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He was off air for much of the summer, following his now-infamous May 30 newscast, when he repeatedly slurred and stumbled over his words and appeared to have trouble reading off the teleprompter. Somerville has kept his relationship with Donna mostly private, however, in an interview with the National Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences, he opened up about his personal life. FRANK Somerville has reportedly been pulled off the air at KTVU over his coverage of the Gabby Petito case. Longtime KTVU anchor Frank Somerville is facing two DUI charges following a car accident on Dec. 30, 2021. Now, the tagline controversy has put Somerville in a position that journalists usually find uncomfortable: instead of reporting on the story, he is the story. Somerville later excused that saying he had mistakenly taken an Ambien before going on the air. Somerville has a Black daughter and wanted to add a note at the end of any news story on Petito about the rates of domestic violence Black women in America face, an unnamed source with knowledge of the situation told SFGATE in September. 2 Frank Somerville Credit: Facebook/Frank Somerville Who is Frank Somerville's wife? You can see video of the Sunday 10 o'clock broadcast below, in which Somerville has difficulty reading from his teleprompter. His name came after his father's friend, Frank Patty and his parental grandfather, William Somerville . In wake of scandal, East Bay school district keeps a close eye on staff behavior Somerville takes these charges very seriously. I think its really indicative of the silencing and invisibility of Black and brown people, said Galvis, whose group worked with Restoring Justice for Indigenous Peoples to organize the rally. Get all the latest & greatest posts delivered straight to your inbox, Longtime Bay Area Anchor Frank Somerville Off Air Since Slurred-Speech Broadcast On Sunday, AdWeek's TVSpy blog is covering his disappearance, fake names of the pilots of Asiana Airlines Flight 214, Day Around the Bay: San Jose Man Arrested In Connection With PG&E Transformer Explosions, Berkeley Poised to Close Famed Anthropology Library, Angry Students In Full Occupy Mode, The SFPD Brags About Busting Johns Seeking Sex Workers on Capp Street. OAKLAND The Alameda County District Attorney's Office has filed two misdemeanor charges against former KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville in connection with his arrest late last year on. Ive given my heart and soul to Channel 2, he told the Bay Area News Group. But beyond that, the outlet did not get much more information from Somerville, who has had a rocky 2021. Jurors hopelessly deadlocked in Bay Point murder trial, mistrial declared There was no word on how heated the discussion got. [9] In September 2021, he was suspended for disobedience after seeking to keep a "tag" concerning domestic violence and "missing white woman syndrome" in a story on the Gabby Petito case. But the way this story captivated the nation has many wondering why not the same media attention when people of color go missing?" For whatever reason, they decided not to re-sign me.. Somerville, a white male, is being lionized and becoming the topic of the story and not the women who have been ignored, Reynolds said. The months-long saga surrounding longtime KTVU anchor Frank Somerville may have finally reached its conclusion. His parents raised him in Berkeley, California. Venerated KTVU anchor Frank Somerville, days after an odd Sunday broadcast in which he can be seen on-air slurring his speech while reading a teleprompter, will be on indefinite leave starting . FRANK Somerville has reportedly been pulled off the air at KTVU over his coverage of the Gabby Petito case. I just dont notice the things you see, he added. Former KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville was charged earlier this week with driving under the influence following an arrest in late December in Oakland, Alameda County prosecutors and police said. The Berkeley native had been an intern at KTVU many years before. [16][17][18][19], Somerville has been a vegetarian since the age of 12. "I still want to continue working, Somerville tells the Mercury News. "I couldn't leave work at work," Somerville. But she hadnt and the new tag was removed. . ), He disputed one comment that said he looked sick on a video he posted talking about an incident in which his daughter was allegedly racially profiled. Somerville was born on March 19, 1958, in San Luis Obispo, California, but was raised in Berkeley. But Reynolds also faulted KTVU for fueling the controversy by not meeting with activists to discuss their complaints about coverage, saying that journalism organizations must offer a level of transparency and accountability., While not publicly commenting to reporters about his suspension, Somerville took to Instagram late last month to thank his fans for his support in standing up for what he believes no matter the consequences., We in the media cant be afraid to look in the mirror and ask ourselves tough questions about race and our coverage, Somerville said. Reynolds said Somerville may have been well-intentioned, and that he certainly seems passionate about fairness in coverage. [5], In 2013, Somerville apologized on behalf of KTVU for an incident in which racist pilot names were read out in a broadcast on Asiana Airlines Flight 214. The request was denied by KTVU news director Amber Eikel, who called the tagline inappropriate, a source told SFGATE in September, leading to criticism from the Oakland chapter of the NAACP. A station spokesperson could not be reached as of Friday evening, and Eikel declined to comment. Related Articles Frank Somerville is a journalist and news anchor for KTVU. Among them, whether the anchor was offering an effective or appropriate way to challenge the medias often lopsided obsession with stories about White women in jeopardy. As per the sources, he was named after his father's friend Frank Patty. