Ted Simons has come full-circle back to his journalistic roots — but this time around, he’s running the show.
Simons, who spent a semester in college in the late 1970s volunteering at KAET-TV, has returned to the station as host of political roundtable discussions on “Horizon.” He assumed the role as host in November, succeeding Michael Grant who retired.
He’s a seasoned journalist who has worked in television and radio in Phoenix and San Francisco. But he’s also a sports nut, a mediocre guitar player and an aspiring author of the next great American novel.
The 49-year-old Tempe resident has covered topics ranging from sports to politics — and, in some cases, he says, they aren’t that much different.
Arizona Capitol Times interviewed Simons recently to find out what makes him tick. Following is a transcript of that interview:
You’ve worked for several news outlets in the Valley — in both radio and television — during the past 20 years of your career. Tell us how you got your start, and describe the pros and cons of covering the news in Phoenix.
My start in broadcasting came here at KAET, back in the late 70’s. I was a student-volunteer for a semester, then got hired and worked my way through the rest of school running camera and eventually directing a few shows. It was a tremendous break, but I was a political science student and far more interested in news and current events than honing my rather pedestrian TV production skills. Despite being an equally pedestrian athlete, my other great love was sports, and I wound up leaving Channel 8 for a weekend sports anchor job at KPHO — this while I was still in school. Another big break — especially since I was 21 and looked at least five years younger. While still at KPHO I did some freelance feature stories for “Horizon” — this was back in the early 80’s — so it’s nice to be back home.
Covering news in Phoenix is special. The Evan Mecham years were like an extended civics class played out in the newspapers, and subsequent scandals and controversies made it seem as if these kinds of Shakespearean dramas were the norm. It’s calmed down a little, but a place that changes as fast as the Valley never lacks for stories and controversies, the immigration debate currently topping the list.
You also covered sports in San Francisco. How was that different from covering political issues for KAET Channel 8≠
Sports and politics are a lot alike. There’s the obvious horse-race aspect of campaigns and the scoreboard nature of elections, but things like game-planning, the ability to see those plans through, having the will to win, all that Vince Lombardi stuff — it applies to politics as well. You’ve got team leaders trying to achieve their goals regardless of whether they’re quarterbacks and point guards or governors and legislative leaders. Throw in a few personal fouls and brush-back pitches — maybe even a hockey fight or two — and the metaphor is sufficiently stretched. I could go on another tangent and compare covering the 1989 earthquake to the Legislature’s relationship with Gov. Napolitano, but that wouldn’t be fair — the quake lasted only about 20 seconds and Candlestick Park eventually stopped shaking.
Which delivery method do you feel gives you the most freedom to explore the issues, radio or television≠
TV is the dominant medium. It’s the better way for information to make an impact. But local TV news is too often wrapped up in being the first to cover the vagaries of the latest car-into-a-house story. Radio — especially talk radio — can go much deeper into issues, but again, sensationalism often wins out by way of contrived conflict and over-opinionated hosts. That’s why I’m excited about what we do at “Horizon” and what you see on a lot of PBS public affairs programming. Is it show business≠ It has to be. You want people to watch. But it’s also the presentation of important information and there’s a sense of liberation in knowing that your audience is genuinely interested in what you’re discussing.
What is the one thing that many “Horizon” viewers should know about you but don’t≠
That I’m a curious person. And that I have varied interests besides current events and politics. I enjoy listening to most kinds of music and play to ferociously average ends on my beloved Martin guitar. My equally cherished Nikon D50 is starting to make better sense to me, and my interest in literature keeps me scribbling away at what will no doubt result in yet another failed attempt at the great American novel.
What is the most interesting thing, in your opinion, about Arizona politics≠
Just watching how politicians deal with the dynamics of growth. And how so much of public policy is framed by the differing philosophies of those who push for things and those who pull back. The personalities are interesting, too. Arizona’s been blessed with some real characters over the years.
I’m sure you’re used to nervous guests, as well as those who just simply don’t have a knack for being on television. How do you handle those situations≠
Listen to them. Show them the courtesy of paying attention to what they’re saying. People invariably loosen up and be themselves when they focus on having a conversation with someone at the same table as opposed to worrying about how they’re being perceived by a television audience.
You often have to ask tough questions and really pry to get an answer. Is it difficult for someone in your position to remain objective — and, even more difficult, to maintain the perception among viewers that you’re not biased≠
It’s not difficult to ask tough questions if you’re being fair about it. I’m not an ambush interviewer. That kind of obvious confrontation isn’t the best way to get information out of reticent guests or those who are practiced at talking around questions. That said, I’ll keep asking about something important until I either get an answer or I think it’s clear to the audience that the guest doesn’t want to respond. I’d like to think my sense of fairness keeps viewers from thinking that I have a personal bias toward a guest or an issue, but I’ve received enough spirited correspondence over the years to realize that what I think I’m doing and what some folks see and hear can be different things.
