01-07-2009 FOX 4 GOES THROUGH SEVERE BELT TIGHTENING It seems as if virtually all media outlets are doing just about everything possible to reduce expenses. Some like the Kansas City Star have been faced with major staff cutbacks--with rumors of more on the horizon. The latest outlet forced to address a leaner media world is WDAF-TV, Kansas City's FOX4 station, which will be implementing a number of money-saving steps just short of laying off staffers. Some new policies will include a hiring freeze, no raises and limited use of the SkyFox helicopter. In addition, a number of smaller policies will also go into effect. Word of the cutbacks was first reported on gatewayradio.com (LINK), a local blog site frequented by radio and TV staffers. However, not all the information was reported correctly (corrections in red): 1. Hiring Freeze 2. Engineering asked not to get raises (would have to be put to union vote). 3. All other employees will not get raises. 4. Skyfox will only continue to operate if it gets a sponsor. Guaranteed through September 09. 5. Some AP service and computer software will be let go. 6. All cell phone service will be cancelled. Not in the budget. (Cell phone use will be restricted. Managers already pay for their own phones.) 7. No longer mail paystubs out. 8. There is no more free coffee. 9. Make sure you set the printer to the economy setting to save ink! (Said as a joke during meeting.) 10. Station will not pay for Emmy entries or hotels. 11. Travel for sports and sales will no longer exist. 12. Station tickets for Chiefs and Royals tickets are cut in half.
FEEDBACK (01-08-2009):
"This is going to get worse before it gets any better given the debt load local is trying to deal with. WDAF was running lean, lean, lean eight years ago and the station was #2 in the market. They have no bodies to cut. If they have to go down that road the product will suffer tremendously. They don't have enough bodies to do the amount of news they currently do now. "KMBC succeeds because of its depth of newsroom veterans. You have all of the usual suspects (Larry) Moore, (Micheal) Mahoney, (Kris) Ketz, etc; but people like Gerry Roberts behind the scenes. WDAF has maybe four people like that on their staff, (Phil) Witt, (John) Holt, Mike Lewis, and Sindy Gaona. When your veteran reporter is John Pepitone you know your newsroom lacks gravitas."
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