The flood of well-deserved compliments for Rod Meloni must have covered all of the reasons that make him special. Right?
Not quite.
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Yes, he has capably covered a range of stories well beyond his business beat. He’s versatile, accurate, and his work ethic is formidable. Rod is also a great writer.
But my favorite memory is walking into the newsroom each morning and hearing Rod’s intense, nearly delirious laugh. He delivered Rodney Dangerfield jokes with a tug of the tie and the vocal quality of the legendary comedian. He could summon any one-liner from his mental “I Don’t Get No Respect” encyclopedia.
Rod would describe stories we were chasing with vivid turns of phrase. If our conversation referenced inept behavior by the rich and powerful, Rod would label them as a “band of bozos” or “knuckle-dragging morons.”
It was fun to vent, because we were careful to spare viewers our personal opinions.
The morning comedy club would last only a few precious minutes. We had to check sources and dig up story ideas for the daily newsroom meeting.
Reporters are regularly exposed to tragedy. It can wear on them, so humor is critical to the morale of a newsroom. Thanks, Rod, for the therapy.
Nine years after my own retirement, people still ask me if I miss it. I’m glad that tough deadlines and logistical challenges are in my rear view mirror. But I miss the good people of WDIV.
Rod Meloni is at the top of that list.
I wish Rod all the best in this next chapter of his life. I expect his signature laugh to cover great distances across the splendid waters of Northern Michigan.