The very name Carol Pella strikes fear in the hearts (if they even have hearts) of Erie politicians. While investigative reporting was certainly not new, it was new in Erie broadcast journalism in the 80's.
Carol put her own unique spin on investigative reporting. Even to this day, most reporters will go up to a certain line but will not cross it. Carol not only crossed it but did leap frogs over the line blazing new trails and burning up more than a few notables. She broke many investigative stories that other media found themselves covering.
When you were interviewed by Pella, you had to watch your P’s and Q’s carefully as she enjoyed catching the unguarded moment. Carol was always friendly which gave a comfort level to whomever she was interviewing, but let the camera’s start to roll and she could switch to her inquiring reporter’s demeanor faster than NBC can cancel a fall season of losers. If you were a newbie, you learned fast that there was no such thing as "off-the-record."
Because of the mix of clients I had, I sometimes found myself either as a source of information or in front of the WSEE mike. You knew that Carol's questions would be pointed and not necessarily polite. In short, you had to be better prepared for a Pella interview than with almost any other reporter. You had to do your homework because she did. Around Carol... it was the "no bluffing zone" (A forerunner of the spin zone)
Carol was the spiritual leader…the pulse of the WSEE news organization. She commanded a great deal of respect which she rightfully earned. Her colleagues admired her and many still do to this day.
Even at that time, the management of WSEE felt that the news department didn’t have to know anything about their ratings. On behalf of the entire WSEE news team, Carol would quietly call me and ask for an appraisal of how they did from rating period to rating period. She wanted to know if what they did was really making a difference and with which audience.
I will give credit to the management of the station at that time as they took a great deal of heat from Carol’s reporting but backed her up. She followed the story no matter where it leads; political blood, shear guts and shaming the shameful were her trade-mark.
Her constant digging for the story behind the story was sometimes personally dangerous. After one particular city scandal (Erie had so many), Carol again confidentially called me. She had received…shall we say... warnings? She wanted to know where she could have a remote starter installed on her car where the installer could be trusted not to say anything. I was stunned and concerned for the position she was putting herself in. Her response… “Don’t worry Jack.. Just help me get the damn starter put on.” I did.
In her last years at WSEE she didn’t stop her probing and poking at and around Erie’s leadership. Even with great personal discomfort and pain, she continued to do her job. Her particular brand of investigative journalism is mostly gone in Erie broadcasting and that mantra seems to have been passed back to the Erie Times-News.
Carol..We thank you and we do miss your style!
"Congress passed a law on February 1, 2006, setting a final deadline for the DTV transition of February 17, 2009. Most television stations will continue broadcasting both analog and digital programming until February 17, 2009, when all analog broadcasting will stop.." FCC http://www.dtv.gov/
Affiliate Rule #2...Respond to letters from affilate relations!
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12 comments:
So how has Carol's health been lately?
Great memories of Erie's "one and only" investigative reporter Jack.
Carol won an A-P award for her parking authority series back in the late 80s. She made then major Lou Tullio and his staff look like a scene out of an Abbott and Costello skit! I was riding the
elevator with her and photographer,
Jim Stewart while her colleauges from Pittsburgh congratulated her on a great series. A portion of the series was played for the attendees at the banquet in Pittsburgh. It gave me a sense of pride even though I was working for a competitor at the time. It showed the "big dogs" that small markets like Erie can produce award winning TV. The attitude of larger PA. TV markets changed after that and many called for customized packages on Erie area stories that could air in Pittsburgh and Philly. Thanks Carol.
I loved working with Carol. She was one of the kindest people I think I have ever known. I'm just glad I wasn't the one being interviewed. The newsroom lost its soul when Carol retired. Hope she is doing well?
Carol was aces! She made every reporter in Erie TV better. I often wonder what would have become of the FBI Pizza Bomber investigation if Carol were still in Erie TV? She would have probably solved the case singlehandedly!
Hope you are doing well, Carol? We all miss you!
Carol is a fine human being. An excellent example of the positive power of TV.
I would like to get off topic for a minute. What does your comment at the bottom mean? "Affiliate Rule #2...Respond to letters from affiliate relations!"
Wanna let us in on the inside joke?
Anonymous...
It's no joke. I would just rather have it be anonymous for now.
Did Carol retire from WSEE or did the SJL stooges force her out?
According to what she told the Times-News at the time, she was offered a management position but turned it down.
If memory serves correctly, Carol and Pierre Bellicini started about the same time in the mid 70's during the strike at Ch. 35. Yes, hope she is doing well!
eriedjguy...
I was wondering if anyone would remember that. It is one of those things that affect station image for a very long time.
I would dare venture to say the heyday of WSEE was from about 1991 to 1996. I may be incorrect and if I am I apologize. The station was really going great guns and Carol was without a doubt the catalyst that made it all happen.
Carol I hope you are doing well!
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