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Major WILM News
- Thread starter BRUSSTAR
- Start date
A
Al Johnson
Guest
Five Fired from WILM - More cut-backs expected
The Wilmington News Journal reports five news people were let go yesterday morning from Clear Channel's 1450 Newsradio WILM. The staff reduction took place after WILM's operations were consolidated with those of other Delaware Clear Channel stations in a new facility equipped for automation. Station sources say more people are expected to be let go. Reportedly, each of the five dismissed Friday were called into individual meetings with management and given the news. The names of the five were immediately removed from WILM's website (seven names remain).
Clear Channel purchased WILM, a Class D, 1kw AM, in October, 2004 from the Hawkins family for a reported price of $4 million. Since then, the station has lost several staff members, including former program director and morning drive host, Allan Loudell (now with talk rival, WDEL).
The News Journal: WILM Newsradio cuts jobs in consolidation. Three stations move into New Castle-area studios
Morning talk show host John Watson was not among those listed as pink-slipped Friday, but the station has been airing the syndicated Dave Ramsey Show in his time slot, making his future uncertain at best.
The following individuals were given the ax on Friday:
Joe Backer
Wayne Aikens
Natalie Sannuti
Jason Hinchcliff
Ted Efaw
And less than 20 miles away, WCOJ in West Chester is hiring.
The Wilmington News Journal reports five news people were let go yesterday morning from Clear Channel's 1450 Newsradio WILM. The staff reduction took place after WILM's operations were consolidated with those of other Delaware Clear Channel stations in a new facility equipped for automation. Station sources say more people are expected to be let go. Reportedly, each of the five dismissed Friday were called into individual meetings with management and given the news. The names of the five were immediately removed from WILM's website (seven names remain).
Clear Channel purchased WILM, a Class D, 1kw AM, in October, 2004 from the Hawkins family for a reported price of $4 million. Since then, the station has lost several staff members, including former program director and morning drive host, Allan Loudell (now with talk rival, WDEL).
The News Journal: WILM Newsradio cuts jobs in consolidation. Three stations move into New Castle-area studios
Morning talk show host John Watson was not among those listed as pink-slipped Friday, but the station has been airing the syndicated Dave Ramsey Show in his time slot, making his future uncertain at best.
The following individuals were given the ax on Friday:
Joe Backer
Operations Manager for WILM Newsradio, as well as editor of Delaware This Morning
Getting up early in the morning is no picnic, especially during the cold winter months.
However, it's very important to our listeners and the Delaware This Morning News Team, to have all of our news copy ready to go by 5:30 am. It's my pleasure to make sure our listeners have the best possible newscast evry morning!
Personality Bio
Hi! Joe Backer here. I've been working at WILM for just over nine years. I've enjoyed interviewing our governors, mayors, senators, etc., and I've had the pleasure of meeting the President of the United States six years ago. I also enjoy speaking with people in the community about what's happening in the news!
Wayne Aikens
WILM's Evening Editor and General Assignment Reporter
Wayne has been in news radio for over 20 years, working for stations at the Jersey shore and in the Lehigh Valley before coming to Delaware. Wayne grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and attended Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is an avid Green Bay Packers fan and enjoys listening to rhythm and blues music from the 40's and early 50's. Personality Bio
I was born in Philadelphia and lived there until I was five,when my family moved to suburban Warminster, in Bucks County. I graduated from William Tennent High School,and attended Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, where I was a radio-tv major, and got my first on-air experience at the college radio station, WAJC. My first professional radio job was at WPTX in Lexington Park, Maryland, where I was a DJ. I then did news at two small stations in northwestern New Jersey, WRNJ in Hackettstown and WSUS in Franklin, before heading to the Jersey Shore at WOBM in Toms River. While I was there, our news department covered two huge stories---the Haunted Castle fire at Great Adventure that killed eight people, and the Maria Marshall murder, which her husband, Robert was convicted of arranging. That case is the subject of the book and TV movie "Blind Faith". Then, it was on to WEST in Easton, Pa, where I did news, and also had a chance to do high school football, which is huge up in the Lehigh Valley. I've been at WILM since 1998.
I'm a big sports fan. My teams are the Detroit Tigers (your 2006 American League champs), the Green Bay Packers, Joe Paterno's Penn State Nittany Lions, and in college basketball, the Butler Bulldogs (your 2006 preseason NIT champs).
