Action News Reporters Being Let Go

I-10east · May 28, 2014, 01:43:14 PM

Five reporters are being let go by Action News; Both Barzs' (Mike & Tera) , Paige Kelton, Mark Spain, and Lynnsey Gardner. I wonder who's gonna do 'The Restaurant Report' now?

www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2014/05/28/action-news-slashes-marquee-anchors-in.html

copperfiend · May 28, 2014, 01:58:08 PM

That's really cleaning house.

Replaced by cheaper options no doubt.

mtraininjax · May 28, 2014, 02:00:04 PM

Stop the presses! The only constant is change.

fsquid · May 28, 2014, 02:08:48 PM

that's not reporters, that is basically shooting your whole anchor roster.

Josh · May 28, 2014, 02:14:10 PM

That's quite the housecleaning.

The state of local news is pretty pathetic in this area (not that it's great anywhere I'm sure). FCN, for what I assume is the top dog in town, gets laughably worse with every passing year.

copperfiend · May 28, 2014, 02:28:24 PM

As for the Restaurant Report, I change the channel when that comes on. I don't need to see her barging into some restaurant and put a microphone in the face of someone who can barely speak English.

I-10east · May 28, 2014, 02:34:19 PM

^^^Or in certain situations, the owner forgets how to speak English. I'm sorry, regardless of the ethnic background, they still have to go by the USDA's guidelines.

IrvAdams · May 28, 2014, 02:34:57 PM

Wow. That's everybody. Why?

fsquid · May 28, 2014, 02:37:54 PM

I read that they are actually third behind channel 4.

coredumped · May 28, 2014, 02:41:16 PM

That's crazy, those are all lead anchors, not field reporters. I thought AN was doing quite well, 2nd to Ch4 in all news broadcasts except for 11pm (I think) which they were #1.

ActionNews also just did a reset in 2009:

QuoteOn April 13, 2009, WAWS and WTEV completely revamped the two separate news departments. The outlets merged the operations into one entity and adopted the popular Action News branding presumably to compete with the First Coast News title used on rivals WTLV and WJXX (owned by the Gannett Company). The transition to new branding also introduced entirely new sets (WAWS still featured a separate one for its nightly prime time broadcast), on-air graphics, weather department, and website. On January 31, 2010, WAWS and WTEV became the second local news operation in Jacksonville that upgraded to high definition (the first was WJXT back on January 14, 2009). This was followed on February 1 by WTLV and WJXX after that shared operation completed an HD upgrade.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAWS

Todd_Parker · May 28, 2014, 02:42:45 PM

Action News also just recently lost designation as the official Jaguars station to channel 4. Looks like that ship is sinking fast.

coredumped · May 28, 2014, 02:46:32 PM

Quote from: Todd_Parker on May 28, 2014, 02:42:45 PM
Action News also just recently lost designation as the official Jaguars station to channel 4. Looks like that ship is sinking fast.

I know, poor Dan Hicken, he finally moves to the a channel that carries the Jags, then the contract goes to Ch4.

I wonder if CH4 will pick up some of these anchors, CH4 has some aging anchors that are probably looking to retire soon (Tom Wills been there since 1975 and Rob Sweeting been there since 1985).

Gators312 · May 28, 2014, 03:21:13 PM

According to http://flnewscenter.com/

QuoteSources tell Florida News Center that Jacksonville duopoly WTEV/WAWS is in the process of replacing its entire lead anchor team.

Lead anchors Mark Spain (right#1), Paige Kelton (right #2), and Tera Barz (right #3) (who's husband Mike Barz anchors on the morning show) are all reported to be on the chopping block. While the anchors are still with the station"s" currently, they have been told that their contracts will not be renewed when they are up...and the axe may not stop with the lead anchor team.

Despite increases in past ratings books, WTEV/WAWS has often lagged behind competitors WJXT and the duopoly of WTLV/WJXX. Insiders tell Florida News Center that the station plans to "start over from scratch," "reshaping the look of Action News."

This news has devastated station staff, who are now all afraid of being next on the chopping block. One staffer called the moves by the station "desperate" and mentioned that "everyone is on edge." Station staff have been told to keep silent, "or else."

When asked about the anchor shake-up, WTEV/WAWS News Director Bob Longo, told our friends over at FTVLive.com, "out of respect for our employees, we don't publicly discuss personnel matters."

Sources at other Cox Communications owned stations (the media company which purchased WTEV/WAWS in 2012) tell Florida News Center that the call has been sent out corporate-wide, to fill the to-be-emptied anchor chairs at the Jacksonville station. Does this mean that Cox might be poaching talent from its other owned stations?

TheCat · May 28, 2014, 03:41:02 PM

copperfiend · May 28, 2014, 03:57:43 PM

Quote from: I-10east on May 28, 2014, 02:34:19 PM
^^^Or in certain situations, the owner forgets how to speak English. I'm sorry, regardless of the ethnic background, they still have to go by the USDA's guidelines.

I have no problem reporting the restaurant inspections. Just hate the wannabe guerilla style tactics on these reports.