A reporter and photographer from Sacramento Fox affiliate KTXL found themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time while covering the California wildfires Thursday (video above).

“We just got fire retardant dumped on us. It’s good for fighting the blaze, not great for reporting in,” Ben Deci quipped, crouching down to protect himself.

The Tehama County fire spans 10 square miles and is only 10 percent contained, although it is burning in a remote area and is not currently a threat to any structures, according to the AP.

Video is after the jump. Read more

A former web producer at KTXL, Tribune’s Fox affiliate in Sacramento, has been charged with helping the group Anoymous hack into Tribune websites. Matthew Keys, who is currently a social media editor at Reuters, is accused of providing credentials for the group to gain access to the KTXL computer server in 2010, according to the Tribune-owned Los Angeles Times:

The indictment says Keys provided members of the hacker group Anonymous with log-in credentials for a computer server belonging to KTXL FOX 40’s corporate parent, the Tribune Co.

According to the indictment, Keys identified himself on an Internet chat forum as a former Tribune Co. employee.

After providing log-in credentials, Keys allegedly encouraged the Anonymous members to disrupt the website.  According to the indictment, at least one of the computer hackers used the credentials provided by Keys to log into the Tribune Co. server, and ultimately that hacker made changes to the web version of a Los Angeles Times news feature.

Keys, who has been suspended by Reuters, is also a former producer at KGO in San Francisco. Last year, he broke the news that the ABC O&O would be canceling “7 Live,” an interactive local talk show.

Keys faces up to 10 years in prison if he is convicted. “I am fine. I found out the same way most of you did: From Twitter,” Keys tweeted Thursday evening. “Tonight I’m going to take a break. Tomorrow, business as usual.”

After five years at KGO, the ABC O&O in San Francisco, Terry McSweeney is joining rival KNTV, the NBC O&O in the Bay Area.

At KNTV, McSweeney will anchor the weekend evening newscasts alongside Diane Dwyer. He will also work as a general assignment reporter during the week. McSweeney worked at KNTV as a general assignment reporter from 1987-95.

“Terry has distinguished himself as an enterprising reporter in this market and we’re excited to welcome him back to the KNTV newsroom as part of our anchor team,” KNTV vice president of news Jonathan Mitchell said in a statement.

McSweeney was also a weekend anchor and weekday reporter at KGO. He has also worked at KTXL in Sacramento, WPBF in Palm Beach, KSAZ in Phoenix and WTEN in Albany.

KTXL morning anchor Tia Ewing was caught dancing on camera to Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” between segments of the morning news.

Ewing, whose nickname at the Sacramento Fox affiliate is “Spicy,” posted the video to her YouTube page saying, “Having a little fun on the morning show. I mean, it is 4:30am.”

[TVGuide]

It’s supposed to be good luck, but try telling that to Paul Robins: a bird pooped on the KTXL morning anchor Thursday while he and Bethany Crouch were broadcasting from outside AT&T Park in San Francisco (video after the jump).

“One of my goals in life is to make it on YouTube, and I think I just did,” Robins said over Crouch’s hysterical laughter. “It’s raining bird crap, if I may say that.” Watch the video after the jump… Read more

After just three months as a general assignment reporter at KTXL, Tia Ewing has been promoted to weekend anchor at the Sacramento Fox affiliate.

“Tia has this huge personality, and she’s a natural leader in the newsroom,” KTXL news director Brandon Mercer told the Sacramento Bee. “It became obvious that she was perfect for this role after she presented me with her ideas for creating an even faster-paced newscast, putting an even stronger emphasis on owning local breaking news. That’s what she does.”

Ewing replaces Teri Cox, who left KTXL in July after 25 years at the station.

After 25 years at KTXL, Teri Cox has announced her exit from the Sacramento Fox-affiliate.

Cox anchors the weekend newscasts and reports during the week. She has accepted a job as the director of communications and public affairs for the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association.

“I’ve spent a quarter of a century and half my lifetime at FOX40 News, so this was a big decision for me, but anyone who has been a part of that 25 years knows I have a passion for using my words to tell people’s stories and a passion for law enforcement and public safety,” Cox said in a statement. “How wonderful for me that I now get to combine all of that on a daily basis.”

In a moment made for YouTube, KTXL reporter Sean Bennett attempted to snowboard (or, as he called it, “surf skating”) on live TV while covering a snow storm that hit the Sacramento area this week. It didn’t go well.

KTXL quickly posted raw video of Bennett’s fall on its website and now fellow Tribune station WXIN has uploaded it to YouTube, proclaiming it to be a “viral video.” So far, it’s received 54 views.

The reactions were the same but the setting was definitely different.

In a story this week about a controversial poster displayed at the local highway patrol academy, Sacramento Fox-affiliate KTXL featured reactions from its own staff, including the assignment manager, shot in the station’s newsroom.

One staffer interviewed for the story by reporter Rowena Shaddox even wore a lanyard with the logo of KTXL’s owner, Tribune, while standing in front of a wall displaying the station’s “FOX 40″ logo, leaving little doubt about his background. Video inside… Read more

KTXL morning anchor Ama Daetz is saying goodbye to the Sacramento Fox-affiliate and moving on to KGO in San Francisco, where she’ll work as an anchor-reporter.

Daetz, a Bay Area native, has spent the last three years co-anchoring KTXL’s morning show.

“This community has been so kind to me and made me feel like family. Although I’m beginning a new adventure, I’ll never forget the one I shared with everyone here in Sacramento,” Daetz said.

On her Facebook page this morning, Daetz wrote, “Holy Crap. My last day. I hereby declare my last Hall & Oates Dance Party Friday!” Well, Ama, this one goes out to you… Read more