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As we approach the end of the year, the now-infamous KDBC - KVIA TV news van drag racing debacle is getting one more round of national press. The popular TV news insider Web site News Blues has listed Charlie Bernal, the lead-footed KDBC live truck operator who engaged KVIA's Richie Zamora in a duel this summer at a local drag strip, as one of its candidates for "Person of the Year". If chosen, Bernal will have to undergo one more indignity after losing his job over the incident. The (dis)honor will go to the person "who best exemplified the dark side of TV news in 2008", says News Blues. The whole episode went viral when the video popped up on You Tube. It was also the object of ridicule on CNN and other national news outlets. In case you missed it, here's the vid:
Johnny Dollar
Last week's passing of former KHEY radio personality Johnny Dollar didn't go unnoticed by Media Buzz. I remember Johnny as a good guy with hardly a harsh word to say about anyone. For 12 years, he was the friendliest voice on local radio. He later opened a successful photogrpahy business in Northeast El Paso. His daughter Donna honored her dad by following in his footsteps. Johnny Dollar was 63.
El Paso News Satire
In the past, you may have heard me lament the underside of the Internet. Such things as pseudo-journalism, fake news and anonymous blogging are on my list of things I hate about the Internet. But my distaste doesn't extend to Internet satire. I love good satire. We need good satire. I will concede that I have become a fan of El Paso Fake News and El Paso Sun and here's why: These blogs are not fake news attempting to pass themselves off as real news. This is real fake news. These blogs are honest, original, entertaining and sometimes biting. (Ouch!) In fact, the EL Paso Sun bills itself as "Your city's weekly news written weakly". Yes, my kind of blogs.
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Good point, Tan Stewie, it's not every day KDBC wins at anything these days. Wasn't Bernal rehired by 4? I thought I saw him lugging around one of those antiquities KDBC calls a camera at a recent Miner game?
Anyway, KVIA should have fired (not promoted) Cabrera for that incident — and losing. First the race, then losing its lead in 6 o'clock ratings, what's next KVIA?
We all know who is still "El Numero Uno" over all the racing locos where it really counts... THE RATINGS. And the winner is Univision26. Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo.
DOUCHE BAG OF THE YEAR?
After a meeting of the executive council and board of directors at NewsBlues International Headquarters yesterday, it was determined that Charlie Bernal, the former live truck operator at KDBC-4-CBS in El Paso (Market #98), should be disqualified from competition in this year's NewsBlues Person of the Year poll.
Bernal was fired in March after a YouTube video surfaced, showing what appeared to be a drag race between the KVIA-7-ABC live truck (white) and the Bernal-driven KDBC live truck (blue). We reported that Bernal won the race but lost his job. Turns out, we were wrong.
It wasn't a race.
According to Ben de la Vega, who was track coordinator at the El Paso Motorplex, "That particular evening was the grand opening for the track, and we had a flood of more than 300 novice racers. During the day, there were many television stations who came out to interview me, but it was KDBC and KVIA who stayed until 10:30 to provide live coverage. When it came time for them to leave, there was only one way out, and that was for them to drive down the track and out the gate."
De la Vega can be seen on the video (in the green jacket) staging the two trucks. "I suggested that they leave together. When the vans came to the starting line, I specifically told them NOT to drive their 'top heavy' vans faster than 45 mph and to stay side by side. Both van drivers DID follow directions, and the crowd absolutely loved it. It was great publicity for the stations."
In fact, the white KVIA van, driven by photographer Richie Zamora, jumped the starting gun but was beaten across the finish line.
"On Monday," recalls de la Vega, "when we found out that the drivers were facing disciplinary actions, the racers and track owners called the stations and wrote emails about what really happened that evening. The station manager for KVIA-7-ABC (Kevin Lovell) listened, but the station manager for KDBC-4-CBS (Bram Watkins) wouldn't hear it and fired Charlie."
"Bottom line," says De la Vega, "if you are looking to award a 'Douchebag of the Year,' then KDBC's General Manager is your guy!"
Accordingly, the NewsBlues board of directors has determined that Charlie Bernal's name should be removed from POTY consideration. He will be replaced on the ballot by former KDBC General Manager Bram Watkins (left), who appears to be more deserving of the honor. Results of last week's voting will be revealed Thursday.
Bram Watkins is now on the board of trustees for KCOS-13-PBS in El Paso. Pappas Telecasting fired him in July and replaced him with Len White.
KDBC, by the way, is one of ten Pappas TV stations that were auctioned at bankruptcy two weeks ago and will change hands soon to New World TV.