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! I work out every day.. Since his departure from KTVU, he has steadily posted videos on Instagram featuring an assortment of commentary. In an interview with the Bay Area News Group published Friday, the celebrated former KTVU anchor. Sources said Eikel was willing to assign a reporter to do a separate, more in-depth story. Martin Reynolds, co-executive director for the Oakland-based Maynard Institute, which promotes diversity in Americas newsrooms, said Somervilles reported solution, to tack a commentary on at the end of a straight news story, would have been lazy, as opposed to assigning a full story on the topic. Stay up to date! But I have no reason to think otherwise.". He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, booked into Santa Rita Jail on that charge and later released with a citation to appear. ContactGeorge Kelly at 408-859-5180. They had told me long before that.. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. 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Somerville spoke this morning to local media hound Rich Lieberman who said Somerville was speaking to him exclusively but very quickly Somerville gave quotes to the Mercury News and the Chronicle saying that he's all but certain he won't ever be at the anchor desk again at KTVU. Reid said. The longtime news anchor faced a rocky 2021. In interviews this week, Somerville declined to say anything more about his departure from KTVU, his arrest or his plans. Meanwhile, the media coverage issue Somerville had hoped to raise has garnered plenty of attention in recent days as debate rages over how much is too much. 80346 /80620. Somervilles next hearing will take place May 6. "Well, the answer actually has a name: Missing White Woman Syndrome, the term coined by the late and greatGwen Ifillto describe the media and public fascination with missing white women likeLaci PetersonorNatalee Holloway,while ignoring cases involving of people of color.". An ABC News report,citing statistics from the FBIs National Crime Information Center stated that at the end of 2020, the FBI had more than 89,000 active missing person cases, and 45 percent of those were people of color. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Former KTVU anchor Frank Somerville speaks about addiction struggles that he says spurred DUI wreck Former KTVU anchor Frank Somerville opened up about his struggles with addiction on Dec.. He has worked as an online coordinator and, before that, a copy editor and page designer for Bay Area-based newspapers and magazines. Somervilles last newscast for KTVU was on Sept. 21. In a May broadcast of KTVU's 10 p.m. news program,. During a now-infamous May 30 newscast, he repeatedly slurred and stumbled over his words and appeared to have trouble reading off the teleprompter. He grew up in the Los Angeles area, went to UC Berkeley and has previously worked as a news reporter at USA Today and SFGATE and as a music writer at NPR. Previously: Anchorman Frank Somerville's Future at KTVU In Doubt As Rumors Swirl About High Drama In the Newsroom. Staff writers Harry Harris and Rick Hurd contributed to this report. Viral Kids' Star Ms. Rachel Is Taking a Break From Social Media After Backlash Over Co-Star Who Uses They/Them Pronouns, Actor Tom Sizemore, of Saving Private Ryan,' Dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Wife and Son, Los Gatos Mom Accused of Hosting Alcohol-Fueled Teen Parties Attacked in Jail, Hospitalized. It should have been much more about stepping into the journalism and giving respect and honor to the issue and people youre purporting to be in service of.. Joshua Bote is the tech editor at SFGATE. "[11], On December 30, 2021, Somerville was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence after an automobile collision. The Alameda County District Attorney's Office filed charges against former Bay Area news anchor Frank Somerville following a Dec. 30 car wreck in a busy downtown Oakland intersection. Holland wondered if KTVU or Fox simply hope the controversy will disappear. Info stolen in Oakland ransomware attack set to be released As of now, he is already 64 years old and his zodiac sign is Pisces. Federal jury finds Bay Area man guilty in string of East Bay bank robberies Following the suspension and subsequent social media attention, two rallies were held in support of Somerville outside KTVU headquarters in Oakland. This past week, Mornings On 2 anchor Mike Mibach has been in Somervilles chair, including on Thursday nights newscasts at 5 and 6 p.m. when he simply introduced himself: Im Mike Mibach., Somerville said his health was great, a point he also made in a photo he shared on Instagram with his 5,100 followers this week. George Kelly is a breaking news reporter for the Bay Area News Group's East Bay Times and Mercury News. Sign up for NBC Bay Areas