roof. It's one of the best things ever to happen in local news.''
Cindy Taylor, Virginia Beach, asks why I criticize WTKR so often.
The answer is I am not singling out Channel 3 for heat. The new and former owners of WTKR made moves intended to bring up the ratings in local news.
Some of the innovations, such as the orangy news set of the previous regime and the cutout of Virginia in the present set, offend the eye. Sending Harding up on the roof three and four times a day is bush. I expected more from the company that publishes the classiest newspaper on the planet. by CNB