My Last Blog (Honest!)

I've been racking my brain trying to come up with a topic for my last blog.  This is my very last blog because I'm transferring to our sister station, KMTV in Omaha, NE effective Monday, December 8th.  It's a promotion of sorts, but it is bittersweet. 

A viewer e-mail reminded me of why.  His comments showed up in my 'inbox' this morning.  He wrote:

"Dear Sir,

Just wanted to thank you for such a great news team.  Your news is always accurate and timely. Your news crew are very personable and make us feel like we're part of the team. Again, THANK YOU, and keep up the great work.

Sincerely,"

(Name Withheld)

Now, I'm guessing most of you are thinking that's high praise, but I was put off by what he what he didn't write.  

Please note did not write, "Just wanted to thank you for being the obviously extremely talented leader of such a great news team.  Your news is always accurate and timely because you clearly have your hand in everything they do and micromanage them day and night. Your news crew are very personable because you demand it and make us feel like we're part of the team because you've threatened with their jobs daily if they don't. Again, THANK YOU, and keep up the great work because there is no way in hell they could do it without you!"

Then I remembered a phone conversation I had not too long ago with a news director colleague of mine at a station in another city.  He talked of some great ratings success he had in a previous job, moved to another station in another city, failed miserably, and it occurred to him when he left with his tail between his legs that it wasn't 'all about him.'  Somehow, he had gotten it into his mind that he was the main catalyst for the newsroom's success.  Now I suspect he understands it is the really other way around ... that it was the news team that was the main reason for his success.

That's one lesson I won't forget, and as I look one last time around the newsroom at KIVI-TV, I realize how much we have all grown together and am truly thankful and grateful for the success this news team has given me.  They put themselves out there on the line every day while faceless suits like me get to hide behind the scenes and sometimes even take the credit for their hard work.

And I'll do that too!  I'm not above that!  Years from now, I'll brag about how the development and growth of the KIVI-TV news team under my leadership was one of my greatest accomplishments.  I'll tell stories about being awarded two best newscasts Emmys in the same year for the first time in Boise TV history, dominating every TV news award competition we entered in the past year, gaining in the ratings, helping local charities like 'Komen Race for the Cure' and 'Toys for Tots' grow almost beyond belief, and overcoming so many obstacles along the way!  "I did this!  I did that!"  I'll take credit for all of it!

But the honest truth is I'm just a very small part of a great success story.  Not just a member of the news team, but an entire station full of overachievers and our great partners over at Journal radio who have been the builders of our progress to date and are primed to accomplish much, much more ... all to keep earning your attention and trust.  That's the most valuable reward of all!

So thank you so much for watching ... and reading my last blog.

Sincerely,

Scott Picken

Former News Director, KIVI-TV

Comments

[Sisyphus]

You were not on my routine circuit but you shoulda been. Cause when you were quoted often and your remarks were pithy and informed. We didn't always agree but I was sorry to see this post. Good luck to you and may the internet make the distance not seem so vast.