My favorite music is early rhythm-and-blues from the 1940's and '50's. Among the artists in my CD collection are Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris, Roy Brown, Amos Milburn, Earl Bostic, Tiny Bradshaw, Big Joe Turner, and the Treniers (ever heard of any of them?) I also like fifties rock-and-roll and rockabilly, Motown, and sixties soul music.
Natalie Sannuti
On Air Details
You'll find me hitting the streets of Wilmington with my microphone, reporters pad, and uhh, anybody have a pen? When can you hear me? Sundays mornings doing the anchoring thing. Plus, my reports are aired daily 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. on the bomb diggity show, Delaware This Morning.
Natalie hails from the suburb of Voorhees, N.J., home of the Flyers. Studying abroad in London proved to be a rewarding experience while attending Temple University. She began reporting at WDEL as a weekend anchor and shortly after ventured to the midwest to report at KDLT-TV in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Jason Hinchcliff
WILM's Courthouse Reporter and Saturday Morning Sports Anchor
Jason is a full-time reporter, covering the New Castle County Courthouse and U.S. District Court in Wilmington for WILM Newsradio. You can hear him on Saturday mornings anchoring Sports on 1450 WILM. Jason is also the studio host for Blue Hens Football and Men's basketball broadcasts on The River 94.7 . Before Wilmington, Jason worked for five years in Philadelphia for WRTI-FM at Temple University, most of it as Sports Director. His career began years back at Cheltenham High School, calling TV play-by-play for Panthers football as well as men's and women's basketball. While at Temple University, Jason served as a sports anchor and reporter for the University's TV News magazine program "Temple Update" while also writing for The Temple Column.
In June, the Associated Press awarded Jason with an award for "Outstanding Use Of Sound". Also this summer, the Society of Professional Journalists (Philadelphia chapter) honored Jason with two awards, one for his 2005 Veterans Day coverage and one for his work as Blue Hens basketball studio host. Jason also holds awards from Temple University's Journalism department and the March Of Dimes. He is a current member of the Philadelphia chapter of Society of Professional Journalists.
In his spare time, Jason enjoys playing sports (basketball, bowling and golf to name a few) and traveling, especially to Chicago, Baltimore and Connecticut. He was born in Philadelphia, where he still lives, not far from the Art Museum.
Ted Efaw
General Assignment Reporter and Anchor
On Air Details
My job as a general assignment reporter means I'm out covering everything from the police beat to stories affecting local, county and statewide government. It's something new everyday, and that's what makes the job so challenging and fun.
Personality Bio
Since 1980, I've done just about everything in radio. I've been a Program Director, News Director, Sports Director and a Music Director. I've covered Major League Baseball ( The Phillies, including the 1993 World Series), Minor League Baseball (The Double-A Trenton Thunder) and the NFL's Eagles. I've broadcast live from the Spectrum and the old Vet, as well as from the U.S. House and Senate in Washington, D.C.
I've worked in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Over the years I've "jocked" at Country, AC, Oldies, and Standards stations. I also did "Talk" radio for a number of years. I even co-hosted shows with former Eagles Vice President and General Manager Harry Gamble and former N.J. Governor Jim Florio. How did I do it? LOTS OF COFFEE!
I've been asking famous people questions for a long time now too. Some of the high profile guests have included former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, former U.S. Senator and astronaut John Glenn, blues legend B.B. King, Ray Romano, George Carlin, and Baseball Hall Of Famers Harry Kalas, Vin Scully and Nolan Ryan.
Now you know why I've been busier than a one-legged person in a butt kicking contest!
And less than 20 miles away, WCOJ in West Chester is hiring.
A
Al Johnson
Guest
Re: Five Fired from WILM - More cut-backs expected
The News-Journal and the post on the Delaware board left out THE essential piece of infomation: The NAMES of the five who were let go.
This board is "proper" For discussion of radio in Philadelphia, Trenton and Wilmington, according to the board's heading.
It's a wonder that a house-cleaning at WILM took this long. The WILM staff was bloated and unproductive. Any half-awake person working there should have seen this coming.
Philadelphia has "only one" radio station with a news operation. Many markets with population or ad revenue comparable to Wilmington don't even have one full-time news operation. Wilmington can not support two radio news operations, even if both were competitive (which they were not). It was a sound business decision and long over-due. Even people who hate Clear Channel must concede that the people cut are the ones who lost the "war." If they had won, things would be different. Survival of the fittest.
