This
is the third year that Channel One News has refused to hire a Education
Vice President to replace Dr. Paul Folkermer who walked out in 2001.
Education has never been a mission of Channel One News. They hired
Folkermer, a NJ middle school principal who had allowed his school
to be used for Channel One’s public relations efforts for years before
he accepted employment with them, to help their public image in 1998.
He failed miserably in trying to push his "teach the news" marketing
gimmick.
The president of Channel One,
Jim Ritts, has placed no priority on hiring a person to head any
educational efforts.
Last fall, Channel One promoted
Morgan Wandell to be their President of Programming. In May, Wandell
either quit or was terminated. Channel One continues to mislead
the public by continuing to list Wandell as programming head on
their web site. In truth, no one has taken Wandell’s position and
it will probably not be filled any time soon. Few would want to
ruin their careers working for Channel One News.
Obligation’s Jim Metrock said, "This
is a classic example of a company whose business model is in rapid
decline. The audience for Channel One is shrinking. There are more
‘cancels’ than ‘installs.’ Noncompliance is rampant. Advertisers
have bolted from the show. Executive positions go unfilled. On-air
personalities are cut in half. Tough luck for the commercial exploiters
at Channel One."
