Seton Takes National News Media to Task During Live Broadcast Remote 
Former ABC-TV Producer Addresses WHAV Audience

Award winning ABC Television journalist Tony Seton questioned the integrity and competence of national broadcast media while addressing a WHAV audience Sept. 21 at Maria’s Family Restaurant.

Seton’s address appeared as part of a special remote edition of Jack Bevelaqua’s Open Mike Show which also aired live over WHAV and its affiliated cable television outlets. Video was also televised live on Haverhill Community Television, Channel 22. Seton came to Haverhill to discuss “From Cronkite to Colbert: Journalism in Transition.” His SetonnoteS commentaries air weeknights at 6 and 11 on WHAV following the news.

“News has to report to on the five most critical issues that affect your community — national, global, local — and if they’re not doing that, they’re not doing their job,” Seton said. He said he became critical of the media even while working for ABC as producer of Barbara Walters’ news interviews during the 1970s.

“It was not a position I sought. They thought I was the most polite of the producers that they had, and that was what they needed for Barbara. I finally gave them 60 days notice and I said that I’m going to quit if you don’t give me a real job because Barbara wasn’t really a real news person so I was doing these sorts of fluff interviews.” Seton said he ultimately was named business economics producer for the network.

Event Honors Edwin V. Johnson

Seton opened with accolades for WHAV. “I want to thank you for all that you have done for this area in terms of the information you provide, the clarity and the value you place on news.” Proceeds from the event benefitted the establishment of the “Edwin V. Johnson Newsroom.”

WHAV President and General Manager Tim Coco said it is entirely appropriate to have Seton speak at an event in Johnson’s honor since they shared the same opinion about delivery of the news. “When Ed reported the news — it was news, not entertainment and was neither sugar-coated nor exaggerated,” Coco said.

Referring to Johnson, Seton agreed, “You tell the story with the facts. If there is a plane crash, you don’t have to say it is tragic.  It is tragic; we know that.  Give us the facts.” He said network news went downhill following the retirement of Walter Cronkite in 1981.

“We went from Cronkite and Reasoner and Chancellor to Brokaw and Jennings and Rather…It wasn’t a question so much that they were trying to cheapen the news as much as they were trying to spice up, increase the audience, but it did cheapen the news because so much time was spent trying to create a show, not a newscast, but a show…it was insanity,” he said. Worse, he said, the media has lost its objectivity. “It’s as though these media people — and we saw this during the first Gulf War — felt it was their obligation to be cheerleaders for American policies and it is exactly wrong. They should be questioning everything — not just authority, but policies.” The third tier of anchors, he said, isn’t any better. “Their not giving us substance, they’re giving us cosmetics.”

At the conclusion of the event, Johnson’s widow, Patricia, was presented with a framed memorial, honoring her husband. The “Edwin V. Johnson Newsroom” will be formally dedicated in November.

The event would not have been possible without the generous support of Pentucket Bank, Merrimack Valley Hospital, Maria’s Family Restaurant and Comfort Suites hotel.

Candidates Appear on Open Mike
More Than A Dozen Accept Invite to Face Listeners

WHAV is committed to an open, honest and fair dialogue between election candidates and the public. A number of candidates have already appeared and others are scheduled to appear on the Open Mike Show with Jack Bevelaqua.

City council candidates Malcolm D. Kimball Jr. and Leonard A. Russo and mayoral candidate John Michitson (at right) have already appeared.  See more photographs on Facebook.

Scheduled Monday, Oct. 19 are Haverhill city council candidates John J. Curtin Jr., David C. Noyes and Robert Scatamacchia. On Oct. 26, scheduled are mayoral contender James J. Fiorentini; city council candidates Christian Miller, William J. Macek and Sven A. Amirian; and school committee candidate Krystine S. Hetel. On Nov. 2, those scheduled are city council candidates William H. Ryan, Anastasia E. Papaefthemiou and Mary Ellen Daly O’Brien; and school committee candidates Joseph J. Bevilacqua and Raymond J. Sierpina.

All Haverhill candidates were invited to participate.

Xelocast Streams Upgrade to aacPlus
First Radio Stations in Area to Use New Technology

WHAV’s and StreamingSuperstation’s dial-up and cell telephone streams were recently upgraded to aacPlus technology — the only area radio stations to embrace the newer, improved digital audio technology.

The higher quality, stereo audio can be heard on newer versions of WinAmp, RealPlayer and Windows Media Player. Cell telephone listeners may use PocketTunes for Palm OS, Windows Mobile and iPhone/iPod Touch.

“aacPlus sounds nearly as good as a CD, even when it’s compressed enough to play through a dialup line,” wrote Paul Boutin in Slate magazine.

Xelocast typically sends high quality 128 kbps streams to listeners and cable television affiliates.  However, dial-up users and those tuning in on cell telephones at www.WHAV.mobi benefit from the lighter 32 kbps aacPlus streams.

Music Charts

StreamingSuperstation Top 10

(Listed in order of popularity)

• Haven’t Met You Yet, Michael Bublé

• I Want to Know What Love Is, Mariah Carey

• Kiss a Girl, Keith Urban

• Chances, Five for Fighting

• Closer to Love, Mat Kearney

• Use Somebody, Kings of Leon

• Beautiful World (We’re All Here), Jim Brickman

• Battlefield, Jordin Sparks

• I Don’t Want to Hear Anymore, Eagles

• I Look to You, Whitney Houston

WHAV 10 Fifties Favorites

(Listed alphabetically by performer)

• Maybellene, Chuck Berry

• For Your Precious Love, Jerry Butler & The Impressions

• What’d I Say, Ray Charles

• Summertime Blues, Eddie Cochran

• Bye Bye Love, Everly Brothers

• In the Still of the Nite, The Five Satins

• Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On, Jerry Lee Lewis

• Long Tall Sally, Little Richard

• Lawdy Miss Clawdy, Lloyd Price

• Be-Bop-a-Lula, Gene Vincent

What’s your favorite?  Complete the Listen & Win form with your favorites and be entered to win free stereo earbuds.