She wants to get back on the air in Charlotte. Calif. The TV news operations here have substance that goes beyond anchors, and Charlotte, unlike some markets, has generally avoided personalities who put on a show at the expense of the news. Competition among stations is fierce. It's great to see so many veteran reporters and that stations buck industry trends by devoting time to local politics. One hopes that reporters with political beats, such as Channel 3's Mike Cozza, aren't a dying breed.
Crime gets too much attention.
The daily crime roundup is easy to cover and explain and it's grabby. It's ridiculous to see a station in a major market lead off its 6 p.m. newscast with a report on a flasher, as top-rated Channel 9 did last week. As I leave, I'd like to thank readers for their patience and their help. I'll miss you, as I will miss much about Charlotte, except for the awful traffic. Fortunately, they tell me getting around in L.A. is a breeze.