Any of our readers who grew up in the Los Angeles basin were used to the superior television 
news reporting from KTLA Channel 5. How many years did we all watch the team of Hal Fishman at the desk, and Stan Chambers in the field, bring us all of the details we wanted and craved whenever some sort of ‘breaking news’ would occur in the area? Of course both of these star players were supported by an outstanding group of co-anchors and fellow reporters.
I was blessed to be able to work a bit with Stan in my job as a media spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for nearly six years.
Well, apparently with the retirement of Chambers, and the passing of Fishman, Tribune Broadcasting, who also owns the Los Angeles Times, decided to make a big change — for the worse. For the past few days, who amongst us hasn’t been drawn to the television to watch, with rapt attention, the battle against the wildfires that are plaguing the Southland? Well, I can tell you, as someone who used to watch Channel 5’s breaking news coverage, that I hate that I keep flipping over to KTLA only to find 
— trash television. This morning is a perfect example — while other channels were showing what was taking place in Lake Arrowhead, San Diego and Orange Counties, and up in Canyon Country — Tribune Broadcasting was treating us to today’s episode of… Jerry Springer!
It’s good to know that I wasn’t the only one lamenting the absence of quality breaking news coverage from KTLA — Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich is in mourning for the loss of this coverage, going so far as to far as to adjourn today’s Board Meeting in the memory of the Channel 5 news. (See Supervisor Antonivich’s news release attached below.) Here’s what Antonovich had to say:
"When we lost Hal Fishman, Channel 5 lost its leadership and its owner, the L.A. Times has failed to fill the void. Channel 5 used to be an institution that we really relied on and Stan Chambers was the number one news gatherer along with his colleagues from the other stations. People are watching the other channels to find out what’s happening –because KTLA is showing sitcom repeats and third-rate soap operas.”Anyone who knows Stan Chambers knows how proud he is that that his grandson, Jaime, has followed in his footsteps and become a news reporter for KTLA. There is no doubt that if Jaime really wants to be able to bring breaking news to Los Angelinos, like his grandpa did for generations, it will have to be with a different station…
October 25th, 2007 at 12:00 am
For those outside southern California…
Stan Chambers worked at the same TV station for over a Half Century (!)
starting with KTLA in the early 1950s. He did entertainment shows too at
the time, including an odd concoction called “Frosty Frolics” which fea-
tured live ice-skating, singing and dancing. Somehow it was a hit show.
He eventually focused on news and was ALAWYS THERE, as reliable as
the sunshine. In his reportage, he always put the Story first… it was never
all about Stan Chambers.
A few years ago, KTLA did a special titled, “Stan Chambers, LA’s Treasure”.
That was not hype, it was the way everyone who followed his career felt. He
showed us what a Gentleman is, each day of his career.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Jaime and I lifeguarded on the Del Mar coast together many summers ago. He was actually one of my supervisors. He’s a good guy, great father, and experienced reporter. He deserves to land on his feet in front of the camera somewhere else soon.
I am VERY disappointed to see KTLA crumble like this.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:00 am
This was a very fun post to read. I should mention that before he became a news broadcaster that Hal Fishman was an officer in the California Young Democrats and remained close to many elected officials throughout his life. However, no one that I am aware of ever accused him of being biased in his coverage.