The News-Journal and the post on the Delaware board left out THE essential piece of infomation: The NAMES of the five who were let go.
This board is "proper" For discussion of radio in Philadelphia, Trenton and Wilmington, according to the board's heading.
It's a wonder that a house-cleaning at WILM took this long. The WILM staff was bloated and unproductive. Any half-awake person working there should have seen this coming.
Philadelphia has "only one" radio station with a news operation. Many markets with population or ad revenue comparable to Wilmington don't even have one full-time news operation. Wilmington can not support two radio news operations, even if both were competitive (which they were not). It was a sound business decision and long over-due. Even people who hate Clear Channel must concede that the people cut are the ones who lost the "war." If they had won, things would be different. Survival of the fittest.
Sorry to hear it. Joe, Wayne, et al, I wish you all the best...
R
RunWithScissors
Guest
they should flip to adult standards to fill the jbr-a void.....
Yes, originally CC wanted to move WILM to Claymont, but the building didn't have enough room, so they went on the hunt to find a site where all three stations(WILM, WWTX, WRDX and the Delaware corporate offices) would all fit. Yes, the new building is in the same campus as the News Journal. CC is on the fourth floor of the building that houses the Social Security Office,which is on the second floor. The Dover CC operations (WDSD and WDOV) are still in Dover.
I worked with most of those people affected by the cuts during my time at WILM, and wish all of them well.
I worked with most of those people affected by the cuts during my time at WILM, and wish all of them well.
W
WTUX
Guest
I also wish them all the best. I worked with Joe Backer at WDEL - a really good guy.
As far as WRDX being in New Castle: as a Dover readio station it should be headquartered in Dover, where it belongs. As the former WDOV-FM, it's time to stop pretending to be something it is not: a Wilmington radio station.
As far as WRDX being in New Castle: as a Dover readio station it should be headquartered in Dover, where it belongs. As the former WDOV-FM, it's time to stop pretending to be something it is not: a Wilmington radio station.
The News-Journal and the post on the Delaware board left out THE essential piece of infomation: The NAMES of the five who were let go.
The post (from me; I started the thread) purposely left the names out because it was just shameless self-promotion for the audio show. The thinking was that the post was just a teaser; we named all five names just a few minutes into the five-hour show (which was Friday night; the News Journal article came out Saturday morning). Those listening to the Racket knew the names long before those reading the paper, or, your post (both appearing the day after).
I too, would like to go on record as wishing well all of the affected personnel. The one I knew the best during my tenure there was Backer, though Wayne was there the entire time (we worked opposite times of the day). I never met Natalie, but heard her a few times and thought she sounded good. I never heard Ted Efaw on WILM, but I am somewhat familiar with his previous work in Central Jersey and am sure he sounded well in Delaware. I am unfamiliar with Jason altogether, but I'm told he too was of high quality.
While I hope only the best happens to these folks, I sincerely hope none of them were either surprised or unprepared. Most of us have lost radio jobs after being given less than two minutes notice to find other work. Everyone at WILM had two YEARS.
There were (or soon will be) others let go who were not air-personalities, so the number of dismissals is actually higher. And there are at least a few more newsmen who are probably on the list. A shame yes, but obviously not unexpected. The people let go did not generate any revenue for Clear Channel. Sad to say, what happened on Friday made more sense than the previous ownership's decision to hire all of us (over the years) in the first place.
And there are at least a few more newsmen who are probably on the list.
To clarify my own statement quoted above, I'm talking about near-future moves (not suggesting other newsmen were also let go the other day)...
A
Al Johnson
Guest
If the purpose was self-promotion, why post on this board which few visit rather than the Philadelphia board? The second post was also made by a member of this program, who also held back the essential information. Why hold back after the show aired?
I am familiar with the Radio Racket program. People getting fired is one of their most frequent topics. Except this time around they don't want to mention any names.
My item was posted on the Philadelphia board, not in this thread. A reply in that thread (now deleted) mentioned this topic had been discussed on the Radio Racket so I listened to the program later. They got into a long drawn-out discussion over whether to announce the names at all followed by one of their friends calling in to brag he had predicted this, even though they apparently don't hesitate to call out other people who get fired or who do anything the hosts of this program don't like. The hosts of this program say they recently worked at this station. So did I, a long time ago. So have a lot of people. Still, why try to cover up the names of people who got fired? This is radio. Getting fired in radio is no disgrace. If you haven't been fired, you haven't worked in radio very long.
