What In The World Is Wrong With TEGNA, 9News And Kyle Clark?

by Charles Bonniwell | Apr 23, 2021 | Editorials

Kyle Clark, 9NEWS superstar, is beginning to feel the vultures circling.

At one time, not that long ago, KUSA 9News was a powerhouse in the Denver media market with massive ratings and was lovingly called the “Mommy Channel” for its popularity with female viewers. But it seems all good things must come to end. Things started “Breaking Bad” when Kyle Clark floated into town from New York in 2007.

Over the years, the acerbic New Yorker eventually came to dominate 9NEWS and is literally almost impossible to escape if you tune into Channel 9. He hosts “Next with Kyle Clark” at 9 p.m. on weekdays, and if that is not enough, he is the news anchor for 9NEWS on its 10 p.m. broadcast. He also contributes reports for 9NEWS political coverage, the 9Wants to Know Investigative unit, and 9NEWS Storytellers. He is perhaps best known for getting into endless Twitter wars with scores of individuals across the Front Range.

Murder by 9News security guard Matthew Dolloff of Lee Keltner at pro police rally on October 10, 2020.

While 9NEWS ratings are beginning to take a dive, in an age where objective television news is considered passé, he gained admirers by putting his leftwing progressive views into all of his reporting. One never needs to wonder what his personal views are as it relates to any story. The bias reporting was clearly fine with KUSA Channel 9 parent company, the giant publicly traded media company TEGNA, Inc.

Lori Lizarraga

In recent times, however, the wheels appear to be coming off the once all-powerful media vehicle. In June 2020, Clark was furloughed by TEGNA as part of a company-wide cost saving strategy. Reporters for 9NEWS started to become so disliked by some the station began hiring armed security guards when they went to events.

Through a third party they engaged an unlicensed security guard, Matthew Dolloff, who shot and killed grandfather and military veteran Lee Keltner at a pro police rally in front of his son on October 10, 2020. Kyle Clark went into hiding with a security detail claiming he was taking an unannounced vacation. 9NEWS boarded up its windows and kept the staff at home for an extended COVID period. Dolloff was charged with 2nd degree murder by the Denver DA, and the Keltner family hired an attorney for possible legal action against Channel 9 and TEGNA.

Sonia Gutierrez

In March of this year Clark’s and 9NEWS’ reputation as being progressive took a tremendous hit. Lori Lizarraga wrote a scathing article in Westword: “LatinXed: 9News Got Rid of Three Latina Reporters This Past Year, Including Me,” detailing a pattern and practice of discrimination at the news station. In addition, one of TEGNA’s largest shareholders demanded that the company open its books and records to investigate what is being called a broad pattern of bias and racially insensitive behavior.

The investor stated that the allegations show “the roots of racist behavior within Tegna/Gannett are ugly and run deep” and are reflected in “egregious practices with Tegna/Gannett dating back decades.”

Kristen Aguirre

Gannett previously owned the broadcast business that is now stand alone TEGNA. TEGNA spun off the publishing business as Gannett in 2015.

And, of course, Kyle Clark went on an immediate unannounced vacation.

Perhaps Mr. Clark, TEGNA, and 9NEWS, and their phony “wokeness,” might just like to leave town and sell the station to some entity who would like to bring the station back to what it once was.

• Editorial Board