'Happy Talk' Not So Happy at KTVU; Fox Plays Hard Ball With Unions; Reporters on Edge; 'Nobody is Safe'; Number One No Longer Priority; 415 Media Exclusive

 Despite all the happy talk --on and off the air--KTVU and its staff are embroiled in a standoff between new owner, FOX, and a working rank and file that are threatened by management's increasingly hostile tactics, according to my KTVU sources.

"All reporters are at risk now", said one source close to the situation in Jack London Square.

And that situation has never been more tense--why?

"The SAG-AFTRA contract has expired. Fox took over and immediately granted a year contract, why? They didn't want to mess with the talent, the pulse and amp; faces of KTVU--now, all bets are off, "said the source.

It's apparent FOX wants to destroy the unions at Channel 2.

"They cut the photographers by $10,000 and cut overtime. How do you live in the Bay Area with that type of cut? One photographer is about to lose his home and others are looking for a second job."

The current siege taking place with photographers is ongoing and now has shifted over to talent. Most notable, the senior reporters are all on high anxiety because FOX wants to cut salary and benefits --and nobody is safe, nobody. This siege mentality, mind you, is coming from the most watched, most successful TV News station in the Bay Area.

From another source:

"David Stevenson, John Fowler, Ken Pritchett, Eric Rasmussen, and Melanie Woodrow have left KTVU. Only Melanie was a technical cut by Fox. All others could not come to their cookie cutter terms and conditions. Melanie was ousted because Fox had an option in her contract to release her after a year. Why'd they cut her? Money. She was being paid too much money that was promised to her by {Lee} Rosenthal." {Former News Director}

In the case of Rasmussen and Pritchett, FOX simply low-balled contract offers. Both reporters told management to essentially go stuff it and left. As I've reported before, the reporters are not the only air talent walking on egg shells.

So, the bottom line at KTVU is the relative unease inside the building. Don't be fooled by the sappy chit-chat and the un-genuine, {mostly} back and forth between anchor and reporter--it's all business at Jack London Square and even past goals are now on the back burner.

Fox does not care about being number one in the ratings. They want to make a profit. Cheap, cheap, cheap is what they want. They don't care about the news; it's chit-chat-central with an emphasis on entertainment and sports. News be damned. And who cares about morale.

A source: "If they can get a photo from the outside circle off of Facebook or Twitter then they don't have to pay cameramen to do it--it's that simple."

Next on the agenda with SAG-AFTRA, Fox wants MMJs, {multi-media journalists who report, film their stories} This practice is becoming more common place around town (and nationally too)--will veterans like Vacar and Roth do it? Will the unions cave? Stay tuned.

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