How do you prepare for a show≠
Research. I always try to be over-prepared. I’ll look for the latest information I can find, talk to producers at “Horizon,” talk to others out of the office. Nothing fancy.
Do you choose the guests≠ If not, how does that happen≠
I’ll sometimes suggest a topic or guest or offer input into something that’s already scheduled. I did much more of that kind of thing with my radio shows, but I’m still settling into the “Horizon” chair, so I need to respect the lay of the land and work with those who’ve been here a lot longer than me. Plus, the people here know their business. They know what interests the “Horizon” audience and which guests would be best to represent or at least articulate those issues. It’s a collaborative process and it seems to work p
retty well.
What’s the most interesting interview you’ve done in your career≠
Tough one. I always enjoy interviewing John McCain. He can talk about a lot more than politics and I’ve rarely found him less than enthusiastic about being in studio. Karl Rove and Pat Buchanan, pit bulls by reputation, were interesting and refreshingly thoughtful. George Plimpton was fascinating to talk to, as was Michael Murphy of the Esalen Institute, who wrote the almost-brilliant “Golf in the Kingdom.” Can’t forget Malcom Gladwell. And sportswriter Rick Reilly. Now that I think of it, maybe the most interesting person I’ve interviewed is Christopher Hitchens. An amazing intellect with a contrarian nature, he struck me as tortured but brilliant. I’m starting to think of others, so I better stop there.
Political conversation can seem sort of dry to people who don’t closely follow government actions and all that. How do you plan to increase viewership and make the show more relevant to people not wrapped up in politics≠
I would hope that anyone tuning in would appreciate that we’re trying to inform the audience on important issues. “Horizon” has done a great job of that over the years and there’s no reason to think it will change now. My job is to keep the more complicated subjects understandable. Often, I’ll use myself as a barometer. If I start to feel my eyes glaze over during an interview I’ll know that it’s time to clear things up a bit. Still, I'm not going to pander or dumb things down or otherwise waste a viewer’s time. “Horizon” attracts an informed audience. The people who watch are loyal because they expect the best. I hope I can keep it that way.
Who would you say is the best journalist of all time≠
Does de Tocqueville count≠ I know he didn’t have his own talk show, but his observations certainly opened eyes about something — in this case, us — that many knew little about. Closer to this century, I always thought David Brinkley was underrated. He was a communicator. It’s one thing to have the facts, but you have to communicate that information so that it makes sense to the audience. Brinkley did that. As for interviewers, some of the best, in my opinion, are not necessarily journalists. I’m thinking Tom Snyder and Johnny Carson, curious people who brought the most out of interesting guests in straight, unedited one-on-one interviews. Tim Russert does a great job and, as far as columnists go, I get a lot out of Thomas Friedman and David Brooks. Right now, maybe the best reporter going is Jon Lee Anderson of The New Yorker. His stuff from Iraq and Afghanistan is remarkable.
What is the one issue that you expect to focus on most this year and why is that≠
Illegal immigration. It’s just not going away. The tenor of the debate will rise and fall with the latest protest and enforcement effort, but it no doubt will remain a charged issue, and the rest of the country is watching Arizona to see how we handle it. The budget should be a biggie, too. The ideological aspects of the fight, with the role of government as the invisible fist, if you will, pounding on both sides, could make for some wild stuff. Then again, the numbers are sobering enough to perhaps push all concerned closer to compromise faster than we all expect.
When you’re not on television or doing something related to your job, what sort of activities might you be involved with≠
My goal in life is to keep from embarrassing myself too much on the golf course. Or the driving range. Putting green, too. Other takers-of-time include the usual suspects – music, photography, biking, travel.
What is the best/worst thing about living in the Valley≠
Same thing. Growth. It’s exciting to live in a dynamic area, Things change, ideas become reality. We attract transplants that, by their nature, tend to be ambitious and hopeful. That’s all the good stuff. But those same transplants are clogging freeways and stretching social services, and many new residents show little allegiance to their new hometown. Plus, it’s disquieting at times to see areas of constant change lose the chance to settle into quiet, stable neighborhoods.
Giants fan, or Diamondbacks≠ The Warriors or the Suns≠ The 49ers or the Cardinals≠
I only worked in San Francisco for a few years, so my interest in those teams was gone once I left. I was born in D.C. and raised in Arlington, Virginia, but the Nationals ain’t the Senators and I’ve long stopped rooting for the Redskins and Terps. It’s all D’Backs, Suns and Cardinals now, and ASU, of course.