The Medialine Web site stated that KVIA-TV Channel 7 (cable Channel 6) is losing another reporter. Martin Bartlett is slated to become the new political reporter for KVUE, the ABC affiliate in Austin. Marti will be covering state politics for the station.
This year alone, KVIA has lost four on-air personalities: Autumn Sam, Amber Sullins, Rachel Abell and Ashlie Hardway. Martin makes five.
To be fair, having people jump the El Paso market is not unusual. For many reporters, especially broadcasters with no ties to this region, El Paso is stepping stone to bigger markets.
Martin will be joining another familiar El Paso face moving to Austin. El Paso Times education reporter Zahira Torres will be moving to the capital to cover the Legislature and state government for the paper. She'll make the move by the end of October and, of course, she'll be replacing Brandi Grissom who is now working for the Texas Tribune online publication.
Congratulations to both Martin and Zahira. I will miss both of you.
Before any of the negativity starts, I would like to congratulate Martin. He is a hardworking reporter who always gets the story, and KVUE is a top-notch station where he will be valued for his talent. He will do a great job digging up those stories at the capitol. Way to go, Martin!!!
Posted by: Fan | September 22, 2009 at 08:02 AM
Congrats to Zahira on her promotion and arrival in Austin. Another El Pasoan in Austin, the second home from El Chuco.
Keeping it Weird from the land of No "Chico's Tacos"
Posted by: Johnny5 | September 22, 2009 at 08:49 AM
Mr. Bartlett is the real deal. I wish him well in his career.
Posted by: Scott | September 22, 2009 at 09:18 AM
I really liked Martin after the excellant job he did with the August 1, 2006 Storm. He seemed to be all over El Paso that day.
Then he did the worst story I've ever seen on teachers who couldn't pass exams. Now, I'm soooo glad to see Martin leaving. I wish him nothing but the worst in Austin.
Eat @$^&^*)^%#$#^&*, you Little Piece of Crap!!!
Posted by: Paydirt Pedro 13 | September 22, 2009 at 09:34 AM
Congratulations to you Martin! It's terrible to see another great reporter leave KVIA. why has there been so many people leave lately? Are they being forced out? I hope not.
Posted by: Cathy | September 22, 2009 at 10:52 AM
Well put Paydirt Pedro. You must be a teacher. Nice to know our future is in your capable, compassionate and understanding hands.
Posted by: TheMan | September 22, 2009 at 12:50 PM
Well, this is one reason why I enjoy watching canal 26. I just don't care for some much turnover at the English stations. Here today, gone tomorrow. I'm from the old school where if you like where you work you stay as long as they'll have you. Still wish Mr. Bartlett the best, Austin is a cool place.
Posted by: spanishnewsfan | September 22, 2009 at 02:14 PM
Congrats Harry Potter...I mean Martin Bartlett. I wish you well, and we all know you will do a good job over in Austin!
Posted by: Tan Stewie | September 22, 2009 at 02:44 PM
slow down a little on that ID out, kiddo.
Posted by: faceless | September 23, 2009 at 01:06 AM
Hey "TheMan", never been a teacher, couldn't be a teacher, nor am I married to a teacher or do I have a teacher in my family!! Nice guess though...IDIOT!!! You know what they say when you assume!!
I would just never do what he did. The reason he is where he is today is because of the educators he had in his life and what he did to those people in his story was horrible. That's all, it just rubbed me the wrong way.
Posted by: Paydirt Pedro 13 | September 23, 2009 at 01:36 PM
Huge loss for KVIA. Between letting Martin go and some of their recent on-air hiring decisions, I wonder what is going on the minds of managment.
Posted by: Bobby G. | September 23, 2009 at 09:18 PM
Martin spoke far too fast for me to ever understand what the heck he was saying. I lost track of what he was trying to say. Plus I heard he was having a relationship with Sheriff Wiles? Is it going to be long-distance now?
Posted by: Nunya | September 23, 2009 at 10:04 PM
I heard little Martin learned all his "moves' from KVIA's Raul Martinez. God i love that hot piece of "man-meat" Raul... dreamy!
Posted by: GayBoy | September 23, 2009 at 10:12 PM
Martin's leaving is just another indication of the transitory nature of this TV news business: always moving on to a different station and hopefully moving up at the same time. El Paso is famed as a temporary duty station for reporters.
The downside is we get news stories from rookie reporters who don't really know El Paso, can't relate stories to trends over the decades, and who don't have a clue who Raymondo Telles, Justin Williams, Suzanne Azar, Larry Francis or even Raymond Caballero are (all past mayors for you youngsters). And then..poof.. they're gone. That's why Estela Casas, Hillary Forin, Nichole Ayoub, and, yes, Cristina Rodda are so trusted: they live here!
Posted by: RBSPRODS | October 01, 2009 at 09:49 AM
It is true that reporters hired from out of town usually "serve their time" and move on. Still there are a lot of local reporters working at all the stations who choose to live in El Paso because it is home.
Raul Martinez, Karla Huelga, Maria Garcia, Bob Harp, Stephanie Valle, Darren Hunt, Veronique Masterson and many others at all the stations, are El Paso natives. This blog site gets pretty ugly about some of the people named above. Show some love. It is sad to see the Ashlies, Ambers, and Martins move on, but remember to be kind to your fellow El Pasoans, even if some of them are new and make mistakes. In a few years they will be better, and probably still be here,
Posted by: be kind | October 01, 2009 at 11:17 AM
justin williams?? who is that? do you mean the man who the civic center is named after, judson williams?
Posted by: fyi | October 01, 2009 at 07:11 PM
Good Luck, Martin. Enjoy Austin and we know you'll do a great job.
Posted by: RBSProds | February 18, 2011 at 05:14 PM