KFVS12 general manager Mike Smythe to retire

KFVS12's multi-award-winning general manager and vice president Mike Smythe has seen many changes in the television industry since coming to Cape Girardeau in 1998.

Just in the past several years, the station has added new channels, applications for mobile devices, constantly updated online news production, switched from analog to digital broadcast and this year began broadcasting in high definition.

"The changes in the business have been dramatic without question, and they will continue to be dramatic," Smythe said.

The next big change coming for KFVS12 has to do with Smythe himself, who will retire at the end of this month. He is the second-longest serving manager of the station after Oscar Hirsch, who began broadcasting radio in Cape Girardeau in 1925 before heading the television station from 1954 until the station was sold to AFLAC Broadcast Group in 1979. Eighteen years later the station was sold to its current owner, Raycom Media.

Smythe has plans to move to Toledo, Ohio, where he will live closer to his children and his eight grandchildren. He will also do consulting for television station sales departments.

During his time in Cape Girardeau, Smythe has been known as a contributor to local community betterment initiatives through leadership in service organizations and education. For the past nine years, he has served on the board of the United Way of Southeast Missouri. He is in a second term on the board of the Southeast Missouri State University Foundation, and is the chairman of the Missouri Broadcasters' Association board of directors.

The United Way's executive director Nancy Jernigan said Smythe's efforts will be missed in the community. As chairman of the agency's fundraising campaign in 2004, funds raised during kickoff events doubled when headed by Smythe, Jernigan said.

"When he speaks, people listen," she said. "He speaks with passion, and that really has an impact."

Smythe's presence at the agency's board meetings also made a difference, Jernigan said.

"It was always fun when he was there, and he offered good advice," she said.

Smythe is well known for his opinions. In addition to his managerial role, he records an on-air editorial segment called "ViewPoint." He has won numerous awards for the segment, including nine Missouri Broadcasters Association awards for best editorial and an Emmy Award in 2010.

Through voicing his opinion in the segment, Smythe said he feels he has had a hand in shaping opinion in favor of several issues in the community, including the passage of the go-ahead by voters on the Isle of Capri casino project, revitalization of the Cape Girardeau Public Library and the 2004 sales tax increase to fund improvements for the Cape Girardeau Fire Department. Smythe said he was grateful for the opportunity to take a stance on the issues.

"It was good to be able to do that, and I feel that I've done something for the community," he said.

During his tenure with Raycom Media, Smythe admits, the editorial segment was one of the things he liked best about his job.

"One of the good things about the editorials is that Raycom always forced the issue of doing them, but they never told us what to say," he said.

Smythe describes himself as different from most general managers since he has been in front of a camera most of his life. He spent time as a sportscaster, and introduced the region to the "Heartland Business Break" segment during the two years before he became the station's general manager.

Smythe said he is proud of the relationships he has formed in the community, as well as with other local media, including the Southeast Missourian.

"There is always that animosity between TV and print, but the relationship between the station and the newspaper has really blossomed since I've been here," he said.

Smythe said he thinks his retirement will open a new chapter in his life.

"My life has been KFVS. You don't get out a lot with all the changes, and you skip a lot of vacations and things you should be doing for yourself. So I am looking forward to that," he said.

He said it has been a good experience to finish his career working in television in Cape Girardeau.

"I just love the people here. I've been extremely happy here. I wouldn't have stayed as long as I have if it hadn't been for that," he said.

Before he was named the general manager of KFVS12 in 2001, Smythe served as the station's general sales manager beginning in 1998. He came to Cape Girardeau from a sister station in North Carolina.

eragan@semissourian.com

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