More Layoffs

[photog1199]

Just this week WTVC in Chattanooga, TN laid off 6 people including 2 photographers. A couple of the people laid off took early retirement. It's a sad day in TV right now. I find it funny how the people deemed expendable by the big wigs are the people that make $10 an hour and work 40+ hours a week, yet high priced "anchors" continue to draw paychecks and work about 20 hours a week.

Hopefully these guys are able to find work soon.

[jpcreel3]

They laid off 8 people total. 4 from news ... 2 photogs, the assignment editor, the news operations manager. 4 from production and sales. No one retired ...

[Horonto]

The hairdo's/meat puppets rarely get hit.

[photog1199]

Originally Posted by jpcreel3

They laid off 8 people total. 4 from news ... 2 photogs, the assignment editor, the news operations manager. 4 from production and sales. No one retired ...

We heard differently. Sounds like corporate America is these days. The story was a couple people took an early retirement package. Sounds like it's not the case.

Anyway good luck to everyone.

[lbvp]

Originally Posted by Horonto

The hairdo's/meat puppets rarely get hit.

One station in Cleveland let go of a number of long time ( 5 + yrs) on air folks, including one of the weekday news anchors, in addition to behind the scenes people.

[ewink]

The reason the high paid anchors don't get hit is because of their contracts. If you have to pay out that much money anyway, you might as well keep them and put them on air.

It pays to have an agent/lawyer negotiate your contract.

I always wonder why people think that the corporate people would have any more love for the lens meat than they would for the photogs and producers and the production people when they are only interested in profit.

[photog1199]

Originally Posted by ewink

The reason the high paid anchors don't get hit is because of their contracts. If you have to pay out that much money anyway, you might as well keep them and put them on air.

It pays to have an agent/lawyer negotiate your contract.

I always wonder why people think that the corporate people would have any more love for the lens meat than they would for the photogs and producers and the production people when they are only interested in profit.

I get they have contracts, and good ones if they work here (10 year contracts). But there is always "more love for the lens meat" than anyone else. They are the "face of the station". But I just don't think someone that reads the news needs $250,000, just my opinion.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Many years ago, when for the first time the rank and file were getting only a 2% annual increase--due to "soft national sales"--my Top 20 station suddenly found the money to hire a cross-town rival's main sports anchor, for a multiple six figure salary. (and this was in the days of real inflation...where we had been averaging 8-9% annual increase as a COLA)

The official reason: if he brought in even a single point higher rating at the 10 pm newscast, it was worth a million bucks in ad revenues to the station.

That's why the stations love their big-pants anchors when things go well. On the other hand, the life expectancy of an anchor in a top 50 market used to be less than 18 months, so it comes at a price. No idea if the longevity for them has gotten better or worse.

[Astocker]

Most people pick a news station for one of two reasons, sometimes both: the like the on-air talent or they like the lead-in show and are too lazy to change the channel. When I worked in IL and AZ both we had weathermen that could do no wrong. They absolutely drove the ratings. When they retired, the whole game changed. In LA when everyone was doing a 4pm newscast, whoever had the best lead-in won that hour. When Opra was on before your show, you were number one (as long as she was).

Which is all why we shouldn't let ratings mean a thing to us. You do the best job possible and take pride in your work. Let the suits, the bleach jobs, and the blow-drys worry about the numbers.

[ewink]

Originally Posted by photog1199

But I just don't think someone that reads the news needs $250,000, just my opinion.

They probably think they same thing about someone who points a camera and your salary.

[photog1199]

You are probably correct. But it takes them about 2 months to make what I get in a year so they might just laugh and say what a poor sucker. Such is life.

[code20photog]

The weather gal at our station has her own fan page on Facebook. Everywhere we go, people always ask about her, many people watch just to see her, face it she's the face of the station. I know what she makes a year, and the station sees it as a investment more than anything else. She brings in ratings, as do many high price anchors.

When was the last time anyone stopped you and asked where any of your photographers are?

[ewink]

Originally Posted by photog1199

You are probably correct. But it takes them about 2 months to make what I get in a year so they might just laugh and say what a poor sucker. Such is life.

I will admit that this is off topic and that I have never worked in a #1 or whatever market, but I have only once met an on air type that has actually had that kind of attitude.

Everywhere I've worked, all the reporters, anchors, whatnot have always been cool. I guess. Other stations included. I guess I have just been lucky.

