The Grim Reaper Has Stopped By KTVU; Veteran Reporters Vacar And Roth Are Next On Fox Chop Board; Photographers/EP's Anxious; Monday Start

 YOUR FAVORITE KTVU veteran reporters are not long for the FOX-owned Oakland station in Jack London Square--415 Media has learned that tenured and respected reporters, Tom Vacar and Rob Roth, are the next victims on the FOX chop board!


Not a matter of if but when I'm told by several local broadcast sources.


In Vacar's case, FOX seems to be embarking on unchartered territory. For one, Vacar, KTVU's Consumer Editor, even in his twilight years, still brings great content and consumer reporting to the table. And he's easily one of KTVU's most recognizable personalities. But in his late 60's Vacar is at an age where TV News consultants can be cold and brutal--Chop, Chop, Chop. As I've mentioned numerous times Vacar holds a law degree (although he doesn't practice) and it was only that element that has delayed FOX from making any move fearing Vacar could counteract. Now, Fox simply doesn't care.


Furthermore, FOX was not happy with the recent May Sweeps in which KTVU didn't perform well and was beaten savagely by other stations in the market.


This latest news is not going to make for a happy KTVU Newsroom that has already seen at least 2 senior staffers get their walking papers (including Vacar's own wife!)--we also know cameramen are in the pits amid widespread speculation of impending doom (read: layoffs).


The GRIM REAPER has parked his scooter at 2 Jack London Square!



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Exclusive: KTVU Reporters Vacar and Fowler Get Stripped of Editor Status; News Director Rosenthal Does Dirty Deeds Behind Back; Indignation at Jack London Square

  Siege Mentality inside KTVU...

KTVU veteran reporters, Tom Vacar and John Fowler--both with over two decades of tenure over at Jack London Square, have been stripped of their "Editor" status. Worse yet, the indignation was told to them by co-workers and not by the ND, Lee Rosenthal, who did the dirty deed himself!

How coincidental.

Word is that both Vacar and Fowler were outraged, according to a station source.

Vacar was KTVU's Consumer Editor and Fowler, the Health and Science Editor. Both have won numerous industry awards and local Emmys.

**In another outrageous move, according to my sources, Jeff Holub, the PR director, had reporter, Eric Rasmusen's, wife, one of their best promotions writers and producers escorted out of the building when he learned she landed another job.

Another producer in the department is supposedly going to a Cox station in Oklahoma, so she gets to stay for her last two weeks, and is given a heroes send off.

It used to be at KTVU, if you were being wooed by another offer, KTVU would do something to keep you, and failing that, they would win you the best, allowing you your last two weeks. Now their intent is to humiliate you as a shot across the deck as a warning to all the worker bees in the hive.

**Rich Lieberman 415 Media Exclusive

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The 2 Senior Reporters at KTVU That Management Wanted Out But Are Stuck; News that You'll Get Only NOT on KTVU

John Fowler/KTVU photo

Tom Vacar

 Tom Vacar is a seasoned KTVU Bay Area News Reporter, Consumer Editor and aviation expert. He's been in the market for over three decades and has won a host of industry awards, including five Emmys.

Vacar is a lawyer too. He doesn't practice but he has a law degree. At various times in the past, management has wanted to part ways with Vacar but pulled back. Remember, he's a lawyer and he has mucho tenure at Channel 2. Not good to mess with a lawyer--they haven't...yet.


*Health and Science Editor, John Fowler, has been a KTVU stalwart since 1975. A station source recently told me the station has a problem: "Fowler doesn't ever want to retire." That's contrary to what KTVU wants/wanted but are you really going to show the door to a 38-year vet? Hell no and even if you tried, the union would be all over your ass. As they should.

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