07-01-2011/Updated 07-09-2011 KCTV CONFIRMS BOTTOM LINE SCOOP: HORNER OUT AT STATION This site broke the news on May 13 that Katie Horner was being replaced as the chief meteorologist at KCTV. At the time the CBS affiliate refused to confirm or deny the story, but Bottom Line had learned the station was undertaking secret interviews across the country to replace her. When a station director confirmed one of his meteorologists had interviewed for the position, we went with the story. Former KCTV assignment editor Jamiel Lynch who is now with KUSA in Denver has now announced on Twitter (JayJayByrd) she knew Horner was leaving months ago. Today, KCTV issued a news release to media outlets (not BLC) announcing her departure. The Kansas City Star has completely ignored the story until today and failed to give Bottom Line credit for breaking it in May. However, the Pitch's Justin Kendall gave proper credit. Here is the news release issued by the station. (Note: It gives its VP & GM first mention of her departure): July 1st, 2011 (Fairway, Kansas) – KCTV station VP and General Manager Bobby Totsch announced that Katie Horner will be leaving the station sometime later in the year, no firm date has been given. “Katie has been a face of this station and KCTV5 News for 17+ years,” said station General Manager Bobby Totsch. “She has dedicated her career to providing accurate forecasts, being a leader in the community and has made every effort to keep people informed and safe during severe weather situations. Her dedication to the people of Kansas City’s safety will always be a trademark and a staple of her career at KCTV5. When we look back at the severe weather that occurred in the region this year, you can see why Katie’s crusade on safety was so important.” “We have spent a great deal of time talking about her future and right now she feels she needs some additional time with her young daughters. We discussed several options, but we simply couldn’t figure out a way to make it all work. I’m certain her career as a meteorologist is far from over, it may just be on hold for a bit” Totsch said. “I will miss the day to day excitement that comes with the job and the opportunity to inform our viewers,” said Horner in the released statement. “I believe all meteorologists play a role in keeping people feeling safe in severe weather conditions, and I know we have made that a focus at KCTV over the years. I have met and worked with a lot of great people in the KC area and I will still be happy to call KC my home. I will still be around, and hope to be involved with something that allows me to do what I enjoy and still do what is best for my girls. I just want to say thank you to all of the viewers who allowed me to come into their homes each night!”
07-01-2011 KC STAR CREDIT "No need to be concerned about the Kansas City Star. As long as you are viewed by your readers and picked up by Tony Botello you are relevant. In fact, being mentioned in the Star counts for very little nowadays." ---M.A. Rosenblum
07-02-2011 STAR SHOTS "The Star is still THE newspaper in town! The industry is changing and they, like others, have to adjust. It's wasy to take shots at The Star from the net. Pulitzers are not won on the net. And I have one we won at The Star/Times."
NEWSROOM "You should not accuse The Star of "ignoring" this story unless you were in the newsroom."
ASK JOPLIN'S DOCTORS & NURSES "Thanks for the story about Katie Horner's dismissal. I noted with interest that the Star's story about her dismissal quoted extensively and at length from people in the area angry that she had delayed their favorite TV shows. "I would respectfully suggest another group for the Star to interview about Ms. Horner: The doctors and nurses in that hospital in Joplin who had five minutes of warning to save their patients from an F 5 tornado. I suspect that those doctors and nurses are a lot less critical of "alarmist" weather reporters who cause delays in popular TV shows. "I come from a military family, and I have worked around soldiers all my life. There is a saying among these soldiers: "There are no hardliners in foxholes." I am confident that there are also no critics of "alarmist" weather reporters in towns that have been hit with F 5 tornados." ----Sincerely, Respectfully and In Christ, Ernest Evans
07-06-2011 STAR IGNORED HORNER STORY "The Kansas City Star and other dailies might be changing but their culture remains the same. They think they’re still the biggest dog in town when in fact they’ve mutated to a mutt; part print, part video, part blog. What hasn’t changed is they think they own the enterprise reporting franchise but bury their head in the sand when someone else rises to the occasion. "To “Newsroom”: The Star did ignore the story. It ignored its customers – readers of news. The story was leaked by BLC. Most likely, the paper was far behind because its resources to confirm items just isn’t what it used to be. "Katie Horner was good on television at what she did and she made a brand out of emergency weather. Can Channel 5 afford to lose it? Bobby Totsch just came from a station in St. Louis that’s trying very hard to own what she did at Channel 5. Good job John, keep it up." ----Scott Simon Former Reporter/Anchor Newsradio 980 KMBZ
08-01-2011 VIEWERS: GET A LIFE "The "complaints" about Katie reinforce my opinion of many of my fellow viewers . . . some of them need to GET A LIFE! This lady has done an excellent job! Her dedication to her viewers as evidenced by her many "overtime" stints on TV during weather problems is commendable! "If some of the public and management dislikes her on-air persona as "being over the top" ( I never saw it) then perhaps they should watch Gary Lezak and then they can get off her case. Katie, you seem the consummate professional, surpressing ego and dealing with the job at hand. You are appreciated!" ----Roy Strong Lone Jack, Mo
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