1 of 1- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline 
Note To Local Broadcasters: Here's How To Properly Pronounce This Name
It's sometimes amazing to me how few people on the air often know how to pronounce a name - especially when it's a fairly famous one. Several morning shows on Thursday were talking about the first intervew with NBC's Savannah Guthrie, still looking for her kidnapped mother now two months in.
Guthrie had her first one-on-one with Today show co-host Hoda Kotb, and parts of it are airing on the morning show on both Thursday and Friday.
But apparently several Toronto newscasters and hosts have never heard of Kotb or at least have no idea how to say her last name. I've heard "Caught-tub" and "Koteb" on several stations. And yes, it's an unusual name. But she's been on the air for years and it's hardly an unknown one.
So for the record, her name is pronounced "Cot-Bee."
You didn't get it right "Today." Maybe tomorrow?
- Radiowiz
- Member
Offline
Re: Note To Local Broadcasters: Here's How To Properly Pronounce This Name
Ask Google AI. Does AI get it right? What a great source that would be if it could be accurate...something to check with before going to air is always nice. (in 2026...)
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: Note To Local Broadcasters: Here's How To Properly Pronounce This Name
I've played around with AIs of various stripes and find they're wrong more often than they're right. The problem is that they present the incorrect info in a very matter of fact convincing way. It's not until you call them on it that they admit they got it wrong.
I take 90% of what they say with a grain of salt.
Although to be fair, I did just look Hoda Kotb's name up on one of them and it got it right. This time!
- •
Thread Starter- 67GreenRambler
- Member
Offline
Re: Note To Local Broadcasters: Here's How To Properly Pronounce This Name
Tarek Fatah mentioned this matter in in one of his newspaper columns years ago. Hoda has no qualms with the kot-b pronunciation, uses it herself, but that's not how they say it 'back home'.
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: Note To Local Broadcasters: Here's How To Properly Pronounce This Name
67GreenRambler wrote:
Tarek Fatah mentioned this matter in in one of his newspaper columns years ago. Hoda has no qualms with the kot-b pronunciation, uses it herself, but that's not how they say it 'back home'.
I can only assume if she says it that way, that's the way she wants it to be pronounced.
- •
Thread Starter- AspectRatio
- Member
Offline
Re: Note To Local Broadcasters: Here's How To Properly Pronounce This Name
There is the traditional German way of pronouncing my surname
It's great that "Amused" can have such traditional alternate pronunciations!
- 67GreenRambler
- Member
Offline
Re: Note To Local Broadcasters: Here's How To Properly Pronounce This Name
She is culturally American. That's why there has no contention with how it is spoken.
In Canadian media, on the other hand, we have CBC employees writing columns about the silent suffering one undergoes when hearing their name pronounced as it is written. Hi Aarti Pole.
- mic'em
- Member
Offline
Re: Note To Local Broadcasters: Here's How To Properly Pronounce This Name
There is new local news reader in the afternoon show 'Up North " on CBC Radio 1 Sudbury. She is American. She has been butchering words constantly. She called Mattawa ' Ma ta wa ' amongst other blunders. I can't believe the producer isn't having her proof read her newscasts before going on air. It sounds really amateurish. No offense to her, but why is the Canadian public broadcaster employing an American gal when there are 1000's of Canadians they could have hired.
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: Note To Local Broadcasters: Here's How To Properly Pronounce This Name
NBC Nightly News aired a huge chunk of this Savannah Guthrie interview on Thursday, dedicating almost 10 minutes off the top of the show to it, which is very unusual. The piece was hard to watch and very emotional, with Guthrie admitting her fame may be the reason her mother was taken.
It was quite remarkable and if you missed it, you can see it here.
- •
Thread Starter- mace
- Member
Offline
Re: Note To Local Broadcasters: Here's How To Properly Pronounce This Name
Several years ago I watched an episode of SVU where the main suspect had fled to Canada. Fin reported that the wanted suspect had been spotted in the small Northern Ontario town of Moo-SON-ee.
- RadioActive
- Moderator
Offline
Re: Note To Local Broadcasters: Here's How To Properly Pronounce This Name
Guthrie has confirmed she'll be returning to the Today Show on April 6th, regardless of what happens in her mother's case.
- •
Thread Starter