The Larry Kane Report

One of the key themes of my first novel (above) is the hysteria that often surrounds weather forecasting. Sometimes it jars you. Other times it can be outright deceptive. In my book, it adds gravity to a cataclysmic fictional event.  But there’s something positive to report.  In reality, the forecasting of all the Philadelphia TV stations was extraordinary on Hurricane Irene. So was the reporting.  But the real hero was KYW Newsradio 1060. (I am a special contributor for the station). Before the storm, during ( when thousands were without power) , radio was king. KYW Newsradio as always was clear and steady, with the best information on preparation and safety. Congratulations to my colleagues.

The TV weather folks were subdued,  and serious, and cautionary, along with most of the anchors. Special kudos to Kathy Orr at CBS 3, Glenn (Hurricane) Schwartz at NBC 10 (I’m a broadcast consultant for Comcast which owns NBC),  and a new young star in town who is versatile and so comfortable to watch – Channel 6′s Alicia Vitarelli.  I didn’t catch Bolaris on Fox, but I hear he did well.

Also,  good work by the public officials: Michael Nutter and Chris Christie sounded the appropriate tone of alarm. Tom Corbett was steady. It was nice to see him arrive here during the storm. He makes few trips to this region.

But what a nerve by some national media correspondents who blasted the networks for too much coverage on Irene. There were even suggestions that the story was overblown. That’s why some media critics are critics and not hard news journalists. Can they feel the pain of the families in Pennsyvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, and New England? I mean, this story impacted 17 states!  Even suggesting that the suffering and heartache of millions of Americans, many still without power, is evidence of the kind of national media elitism that gives this business a bad name.

Like many of you I am ready for the worst, and maybe, if we get lucky, something a little better. I’m also fascinated that the warnings, the ones we’ve been receiving for a couple of days now, are being heeded, so much so that the rush on stores is even more hectic than the usual prepping for a two-inch snow storm, which, in this community, is pretty frenetic.

Usually, it’s the bread that runs out first, but not this time. Suddenly, like so many others, i found out that the most valuable commodity in the area was the staple of all batteries, the ancient and trusty “D” battery, which fuels so many traditional flashlights. I traveled to a few electronic stores, food stores and drug stores, and not a “D” was to be found. Also among the missing – battery powered radios. I brought in an old “transistor” style radio to get some batteries (9 volts), and some desperate customers were offering small fortunes to take it off my hands. But I wasn’t giving up this 35 year old piece of magic – the hand-held radio, once a product of high value, and now, with Irene headed for a visit here, valuable once again. Does anyone remember, before the MP3 days, the joy of playing a transistor radio on the beach?

Now, the question is: What do you do if you can’t find “D” batteries?.The answer is to buy “C” batteries. And the smart merchants were the ones who were offering flash lights that used “C’s”. You could also buy some of the new flashlights that use “AA” or “AAA.”

But here’s a tip from my panel of experts. If you have children or grandchildren, remember that many kid’s toys are powered by “D’s.” Just swap them out until the worst is over.

In the meantime, by the time you read this, “D’s” may be available. My recommendation: get them and hold them. You don’t want to experience Irene in the dark.

Be safe.

Message to future public servants from a reporter who has watched all of this for decades.  Don’t  attempt to hide under a blanket of insecurity and alleged non disclosure. Don’t put yourself first by appearing to ignore the media, and appearing to be secretive. Don’t avoid ensuing crises, so that more kids  might be in danger. South Philadelphia High School comes to mind. Don’t kill contracts, and award others under a cloud possible favoritism. Don’t embarrass the Mayor by not communicating with him.

Some other lessons: Arrogance usually accompanies power. That just happens. But to future leaders: try to control it.

Dr. Ackerman does deserve the attention paid to improving test scores. That accomplishment should be respected, as it is. But unfortunately, in the grand scheme of things. the schools chief became the story rather than making the story happen. That’s always problematic.

After vanishing for a few days, Philadelphia’s embattled school boss is embattled, in public. Right now, it’s all about her. She has vowed to stand and fight. Forget about it. The Mayor wants her out. The School Reform Commission chief wants her out. The unions would like to see her go. Whether it is contracts, bad relations with the Mayor’s office, lack of access to the press, or the autocratic style, Dr. Arlene Ackerman has caused a great distraction. News that corporate Philadelphia is trying to raise enough money to pay her million-plus settlement is unusual. You tell me, who negotiates a contract with a public official which gives that official a golden parachute at the public’s expense????

THE BIGGEST QUESTION -

The most commonly asked question from readers of my newsroom-Philadelphia novel, “Death By Deadline”, is: are newsrooms that profane and full of that much fear and loathing? The answer is…. some, but not all. Second question: Did you ever see that much profanity used in real life newsrooms. Answer: Much of the time, including the use of profanities in and around open microphones. Question: Are news managers that callous? Answer: Rarely, but some of them will  brag about some of the slop they put into their newscasts to get ratings. Question: Are any Philadelphia anchors portrayed in the book? Answer: No. Most of them are brighter than the folks in this book. And I can assure you that not one of them has an obsession with a pencil sharpener. (ha)

Tim Pawlenty is done as a Presidential candidate, further evidence that Michelle Bachmann, for now, is very, very potent in the campaign.

For weeks, the prognosticating press geniuses (not me!) have proclaimed that Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann is the devil in disguise as Elvis would say. They just don’t get it! Bachmann is so representative of the conservative march spreading across the upper plains and elsewhere that has only one goal in mind – defeating Barack Obama. Bachmann has done well to incite the social conservative elites by sticking to her ideals, and she’s putting her career on the line, as opposed to Sarah Palin, who is in the guessing game to make money.

With the Ames poll over, Bachmann has thrown a roadblock in the way of Mitt Romney’s planned cakewalk to the nomination. And then, Rick Perry enters the fray.  Perry also got seven hundred write in votes, a few hundred more than Romney who was on the straw poll ballot! The combination of Bachmann and Perry may constitute a real threat to Romney’s chances.

Curiously, one of the winners of the Iowa straw poll was Rick Santorum who finished fourth, and is already claiming a victory of momentum.