KTVU was prepared to air a news report detailing the latest developments in the case. Sources at the station said news director Amber Eikel and editors didnt think Somervilles proposed tag, a brief closing the story, was an appropriate way to cover the issue and would blur the lines between an anchor delivering a straight news story and offering editorial commentary. I work out every day.. The collision occurred eastbound on West Grand Avenue, Windham wrote. 1. He also was off the air for much of last summer following a now-infamous May 30, 2021 newscast, when he repeatedly slurred and stumbled over his words and appeared to have trouble reading off the teleprompter. FRANK Somerville has reportedly been pulled off the air at KTVU over his coverage of the Gabby Petito case. Somerville, 63, took over as anchor of the six o'clock and ten o'clock news broadcasts at KTVU in 2008, following the retirement of Dennis Richmond. In a May broadcast of KTVU's 10 p.m. news program,. Days later, a spokesperson for Fox the network that owns and operates KTVU announced that Somerville would take an indefinite leave of absence to focus on his health.. Since then, Fox and station management have refused to publicly speak to the issue. Somerville reportedly told the producer that Eikel had approved a shortened version, a source said. But the way this story captivated the nation has many wondering why not the same media attention when people of color go missing?" Mr. The City of San Leandro also issued an official proclamation honoring him for speaking out about missing women of color and setting an example of strength and equity to our community and those worldwide.. ), He disputed one comment that said he looked sick on a video he posted talking about an incident in which his daughter was allegedly racially profiled. In November, Somerville told this news organization that management had not contacted him since September, when he was suspended from his anchoring duties for an off-air dispute about coverage of the Gabby Petito case. The next day, Somerville was told he was suspended for defying a superiors orders, sources said. A station spokesperson could not be reached as of Friday evening, and Eikel declined to comment. He was also named anchor of Channel 2 News at 5 in April 2005, when it was launched. ", KTVU again removes Frank Somerville from the air, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early. Longtime KTVU anchor Frank Somerville, who's been off the air since being suspended by management in September over a disagreement about the coverage of the Gabby Petito case, is speaking out and . 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KTVU's news division was infamously responsible for broadcasting the offensive fake names of the pilots of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 following a July 2013 crash at SFO, a mistake they blamed on the National Transportation Safety Board who, in turn, blamed a summer intern. Venerated KTVU anchor Frank Somerville, days after an odd Sunday broadcast in which he can be seen on-air slurring his speech while reading a teleprompter, will be on indefinite leave starting . His last video was published March 31, voicing his perspective on the Will Smith slap at the Oscars and recounting anincident in which his wifes boss repeatedly harassed her. I helped make Mornings on 2 the No. Woman suspected of making threats toward Christian schools campus in Walnut Creek arrested So, I'm assuming I've done my last newscast," Somerville said. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 6th 2023 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Cusick Funeral Home (80 Mountain Ave, Somerville, NJ 08876). When I saw Will Smith stand up for his wife, it reminded me of what I didnt do 30 years ago, he says in the video. The request was denied by KTVU news director Amber Eikel, who called the tagline inappropriate, a source told SFGATE in September, leading to criticism from the Oakland chapter of the NAACP. But even with such declarations, community activists say they have yet to hear from the station managers or Fox about their concerns. Since his departure from KTVU, he has steadily posted videos on Instagram featuring an assortment of commentary. Somerville, who has an adopted black daughter, reportedly pushed back after the tagline was refused. [citation needed] He attended Berkeley High School, graduating in 1976. On Wednesday night's 6 o'clock broadcast, Heather Holmes anchored the show with Andre Senior, saying at the top of the hour, "Frank and Julie are off tonight.". On Tuesday, the district attorneys office charged Somerville with driving under the influence of alcohol, as well as driving with a blood-alcohol level over .08, with an added clause for having a level over .15. The venerated KTVU anchor spoke to the Bay Area News Group in an interview published . In related news, CNN is reckoning with its Petito coverage and just took up a local missing-persons case involving Arianna Fitts, a Bay Area girl who is black, and who went missing in 2016 at the age of 2. Galvis said activists intentions werent to wag the finger but to foster a dialogue with a media organization thats a Bay Area icon with tremendous power.. Crime and Public Safety | George Galvis, executive director of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, which helped organize the Oct. 12 rally, said KTVUs silence is a response.. If not, Ill go to other stations outside of the market. DSW is closing on Powell Street, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen says the metaverse scares her, and SF Mayor London Breed has come out vocally in support of the recall of three school board members. 53-127 m (174-417 ft) (avg. Longtime KTVU anchor Frank Somerville shared a Facebook post Saturday reflecting on his arrest and his termination from KTVU nearly a year later. He returned in August, but a month after, was suspended permanently following turmoil over the coverage of Gabby Petito, the missing van-lifer who was killed by her fiance Brian Laundrie in September. I think its probably time to (let them know) were still listening and waiting, Holland said. Frank Somerville said Tuesday that he expects he has anchored his last newscast at KTVU, given that management hasn't contacted him since he was suspended in September for an off-air dispute. 