Judging from the emails coming here and to Uncle Barky about the travails of CBS11 under the Canadian demon downmarketer Regent Ducas, there’s little hope for the station’s news department — which we once thought the tops in the city — to pull out of the spiral into what Orwell would have called “prole” culture. That’s the steady debasing of the public by the media with images of violence and inanity in place of actual, usable information (see also Fox News network).
One of the more disturbing things we hear about Ducas, whose penchant for bleed-and-lead stories predictably earned top ratings for his station in Kansas City, is that since he’s been here at CBS11, there’s been a directive for reporters to avoid stories about race, immigration, and City Hall, and concentrate instead on wrecks, shootings, and crime.
But what gets me even more is what Ducas puts on the station’s web page about his interests (see below). His favorite TV show: “CSI: Miami.” Got it. But what about his role model: “Jesus Christ.” Seriously? Apart from the hubris, can we get a little insight on WWJD as VP of News in a major urban market? Would he get all sensational for ratings or do something that would help the viewers and the city live better lives? Can’t speak for the Great Man. Can’t even speak for the FCC (you know, granting broadcast/money printing licenses for the public interest) when this happens to a city. Just speak for myself. Channel 5 does Evil News. Channel 11 goes Full Beelzebub.
- Position: Vice President of News
- Year Hired: 2007
- Favorite Program: CSI: Miami
- Role Model: Jesus Christ
- Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Kids: 0
- Siblings: 5
- Hobbies: Golf, travel
- Favorite Sports Team: Miami Dolphins
- Favorite Musician: Michael W. Smith
- Favorite Author: Frank McCourt
- Favorite Destination: Italy