Housing Deconstructed newsletter. Staff writer Harry Harris contributed to this report. By the end of the broadcast, co-anchor Julie Haener had taken over solo, and did the signoff for the show. But even with such declarations, community activists say they have yet to hear from the station managers or Fox about their concerns. ", Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 2. Frank Somerville has spoken out for the first time since his Dec. 30 arrest for a suspected DUI. As Somerville has pointed out on social media, he is the father of an adopted Black daughter. [6], Somerville was an intern at KTVU in 1981, while attending San Francisco State. I also helped make the noon and 5 p.m. newscasts No. Somerville wanted to add a brief tagline at the end of the report that questioned the extraordinary level of media coverage devoted to the story. Sources told the outlet that Somerville was informed by station management the next day that he was being suspended. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Wheres Frank Somerville? In a May broadcast of KTVUs 10 p.m. news program, Somerville was recorded slurring his words and abruptly left midbroadcast with no explanation. Former SF anchor Frank Somerville publicly opens up about arrest, KTVU exit. Frank Somerville is an American journalist and three-time Emmy Award winner. 1. The next day, Somerville was told he was suspended for defying a superiors orders, sources said. Franqueville ( French pronunciation: [fkvil]; Picard: Franqville) is a commune in the Somme department in Hauts-de-France in northern France . 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Speaking about the case ofmissing geologist Daniel Robinson, she added: "I never heard of it until this friend of mine sent it to me. KTVU was prepared to air a news report detailing the latest developments in the case. His last video was published March 31, voicing his perspective on the Will Smith slap at the Oscars and recounting anincident in which his wifes boss repeatedly harassed her. Somerville was not involved in that flub. In 2008, he was elevated to one of the stations marquee positions when he was anointed co-anchor of the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts, replacing 40-year veteran Dennis Richmond. ", KTVU again removes Frank Somerville from the air, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early. Somerville displayed symptoms of driving under the influence of alcohol, with bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his person. After a field sobriety test showed signs of impairment, the documents said, two separate breathalyzer tests found that Somerville had blood alcohol levels of 0.239% and 0.219%. So, nothing like this happens again. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. The Alameda County District Attorneys Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from SFGATE. The California native first started at KTVU as an intern in 1981 while attending San Francisco State University. After the collision, the Audis driver managed to get out of their car, according to the statement, but Somerville kept driving east on West Grand, pushing the Audi across the intersectionuntil it hit a pole on the southwest corner. Thats just a guess. The case of Gabby has sparked a national outcry as her fianc Brian Laundrie continues to evade authorities. $5,550,000. Over the years he has become one of the station's most recognisable having presented on screen for more than two decades. According to a police statement in charging documents obtained Thursday, officers responded to Broadway and West Grand Avenue at about 8:20 p.m. Dec. 30, 2021 for a vehicle collision. There was no word on how heated the discussion got. The ABC News report also said that onlyabout one-fifth of missing person cases involving minorities are covered by the news, according to a 2016 analysis published in the Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology. [12], Somerville's suspension from KTVU would become permanent in January 2022 when his contract expired and KTVU would decide not to re-sign him. Former KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville was charged earlier this week with driving under the influence following an arrest in late December in Oakland, Alameda County prosecutors and police. [8] He returned to the anchor chair on August 4 without addressing the incident that saw his brief departure. At the time, Somerville said he had not yet lined up offers to work at other stations but wanted to keep working and was disappointed about how his time at KTVU had ended. Frank Somerville, a veteran TV newscaster suspended from KTVU following a dispute over coverage of the Gabby Petito homicide case, said Tuesday that he believes he is not returning to the station . Somerville does not believe that his Dec. 30 arrest in Oakland on suspicion of driving under the influence was a factor in the stations decision. Theyre the backbone of Channel 2. Mini Bio (1) Frank Somerville co-anchors the weekday editions of "KTVU Channel 2 News at 5," "KTVU Channel 2 News at 6" and "The Ten O'Clock News on KTVU Channel 2." Somerville joined San Francisco's KTVU Channel 2's Mornings on 2 and The Noon News in January 1992. Get the latest posts delivered right to your inbox. Somerville reportedly told the producer that Eikel had approved a shortened version, a source said. Leslie Shawn Rayburn posted this. Frank Somervilles 31-year career at