There is some speculation as to how many exactly. some say 10 others say 15 or 30. 30 seems kind of high.
one tipster says Evan Bacon was fired this morning along with Curt Calhoun, a morning producer named Robin and “12 other people from upstairs”
update 6:35pm – someone dropped this in the chat. it’s the email from one of the producers Robin Cross cbs4 at broward bureau news desk
As I was told in my termination meeting today, times are tough and jobs are being eliminated. My job in the Broward Bureau has been eliminated. So I just wanted to take a moment and say good-bye to some really really wonderful co-workers in the Broward Bureau. I have learned so much from you over the past 6 years!! You have shown me that work can be fun and you CAN love what you do. I will remember us as a family. I didn’t get to work often in Miami but when I did i always went home feeling a little more knowledgeable and informed (and deaf from those scanners!!!). So, until … or if … or when … our paths meet again .. take care and good-bye.Robin~
update 11:50pm: Evan Bacon was freelance at channel 4. Curt Calhoun was WFOR’s chief photojournalist. Some of the other people fired were in sales. One tipster says the total is about 10. Some of those axed have worked at WFOR for 25 years. Another tipster says the cutbacks at CBS4 started with Christina Puig who also freelanced for the station.
Most of the tipsters do say that the cutback orders come from CBS and are company wide so we’ll probably see something similar happening at other CBS owned stations across the country
update 03:00: more tipsters dropping notes and info. below another email. tipster
As most of you know by now, today is my last day at WFOR-TV. After 30 ½ years, at the stations encouragement, I am moving on and looking forward to great things to come. I take with me many wonderful memories and friendships. I will cherish them always. Please stay in touch and thanks for everything. With Fond Memories, Dan Dan Roujansky
Ch4 shedding employees…
NBC selling WTVJ to fund You Tube like Internet sites…
Get the feeling things are changing? TV has always been behind the curve in the new media world and local TV news has been squandering viewer trust with a buffet of crap for short term gain for far too long. Now when they need them they’re gone.
It isn’t hard to figure why new media, even lowly AM radio is having success and why local and network TV is in decline. It’s all about content.
It’s just too bad regular employees are having to suffer and lose their jobs when its the decision makers that run these places that are too blame.
Ben you are so right! Local News has pissed away many viewers.
WBBM the CBS O&O in chicago also laid off a lot of people.
Info from someone married to a WFOR staffer: 10 Positions were eliminated. This means the jobs considered not needed as CBS increases it’s emphasis on internet. Since the jobs were eliminated, the people in them were let go unless they could fill a vacancy in another area. Most could not. WFOR is still hiring, looking for a newscast producer and a photographer. The jobs cut, supposedly 4 in sales, 1 promotion, 4 in news (a part time reporter, a manager, a non-newscast producer and an assignment editor), and 1 in administration could not fit the open slots. These positions won’t be replaced, but the effect in Miami was far less than in other CBS stations due to a trim staff and decent management. I’m told staffers were told this is not a local problem, because WFOR actually is doing better money-wise than other CBS stations, but all stations had to help the overall company which with the piss-poor economy is feeling the pain most of us feel, but on a humongous scale. People are being told this is a restructuring, and it certainly doesn’t seem like they’re cutting to save bucks now. Some of those folks have been there forever, and are getting big final paychecks, something like two weeks for every year of service. 2 people got almost a year’s pay. The mood is heavy, I’m told. My friend’s wife said everyone is in pain, even those with jobs today. I blame Bush and his lousy Iraq war, but I blame Bush for everything.
Christina Puig was not part of the changes 4 made this week. A part-timer, she was let go because she couldn’t get her stories in on deadline and kept messing up liveshots. Just look at her stories online.
It is truly a shame. WFOR got rid of some of the most talented that were left at that station. Evan Bacon was one of their best story tellers — and someone who knew the market very well. Instead, they keep some young dumb girls who can barely string words together. What an embarrassment for that station. After Shannon High left, that place has taken a turn for the worst. Maybe its a blessing that those people got let go — sounds like the worst is yet to come at 4.
Lipps,
Channel 4 shedding employees that you say could not step in and fill other needed positions is George Bush’s fault?
I am no fan of Bush by any stretch, but he not responsible for CBS mismanagement. That has to be the most dull minded thing I have ever heard. And the Iraq war has nothing to do with their Ch4’s poor performance. Maybe it’s because viewers just don’t like to watch them.
Based on what you wrote these people weren’t pulling their weight. If they are HIRING new positions and shedding ones that were no longer needed I don’t know how this could be considered a layoff. it defies the definition.
I guess you are one of those people that whenever something goes wrong in their life they don’t own up to it. They just say “It’s George Bush’s fault”! Who will you blame in 2009?
Come on.
Lipps
Ben has made some good points. I agree with him that Bush has nothing to do with the internal problems at WFOR. NOT a huge fan of the President either, but I am amazed how many people out there connect him to their problems. I’ll be a rich man if I earned a dollar for everytime I hear someone that is down their luck and he or she immediately indict Bush. It is unfortunately to read about people losing their jobs, but they will recover from this experience and move on to bigger and better things.
I think the remark was tongue in cheek, though one could argue that Bush’s war spending has driven the economy into recession, cutting corporate spending for things like advertising. Ben is simply addlepated, someone who knows nothing about CBS management, CBS4’s performance, or anything else having to do with TV based on his previous posts. Nothing Lipps said claimed the fired people were not pulling their weight. The firings here and in other CBS stations are elimination of positions, according to everything I’ve read. Many unfilled positions were also axed. If you eliminate the job, the person in it goes.
Hey DTV Fan,
“addlepated”? What, did you have a big Scrabble game over the weekend and someone schooled you with a word you had previously never heard of? Please.
If you are going to “make the argument” than why don’t you cite some facts and truly “make the argument”? Based on your post you know nothing about the economy.
Bush’s war? God, you really must not know much or you belong to Code Pink. It’s our war for better or for worse. Both parties voted for it. I could make that argument easily.
Uh Newser…I was there when FOR laid off a few people when Shannon was there. Again coporate decision. Don’t be blasting the current management there. It was not their decision. Also quit being so loyal to Shannon and the SVN copycat. People were smart to see right through it. Also stop blasting the news dept for how they’re running the dept now. 4 needed to get out of the SVN copycat shadow. Shannon hired quite a few people herself who couldn’t put a string of words together.One fake latina anchoor, one blonde puppet in sports who couldn’t write her own scripts nor could read w/o her prompter. Do you want me to continue? Liked Evan and it’s unfortunate what happened. He’ll bounce back I know. But get your facts straight!