The veteran anchor was told that the tagline was inappropriate and he apparently pushed back on it. Somerville wanted the tag to address domestic violence and the medias tendency to overlook reports about missing and slain women of color, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, which obtained a copy of Somervilles original tag. These rallies were followed by the City of San Leandro issuing an official proclamation honoring Somerville "for speaking out about missing women of color and setting an example of strength and equity to our community and those worldwide.". There was no word on how heated the discussion got. KTVU anchor Frank Somerville anchors the five o'clock news at the KTVU studio on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, in Oakland, Calif. It's been one year since Somerville replaced longtime anchor Dennis . Silence irks activists, stirs questions about suspension, Oakland NAACP calls for Frank Somervilles reinstatement at KTVU. Former SF anchor Frank Somerville publicly opens up about arrest, KTVU exit. For whatever reason, they decided not to re-sign me.. I think its really indicative of the silencing and invisibility of Black and brown people, said Galvis, whose group worked with Restoring Justice for Indigenous Peoples to organize the rally. He added that the decision was made long before December, when the alleged DUI took place. Galvis said activists intentions werent to wag the finger but to foster a dialogue with a media organization thats a Bay Area icon with tremendous power.. Speaking about the case ofmissing geologist Daniel Robinson, she added: "I never heard of it until this friend of mine sent it to me. The case of Gabby has sparked a national outcry as her fianc Brian Laundrie continues to evade authorities. I also helped make the noon and 5 p.m. newscasts No. AdWeek's TVSpy blog is covering his disappearance from the air as well. Info stolen in Oakland ransomware attack set to be released Frank Somerville (born March 19, 1958) is an American television journalist. Somerville has a Black daughter and wanted to add a note at the end of any news story on Petito about the rates of domestic violence for Black women in America. Federal jury finds Bay Area man guilty in string of East Bay bank robberies "No one at the station Fox/KTVU has contacted me. PUBLISHED: June 1, 2021 at 12:54 p.m. | UPDATED: November 9, 2021 at 3:19 p.m. KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville was off the air again Tuesday following his abrupt exit from a Sunday night . KTVU's news division was infamously responsible for broadcasting the offensive fake names of the pilots of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 following a July 2013 crash at SFO, a mistake they blamed on the National Transportation Safety Board who, in turn, blamed a summer intern. ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Longtime KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville was booked into jail early Friday morning for allegedly driving under the influence, after a car crash at a busy intersection in downtown Oakland. They had told me long before that.. Somerville did reply to local media commentator Rich Lieberman on Monday saying he'd be back on the air that night and that the incident was simply a mistake regarding his prescription medication. 2. Somerville was hospitalized shortly after the incident and was booked at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. We wanted to give KTVU a chance to see if they would independently respond, said George Holland, the president of the Oakland chapter of the NAACP, which hosted a rally for 40 to 50 people on Oct. 2. [5] He then attended San Francisco State University. Somerville later excused that saying he had mistakenly taken an Ambien before going on the air. Related Articles Now, the tagline controversy has put Somerville in a position that journalists usually find uncomfortable: instead of reporting on the story, he is the story. His suspension came just six weeks after a previous leave of absence for health issues when he struggled to read his teleprompter and slurred his words during a broadcast in May. [citation needed] He attended Berkeley High School, graduating in 1976. ", "My guess is that Im not coming back to Channel 2, Somerville tells the Chronicle. [9] In September 2021, he was suspended for disobedience after seeking to keep a "tag" concerning domestic violence and "missing white woman syndrome" in a story on the Gabby Petito case. Write by: . More than a month after Frank Somerville was suspended from KTVU, the popular anchor remains off the air with no word from either him or the station about if or when he might return. The longtime KTVU news anchor is married to his wife, Donna