Cabrera is succeding in only one thing, and that is destroying KVIA's ratings. I didn't like him as a sportscaster don't like him now. He is not the only culprit bringing down KVIA. I of course am refering to mediocraties like Carla Huelga and Marissa Monroy.
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Just for everyone's information, Charlie Bernal and the KDBC News Van Won that Race. Just in case anyone heard other wise!!!
Posted by: Tan Stewie | December 26, 2008 at 12:55 PM
Good point, Tan Stewie, it's not every day KDBC wins at anything these days. Wasn't Bernal rehired by 4? I thought I saw him lugging around one of those antiquities KDBC calls a camera at a recent Miner game?
Anyway, KVIA should have fired (not promoted) Cabrera for that incident — and losing. First the race, then losing its lead in 6 o'clock ratings, what's next KVIA?
Posted by: noseasmamoon | December 29, 2008 at 02:50 PM
We all know who is still "El Numero Uno" over all the racing locos where it really counts... THE RATINGS. And the winner is Univision26. Feliz Navidad y Prospero Ano Nuevo.
Posted by: Hecho en El Paso | December 29, 2008 at 07:34 PM
DOUCHE BAG OF THE YEAR?
After a meeting of the executive council and board of directors at NewsBlues International Headquarters yesterday, it was determined that Charlie Bernal, the former live truck operator at KDBC-4-CBS in El Paso (Market #98), should be disqualified from competition in this year's NewsBlues Person of the Year poll.
Bernal was fired in March after a YouTube video surfaced, showing what appeared to be a drag race between the KVIA-7-ABC live truck (white) and the Bernal-driven KDBC live truck (blue). We reported that Bernal won the race but lost his job. Turns out, we were wrong.
It wasn't a race.
According to Ben de la Vega, who was track coordinator at the El Paso Motorplex, "That particular evening was the grand opening for the track, and we had a flood of more than 300 novice racers. During the day, there were many television stations who came out to interview me, but it was KDBC and KVIA who stayed until 10:30 to provide live coverage. When it came time for them to leave, there was only one way out, and that was for them to drive down the track and out the gate."
De la Vega can be seen on the video (in the green jacket) staging the two trucks. "I suggested that they leave together. When the vans came to the starting line, I specifically told them NOT to drive their 'top heavy' vans faster than 45 mph and to stay side by side. Both van drivers DID follow directions, and the crowd absolutely loved it. It was great publicity for the stations."
In fact, the white KVIA van, driven by photographer Richie Zamora, jumped the starting gun but was beaten across the finish line.
"On Monday," recalls de la Vega, "when we found out that the drivers were facing disciplinary actions, the racers and track owners called the stations and wrote emails about what really happened that evening. The station manager for KVIA-7-ABC (Kevin Lovell) listened, but the station manager for KDBC-4-CBS (Bram Watkins) wouldn't hear it and fired Charlie."
"Bottom line," says De la Vega, "if you are looking to award a 'Douchebag of the Year,' then KDBC's General Manager is your guy!"
Accordingly, the NewsBlues board of directors has determined that Charlie Bernal's name should be removed from POTY consideration. He will be replaced on the ballot by former KDBC General Manager Bram Watkins (left), who appears to be more deserving of the honor. Results of last week's voting will be revealed Thursday.
Bram Watkins is now on the board of trustees for KCOS-13-PBS in El Paso. Pappas Telecasting fired him in July and replaced him with Len White.
KDBC, by the way, is one of ten Pappas TV stations that were auctioned at bankruptcy two weeks ago and will change hands soon to New World TV.
Posted by: INCENSE BURNING | December 30, 2008 at 02:05 PM
I don't understand the last posting. Are you saying Roy Ortega's article is wrong?
Posted by: Scott | December 31, 2008 at 07:58 AM
Cabrera is succeding in only one thing, and that is destroying KVIA's ratings. I didn't like him as a sportscaster don't like him now. He is not the only culprit bringing down KVIA. I of course am refering to mediocraties like Carla Huelga and Marissa Monroy.
Posted by: Justanopinion | December 31, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Leave Karla & Marissa out of this!
Posted by: Special Blend | January 01, 2009 at 08:46 PM
Shut up, Spcial Ed. Just because you can't recognize incompetance doesn't mean everybody else in El Paso can't.
Posted by: Justanopinion | January 02, 2009 at 08:27 AM
Your the idiot justanopinion. Lets see you try to do the news better you dumb***.
Posted by: aomyn | January 04, 2009 at 02:12 PM
"Your the idiot justanopinion. Lets see you try to do the news better you dumb***."
That would be 'you're' as in you are.
Posted by: citizen joe | January 05, 2009 at 08:10 PM