Anyway, resume topic.

[photog1199]

Originally Posted by code20photog

The weather gal at our station has her own fan page on Facebook. Everywhere we go, people always ask about her, many people watch just to see her, face it she's the face of the station. I know what she makes a year, and the station sees it as a investment more than anything else. She brings in ratings, as do many high price anchors.

When was the last time anyone stopped you and asked where any of your photographers are?

I get asked about one photographer all the time, granted he has been shooting longer than most of us have been alive and he knows EVERYONE. So people do ask about him.

And your point about anchors "bringing in the ratings" is valid but what happens when those ratings fall. At least in our case, anchors are not asked to take pay cuts or to maybe pull a little extra weight. But the behind the scenes people like the producers, photographers, the PA's are cut loose. Nature of the beast I get it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

[Frank McBride]

From the Houston Chronicle: Wendy Corona has been laid off at KPRC (Channel 2), where she has worked as an anchor since April 2006, as the station moves to tighten its budget.

Skip Valet, Channel 2’s news director, said Corona’s departure “was an economic decision.” He said Corona’s position on the payroll will not be filled, but Rachel McNeill and Dominique Sachse will work alongside anchor Jerome Gray on the station’s 4 and 6 p.m. newscasts until a permanent co-anchor is named.

“We know that we are facing very difficult economic times, and we have to find efficiencies where we can,” Valet said. “We’re looking at a lot of ways to do that. Unfortunately, in this case it involved a person.”

Full Article

What I find interesting is that they decided to call it a layoff. Often they will say "Jane Doe's contract was not renewed." I guess they wanted to make it clear that she was not at fault? My guess is that she was not their highest paid anchor.

FMc

[exassignedphotog]

MORAINE — WDTN-TV, Channel 2, has decided not to renew the contracts of two of its on-air news personnel and is offering voluntary buyouts to eligible newsroom employees.

The contracts of reporter Mandy Sheridan and Mike Schell, a news anchor and reporter, expired at the end of December and were not renewed, said Lisa Barhorst, WDTN's vice president and general manager.

Details of their departures are confidential, Barhorst said Wednesday, Jan. 7.

There are no plans to fill either their positions or that of Bob Phillips, who just retired as WDTN's chief photographer after 51 years with the station, Barhorst said.

If as many as five newsroom employees accept the voluntary buyout offer, WDTN would be able to reduce or entirely avoid layoffs there, Barhorst said. The station, Dayton's NBC affiliate, has a newsroom staff of about 50 people.

WDTN is taking the actions in response to the economic downturn that has prompted work force reductions and expense-cutting at many companies, Barhorst said.

[exassignedphotog]

Besides the script readers, anyone know else got whacked, I use to work there and still knew quite a few people there.

MORAINE — WDTN-TV, Channel 2, has decided not to renew the contracts of two of its on-air news personnel and is offering voluntary buyouts to eligible newsroom employees.

The contracts of reporter Mandy Sheridan and Mike Schell, a news anchor and reporter, expired at the end of December and were not renewed, said Lisa Barhorst, WDTN's vice president and general manager.

Details of their departures are confidential, Barhorst said Wednesday, Jan. 7.

There are no plans to fill either their positions or that of Bob Phillips, who just retired as WDTN's chief photographer after 51 years with the station, Barhorst said.

If as many as five newsroom employees accept the voluntary buyout offer, WDTN would be able to reduce or entirely avoid layoffs there, Barhorst said. The station, Dayton's NBC affiliate, has a newsroom staff of about 50 people.

WDTN is taking the actions in response to the economic downturn that has prompted work force reductions and expense-cutting at many companies, Barhorst said.

[raingear]

What I do not get is management. This may sound stupid, but any of these company big shots take a pay cut. Layoffs do happe, but they should be a last resort. I believe a lot of this is due to bad management.

Fedex, one of the largest companies in the world, cut management pay and they cut hours. I think that is a good idea. Why not scale back a few hours, but be able to keep your job. If business comes back boost the hours and no one loses.

I am thankful I have job doing what I love to do, but I don't feel good about, because so many of my friends have bee shown the door.

[1riot1ranger]

if anyone's interested, the cbs affiliate in atlanta has two openings right now.

[nparsons]

Originally Posted by 1riot1ranger

if anyone's interested, the cbs affiliate in atlanta has two openings right now.

Mr. Sunshine