KTVU, where his nightly anchoring duties made him one of the Bay Areas most beloved TV news personalities, officially came to an end Friday, as his contract expired and the station opted to not bring him back. TV Streaming | KTVU's "Ten O'Clock News" has long held the top spot for the Bay Area's highest rated news broadcast. And I guess thats the issue, isnt it?. Early Life and Education. KTVU anchor Frank Somerville anchors the five o'clock news at the KTVU studio on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, in Oakland, Calif. It's been one year since Somerville replaced longtime anchor Dennis . Chuck Barney is the TV critic and columnist for the Bay Area News Group. Frank Somerville finally returns to KTVU: Are viewers owed an explanation? [citation needed] He attended Berkeley High School, graduating in 1976. Somerville wanted the tag to address domestic violence and the medias tendency to overlook reports about missing and slain women of color, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, which obtained a copy of Somervilles original tag. He is a graduate of Bowie State University in Maryland with a BS degree in communications. Somerville was hospitalized shortly after the incident and was booked at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. Longtime KTVU anchor Frank Somerville shared a Facebook post Saturday reflecting on his arrest and his termination from KTVU nearly a year later. In further comments to Lieberman over the phone, reported on his 415 Media blog, Somerville allegedly insisted he had not been drinking, and had just mistakenly taken Ambien before going on the air. Because Mr. Somervilles case is pending, he cannot personally comment at this time, but he takes full responsibility for what happened that night.. But if Petitos story needs to be told, so do the stories of thousands of overlooked women of color, they said. Born Frank William Somerville on 19th March 1958 in San Luis Obispo, California, Frank Somerville is a journalist. [5] He then attended San Francisco State University. Somerville did not reply to repeated efforts to contact him, nor did representatives from Fox News, who said last month only that the anchor had been suspended pending further review. No one at KTVU, including news director Amber Eikel, would speak on the record. But if Somerville thought the issue was so important, then he should have used his journalistic gravitas to push for a second story to run after the segment or a series of stories to run over the next couple days, Reynolds said. Longtime KTVU anchor Frank Somerville, who's been off the air since being suspended by management in September over a disagreement about the coverage of the Gabby Petito case, is speaking out and telling the press that he doesn't expect he'll be back at the station and also, no one from the station or Fox has even bothered contacting him. A search-warrant obtained blood sample later yielded a result of .24 blood-alcohol content. Last week, the City of San Leandro also issued an official proclamation honoring the multiple Emmy-winning anchor for speaking out about missing women of color and setting an example of strength and equity to our community and those worldwide.. A tag is a brief closing to a story thats typically read by an anchor. Somerville was hospitalized shortly after the incident and was booked at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin. He was named after his father's childhood friend, Frank Patty, and his paternal grandfather, William Somerville. Frank Somerville says KTVU wouldnt re-sign, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early, Frank Somerville says KTVU wouldnt re-sign him: I am done at Channel 2, Bay Area TV anchor Frank Somerville arrested on suspicion of DUI after crash in Oakland, Frank Somerville says hes done at KTVU, apologizes to newsroom for drama, Wheres Frank Somerville? 53-127 m (174-417 ft) (avg. The longtime news anchor faced a rocky 2021. Since his suspension, Somerville has shared videos and posts on Instagram his social media platform of choice since leaving KTVU. "I feel like a total idiot," Somerville allegedly said. [14][15], Somerville was married to television producer Donna Wright Somerville for more than 20 years; the couple has two daughters. KTVU suspended veteran anchor Frank Somerville after the station news director nixed his proposal to add commentary about racial justice to coverage of the Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito homicide . When I saw Will Smith stand up for his wife, it reminded me of what I didnt do 30 years ago, he says in the video. While Somerville was attending San Francisco State University in 1981, he interned at KTVU. The crash had nothing to do with it, Somerville said, saying managers had decided to cut him loose months earlier. She has previously reported or edited for Bay Area news and lifestyle publications, including Walnut Creek Patch, and Diablo, Oakland and Alameda magazines, as well as The Nation in Bangkok, Thailand and The Economist. Somerville, who has a mixed-race daughter, wanted to make a statement at the end of a segment regarding "missing white woman syndrome," a term coined by the late Gwen Ifill about American media's obsession with the disappearance of young, pretty Caucasian women, when very little national attention is given to the thousands of people of color who go missing every year. February 27, 2023 equitable estoppel california No Comments .