WFXT Fox 25 formula = More work with fewer staff. or how to ruin a great program
Boston's Fox 25 is positioning itself to crash and burn in the morning. They have been cutting back and downsizing for a few years demanding more work from fewer people.
A few examples:
They HAD three anchors, Anquinet Jamison (or Q as they called her) was a third anchor or news person. Her presence allowed for some breathing room for all three anchors, Gene, Kim and Q. They had time to catch a breath, pre-read and work on banter, think and be more creative. They had Doug Mehan in the copter who also helped fill some time with accurate traffic info. He was a pro and a real personality. Reporter Jim Armstrong also added a lot not just to the news but to the entertainment content of the morning cast. Their interaction was unique and a real treat. Now it's dry and tired (and we're going to get another hour and a half of it!). Even if 30 or 45 minutes is the average viewing time those minutes are not as entertaining as they used to be.
"Q" left and was not replaced so Gene and Kim took over her news duties (and took a pay cut too - always a moral booster, right?). Fox took the 'copter away leaving Doug Mehan in the studio for awhile and expanding his traffic duties to include entertainment news. Then they let Doug go. His work load was mostly absorbed by the weather person (usually Cindy) who now dealt with traffic reports as well as the weather. The field reporters who have come and gone never replaced the talent and personality of Jim Armstrong resulting in even more air time for Gene, Kim and of course Doug "VB" Goudie. All further reducing the relaxed atmosphere and entertaining banter. Even VB is "stiffer" than he used to be. Not the relaxed, unexpected fun/commentary that made the Fox 25 morning news so great to watch. No more Scraps the dog, homeless bum, or other novel surprises from VB. It's more bore...
Along with those on-air staff reductions behind the scenes they were laying off people in all sorts of support positions. Leaving fewer people doing more work. They automated their newsroom and got rid of some producers, cyron (sp) operators and more. They used to swap directors so that one guy didn't direct the whole 4 hours but NO MORE. Just one director and his duties have increased incredibly. He runs the robotic cameras, the video switcher, audio, rolls video cuts and performs the work that 2 or 3 people did in the past. The guy directing now just quit to go to a station that does it the "old fashioned" way. With assistant directors, producers and a "real" properly staffed news room/studio.
So now with all the layoffs and staff cuts they are ready to add another hour and a half of local news show. It is destined to be a ratings loser. They will be repeating the same stories many more times per show (maybe Kim will read the story better by the third or fourth read). The same stale video clips over and over rather than new edits from the raw footage. and on and on... The ratings will slide, and Fox will decide to cut back on their under-performing morning news. IMHO killing off what was once a very good, entertaining and informative morning show. We'll see how long Bernie and Phyll, My Bobs, Jordans and a few others will continue to buy spots on the leaner, meaner Fox 25 morning news.
I already miss the great morning news programming from Fox 25 of a few years ago and it is so heartbreaking to watch it go downhill. In fact, I don't watch it go down hill so much anymore. I get more and different stories (read well) with better videos from the other stations before 7 AM.
The entertainment I get now from Fox 25 are the mistakes. Robotic cameras that take off on their own and such. The "surprises" come from trying to figure out where the talent will be for the next segment - sitting at the desk, standing at the bottom of the stairs, standing on the stairs, upstairs or sitting upstairs. Will CIndy be at her weather computers or standing in front of the green screen or outside and etc. Yawn...
I sure hope FOX 25 realizes the error of their ways and brings back the formerly great morning programming but I'm not going to hold my breath waiting (sigh).
