A Farewell Love Letter to Local Television

By Paul Greeley

I’ve known Rob Thomas since he became the creative services director at KARK, Nexstar’s NBC affiliate in Little Rock.

I was the VP of Marketing at Nexstar at the time, and I got to know Rob and his wife, Melody, and their family over the years.

Rob went on to be the creative services director at another station in Little Rock, as well as stints as creative services director at stations in Louisville, Oklahoma, and eventually, WHNS in Greenville, South Carolina, where he recently retired.

Like many of us in the local TV business, there have been ups and downs, but Rob’s thoughts as he heads off are all positive.

Thanks, Rob, for permission to share your farewell love letter to local television.

Dear Local Television

By Rob Thomas

There’s a song by the progressive rock band Yes with the lyrics, “You’ll see perpetual change.” It wasn’t written for the business that I’ve had the privilege of working in for 40 years, but it fits.

The methods for producing stories, promos, specials, graphics… they’ve all evolved, of course. What we call them has evolved too with the term “content.”

But would we have wanted everything to stay the same? Certainly not everything. The thrill of new is why we chose news. It’s intoxicating.

The front-row seat we’ve had to stories big and small will stay with those of us as long as our memories work. And I don’t think anyone was luckier than I was to experience such an eclectic set of stories and experiences and thrilling moments. I won’t bore you with them now, but God gave me considerably more than my share.

Blessed enough to work in nine stations in five states, seeing life from new locations and points of view.

This is a love letter to the profession for reasons more important than the job. It delivered people into my life who I can no longer live without. Local TV brought a stunningly beautiful, intelligent, selfless producer into my newsroom in 1989, and I’ve never been the same. She’s been by my side for 37 years and my bride for 32, truly and patiently helping me become a better person. The job’s not done yet Melody.

There are dozens of former and soon-to-be-former co-workers and bosses whose close friendships developed inside the walls of those TV stations. They’re people who still get to this old heart. So many wonderful, beautiful people. Perpetual changes have a way of doing that. I’m too dependent on your friendships to let you go. Sorry. You’ll still get way too many texts from me.

For those sticking around in local TV, at its best the business is worth loving. No question, there are challenges. Hopefully the smartest people will figure out what to do to keep it viable and strong.

As this career comes to a close, I can’t be anything but grateful. I still love you local television. Always will.

Paul Greeley is the manager and a writer for News Blues.

He can be reached at Paul@NewsBlues.com or 817-578-6324.