Story updated at 8am Pacific
Behind the “Redwood Curtain” of Humboldt County, Calif., there’s been much chatter this week as to why the city of Eureka, Calif., got a “shout out” from an individual linked to the Republic of San Marino, the tiny landlocked independent nation within the country of Italy, during the last of the three Eurovision Song Contest broadcasts for the 2023 competition.
What was that all about? It all ties to the now-former afternoon and evening news anchor for Imagicomm Communications‘ “Redwood News” seen on the company’s KIEM-3 and KVIQ-14.
The mention of the Northern California coastal city known for its greenery and its free lifestyle on Tuesday came from John Kennedy O’Connor.
While he was until six months ago the 5pm, 6pm and 11pm anchor for “Redwood News,” seen on both KIEM and KVIQ, he’s also the author of The Eurovision Song Contest: The Official History.
O’Connor, born in North London, is today a naturalized U.S. citizen. And he was very much is a part of the news team at the stations formerly owned by Cox Media Group. But, globally, he’s largely been associated with Eurovision as a commentator and host. This year, he was chosen as an honorary representative for San Marino by Eurovision organizers, in celebration of the contest’s return to Great Britain for the first time since 1998.
Why San Marino? O’Connor became a commentator for San Marino RTV’s Eurovision coverage in 2012.
While the Eurovision song contest was parodied by Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams in a recent Netflix feature film, the Eurovision Song Contest remains one of the world’s most watched competitions of any kind. In the U.S., while it is not “Super Bowl” like in its viewing, 2021 winner Måneskin has achieved significant chart success since taking the Eurovision crown for Italy.
O’Connor’s knowledge and passion for the Eurovision Song Content result in a book that came in 2005, and was updated in 2010. A second work tied to Eurovision subsequently was distributed to book vendors in 2015.
Meanwhile, O’Connor’s career also saw him serve as a regular contributor to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.’s ABC Radio National.
How did the worldly O’Connor end up in one of the most remote outposts of the Golden State? He joined KIEM and KVIQ in February 2022 before taking on a role with the Lost Coast Outpost, a community information website associated with KHUM and KSLG radio.
— With reporting by Tanya Hunt, in Eureka, Calif.
