Feeling a fair amount of sacked KTTV-TV reporter John Schwada's pain.

http://www.laobserved.com/archive/2011/07/schwada_has_a_few_words_t.php

Excerpts from Mr. Schwada's exit statement (highlighting by me):
A week ago, I was told my KTTV contract would not be renewed. Since then, LA Observed & LA Weekly have reported on my story. But missing in all this has been any public expressions of concern - indignation? – from reporters/the journalism academy. Privately, they have muttered darkly, sympathized. But publicly – in forums where newspeople best practice our craft, express our values – my profession has been silent.

My "firing" (not effective until Aug. 12) has been a shot across the bow of every KTTV reporter. Privately, my colleagues say: "if they're getting rid of you, who's next?" Actually they have nothing to fear - if they stay young and pretty and docile. And, from their failure to publicly show concern when a seasoned and repeatedly honored reporter, is sacked, I think they're well down the road to…self-preservation.


But really what disturbs me most is the silence from my union, AFTRA, and from the journalism academy. When a veteran reporter for no good journalistic reason is dismissed, where are their independent voices? Some of these folks are even protected by tenure? Their silence is particularly disappointing.

Perplexing events to ponder as it rains outside.

1. John McCain persists in trying to be a frontperson for a Republican Party which has little use for him.
2. Fox gave Carrie Underwood TWO HOURS of airtime for a holiday special.

Feel free to contribute any current events--great or small--you find perplexing in the comments below.

AMERICAN IDOL: Allison is gone, is there a possible Fox fix occurring?

Over on Twitter, I made a comment which will be too arcane for most people who read it.

Here it is again: Allison Iraheta being booted off AMERICAN IDOL is, as Groucho Marx said half-a-century ago about Judy Garland losing the Best Actress Oscar to Grace Kelly, the biggest robbery since the Brinks one.

Out of the final three, I'm predicting bland Kris will be washed out--leaving Adam and Danny in the likely One and Two positions after the finale.

I'll presume that Fox wants Danny Gokey to be in the Final Two as a bone thrown to conservative Christians unhappy with Adam Lambert's sexuality.