The Bay Area News Group said sources at the television station did not feel like the commentary was appropriate for a local news broadcast.

In recent months, Somerville has clashed with newsroom executives over the direction of stories that have appeared on KTVU’s newscasts, including a September 21 incident in which he repeatedly pushed producers and others at the station to include a commentary on racial injustice. Somerville said a DUI incident and arrest that occurred in late December had “nothing to do with” his departure, adding that newsroom management had expressed a desire for him to leave “long before that.” “I am done at Channel 2,” Somerville said in a phone interview with the Bay Area News Group, which broke the news of his departure on Friday. Long-time KTVU news anchor Frank Somerville says he will not be returning to the news station after his contract with the broadcast outlet lapsed with no renewal. (Photo: KTVU/Fox Television Stations, Inc. I am authentic, and people see that in me,” he adds.KTVU-TV news anchor Frank Somerville appears in an undated handout photograph. Facebook is like a window in to who I am. “People get to see me for who I am and what I’m all about. I am just being real, and what I write about is real stuff that involves real feelings. “I have to care about something to write about it. “I am not interested in wasting people’s time,” Somerville explains. If I don’t care about it, what am I posting it for?”Īnd, practically all of the time, he is writing about something engaging and certainly interesting, as opposed to, say, taking a snapshot of his breakfast or lunch, or posting selfies. “The station wanted us to be on Facebook, so I am always looking for ideas to write about,” he says. Somerville has more Facebook followers than some television stations. And Facebook, too, where he has more than 24,000 followers. He says it also helps him to come up with ideas for social media. What’s more, Somerville also stays informed as best as he can. My whole objective is to know what’s going on and being up to speed. I watch our noon news every day so that I know what stories we’re covering. “My morning consists of being aware of what’s going on. “I am constantly looking online to see what’s going on in the world,” Somerville says. He also has his iPad to turn to, which has apps for the New York Times, Washington Post and San Jose Mercury News. He’ll read the San Francisco Chronicle and Oakland Tribune.

Sometimes, I’ll have a bowl or cereal, or toast with peanut butter.” “I sit down and start reading the papers. “For breakfast? Honestly, I have a Rockstar over ice. She’s usually out the door by 8:30 a.m.įor Somerville, here’s his formula to get the day going. to take Sydney, their 15-year-old daughter, to school.Ĭallie, their 10-year-old daughter, is up and getting ready to leave for school by the time her Dad wakes up. His wife of 22 years , Donna, is already out the door by 7 a.m. Even before he wakes up, Somerville’s beautiful, spacious Oakland home has already been buzzing with activity. “I usually get up around 8:30 or 9 a.m.,” he says. So, what’s an average day like for the multi-Emmy Award-winning Somerville?

And, just as he is proud to be from here, the Bay Area is proud to call him its favorite son. He grew up in Berkeley, graduated from San Francisco State University and lives in Oakland, not far from where he grew up. It could be, too, that people like, and admire the fact, that Somerville, who will soon be celebrating his 57th birthday, has strong Bay Area roots. And, whether viewers see him as one of their favorite Bay Area television news personalities, or as an everyman who is approachable, friendly and quite down-to-earth if they ever spotted him in the grocery store or at the gym working out, Somerville takes it all in with a genuine modesty that is second to none. And he trains in Krav Maga, which is an Israeli fighting system. Somerville has been a vegetarian (no meat, fish or poultry) for 46 years. Frank was named after his father’s childhood friend, Frank Patty, and his paternal grandfather, William Somerville. He currently resides in Oakland, California, U.S. Frank Somerville Ageįrank was born on 19th March 1958 in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. Somerville has received three Emmy awards at KTVU, including one for best on-camera news anchor.įrank was named after his father’s childhood friend, Frank Patty, and his paternal grandfather, William Somerville.

Frank Sommerville, born Frank William Somerville is an American journalist who anchors the five-o’clock, six-o’clock, ten-o’clock, and eleven-o’clock news hours at KTVU in Oakland, California.

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