Barnas Gets Canned at 8

[The Voice of Reason]

According to another poster, who appears to know the goings-on at WROC TV, is reporting that morning host Melanie Barnas was shown the front door. Former ND Lee Eldridge didn't want her as part of the WROC/WUHF deal, but had to take her anyways. It will be interesting to see who is next on the "hit list" at a station that has become notorious for having a revolving door when it comes to on-air staff.
Channel 8's motto should be "Always last, always last, my god almighty we are always last." ( my apologies to Dr.MLK Jr)

 

[newscool]

Are you serious?! I just saw her this morning. They must have let her finish up her shift and let her go. That poor station. They are stuck in neutral...or should I say reverse. No stabilty at all.

 

[newscool]

According to another poster, who appears to know the goings-on at WROC TV, is reporting that morning host Melanie Barnas was shown the front door. Former ND Lee Eldridge didn't want her as part of the WROC/WUHF deal, but had to take her anyways. It will be interesting to see who is next on the "hit list" at a station that has become notorious for having a revolving door when it comes to on-air staff.
Channel 8's motto should be "Always last, always last, my god almighty we are always last." ( my apologies to Dr.MLK Jr)

This is false information. She was on this morning.

 

[Rochwatcher]

Unlike some other questionable personnel moves there, this one is a good move. She didn't bring a whole lot to their station.

 

[rocktv]

She's done at the end of the month.

 

[Sxottlan]

This is a shame. I had heard about this two weeks ago while at work, but didn't know if she knew yet so I didn't say anything. I should email her and see how she's doing. She was pretty easy to work with and a nice person.

As far as I know, there's only a couple people left working at 8 who came over from Fox and most are in production and maybe one producer.

 

[oldschooler1]

Former ND Lee Eldridge didn't want her as part of the WROC/WUHF deal, but had to take her anyways.

He didn't want ANYONE when he got to 8. And I do mean ANYONE. Not Fox people, not the producers, not the anchors, not ANYONE. I am not exagerrating (sp?). If he could have, he would have cleaned house big-time.

 

[Mark Giardina]

She's done at the end of the month.

So what happened, her contract wasn't renewed?

 

[The Voice of Reason]

So what happened, her contract wasn't renewed?

That is correct, her contract was not renewed.

 

[Mark Giardina]

So if Barnas is gone, who will replace her?

 

[rochachawatch]

katrina irwin

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Actually I am surprised that 8 didn't promote Lia Lando do be the morning host. I thought Irwin was being trained as a possible replacement anchor for McGuire if and when she leaves. It will be interesting to see who 8 selects to be their weekend anchor. I'm sure that airchecks from Elmira are flowing into the station right now. Anyways it doesn't really matter does it? It will take 8 a very long time of rebuilding before the station's morning show comes even close to catching up with 10 and especially 13, and we all know 8's history of self-destruction.

 

[Rochwatcher]

Thinking that Barnas was a good fit for that job was a mistake from that beginning. She wasn't even the best anchor at Fox while she was there. I doubt that Lia Lando wants to stay in Rochester much longer. I look for her to leave when her contract is up, or at least to leave Ch. 8. I would say Irwin would be the top choice. Channel 8 needs to just start over.

 

[sincitysfavoriteson]

So if Barnas is gone, who will replace her?

katrina irwin

So did Katrina change her mind about going back to mornings or will she temporarily step in until someone permanent is found?

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Channel 8 needs to just start over.

Channel 8 has started over so many times that it's like a lawnmower mowing the same patch of grass. Eventually all you have left is dirt. If the rumors of Nexstar selling off its television properties are true, then I sincerely hope that some company that wants to be a winner will buy the station, clean house, bring in some talented people and keep them there for more than six months. Also keep your anchor team and instead of lowering their salaries during contract negotiation, reward them by increasing their salaries. It's a pipe dream I know, but either do that or just turn the transmitter off and go dark because after nearly 30 years of BS owners, Channel 8 has become a non entity in the Rochester market.

 

[Baldecki]

Why doesnt Channel 8 get with todays technology, so to speak, and have two anchors in the morning. They are the only station that just has a weatherman and anchor in the morning. They need more.

It brings me back to one of the biggest mistakes Channel 8 made in recent years. Letting Christine Crafts, Melissa Long, Cathy Oroz, and Rob Haswell leave. They had a good morning team going and they let it all go.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Why doesnt Channel 8 get with todays technology, so to speak, and have two anchors in the morning. They are the only station that just has a weatherman and anchor in the morning. They need more.

It brings me back to one of the biggest mistakes Channel 8 made in recent years. Letting Christine Crafts, Melissa Long, Cathy Oroz, and Rob Haswell leave. They had a good morning team going and they let it all go.

I agree that 8 did have a good morning team. But you see there was two reasons for dismembering that team. One was a news director bent on getting rid of everyone he could in order to please his corporate masters when it came to the bottom line. The second was that conditions at Channel 8 were so bad that Crafts decided to go to college and teach, Long left to work at CNN, Orosz went to another TV station out in the midwest after a contract dispute, and Haswell is working at the same station Orosz now is currently employed at. If Irwin is smart she will start sending out her tapes and resumes because hosting that morning show on 8 is the kiss of death. You also have to remember that the company that owns Channel 8 doesn't give a rats a$$ about their employees. All they are interested in is making money.