69 m or 226 ft) 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km 2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. Somerville was booked into Santa Rita Jail in Dublin after his arrest, then released with a citation to appear in court. This latest incident, coming just six weeks after Somervilles return to the anchor desk, will undoubtedly trigger speculation about his future with the station. 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KTVU's "Ten O'Clock News" has long held the top spot for the Bay Area's highest rated news broadcast. According to two KTVU newsroom sources, who declined to give their names because they were not authorized to speak on the record, Somerville wanted to add a 46-second tag to an update on the Petito case, which aired Sept. 21. The longtime KTVU news anchor is married to his wife, Donna Wright, a television producer. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Frank Somerville says KTVU wouldnt re-sign, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early, Frank Somerville says KTVU wouldnt re-sign him: I am done at Channel 2, Bay Area TV anchor Frank Somerville arrested on suspicion of DUI after crash in Oakland, Frank Somerville says hes done at KTVU, apologizes to newsroom for drama, Wheres Frank Somerville? Frank Celeste, Gibson Sotheby's International Realty. 2. Longtime KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville was booked into jail early Friday morning for allegedly driving under the influence, after a car crash at a busy intersection in downtown Oakland. According to station sources, Somerville, 63, has been "suspended indefinitely" by Channel 2 management after a disagreement with news director Amber Eikel over coverage of the Gabby Petito. At that point, Somerville stopped driving; police arrived a short time later. The case of Gabby has sparked a national outcry as her fianc Brian Laundrie continues to evade authorities. He first joined the San Francisco Bay Area station in 1991 and in 2008 became an anchor of the six o'clock and ten o'clock news broadcasts. Frank Somerville finally returns to KTVU: Are viewers owed an explanation? Meanwhile, the media coverage issue Somerville had hoped to raise has garnered plenty of attention in recent days as debate rages over how much is too much. [16][17][18][19], Somerville has been a vegetarian since the age of 12. Former KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville was charged earlier this week with driving under the influence following an arrest in late December in Oakland, Alameda County prosecutors and police said. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! He added that the decision was made long before December, when the alleged DUI took place. [5] He then attended San Francisco State University. 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Get all the latest & greatest posts delivered straight to your inbox, Longtime Bay Area Anchor Frank Somerville Off Air Since Slurred-Speech Broadcast On Sunday, AdWeek's TVSpy blog is covering his disappearance, fake names of the pilots of Asiana Airlines Flight 214, Day Around the Bay: San Jose Man Arrested In Connection With PG&E Transformer Explosions, Berkeley Poised to Close Famed Anthropology Library, Angry Students In Full Occupy Mode, The SFPD Brags About Busting Johns Seeking Sex Workers on Capp Street. And I wont stop fighting for equal media representation for all victims.. A KTVU spokesperson later explained that he left the air to focus on his health.. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 1 newscast in the market. Somerville wanted the tag to address domestic violence and the medias tendency to overlook reports about missing and slain women of color, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, which obtained a copy of Somervilles original tag. [8] He returned to the anchor chair on August 4 without addressing the incident that saw his brief departure. A picture of him styling his Black, adopted daughter's hair went viral on the Internet. Following Somervilles suspension, two rallies were held outside the KTVU studios in Jack London Square in October, both sparked by his reported desire to address disparities in media coverage of White crime victims like Petito versus women of color. They had told me long before that.. In a May broadcast of KTVUs 10 p.m. news program, Somerville was recorded slurring his words and abruptly left midbroadcast with no explanation. He was named after his father's childhood friend, Frank Patty, and his paternal grandfather, William Somerville. Sources told the outlet that Somerville was informed by station management the next day that he was being suspended. Stay up to date! His name came after his father's friend, Frank Patty and his parental grandfather, William Somerville . He has been taking many steps to address the circumstances that led to this case, including attending meetings and working on himself so that nothing like this ever happens again, Dugan said. Former KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville was charged earlier this week with driving under the influence following an arrest in late December in Oakland, Alameda County prosecutors and police. I feel great, he said in response. As per the sources, he was named after his father's friend Frank Patty. Somerville was hospitalized shortly after the incident and was booked at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 7th 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the same location. KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville again has been removed from the air, but this time a newsroom spat not an on-air meltdown appears to be the reason. Frank Somerville was "suspended indefinitely," according to the Mercury News, after a behind-the-scenes disagreement about his coverage of 22-year-old Petito's disappearance. Why is 'Gabriel Salazar car accident' trending? The longtime news anchor faced a rocky 2021. And the photo has since gone. In an interview with the Bay Area News Group published Friday, the celebrated former KTVU anchor. MSNBC host Joy Reiddiscussed the Gabby Petito case on her showon September 20. Somerville was born on March 19, 1958, in San Luis Obispo, California, but was raised in Berkeley. 