Yes, more people will certainly be let go. I can't tease anyone with "inside" information. I can say they still have a larger staff than Clear Channel allows for a news staff in a medium market, on one poor performing station which is not feeding multiple stations. I have listened online from time to time and I was always amazed at how bad this station sounded compared to other Clear Channel stations with audio streams in medium markets.
A lot of Clear Channel people have gotten fired in the past few months, some of them talented, producing revenue and top rated in their markets. They are the ones I feel badly for and they are the ones I wish well.
I am familiar with the Radio Racket program. People getting fired is one of their most frequent topics. Except this time around they don't want to mention any names.
My item was posted on the Philadelphia board, not in this thread. A reply in that thread (now deleted) mentioned this topic had been discussed on the Radio Racket so I listened to the program later. They got into a long drawn-out discussion over whether to announce the names at all followed by one of their friends calling in to brag he had predicted this, even though they apparently don't hesitate to call out other people who get fired or who do anything the hosts of this program don't like. The hosts of this program say they recently worked at this station. So did I, a long time ago. So have a lot of people. Still, why try to cover up the names of people who got fired? This is radio. Getting fired in radio is no disgrace. If you haven't been fired, you haven't worked in radio very long.
Yes, more people will certainly be let go. I can't tease anyone with "inside" information. I can say they still have a larger staff than Clear Channel allows for a news staff in a medium market, on one poor performing station which is not feeding multiple stations. I have listened online from time to time and I was always amazed at how bad this station sounded compared to other Clear Channel stations with audio streams in medium markets.
A lot of Clear Channel people have gotten fired in the past few months, some of them talented, producing revenue and top rated in their markets. They are the ones I feel badly for and they are the ones I wish well.
W
WTUX
Guest
I wish I could remember the year of the call switch, but it escapes me. I remember them increasing to 50kw in the early 70's and the call change was shortly after that.
George posted on the Delaware board, simply because that's where the station is located. My post went up during the show, not after.
I wouldn't call it a "long drawn-out discussion". I had the info from two sources, one of which asked me to keep the names out of it. If I didn't have the names from the other source, we may have held them all together. It's different when you are friendly with folks involved in the situation, both some of those that were let go, and some that are still with the station. It's a moot point, because we did mention the names of the people that were let go on the show.
I'm guessing you're referring to Mike Carr's call to the show. Mike is neither a friend, nor an enemy. He has been very critical of us at times, which we have no problem with by the way. We hope he continues to take part in the show in the future.
George and I haven't worked at WILM for quite sometime now. I left there nearly 3 1/2 years ago and George left more than 4 years ago. The discussion we had on the show took place because we didn't have time beforehand to discuss it. Again, we ended up talking about the people that were fired, so we never tried to "cover it up". Of course, in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter, but if you can't understand our friendships with some of those involved giving us a moment of hesitation, i don't know what to say.
Out of curiosity, when did you work at the station?
I wouldn't call it a "long drawn-out discussion". I had the info from two sources, one of which asked me to keep the names out of it. If I didn't have the names from the other source, we may have held them all together. It's different when you are friendly with folks involved in the situation, both some of those that were let go, and some that are still with the station. It's a moot point, because we did mention the names of the people that were let go on the show.
I'm guessing you're referring to Mike Carr's call to the show. Mike is neither a friend, nor an enemy. He has been very critical of us at times, which we have no problem with by the way. We hope he continues to take part in the show in the future.
George and I haven't worked at WILM for quite sometime now. I left there nearly 3 1/2 years ago and George left more than 4 years ago. The discussion we had on the show took place because we didn't have time beforehand to discuss it. Again, we ended up talking about the people that were fired, so we never tried to "cover it up". Of course, in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter, but if you can't understand our friendships with some of those involved giving us a moment of hesitation, i don't know what to say.
Out of curiosity, when did you work at the station?
Rough news. I used to deal with Joe Backer back when I worked in affiliate relations in my previous job. He was one of those guys you always looked forward to talking to, really nice guy and easy to work with. Here's hoping you land on your feet, Joe.
I started this thread on the Delaware board (which is where it's at as I type this reply), because, I wanted to avoid moderators the hassle of having to move it (even though it admittedly would have been seen by many more people on the Philly one). For whatever reason, the thread traveled more this past weekend than I do all year. Also, I figured anyone interested in WILM had already been following the threads here.
