Up-close in Afghanistan; Channel 41 anchor was near fighting a few times
Like many Americans, KSHB, Channel 41, news anchor Elizabeth Alex has been watching images of aching poverty in Afghanistan and horrifying violence from the Middle East. The difference is that Alex was watching them in person. Along with KSHB photographer John Batten, Alex visited Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan and Israel in an occasionally hair-raising 10-day mission. Their stories continue to air on Channel 41's newscasts this week as sweeps month gets under way. "It was magical in some ways and heartbreaking in others," Alex said this week. She and Batten were caught near heavy fighting twice. Once, near the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, they had to be escorted out by a different driver because their original driver refused to venture out in the gunfire. The second driver asked them incredulously, "Where are your flak jackets?" Another time, a tip from a British relief agency led them to a remote Afghan village where few cameras have been. Situated in the area of Ghazni, southwest of Kabul, it showed not only the everyday hardships of Afghanistan but also the country's tremendous promise. "I was struck by their passion for education," Alex said. "They're a farming area, very poor, but they sit the kids under the trees for school." The Channel 41 team accompanied Gary Morsch, founder and president of Olathe-based Heart to Heart International, which airlifted medical and other supplies to be distributed in Afghanistan. Their original plan was to stick near Kabul and operate in a large group, but in the end Alex seemed glad for the unexpected turns of fate. "It went great," she said. Less than a year after disappearing from KCTV-5's newscasts, legendary anchor Wendall Anschutz is back at the station - this time as host of a local business show that's one part news, one part advertising. Anschutz, who took an early retirement package last June, will be appearing on a local business show, "KC-B2B," airing on Channel 5 at 5 p.m. Saturdays, beginning May 25. In an unusual arrangement, DHTV Productions of Overland Park will sell some of the air time to area businesses. DHTV will produce profiles of those companies, which according to a press release will be "in-depth" and "positive." Each company will be able to use its profile in the future as a promotional video. Otherwise, "KC-B2B" will seem just like a news program. Anschutz will read the week's business headlines, and later in the broadcast, he'll interview local business people. An on-screen message will inform viewers that some companies featured on the program have paid promotional fees. And Anschutz said he won't withhold negative news about companies profiled on "KC-B2B." "I am now retired and am no longer a newsman," Anschutz said this week in an interview. "But there's a newsman's ethic that comes with me. I don't think it would be fair to leave one impression (about a company) on people's minds and then not correct it when a situation comes up." Other than his coming weekly TV gig, Anschutz seems to be taking full advantage of retirement. Mostly he paints and putters around the house. "My life is pretty dull at the moment," he said. "If it picks up I'll let you know." What does Anschutz think of his longtime co-anchor Anne Peterson's sudden promotion to the 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts? "I think it's great," he said with a laugh. "Bless her heart, she has given more to that station than I ever will." "KC-B2B" is the brainchild of producer Mark Honer, who previously worked for CBS Newspath out of Channel 5's offices. KCTV has agreed to air "KC-B2B" for 13 weeks with an option to pick up the program for another 13 weeks. "DIY Kansas City" isn't exactly a paid program, but it's a bird of a similar feather to "KC-B2B." The half-hour home-improvement show, airing at 1 p.m. Saturdays on KMCI, Channel 38, and repeating at 10 a.m. Sundays on KSHB, Channel 41, is produced by the DIY-Do It Yourself cable channel, which was spun off from the popular HGTV channel two years ago. What KMCI, KSHB, DIY and HGTV have in common is that they're all owned by E.W. Scripps Co. In other words, "DIY Kansas City" is corporate cross-promotion. Using local personalities (here it'll be Sally Moore), Scripps is rolling out customized versions of its "Ask DIY" segment in 19 cities, and hopes to expand to 30 cities by year's end. Not all of those will involve Scripps-owned stations. Moore will answer questions from area viewers on the program, which will also feature content produced at the giant Scripps production house in Knoxville, Tenn. To reach Aaron Barnhart, phone (816) 234-4790 or visit the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com. @ART CAPTION:Mamhood was Elizabeth Alex's driver when the news anchor was in the Middle East recently. @ART CREDIT:Courtesy of KSHB @ART CAPTION:Wendall Anschutz @ART:Photos (2, color and b/w)
Copyright 2002 Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service The Kansas City Star
April 25, 2002, Thursday
SECTION: ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
KR-ACC-NO: K7594
LENGTH: 1506 words
