Karl Rundgren decides to head out west…
13 Aug 2008
This just in from the Toledo Free Press there’s more at the link but the basics:
FOX Toledo managing editor and anchor Karl Rundgren has announced he will leave the station at the end of the month for a similar position in Texas.
Rundgren, who first came to WUPW-TV 36 as a reporter in March 2003 before being promoted to anchor in 2004, said his last broadcast in Toledo would be Aug. 29. He has accepted an anchor offer at KMID-TV 2, the abc affiliate in the Midland-Odessa, Texas, media market.
Sigh…I’m going to miss him, but wish him and his family the best…
Good luck in Texas!
August 13th, 2008 at 1:19 pmSooooooo, will NBC 24 former anchor Jim Blue be Karl’s replacement?
August 13th, 2008 at 3:02 pmOK, that just STINKS! I’ll miss him, but I wish him the best of luck in Texas!
August 13th, 2008 at 3:09 pmAgreed – Karl’s departure is a loss for local media.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:33 pmLast time this area lost a newsperson of this caliber was maybe Jeff Blanzy. If you are young and want a real news career, Toledo is not the place. Good luck to Mr. Rundgren in the new endeavor.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:53 pmp.s., meant lost as in to another media market, not lost as in deceased.
August 13th, 2008 at 7:55 pmMidland – Odessa? Has he not read the book Friday Night Lights?
August 14th, 2008 at 1:25 pmThe word we’re getting out here is that he’s moving to be closer to family. That makes sense. He’s moving to a much smaller market (the Odessa-Midland market is less than half the size of the Toledo market), and to a station whose news program is perennially in last place among the three networks. The station has been under-capitalized and non-competitive from an equipment standpoint, and it shows in the broadcast quality.
Mr. Rundgren is stepping into a challenging situation, to say the least. But it’s comforting to us to know that his current viewers are upset at his leaving. I hope he’s a catalyst for change.
September 16th, 2008 at 1:10 pm