Wright, a television producer. The Alameda County District Attorneys Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from SFGATE. The collision took place near the intersection of Grand Avenue and Broadway Street just after 7:45 p.m. Dec. 31, 2021, Oakland police said at the time. Somervilles last newscast for KTVU was on Sept. 21. He also was off the air for much of last summer following a now-infamous May 30, 2021 newscast, when he repeatedly slurred and stumbled over his words and appeared to have trouble reading off the teleprompter. But if Petitos story needs to be told, so do the stories of thousands of overlooked women of color, they said. I helped make Mornings on 2 the No. He first joined the San Francisco Bay Area station in 1991 and in 2008 became an anchor of the six o'clock and ten o'clock news broadcasts. He returned in August, but a month after, was suspended permanently following turmoil over the coverage of Gabby Petito, the missing van-lifer who was killed by her fiance Brian Laundrie in September. In November, Somerville told this news organization that management had not contacted him since September, when he was suspended from his anchoring duties for an off-air dispute about coverage of the Gabby Petito case. 1. MSNBC host Joy Reiddiscussed the Gabby Petito case on her showon September 20. Following Somervilles suspension, two rallies were held outside the KTVU studios in Jack London Square in October, both sparked by his reported desire to address disparities in media coverage of White crime victims like Petito versus women of color. This property is currently available for sale and was listed by MLS PIN on Mar . The collision occurred eastbound on West Grand Avenue, Windham wrote. He said the couple spend their "together time" at the gym and that the pair "encourage each otherto keep pushing.". For whatever reason, they decided not to re-sign me.. In 2008, he was named co-anchor of the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts, replacing 40-year veteran Dennis Richmond. However, she agreed with the editors who thought the tag on its own wasnt a sufficient way to cover the story and would blur the lines between an anchor delivering a straight news story and offering editorial commentary, sources said. Frank Somerville has spoken out for the first time since his Dec. 30 arrest for a suspected DUI. Former KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville was charged earlier this week with driving under the influence following an arrest in late December in Oakland, Alameda County prosecutors and police said. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. $5,550,000. He works out and practices the Israeli martial art of Krav Maga.[20]. Somerville was pulled off the air over his coverage of Gabby's case, MSNBC host Joy Reiddiscussed the Gabby Petito case. Last week, the City of San Leandro also issued an official proclamation honoring the multiple Emmy-winning anchor for speaking out about missing women of color and setting an example of strength and equity to our community and those worldwide.. He took an indefinite leave of absence in June following a broadcast of the TheTenO'ClockNewsonKTVU in which he slurred lines and left mid-broadcast, resulting in speculation over his health and well-being. Somerville, now 64, was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 30 in the 2200 block of Broadway following a collision between his 2014 Porsche 911 and a silver Audi, according to a probable cause statement by Officer Natalie Windham. Staff writer Harry Harris contributed to this report. 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Since Somervilles suspension, two rallies have been held outside the KTVU studios in Jack London Square on Oct. 2 and and Oct. 12, both sparked by Somervilles reported desire to address disparities in media coverage of White crime victims like Petito versus women of color. But she hadnt and the new tag was removed. Crime and Public Safety | 42 Portfolio is located in Union Square, Somerville. Earlier this year, Somerville disappeared from the air without explanation after a fairly strange Memorial Day Weekend broadcast in which he was slurring words and seemed unable to read the teleprompter. Somerville, driving a 2014 Porsche 911, rear-ended a silver Audi. I wish I could apologize to all of them in person. [8] He returned to the anchor chair on August 4 without addressing the incident that saw his brief departure. Somerville takes these charges very seriously. Following the suspension and subsequent social media attention, two rallies were held in support of Somerville outside KTVU headquarters in Oakland. 