CAMPAIGNING ONLINE TO KEEP SUE ON AIR

By Debbie Mitchell

Well New Yorkers are fighting mad and they are not going to take it anymore. They want their Sue Simmons back.  Last week viewers were shocked to find out that long time newscaster Sue Simmons is being let go from her job.  A fixture at WNBC for over 30 years the local news icon's contract is not being renewed when it ends in June. To add insult to injury, Simmons' long time co-anchor  68 year old  Chuck Scarborough was renewed for another three years. REALLY!!?

Now devoted fan 26 year old NewYork native and Columbia graduate student, Ryder Kessler has created the  online petition Save Sue Simmons! on Tumblr to  fight for Simmons in hopes of keeping her on the air.  I was stunned when I heard the news about her pending departure. Just days before, a and friend I were discussing Sue and her longevity in the television industry. We were teenagers when Sue Simmons hit the big apple airwaves in 1980.  At the time, there were very few African American newscasters on the air. Sue was intelligent, attractive composed and made us proud.  Simmons has maintained those characteristics over the years and at 68 is still handling her business in front of the camera. 

Kaity Tong, Anchor WPIX 

Sue along with WPIX Kaity Tong 62, who is currently a field anchor of PIX News at ten each weeknight,  make up a short list of female local personalities who have spent decades on the air in New York.   Before Oprah there was Sue Simmons.   Simmons has won four Emmy awards, but is perhaps best known as the news anchor who dropped the F-bomb on the air in 2008 after she thought her microphone had been cut off.  People it's easy to forget but always remember the microphone is ALWAYS "on" until your audio person turns it off.

It was an unfortunate incident which drew millions of views on YouTube and Simmons later apologized on air for it.  The Save Sue Simmons! petition is getting traction with celebrities like Alec Baldwin tweeting in support "My first job was at 30 Rock and I had a crush in Sue Simmons.#SAVESUESIMMONS"— AB (@alecbaldwin) March 8, 2012

In the past, when a favorite television show has been canceled, fans have tried to change executives minds by launching online campaigns to bring them back. In rare instances it works. Rumors have already begun to circulate about Sue's replacement so it's going to take quite a bit of convincing for executives to let her keep her job.  There has been a lot of change in the television landscape over the past year. One by one television icons I grew up watching have left the airwaves including Oprah Winfrey, Meredith Viera, Regis Philbin and now Sue Simmons. I realize that nothing lasts forever, but Sue was the "first one" in my news book to make a lasting television impression. Kyder wants to keep the online petition going until WNBC renews Simmons' contract or until she says she is ready to step down.  It will be a miracle if the online petition actually reverses the decision. But it is worth a shot.  Sue I will miss you if you go. Just know this New Yorker is urging everyone to join the fight to SAVESUESIMMONS!

TV/Social Media Producer Debbie Mitchell is an Emmy nominated producer who is a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA).  If you are a personality interested in television placement or connecting with brands follow Debbie Mitchell @TVProducerDeb or email Ready4Airtv@gmail.com .