Re-iterating what Kyle said, his post went up during the show shortly after he read the names. Perhaps his omission of those fired was also a "ploy" to get folks to listen to the program? That's what I would have done...
Again, re-iterating Kyle's words, it's obvious you either didn't pay much attention or are exaggerating greatly. The "long drawn-out discussion" took all of what, 45 seconds?
(paraphrasing from memory)
KYLE: "Should we name the names, or hold off?"
GB: "Well, since it's not really public, why don't you hold off for now."
KYLE: "It'll be public by the end of the weekend."
ROSCOE: "And it's not like it was just one person let go."
GB: "Right, it was a big office cleanup."
KYLE: "Well, maybe for now out of respect for the people involved..."
GB: "Screw respect, go ahead and name them. What's done is done, this is coming out anyway-- You have the scoop, so let's do it."
Again, we DID name all of the names (just minutes into the show, with the above dialogue the only minor hesitation). The posts here were the "tease", so more people would listen to the show. That's what happened. Please listen more carefully to the program before telling outright falsehoods about it.
Why hold back after the show aired?
Re-iterating what Kyle said, his post went up during the show shortly after he read the names. Perhaps his omission of those fired was also a "ploy" to get folks to listen to the program? That's what I would have done...
They got into a long drawn-out discussion over whether to announce the names at all followed by one of their friends calling in to brag he had predicted this, even though they apparently don't hesitate to call out other people who get fired or who do anything the hosts of this program don't like.
Again, re-iterating Kyle's words, it's obvious you either didn't pay much attention or are exaggerating greatly. The "long drawn-out discussion" took all of what, 45 seconds?
(paraphrasing from memory)
KYLE: "Should we name the names, or hold off?"
GB: "Well, since it's not really public, why don't you hold off for now."
KYLE: "It'll be public by the end of the weekend."
ROSCOE: "And it's not like it was just one person let go."
GB: "Right, it was a big office cleanup."
KYLE: "Well, maybe for now out of respect for the people involved..."
GB: "Screw respect, go ahead and name them. What's done is done, this is coming out anyway-- You have the scoop, so let's do it."
Except this time around they don't want to mention any names.
Still, why try to cover up the names of people who got fired?
Again, we DID name all of the names (just minutes into the show, with the above dialogue the only minor hesitation). The posts here were the "tease", so more people would listen to the show. That's what happened. Please listen more carefully to the program before telling outright falsehoods about it.
A
Al Johnson
Guest
Out of curiosity, when did you work at the station?
(How long ago was it?)
It was so long ago that they played music.
I started this thread on the Delaware board (which is where it's at as I type this reply), because, I wanted to avoid moderators the hassle of having to move it
Apparently after this weekend, the editors have decided to loosen up on this point. A thread about WSTW is now up on the Philadelphia board.
I saw the promotional tease. I went to the News Journal site and they did not have the names either. They did say the names were removed from the WILM website. The names were removed but I discovered their web pages had not been deleted. So, I used the information from those pages to post the names on the Philadelphia where this station has also been discussed a great deal.
The "long drawn-out discussion" took all of what, 45 seconds?
Your recollection differs from mine but I was surprised holding back the names was even considered or discussed. Remember WHO, what, when where? The names were not included in the news segment. The paraphrased exchange came later. The program regularly talks about people being fired and names them. You broke the story. Congratulations. You posted to promote that you had broken the story. Then you want to hold back the information listeners will most want to know? I won't guess your motives but this appears like your friends receive special treatment. The story was "public" was soon as you reported it.
When I was in J school, they taught us the first obligation was to the reader/listener and the public's right to know. Call that idealistic, but I bought it then and I still do.
According to the rules I learned, if Kyle was told the names of the people who were fired off the record, then he was obligated not to report them (even if he later learned the names from another source). But to sit on the names "out of respect for the people involved" is not what reporters do. I know most of the program is a talk show but the news segment is news and the rules of journalism should apply.
A while back, I heard part of a similar conversation after an interview with a woman who was suing a former employer (I'm sketchy on the specifics at this point). The host said afterwards he had held back on some of his questions then for similar reasons. From your comments, you guys have all been newsmen. I'm not suggesting you beat up people, but you should decide whether your priority is the feelings of friends and guests or the interests of your listeners.
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