Warner Saunders retires

Warner Saunders retires

May 21, 2009 by mattie14

May 21, 2009

Last night NBC 5’s Warner Saunders signed off from Brant’s seat. It’s a very sad thing. He was one of the very rare people left in news who enjoyed, understood and excelled at his job with not a wit of personal venom. Someone who understood that news, news bias and personal bias are different things and that he was there to report the news. Plus there was a nice chemistry between him, Allison Rosati and Brant Miller, especially on Fridays when it seemed they had some cocktails for dinner. They may be able to replace him on the News – unnamed - but who is going to replace him in the black community? He says he will continue his work as a diversity trainer once his health is back in order. He still looked weak. His believes that everyone, including himself, has racist thoughts and that “our simple task is to recognize it, admit to it and then move to change it”.

They devoted the last 10 minutes to him which seemed rushed – but they a 30-minute tribute: “Never Give Up: A Tribute to Warner Saunders” that will be aired on Sunday, May 24th at 7:30 am and Monday May 25th at 4:30 pm. I think he deserves something a little more prime time than that.

Tells a nice story about breaking in Allison Rosati and how honored he was that barry made a point of honoring him: “When I think of the city, I picture all the great Chicago monuments — Soldier Field, the Sears Tower, the Art Institute and, of course, Warner Saunders.”

WARNER SAUNDERS:

I’m just in awe that you have allowed me to come into your home for all of these years. We bring some pretty nasty news from time to time, and I’m just glad that you didn’t kill the messenger.

Thank you.