Kind of a bittersweet departure from a local news dude who covered so many great stories . . . check the presser . . .
Anchor/Reporter Dan Weinbaum To Leave KMBC
~Takes Position With Heart to Heart International~
Kansas City, Mo - Jan. 5, 2012 -- KMBC-TV Anchor/Reporter Dan Weinbaum is leaving Channel 9 to pursue a new career outside of television news. Weinbaum has accepted a position with Heart to Heart International to become the Director of Communications for the Olathe, KS non-profit.
Dan Weinbaum has been with KMBC-TV for eight years, having moved to the Kansas City Metro from Albuquerque, NM in January 2004 to anchor the start-up weekend morning newscast. In recent months, Weinbaum has been seen in the field, reporting primarily for KMBC’s 10pm newscast.
“This is a very exciting opportunity for me,” said Weinbaum, “and I cannot wait to get started.
But this is somewhat bittersweet, because I'm saying goodbye to my KMBC news family and leaving broadcasting. It's been a rewarding career. And there aren’t too many in this industry that can truly say they’ve worked with some of the best reporters and photographers in the business. I’ve been lucky to do so.”
Weinbaum is a regional Emmy winner, having won three of the past five years for reporting, and has the distinction of six nominations in that time. He won back to back in 2010 and 2011. He also shares an Edward R Murrow Award with his former news team in New Mexico, for leading team coverage in the heart of the Cerro Grande Wildfire in 2000.
“I’ve been fortunate these many years,” Weinbaum said, “to see and experience and report on so many events, and have so many people allow me to tell their stories. But I think it was my time spent in Mississippi in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, that put me on this new path. I served an important role then, informing displaced and shaken people, but I wanted to do more, I wanted to head into New Orleans, get my feet wet and help.”
Heart to Heart International will give him that opportunity and more. The organization is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2012, and has brought Weinbaum on board to bolster its regional, U.S. and worldwide mission to increase health initiatives and provide disaster relief.
Andre T. Butler, CEO, Heart To Heart International: "Dan adds distinctive skills and experience to a strong team at Heart to Heart that is ready to take our communications to the next level in 2012 as we commemorate 20 years of connecting people and resources to a world in need."
Weinbaum is a 10 year Navy Veteran. Prior to his time at KMBC, Weinbaum worked for KRQE-TV 13 in Albuquerque, NM and WOLO-TV 25 in Columbia, SC. He is also an award winning producer and filmmaker, having won Best Documentary at the 2005 San Francisco World Film Festival for “Turmoil - The Rise of Hugo Chavez: Power, Politics, Petroleum & Poverty”.
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Lets see we are quitting our job to go work for a non-profit group who is going to pay Dan even more money to be their Director of Communications.
ReplyDeleteI tell ya folks this non-profit stuff is big business anymore.
So next time you donate to one of them think about ole Dan here who is making probably more in one year than you maybe in two years.
I am willing to bet there is a person who would do the DOC job for half of what ole Dan is going to get and just as well. Leaving at that point more money to use to help people.
Just remember once again a non-profit group does not have to follow the same rules as everyone else when it comes to how they use your donations or pay taxes to help where you live.
Heart to Heart does some good things and the man who started it all is in this neck of the woods and what we call a neighbor. So yes we see and hear a little of the lifestyle enjoyed off non-profit type business pay. But just think of all the extra good that could be done if those who have champagne filled lifestyles and high salaries was replaced with people working for way less money and had a more normal lifestyle.
I mean hey isn't all about helping those in need and not ourselves?
Agree all the way Super Dave. This is a nice gig.
ReplyDeleteYou're right T. Dan is a good dude.
ReplyDeleteHeart to Heart offers help if you choose to follow their twisted views.
ReplyDeleteTime for some clarity and truthiness:
ReplyDeleteTony, thanks for being you, you're one of the best "newsies" in town yourself.
Anon at 6:28... Thanks!
Now, SuperDave... you may want to think before posting. Heart to Heart is #14 of all NGO's in this country as the most efficient, meaning they use less money than almost all in re: to staff, operations, etc. 98 cents of every dollar goes into the field, the disaster relief supplies and supporting the doctors and nurses who volunteer time and skill in the region, the US and around the world.
And you should know, you'll be surprised by how normal my lifestyle is. And I only drink champagne on New Year's... and I buy it at Walmart.
And Mr Not-in-6-days... Uh, I think you have the organization confused with some other group.
Dan
Well Dan as the Director of Communications I see you are hitting the ground running.
ReplyDeleteI know more about Heart to Heart than you think I know.
Also I don't see anywhere where you are donating your time like the ones who go out into the field do. See I know some of those people as well. And trust me they do talk.
As I said good is done through Heart to Heart to many people in many countries but I guess my question to you at this point is what have you done to give your heart to Heart to Heart?
A huge cut in pay?
Or are volunteering your time as well as many doctors and nurses do who go crawling through the mud and dirt for no pay at all?
Now maybe you see my point just a little bit.
Dan, while a good guy, is yet another in a long line of failed Kansas City television reporters who think they can easily make the jump from television reporting to the communications/public relations game. Good luck, Dan. Will be interesting to see what you do when a throng of KC television reporters comes knocking on your door when (and the day will come) Heart to Heart is investigated for something.
ReplyDeleteHey SuperDave,
ReplyDeleteI see your point, a bit.
I'll bet we could have a good discussion over a beer or two, about all of this.
But for now, let's agree not to make assumptions about what either of us knows or doesn't know, or our experiences, or volunteerism, or money. Because we may all be surprised by the facts we find.
Anon at 7:10: Uh, thank you, I think.
And I don't think this is gonna be easy, not by a long shot.
Failed? Aw, come on now.
And let's hope it never comes to that group knock on the door.
KSHB anchor Elizabeth Alex used to volunteer with Heart to Heart. What next, will they hire Gary Lezak?
ReplyDeleteGood luck to a good guy.
ReplyDelete