Opinions on WAMU reporters?

[Anonymous]

So many of the WAMU 88.5 reporters (the local ones, not the NPR ones) have what I consider to be very annoying quirks.

Both Matt McCleskey, the main morning anchor, and Elliott Francis, who sometimes subs for him, have trouble reading their scripts, like they're fed on a prompter but the lines aren't coming through fast enough.

Meymo Lyons sounds like she's drinking whiskey and smoking cigars.

Michael Pope ends every segment with "I'M Michael Pope." I always picture him popping a blood vessel in his eye when he says it.

Martin Di Caro has a very soap-opera-esque quality and over-enunciates his tag line: "I'm Mar-Tin Di-Car-O."

Markette Smith over-enunciates to a tortuous degree. She also sounds spitty.

And Armando Trull sounds like he's doing his best impression of a reporter.

I do like Kavitha Cardoza though! Her voice is very soothing and lyrical.

I would think in a metro area this large, they'd be able to find reporters with fewer distracting tics.

[Anonymous]

Kavitha is the one person I hate, humorously enough. Have you ever heard her speak unscripted during the pledge drives? She's a half-wit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And Armando Trull sounds like he's doing his best impression of a reporter.

I agree. I wonder if that's why he gets assignments like interviewing the snowplow guys before a storm.

I'm also not a fan of Kavitha Cardozo. I find her grammatical errors (which may be no more frequent than those of other reporters) particularly jarring because she reports on education.

[Anonymous]

(Sorry, Cardoza.)

[Anonymous]

This post reminds me of how often I fantasize about making an NPR-Name-Generator!

[Anonymous]

Kavitha Cardozo reports whatever the local school authorities say about what they are doing and nothing more. She doesn't seem to question for a moment that there might be another side unless she is handed another side by an existing group.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Hmm, I'm wondering if I'm so lulled by Kavitha's lilting voice that I don't listen to what she's saying.

[Anonymous]

New to the area and also surprised by the lack of polish and professional grace the local reporters have...are they students?

[Anonymous]

Most of the local news reports -- especially those by Armando Trull -- are just reading news releases out loud. The only halfway decent story is when they interview Robert McCartney about local news.

[Anonymous]

Apparently Markette Smith was in the running to take over Regis's spot on "Live! with Kelly."

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2012/07/markette-smith-makes-top-four-in-live-with-kelly-co-host-contest-77952.html

Ooof.

[Anonymous]

Also not a fan of Kavitha Cardoza! And agree about Armando Trull.

[Anonymous]

Oh good. I thought I was the only one who couldn't stand Cardoza!

I tend to switch to WTOP when they do local stuff and then switch bag for national news.

When I'm not listening to audio books because the news is dreadful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kavitha Cardozo reports whatever the local school authorities say about what they are doing and nothing more. She doesn't seem to question for a moment that there might be another side unless she is handed another side by an existing group.

Thank you! No analysis, no other side, no meat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This post reminds me of how often I fantasize about making an NPR-Name-Generator!

Too late:
http://www.publicradionamegenerator.com/
http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/your-npr-name

(Full disclosure, I work there)
-Kate Myers, NPR social media

(Too boring of a name for on the air)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So many of the WAMU 88.5 reporters (the local ones, not the NPR ones) have what I consider to be very annoying quirks.

Both Matt McCleskey, the main morning anchor, and Elliott Francis, who sometimes subs for him, have trouble reading their scripts, like they're fed on a prompter but the lines aren't coming through fast enough.

Meymo Lyons sounds like she's drinking whiskey and smoking cigars.

Michael Pope ends every segment with "I'M Michael Pope." I always picture him popping a blood vessel in his eye when he says it.

Martin Di Caro has a very soap-opera-esque quality and over-enunciates his tag line: "I'm Mar-Tin Di-Car-O."

Markette Smith over-enunciates to a tortuous degree. She also sounds spitty.

And Armando Trull sounds like he's doing his best impression of a reporter.

I do like Kavitha Cardoza though! Her voice is very soothing and lyrical.

I would think in a metro area this large, they'd be able to find reporters with fewer distracting tics.

I can't stand listening to Kavitha. She whistles or squeaks her s's in a fingernails on a chalkboard way.