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And I wont stop fighting for equal media representation for all victims.. I think its probably time to (let them know) were still listening and waiting, Holland said. She'd now be 8 years old, and her case got little national attention at the time and she remains unaccounted for. The local Fox affiliate has yet to comment on the incident, and as the Mercury News reported, Somerville has declined to respond to them for comment. Somervilles Bay Area roots helped make him popular with viewers. Chuck Barney is the TV critic and columnist for the Bay Area News Group. About Frank; Contact Information; Court Records; Frank Bacci is 50 years old today because Frank's birthday is on 09/10/1972. All rights reserved, with driving under the influence following an arrest in late December in Oakland. According to two KTVU newsroom sources, who declined to give their names because they were not authorized to speak on the record, Somerville wanted to add a 46-second tag to an update on the Petito case, which aired Sept. 21. KTVU News Director Amber Eikel has allegedly taken Somerville off the air until further notice, as Liberman reports. Sources said Eikel was willing to assign a reporter to do a separate, more in-depth story. KTVU was prepared to air a news report detailing the latest developments in the case. So I am done at Channel 2, Somerville said in a brief phone interview this week with the Bay Area News Group. Neither Fox nor KTVU has made any official statement on the matter. Among them, whether the anchor was offering an effective or appropriate way to challenge the medias often lopsided obsession with stories about White women in jeopardy. According to a police statement in charging documents obtained Thursday, officers responded to Broadway and West Grand Avenue at about 8:20 p.m. Dec. 30, 2021 for a vehicle collision. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! [6] Somervilles arrest came after he crashed his Porsche into another car in a downtown intersection in an accident caught on video. After graduation he worked at local stations in Santa Rosa, California; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Providence, Rhode Island, before returning to the San Francisco Bay Area. Mini Bio (1) Frank Somerville co-anchors the weekday editions of "KTVU Channel 2 News at 5," "KTVU Channel 2 News at 6" and "The Ten O'Clock News on KTVU Channel 2." Somerville joined San Francisco's KTVU Channel 2's Mornings on 2 and The Noon News in January 1992. He noted that his contract is up in January, so it seems like the management is just waiting that out. Longtime KTVU anchor Frank Somerville, who's been off the air since being suspended by management in September over a disagreement about the coverage of the Gabby Petito case, is speaking out and . In an interview with the Bay Area News Group published Friday, the celebrated former KTVU anchor confirmed that his former employer will not re-sign him and allegedly not because of his arrest. The venerated KTVU anchor spoke to the Bay Area News Group in an interview published . Petito, 22, had been reported missing earlier this month while on a cross-country camping trip. His first newspaper job was as a Washington Post paperboy. Somerville has had a tumultuous year. Jay C. Barmann is a fiction writer and web editor who's lived in San Francisco for 20+ years. Frank Somerville, the anchor for KTVU, has been 'suspended indefinitely' by the network Credit: Facebook/Frank Somerville. Joshua Bote is the tech editor at SFGATE. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. [citation needed] He attended Berkeley High School, graduating in 1976. Sources said that Somerville was informed by station management the next day that he was being suspended. You can see video of the Sunday 10 o'clock broadcast below, in which Somerville has difficulty reading from his teleprompter. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Before the 6 p.m. broadcast, a producer, not familiar with the earlier discussions between Somerville and Eikel, noticed that a shortened tag had been added to the Petito update. I would give anything to work there. Viral Kids' Star Ms. Rachel Is Taking a Break From Social Media After Backlash Over Co-Star Who Uses They/Them Pronouns, Actor Tom Sizemore, of Saving Private Ryan,' Dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Wife and Son, Los Gatos Mom Accused of Hosting Alcohol-Fueled Teen Parties Attacked in Jail, Hospitalized. Longtime KTVU anchor Frank Somerville shared a Facebook post Saturday reflecting on his arrest and his termination from . Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Wheres Frank Somerville? Jay C. Barmann is a fiction writer and web editor who's lived in San Francisco for 20+ years. In a statement Thursday afternoon, Somervilles attorney Shannan Dugan acknowledged the charges. KTVU suspended veteran anchor Frank Somerville after the station news director nixed his proposal to add commentary about racial justice to coverage of the Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito homicide . He is extremely sorry to the person he hit and has provided all information to his insurance company to cover the other drivers losses. At that point, Somerville stopped driving; police arrived a short time later. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! 53-127 m (174-417 ft) (avg. Another white person in Pacific Heights has been captured on video being an asshole to a person of color, this time questioning a man who was delivering Narcan to a nearby halfway house. In November, Somerville insisted he was right to push for the commentary, but he publicly apologized for all the drama because of the way it affected people who work at the station. Frank Somerville said Tuesday that he expects he has anchored his last newscast at KTVU, given that management hasn't contacted him since he was suspended in September for an off-air dispute. Frank Somerville was "suspended indefinitely," according to the Mercury News, after a behind-the-scenes disagreement about his coverage of 22-year-old Petito's disappearance. [1] During his three decades at KTVU in Oakland, California, Somerville received three Emmy Awards, including one for best on-camera news anchor. What Somerville did that was so wrong is less clear. Look closely at this picture. I work out every day.. As per the sources, he was named after his father's friend Frank Patty. MSNBC host Joy Reid criticized her own industry on her prime-time program, calling the Petito coverage an example of missing White woman syndrome, a term coined by the late PBS anchor Gwen Ifill to describe the medias often lopsided focus on white women and girls when they go missing. KTVU anchor Frank Somerville, one of the most recognizable of the Bay Area's news personalities having been on the air at KTVU since 1991, was pulled from a Sunday broadcast and has not returned . 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His name came after his father's friend, Frank Patty and his parental grandfather, William Somerville . If not, Ill go to other stations outside of the market. The request was denied by KTVU news director Amber Eikel, who called the tagline inappropriate, a source told SFGATE in September, leading to criticism from the Oakland chapter of the NAACP. [5] He then attended San Francisco State University. So, I'm assuming I've done my last newscast," Somerville said. Crime and Public Safety | Email us at exclusive@the-sun.com or call 212 416 4552. Frank Somerville says KTVU wouldnt re-sign, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early, Frank Somerville says KTVU wouldnt re-sign him: I am done at Channel 2, Bay Area TV anchor Frank Somerville arrested on suspicion of DUI after crash in Oakland, Frank Somerville says hes done at KTVU, apologizes to newsroom for drama, Wheres Frank Somerville? "The Petito family certainly deserves answers and justice. She graduated from Northwestern University with a BA degree in German studies and from Mills College with a MFA degree in creative writing and English. [12], Somerville's suspension from KTVU would become permanent in January 2022 when his contract expired and KTVU would decide not to re-sign him. Early Life and Education. "Frank Somerville to replace Dennis Richmond", "KTVU's Somerville settling in as Richmond's replacement", "Asiana: Anchor says KTVU never sounded-out racist pilot names", "KTVU anchor Somerville to take time away after slurred newscast", "Frank Somerville returns to KTVU after two months of leave", "Frank Somerville suspension: How the dispute over 'Gabby' Petito coverage unfolded at KTVU", "Frank Somerville says he's done at KTVU, apologizes to newsroom for 'drama', "Frank Somerville arrested for suspected DUI after crash", "Frank Somerville says KTVU wouldn't re-sign him: 'I am done', "Frank Somerville publicly opens up about arrest, KTVU exit", "Former KTVU Anchor Frank Somerville Speaks Publicly About Addiction Issues", "Image of Bay Area news anchor doing his daughter's hair touches people all over country | The Mommy Files | an SFGate.com blog", "Tender photo of TV anchor un-braiding daughter's hair goes viral", "A white dad does his black daughter's hair, and the Internet smiles", "10 Questions for Frank Somerville; Up Close and Personal with KTVU's Top Dog; And Something that may Surprise You", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frank_Somerville&oldid=1133399814, American television reporters and correspondents, Berkeley High School (Berkeley, California) alumni, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 16:12.