John Curley


The ax falls on Ken Schram's 35 year run

BY Josh Kerns  on December 11, 2012 @ 8:55 am (Updated: 10:10 am - 12/11/12 )

kenschram.jpg
Veteran Seattle broadcast journalist Ken Schram tells Seattle's Morning News he still hasn't heard from management about why he was let go after an award-winning 35 year run at KOMO TV.
When KOMO TV's Ken Schram signed off Monday night, it was the end of an era for the veteran broadcaster, and TV news in general.

After a 35 year run, Schram delivered the last of his iconic, one-of-a-kind commentaries on Monday. The station announced last week it was buying out his contract and ending his award-winning run with the venerable Seattle broadcaster.

"I don't know what happened, to be quite honest with you. It's never been fully explained to me," Schram told Seattle's Morning News as he prepared to head to KOMO one last time to clean out his desk.

"It was strange. I don't know if hard is the right way to put it," he said of his final commentary, in which he challenged opponents of gay marriage to get over it before saying thanks and so long.

Schram built his reputation as one of Seattle's most dogged, hard-nosed political reporters. But he'll be best remembered for his "Schrammie" awards. The scathing, semi-satirical honors calling out the absurdities, misdeeds and hypocrisies of public leaders and institutions.

"I've tried to be fair with them across the board. I've given them to conservatives, to liberals. It's meant to represent the knot heads of the world who've really done just dumb, stupid, inexplicable decisions," he said.

Ironically, while the Schrammie's became his calling card, they weren't even his idea. At first he didn't want to do them.

"I resisted it because I didn't want to become something of a caricature."

As for his departure, Schram says he's heard through the grapevine the station wanted to cut back on full time employees and go in a different direction with the news. But no one from management has sat down with him to explain the decision. They simply let his agent know he was out.

"I'm not angry, I'm not bitter. I'm certainly very disappointed in the manner in which everything was handled, but we know the nature of this business," he said.

It's a business that's changed dramatically since he started over three decades ago. Long gone are the days of a grizzled, veteran journalist delivering a hard hitting commentary or analysis on the minutia of a legislative budget deal. But Schram hopes the next generation doesn't lose sight of what really mattered to him.

"I would say try very hard to enter the business as a journalist and don't succumb to the temptation of being a TV reporter."

Schram doesn't know what he'll do next. But as he signs off for the last time at KOMO, he leaves behind a legacy as well as a challenge.

"I'm tired of the house fires, I'm tired of the crime stories. I think it's our obligation to take complicated political stories, for example, and explain them in a way that really becomes meaningful to people so they know what decisions are being made and how they will impact their lives. That's our responsibility."

Josh Kerns, MyNorthwest.com Reporter
Josh Kerns is co-host of KIRO Radio's Seattle Sounds (Saturday nights 7-8) and a digital content producer for MyNorthwest.com.
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Comments (21)


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  • flipper wrote...
    Hey Ken...
    December 11, 2012 10:35 am
    ...don't let the door hit you in your a-double-sugar on the way out. You were bought out (basically DON'T HAVE TO WORK FOR A YEAR, the dream of all you government loving Democrats). Don't complain.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jeff Schroeder wrote...
    I can't believe you actually said...
    December 11, 2012 8:53 pm
    ...a double sugar! What a first class pu55y linguist...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Still free Scott wrote...
    Part time?
    December 11, 2012 10:47 am
    Schram was a left winger posing as a centrist. He's not hard to figure out. When it didn't matter much, he'd side with the conservatives. When it had large impact, he was left all the way. In a way, he brought about his own end with his constant support of liberal causes. When a company wants to cut back on "full time" that's a "dog whistle" as the left likes to say, for "Obamacare is going to cost too much so we're cutting full timers to get out of paying for their health care". So, welcome to your world Ken Schram. How do you like it so far?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • imanegro wrote...
    Doesn't know why?
    December 11, 2012 11:56 am
    Please.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HLC wrote...
    Good move KOMO.
    December 11, 2012 12:03 pm
    It is a surprise that a lefty limp wrist liberal would get the ax in the Freeattle media.Maybe we can only hope the Morman church pays more attention to businesses they own. Maybe more liberals should be nervous.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • BocaBob1 wrote...
    Bye Bye Ken
    December 11, 2012 12:05 pm
    we will miss you .(Barf) To funny cutting back on full timers. LOL = to old ,smoke and drink to much can't afford your O'care.+ boring lefty!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Alex Mason wrote...
    Bye Ken!
    December 11, 2012 1:08 pm
    It's about time, good riddance!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Loving Life wrote...
    In 11 comments he has been called a Leftist, a Centerist, and Right Winger.
    December 11, 2012 2:06 pm
    Come on people, what is it?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • scotdo wrote...
    I created my account just to say DISLIKE to "The ax falls on Ken Schram's 35 year run"
    December 11, 2012 2:37 pm
    I created my account just to say DISLIKE to "The ax falls on Ken Schram's 35 year run"
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Robin C wrote...
    Wow!
    December 11, 2012 3:49 pm
    Everyone here are a bunch of self centered jack wagons! As I might agree with maybe half of what he has said over the years, I actually like to hear his opinions. He was good at bringing out things that people wanted to just shrug off or ignore. I liked him for that.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    And you righties think the lefties are full of hate.
    December 11, 2012 4:52 pm
    Such vitriol.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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