Wednesday, March 29, 2000
Schaefer leaving Ch. 9 for natural reasons
Veteran anchor to do 'Healthwatch' features
BY JOHN KIESEWETTER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
I ordered the ham-and-cheese omelet. Paul Schaefer just wanted hot water for orange and spice tea. That's how breakfast began as WCPO-TV's weekend anchor explained why he's leaving Channel 9 on Friday to produce alternative medicine TV features.
“I'm a vegetarian. I eat all organic foods. I grind my own flour. I meditate. I've taught transcendental meditation since 1975,” said the 47-year-old California native.
“I'm building an all non-toxic home (in Campbell County). I live this life, but it's not part of me that the viewer sees.”
For 14 years, we've seen this versatile reporter and weekend anchor. We've known he's No. 2 behind main anchor Clyde Gray, and good enough to be the No. 1 guy in smaller markets. He knew that too but passed up offers elsewhere to stay in Cincinnati.
He chucked it all to follow his heart and soul, after indications that his contract might not be renewed.
He plans to syndicate Channel 9's weekend “Natural Healthwatch” features hosted by Dr. Christine Horner-Taylor, the plastic surgeon he lives with in Northern Kentucky. They will be offered to sister Scripps Howard stations and other broadcasters, he said.
“This is a passion of mine, to blend my storytelling skill with this knowledge that can help people,” he said.
“Our mission is fairly straight-forward: To introduce the public to tools that can keep them naturally. We call it news that heals.”
“Natural Healthwatch” segments, which debuted on Mr. Schaefer's 11 p.m. weekend newscasts in November, have covered dietary supplements, herb and fruit extracts, cancer-fighting antioxidants and potentially harmful growth hormones given to dairy cows.
Mr. Schaefer said he will make the segments more visually appealing than the low-tech 90-second reports shot against Channel 9's weather backdrop with Dr. Horner-Taylor. She's the doctor who gained national attention campaigning for federal legislation requiring insurance companies to cover breast reconstructive surgery after mastectomies. The bill became law in October.
“We had no budget for "Natural Healthwatch.' No photographer. No editor,” he said. “Now we can polish it and make it better.”
More than $21 billion — yes, he said billion — was spent by American consumers on alternative medicine in 1997. “That's out-of-pocket, so that means it was not insurance money,” he said.
Scripps, which owns Channel 9, has taken an interest in “Natural Healthwatch” because it has brought in new advertisers.
Naturally.
Call it news that heals the bottom line.
“Broadcasters are under a lot of pressure to produce more revenues,” he said. “And we've been a new source of revenue.”
Mr. Schaefer and Dr. Horner-Taylor also have a grant from AMVETS for a preliminary Gulf War syndrome study using principals of ayurvedic medicine, a traditional Indian system of medicine with roots tracing back 5,000 years. And they may write a syndicated newspaper column about complementary and alternative medicine.
“We're doing a subject matter that has never been treated legitimately before. We're doing an evidence-based show. We're not talking about wacky stuff,” he said.
“The truth is: People need to know these things, simple things you can do to stay healthy, from flax seed to meditation.”
The truth is: Paul Schaefer wanted to get out of the TV studio and do something else with his life.
“After 19 years on the air, the novelty of having your face on TV doesn't do much for you,” he said.
“I had a wonderful gig. Anchoring has a certain satisfaction, in performing and communicating at that level of skill. But it can be very boring just reading from a TelePrompter.
“My interests are outside the daily grind of journalism,” said the man who likes to grind flour.
“I was getting burned out on a diet of news, though I don't mean any disrespect to my colleagues.”
Naturally.
John Kiesewetter is Enquirer TV/radio critic. His column appears Monday and Wednesday. Write: 312 Elm St., Cincinnati 45202; fax: 768-8330.
