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 (22)


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  • Forrest wrote...
    And you righties think the lefties are full of hate.
    December 11, 2012 4:52 pm
    Such vitriol.
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  • Essex wrote...
    I Disagreed with Most of What He Said
    December 11, 2012 4:57 pm
    But I'm always sad to see a unique voice leave the media. More often than not he was consistant between his stated philosophies and where he came down on individual issues, and his sarcastic treatment of idiocy was pretty funny sometimes. Also, got to respect 35 years in the business.
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  • Ernie in the East wrote...
    we disagreed on much, but he spoke out
    December 11, 2012 5:03 pm
    We were on opposite sides of just about every topic he touched, but at least you knew where Ken stood. Ken, gay marriage is not like a tax issue that we conservatives lost, so now we must "get over it." The battle really has only just begun, for now this issue which so many wanted to "stay in the bedroom" is out in the open for all to have to address now on a daily basis. Just because something is "legalized" doesn't make it right. Just as abortion has remained an issue for 40 years after Roe v Wade, gay marriage isn't going away anytime soon.
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  • wsualumn wrote...
    I Will Miss Him
    December 11, 2012 6:18 pm
    And he deserves better than this, especially after 35 years. More liberal than me, but he made good arguments and he actually made me look at things from a different angle from time to time.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Jeff Schroeder wrote...
    When did Sex first come to Television?
    December 11, 2012 8:57 pm
    When June Cleaver came downstairs and said "Ward...don't you think you a little rough on the Beaver last Night?" Just seemed like a good time for joke.....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Gonewild40k wrote...
    Hey Ken
    December 14, 2012 7:51 am
    I didn't always agree with you, but I always tuned in for your opinion. I'm going to miss that. Let the Public know where you're going to land so we can continue to follow. Best of wishes!
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  • longwayhome wrote...
    Apply for dorky's job
    December 20, 2012 7:34 pm
    Please? He is a has been. Couldn't make it as a sports announcer, hasn't been much of a noon to three guy, why does KIRO keep him around? Did he catch one of the Bonneville big shots in some compromising situation? I somehow remember there was a goat involved....but I digress. Ken, do us KIRO listeners a favor and consider applying for the noon to three spot.
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  • loulu wrote...
    I am surprised he lasted this long.
    December 20, 2012 11:24 pm
    For some reason, I always found him irritating. I wish him well.... just out of my radar range.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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