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THE WORLDWIDE LEADER IS AT IT AGAIN

S

Seasoned Vet

Maybe it happens evey May. Almost a year after firing Jim Colony and 3 off-air people, ESPN Corporate has fired laid off 6 more at 1250 ESPN ... including long-time anchors Joe DeStio and Eartha Jackson plus Production Director Larry Gerson who hs also been there forever. PD Jim Graci also got the axe, along with two office staffers.
 
I hope The Fan can find room for Joe DeStio ASAP.
 
dB said:
I hope The Fan can find room for Joe DeStio ASAP.
Click to expand...

There's one good thing about there being another sports talk option in the market. Another job opportunity.
 
pman44 said:
Sorry to hear about Eartha, she has been there forever and a day. You cannot get more local than her.
Click to expand...

Yes, Eartha is the last holdover from the old Captain Showbiz days. That is really sad news.
All of that Family Kumbaya stuff down at Disney World is obviously pure crap!
 
You're right, Boss.

One of the things about Joe was he was a true reporter. He would often be in locker rooms and press conferences gathering sound and interviewing athletes.

All of the people let go were class. Letting Eartha Jackson go is akin to a ballclub releasing a popular veteran from a championship era. I keep thinking about calling up Myron Cope's show and her kindness when she answered the phones, making a nervous young man feel at ease.

And Jim Graci was responsible, outgoing, friendly and honest when I had encounters with him. He seemed to have time for everyone, and as PD he had to have some role in reuniting Stan and Guy- one of the best moves in recent years in Pittsburgh broadcasting- and righting the wrong of Sportsbeat's demise.

We all know this is a brutal business but I can't but these people deserved better.



This station lost a big part of its identity today.
 
Seasoned Vet said:
Maybe it happens evey May. Almost a year after firing Jim Colony and 3 off-air people, ESPN Corporate has fired laid off 6 more at 1250 ESPN ... including long-time anchors Joe DeStio and Eartha Jackson plus Production Director Larry Gerson who hs also been there forever. PD Jim Graci also got the axe, along with two office staffers.
Click to expand...

Larry's been in the business since we were in high school...well, long ago, and has been at 1250 for most of that time by far.
 
Larry was Larry Allen on WYDD, and he was on Ardmore Blvd in the neighborhood of 25-30 years, as was Eartha.

Unfortunately, probably all of their jobs can be done from Bristol. Makes you wonder if Disney's getting ready to sell the station.

And I wouldn't count on any of these folks ending up on the Fan, I know a few really qualified people who couldn't even get a return call from the PD when they were hiring the current staff.
 
Parttimer said:
Larry was Larry Allen on WYDD, and he was on Ardmore Blvd in the neighborhood of 25-30 years, as was Eartha.
Click to expand...

They were both there when I worked at 96KX. Hard to believe that was three decades ago.

And I worked with Jim Graci at 104.7.

Sorry to hear.

C.
 
Parttimer said:
And I wouldn't count on any of these folks ending up on the Fan, I know a few really qualified people who couldn't even get a return call from the PD when they were hiring the current staff.
Click to expand...

The Fan has an interest in doing something with Joe.
 
Well, it's official:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10133/1057766-67.stm

Station VP/GM Mike "Hey Buddy" Thompson, who will also wear the PD hat with the ouster of Jim Graci, said it was a "business" decision, and added, "We're in the position where we're very strong. Sometimes you do these decisions when you're in a position of strength."
 
I worked with Eartha and Larry when I was at WTAE back in the eighties. They're good people and very talented. Jim Graci and I worked together at Keymarket....another nice guy. And I've heard only good things about Joe and Jim C. Does Disney/ESPN really think that this was a good business move? I'm always amazed to read the corporate quotes after they do something like this. "It will make us stronger." "It will enhance our position in the marketplace." Who are they kidding? Themselves? They're committing radio suicide. Each one of these people was an asset. You can't strengthen your position by unceremoniously eliminating assets. I've been in radio for 40 years. It's stupid moves like this that are killing our business! Then they wonder why audiences are going to other places for information and entertainment. Instead of fortifying their position they're cutting off their own gonads. Good luck to Eartha, Jim, Joe, Larry and Jim. Your old pal. Jim H.
 
DToTheJ said:
Well, it's official:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10133/1057766-67.stm

Station VP/GM Mike "Hey Buddy" Thompson, who will also wear the PD hat with the ouster of Jim Graci, said it was a "business" decision, and added, "We're in the position where we're very strong. Sometimes you do these decisions when you're in a position of strength."
Click to expand...

By that he probably means "we want to milk as much cash from this cow as we can before The Fan turns us into
AM Roadkill."

Personally I think that would be giving CBS way too much credit. I have unshakable faith in their ability
to fail with ANY format.
 
Larry Allen Started on WZUM in the Early 70's as Polka Larry Allen, Then he went to WYDD Doing Morning Drive. He was also on WBCW 1530 Janette, but I don't Rembember if it was before WYDD. At WBCW he did an on air DJ show and they had a
Dance or Game room Area in the WBCW Building where he also DJ'ed. The time Frame
for the 3 Stations was between 1972 to 1976.
 
Once again a radio entity not run by radio people is trying to cut its way to growth.

You would hope that stupid moves like this would expose the companies that execute them to getting blown away by the competition. But in this market in particular they won't and they know it.
 
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