Danon's Departure from KRON was more than just Fire Reason; Poor Morale still permeates Albatross Independent

MONDAY START

Mark Danon's abrupt split from KRON, more than anything else, demonstrates just how toxic a wasteland exists at the perennial albatross independent.

KRON, in spite of new ownership that has thrown some much-needed money into the amateur operation, is still badly mismanaged and run like the misfit it still it. A total, thorough cleansing is needed, from the top to the bottom, but corporate tentacles haven't touched the issues that plague the TV station and they are numerous.

A number of soap operas continue to infect the daily operation.

The News Director, Aaron Pero, somehow, still runs the ship. How? I don't know but I'd guess the new owner hasn't audited personnel and is mostly focused on the business end. To that end, KRON makes money but not because of Pero and his lame handling of personnel. Pero, still running the place like a dictator and playing favorites with reckless abandonment, has no one to answer to; a new GM largely either oblivious to the problems or not inclined to do anything even though there's mass decrepit morale issues that hover inside the newsroom.

Case in point, Danon's out-of-nowhere decision to leave and leave without even giving notice. Don't believe his chaotic, personal situation involving the Napa fires was the main reason he took off; it may have accelerated his decision but it wasn't the only issue. Danon was no stranger to the KRON dysfunction; he didn't just show up; he'd been at the operation since 2002 and no matter how crapped up, KRON is/was, Danon was making decent money and had relative job security even though he was clearly unhappy with working conditions.

You too would be unhappy if you had to work side by side with the girlfriend of the News Director who could get away with pretty much anything because she lives with the boss. Darya Folsom is a joke inside and outside the building; a certified misfit that only KRON would hire and maintain her outlandish hijinks that not only maims the morning and embarrasses others, but also the entire newsroom. Danon had clearly had enough even if KRON hasn't. 

Moreover, KRON continues to allow Pero treat his underlings --some of them at least--like a mouse treats its cheese. As long as Pero is able to act like an SOB; still screaming and yelling at people right in front of others without the slightest bit of decorum; making people cry and squirm with extreme pleasure, then Danon is not the only one headed out, they'll be many others.

Veteran anchor, Pam Moore, is apparently content to finish her career at KRON but is unhappy and morose over the current working conditions and morale. More newscasts means more commitment, which means more work for staff who aren't getting more money for their work. Moore makes a comfortable salary but her co-workers behind the scenes aren't so lucky.

Catherine Heenan, like Moore, a veteran anchor and holdover from the old Van Ness/NBC era, carries forward but does so with issues involving this jerk. Heenan is still professional and has fortunately moved on but don't think for a moment she's forgotten. She has not. 

And neither has this woman either.

If you were to ask a majority of the staff how it feels working at KRON, they'd say it sucks.

Still.

Some things never change.