Michael Page has the scoop on the departure of Joe Bergantino; no word if he left on his own or was pushed.

Headline on WBZ's Website:
Boys Left In Car Suffer Apparent CO2 Poisoning

Full Article
http://wbztv.com/local/kids.left.in.2.709020.html

The Outraged Liberal marvels at Channel 7 clamming up on such a juicy story about a high-powered nabob allegedly going berserk at Logan before getting to Channel 4's distressing lack of real interest in public safety - namely, its promo campaign for an upcoming report on killer sushi in Boston:

... [I]f this stuff is so bad for you, don't you have a journalistic responsibility to put the word out now, before people get sick and/or die?

The recent layoff news makes Harry Mattison wonder if Harvard might make a bid for the property, which it already surrounds like an amoeba.

Think they'll just ride off into the sunset, though?

The Outraged Liberal, himself a recovering journalist, explains why this should matter beyond not having a familiar face on the tube every night:

... Nothing against bloggers (one of my best friends in the mirror is one). But as we discussed long ago, while journalists can be bloggers, bloggers are not necessarily journalists. Neither are radio and TV yak show hosts. Look no further than the one being hosted by a convicted felon who used to run the state. ...

Black Monday at WBZ-TV.

Meanwhile, Amy Derjue catches Herald Honcho Kevin Convey chanting "We're number 2! We're number 2!" because the latest Metro audit numbers show the freebie now has a smaller circulation than the Herald. Which, given that it's given out for free, might seem hard to do.

After yesterday's shooting/standoff up the street from us, here's my new news hierarchy:

First, check Channel 4 and Wicked Local (the latter is where I first read about the shootings). Chances are, they'll have the news first (however, Wicked Local only covers Roslindale, West Roxbury and Allston/Brighton).

The next day, check the Herald. They'll likely have photos and a lot of details (in this case, the more seriously injured person's name - which the paper got from his grandmother - and details about the SWAT team being called in).

Then, if you're really bored, check the Globe, where, if you're lucky, you'll get a desultory story that reads as if the reporter never even left his desk.

Over the past year or so, Channel 4 has gotten wicked good at breaking certain kinds of local stories - if there's a fire in a T tunnel or a bad crash on I-93, you can rely on their Web site to have it first. And then there's this, posted today:

Tom Brady & Gisele Caught On Tape 'Hooking Up'?

By David Robichaud. David Robichaud? Wait, isn't he a real reporter? Who gets paid and everything? A lot? The Web version of the story ends:

Is there something more you would like us to know about this story? Do you have a news tip to share with WBZ?

Yes, there is something more I would like you to know about this story. IT SUCKS.

Channel 4 breaks the news: A New England Patriots cheerleader is featured in this year's Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Via Skadz:

Steve Garfield, meanwhile, practiced journalism by walking around and says he was very impressed with Channel 4's online/on-air efforts on primary night, which included an online chat room:

... They were broadcasting on TV38 throughout the night, with a live text chat for viewers to talk with the anchors. First time I've ever seen this in Boston. It was groundbreaking for Boston TV to have on air anchors text chatting with viewers. BZ even had a segment where the anchors read some of hte chat comments on the air. ...

He does have some suggestions for improvement.