Posted by chicagomedia.org on August 27, 2008 at 07:17:25:
Fox keeps new anchor muzzled -- and far away from columnist
Maybe it was the guy's deer-in-the-headlights look. Or maybe it was just his stiff, uneasy demeanor.
But ever since Jeff Goldblatt debuted last week as 9 p.m. news anchor at Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32, something hasn't seemed quite right.
Goldblatt, you'll recall, was the correspondent plucked from the Chicago bureau of Fox News Channel to replace the recently departed Mark Suppelsa alongside Robin Robinson.
The more I've been watching Goldblatt anchor, the more I've been wondering why he looks so uncomfortable in his new role.
Then it hit me: Although he's had plenty of experience as a network and local reporter, it's obvious he's never been a major market news anchor.
From what I've been able to gather, the last real newscast he anchored was "Carolina in the Morning" in Wilmington, N.C. -- the nation's No. 135 market. It's where Goldblatt began his broadcasting career years ago.
For several days now, I've been trying to reach Goldblatt to ask about his background and how he feels about stepping into a top anchor job in the No. 3 market with those credentials. But he hasn't returned my voice mail or e-mail messages.
Out of the blue, I did get a call from a Channel 32 spokesman, who said he knew I was trying to reach Goldblatt, but Fox would not allow him to talk to me.
When I asked him to explain why I couldn't ask Goldblatt a question or two, the spokesman suddenly became very nervous and said he'd call me back.
He never did call back. But hours later the spokesman did call my editor to complain I was out to make him "look bad." (I have no idea how he jumped to that conclusion or why he felt it necessary to go over my head.)
But there still may be a happy ending to the story. Late Tuesday, I finally heard from the elusive Goldblatt.
"Please permit me the time to focus on my new role here at Fox Chicago," he wrote in an e-mail. "I look forward to talking to you in the near future."
Sure, Jeff. Whenever your bosses give you permission.
(Robert Feder)