Post-Gazette TV writer Rob Owen answers reader questions online every Friday in Tuned In Journal blog at post-gazette.com/tv. Here’s a selection of recent queries.

Q: What is the salary of TV news anchors, weathermen and reporters in the Pittsburgh market and in big markets?

I am assuming this information is highly secret, as I have only been able to get one clue of this info on one post that talked about Don Cannon blurting out during a newscast that it is hard raising a family on $216,000 a year back in 2004 approximately.  — SHAWN, MCKEES ROCKS

Rob: Pretty sure the Don Cannon story is apocryphal as the only reference I can find to it online is a 2006 post on the satirical Onion website.

As for local TV news anchor salaries, they are indeed secret, but they also may not be as high as you’d expect, especially for newer anchors.

Long-established news anchors still pull in bigger bucks — I’d guess $150,000 to $250,000 is probably max in Pittsburgh, but it’s only a guess — although even their salaries tend to be on the decline.

An Radio Television Digital News Association salary survey released in June found the median salary for a news anchor in the Top 25 biggest TV markets (Pittsburgh is No. 23) was $150,000. But I am fairly confident relatively inexperienced weekend anchors in Pittsburgh make something closer to $40,000-$70,000 annually.

Q: I have noticed lately that the local news stations have stopped using the word “accident” in their news reports. They refer to them as crashes or collisions. Is there a reason they no longer use the word “accident”?  — CHARLIE, BALDWIN

Rob: None of the local news directors replied to Charlie’s question, but “accident” is less accurate and implies the collision could not have been avoided when in many incidents that’s not the case.

Turns out there was a whole movement afoot to get “accident” removed from reporting vernacular, including articles and even a website called crashnotaccident.com.

Recently the Associated Press changed its style manual to reflect a trend away from “accident”: The entry now reads: “accident, crash: Generally acceptable for automobile and other collisions and wrecks. However, when negligence is claimed or proven, avoid accident, which can be read by some as a term exonerating the person responsible. In such cases, use crash, collision or other terms.

Q: Why do you think so many acting roles are given to foreign actors? American actors are always complaining about how hard it is to get started and get jobs.  Example: “The Affair.” Two lead roles, two British actors (Ruth Wilson and Dominic West).  — KENNETH, PITTSBURGH

Rob: Part of it is technology, which makes auditioning from afar via the internet possible. The world is a smaller place now, and there’s more networking across oceans among agents in other countries.  Some of it is an effort to find fresh faces.

And acting pays more in the U.S. than in England, so it makes sense that British actors would want to work here.

Ask TV questions by emailing rowen@post-gazette.com, including your first name and location, or submitting the form at post-gazette.com/tv.

First Published: October 16, 2016, 4:00 a.m.