It's sort of like Linda Douglass but on the local level, I guess. I'll have to ask our Seattle-area readers to note in the comments section if KING's Robert Mak repeatedly displayed a penchant for gauzy coverage of liberal Mayor Greg Nickels (D).
The 10-time local Emmy-winning reporter is leaving TV news for a job that pays $10,000 more a year than his new boss.
From the Seattle Times (emphasis mine):
One of Seattle's best-known political reporters - KING 5's Robert Mak - has been hired as Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' communications director, the mayor's office announced today.
Mak, known to many viewers as host of the public-affairs program "KING 5 News Up Front," said he wasn't looking for another job when Nickels' office approached him a few weeks ago.
But after 21 years as a television news reporter, including 16 at KING, Seattle's NBC affiliate, Mak said he decided to pursue a new challenge.
"It combines my background in communication with my interest in government," Mak said. "It's really about life experience. When you look back at your career, I want to be able to say I tried different things and learned different things."
Mak, 41, will be paid $160,000 and start his new job June 9, according to Nickels' office. He will also have the title of senior policy adviser to Nickels.
Photo of Robert Mak via SeattleTimes.com
—Ken Shepherd is Managing Editor of NewsBusters
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Tired of the McClellan
May 28, 2008 - 15:47 ET by goldbarTired of the McClellan story, eh?
Is the kid going to work for
May 28, 2008 - 15:56 ET by Roger the ShrubberIs the kid going to work for the mayor after school? He looks 12 years old.
Locally and nationally, the
May 28, 2008 - 16:09 ET by Chris NormanLocally and nationally, the door between the media and politics continues to revolve - mostly to the left.
Seattle Area news...is....Left of left field
May 28, 2008 - 20:31 ET by JayTeeSo I've been in Seattle 6 wks. now...I turned on local news 2 days ago (been dreading it) and I'm hearing / seeing this guy talk about "acid Oceans" caused by...you guessed it...Carbon pollution from Mankind...
I'm thinkin WOW..this is a new Al Gore approach....They describe the Guy talkin as a "Environmental Specialist" ??
What the heck is that ?
These guys are pushin Environment thru the Media 24/7 ..just about everywhere ...print Media..TV... I picked up a free locl publication and found an Article discussing ..Food miles..On Salmon being shipped in from Alaska..
SEATTLEWEEKLY.COM
title of the Article...Caught in the carbon Net...
So this Article is understandable...
Pretty Squirrely out here in Left Field.
JT...I feel for ya'. I
May 28, 2008 - 20:40 ET by bigtimerJT...I feel for ya'.
I absolutely refuse to go to Seattle anymore unless I absolutely have to. We have two kids that live in the area and a couple of old time friends...it has changed so much over the decades now.
Only use I had for Seattle was to get to Ak. when I lived there and was visiting the lower 48.
The whole NW is changing in demographics politically though, has for years now too with people moving here from all areas, a lot of liberals that move here with their agenda...and before you know it they take over because nobody fights back before it is to late...oh heck I could go on and on, won't though, makes no difference anyway...just been sad to watch.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
Robert Mak: One of the few good ones.
May 29, 2008 - 11:01 ET by NBFAs everyone here knows, I'm a staunch conservative. From that perspective, Robert Mak was the model of what a journalist should be. He asked tough, intelligent questions. He was fair. He did not pull punches when interviewing leftists.
If every journalist was like Robert Mak, Newsbusters would not need to exist. I'm a bit surprised that he would take a job with the ultra-liberal Nickels.