New Today! News 25 and Local 7 = “Eyewitness News”

You may have noticed this morning that there was something different with the wake up crew on News 25 and Local 7.  They are both now under the same ownsership and both station's newscasts are called "Eyewitness News".  My friend Jacob Newkirk covers the media beat for the Courier and Press, but he also has his own blogspot.  Here's what he had to say about new things going on in hometown TV musical chairs!

 woke up early this morning so I could tune in and see the very first Eyewitness News Daybreak on WEHT Local.

My first impression, and the impression of several other folks whose opinions I value and respect, is that overall it was a good newscast.  Not everyone agrees with that assessment (if you visit Facebook, you'll know what I mean), and that's their right.

That said, I honestly don't see why people didn't like it.  Randy, Julie and Ron are good people doing a good job, just at a different time and on a different channel.  Are there "bugs" that have to be worked out of the newscasts?  Sure.  Anytime there's a change, especially one of the magnitude effected here, there will be at least a few.  But none that I saw this morning are insurmountable, and the professionals both on-air and behind the scenes will knock those out in short order.  Of that, I'm certain.

And this evening, if you're used to watching Brad, Shelley and Wayne, they'll still be there.  They'll be on Local 7 as well.  And I fully expect they'll do the same professional, good job they've done for many years together.

The rebirth of Eyewitness News, with the combined resources of both WEHT Local and WTVW, is the most comprehensive overhaul of local news and weather coverage the Tri-State has seen in many years, possibly ever.  It will take some time to assess its impact fully, but my initial feeling is that it will work out quite nicely.  As far as I can tell, the Eyewitness News team is the largest in the Tri-State, and with that many reporters, I think we'll see more local news, not less.  If that's indeed the case (and I've seen nothing to indicate otherwise), that's not just good, it's great.

My advice, if you're interested, is simply this:  Give 'em a chance.  They deserve that much, and more, quite honestly ... but at a minimum, let's be fair and give them a chance to earn our viewership.  I think, if all goes as it did this morning, they'll have no problem doing that"

Well said Jacob.  Read what Jacob Newkirk writes by clicking here!  He has great insight into the world of tv and radio, except for the fact he once told me I sucked on air...