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Earlier this year, Somerville disappeared from the air without explanation after a fairly strange Memorial Day Weekend broadcast in which he was slurring words and seemed unable to read the teleprompter. In interviews this week, Somerville declined to say anything more about his departure from KTVU, his arrest or his plans. Last week, the City of San Leandro also issued an official proclamation honoring the multiple Emmy-winning anchor for speaking out about missing women of color and setting an example of strength and equity to our community and those worldwide.. According to Windham's statement, Somerville showed symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol when officers reached him. Frank Somerville (born March 19, 1958) is an American television journalist. According to station sources, Somerville, 63, has been suspended indefinitely by Channel 2 management after a disagreement with news director Amber Eikel over coverage of the Gabby Petito homicide case. He's still in mourning over the cancellation of "Freaks and Geeks. [13], In December 2022, Somerville went public about his dismissal from the station on a Facebook post. All rights reserved, with driving under the influence following an arrest in late December in Oakland. 4ba. Joshua Bote is the tech editor at SFGATE. But beyond that, the outlet did not get much more information from Somerville, who has had a rocky 2021. Early Life and Education. Among them, whether the anchor was offering an effective or appropriate way to challenge the medias often lopsided obsession with stories about White women in jeopardy. But he wouldn't be back on the air until August, and then within weeks, this controversy erupted behind the scenes about the Petito case. "Frank Somerville to replace Dennis Richmond", "KTVU's Somerville settling in as Richmond's replacement", "Asiana: Anchor says KTVU never sounded-out racist pilot names", "KTVU anchor Somerville to take time away after slurred newscast", "Frank Somerville returns to KTVU after two months of leave", "Frank Somerville suspension: How the dispute over 'Gabby' Petito coverage unfolded at KTVU", "Frank Somerville says he's done at KTVU, apologizes to newsroom for 'drama', "Frank Somerville arrested for suspected DUI after crash", "Frank Somerville says KTVU wouldn't re-sign him: 'I am done', "Frank Somerville publicly opens up about arrest, KTVU exit", "Former KTVU Anchor Frank Somerville Speaks Publicly About Addiction Issues", "Image of Bay Area news anchor doing his daughter's hair touches people all over country | The Mommy Files | an SFGate.com blog", "Tender photo of TV anchor un-braiding daughter's hair goes viral", "A white dad does his black daughter's hair, and the Internet smiles", "10 Questions for Frank Somerville; Up Close and Personal with KTVU's Top Dog; And Something that may Surprise You", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frank_Somerville&oldid=1133399814, American television reporters and correspondents, Berkeley High School (Berkeley, California) alumni, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 16:12. Previously: Anchorman Frank Somerville's Future at KTVU In Doubt As Rumors Swirl About High Drama In the Newsroom. February 27, 2023 equitable estoppel california No Comments . According to station sources, Somerville, 63, has been "suspended indefinitely" by Channel 2 management after a disagreement with news director Amber Eikel over coverage of the Gabby Petito. The multiple Emmy winner lives in Oakland, grew up in Berkeley and graduated from Berkeley High and San Francisco State University. Its really, really sad, because Ive given 31 years to the station, he said. For whatever reason, they decided not to re-sign me.. He was named after his father's childhood friend, Frank Patty, and his paternal grandfather, William Somerville. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. As of now, he is already 64 years old and his zodiac sign is Pisces. George Kelly is a breaking news reporter for the Bay Area News Group's East Bay Times and Mercury News. His suspension came just six weeks after a previous leave of absence for health issues when he struggled to read his teleprompter and slurred his words during a broadcast in May. He took an indefinite leave of absence in June following a broadcast of the TheTenO'ClockNewsonKTVU in which he slurred lines and left mid-broadcast, resulting in speculation over his health and well-being. (He was a prolific Facebook user until September. Federal jury finds Bay Area man guilty in string of East Bay bank robberies Now, the tagline controversy has put Somerville in a position that journalists usually find uncomfortable: instead of reporting on the story, he is the story. Somerville does not believe that his Dec. 30 arrest in Oakland on suspicion of driving under the influence was a factor in the stations decision. Silence irks activists, stirs questions about suspension, Oakland NAACP calls for Frank Somervilles reinstatement at KTVU. The Berkeley native had been an intern at KTVU many years before. Mini Bio (1) Frank Somerville co-anchors the weekday editions of "KTVU Channel 2 News at 5," "KTVU Channel 2 News at 6" and "The Ten O'Clock News on KTVU Channel 2." Somerville joined San Francisco's KTVU Channel 2's Mornings on 2 and The Noon News in January 1992. What Somerville did that was so wrong is less clear. Because Mr. Somervilles case is pending, he cannot personally comment at this time, but he takes full responsibility for what happened that night.. Somerville did not reply to repeated efforts to contact him, nor did representatives from Fox News, who said last month only that the anchor had been suspended pending further review. No one at KTVU, including news director Amber Eikel, would speak on the record. I wish I could apologize to all of them in person.