Posted by chicagomedia.org on May 06, 2009 at 18:31:35:
In Reply to: Blood Bath at FOX 32 (Fox Chicago) posted by Ugh on May 06, 2009 at 11:03:29:
Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 axes more staff
By Lewis Lazare | Chicago Sun-Times
on May 6, 2009 1:56 PM
Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 is believed to have shed more employees today, in what one source familiar with developments described as a "bloodbath."
Sources had been predicting such an eventuality since last week, but a station spokeswoman said as recently as late last week she knew of no layoffs in the offing. The spokeswoman could not be immediately reached for comment today. It also could not be immediately determined how many people were axed, but WFLD is clearly reeling from a dropoff in advertising revenue. That is due in part to a general drop in ad revenue throughout the broadcasting industry, but also because WFLD's local newscasts generally trend at the lower end of the ratings spectrum among all Chicago TV stations.
WFLD, along with NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5, are spearheading a news-gathering joint venture involving four of the five top-rated TV stations in Chicago. On Monday WFLD and WMAQ, along with Tribune Co.-owned WGN-Channel 9 and CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2, will start pooling camera crews and use the pool video footage in their respective newscasts. The venture is designed to reduce costs and help each of the participating stations presumably do more with fewer resources.