Exclusive: KTVU Newsroom Growing Sentiment: If Haener (Julie) Goes, So Should Eikel (Amber) Too; Growing Unease at Jack London Square; Vaunted Ratings Further Erode; The Firm Hears The Boos

NEW Monday Reporting

The VAST MAJORITY of news staff at KTVU have a common feeling: if Julie Haener were to leave and suddenly retire, (or simply split for whatever reason, maybe a prolonged leave of absence, etc) then News Director, the wildly unpopular Amber Eikel (pictured below) should also leave, whether it be resignation or outright termination from The Firm's (Fox) corporate suits, according to well-placed sources who know the various inner-workings at Fox2 and have said as much to me.

Haener's waning influence and esteem has taken a dramatic turn of late with my reporting that her friends at KTVU have urged Julie to consider retiring. And while it was more symbolic it was also practical advice. One, to leave the premises and rid herself (and maybe the entire place) of the current drama that permeates the newsroom. Second, and this is far more evident, to allow for a "new change of scenery" (as one newsroom source puts it) to take place at KTVU.

This development; actually it's been pretty much the sentiment for months now, is more than ever the prevailing wisdom at Channel 2 and it has Eikel and her lack of direction and influence at the station at the forefront. Fox, from the corporate level knows it and has put off any movement --formal or otherwise--because it felt the many issues that currently befall its Bay Area O and O (owned/operated), would blow over and disappear.

It has not.

Moreover, Haener's growing demise is now the talk of the newsroom and has Eikel herself at the center of the storm. This has been the case at KTVU for ions now but Eikel has fought off internal strife largely because KTVU still possessed good ratings and lead the Bay Area news wars but all that is history. Fox has a multitude of reasons now to rid itself, (and KTVU as a whole) of its embattled Oakland news director.

Eikel, for one, isn't helping herself with a lack of communication with the staff and a profound lack of direction and presence --even her closest allies (few) admit she's incapable of running the operation and now, they have ample proof.

Fox knows and they moved on it.

KTVU's ratings are still at the top but they frequently erode to the point where they commonly get BEAT during their once-dominance at night and even at 10 o'clock. Eikel's and the staion hierarchy decision to place Mike Mibach in the anchor seat on The Ten O'Clock News has been a certifiable dud. Again, Fox higher-ups has seen the residue and it's not a pretty picture.

Haener's exit, however it would evolve, would be a further devaluation at 10 PM and would deal KTVU's signature newscast a significant hit --a newscast that has lost major might and veteran talent--through the firing of Frank Somerville and the forced retirement of sports anchor, Mark Ibanez.

All of which has taken a toll on KTVU's news prominence and overall demeanor. And which has played a significant part in Haener's ongoing personal drama.

It's not Eikel's fault in that respect because KTVU was bound to experience a natural letdown following Somerville's transgressions and Ibanez's inevitable (although forced) farewell but Eikel hasn't been able to guide the ship and plan a new transition, and her no-confidence aura in the newsroom is still quite telling and evident. Again, The Firm, knows this now all too well.

The feeling now at Jack London Square is Eikel has to go and there's growing sentiment that if she's somehow able to escape the wrath of Fox's suits, then Channel 2 news will have an all-out rebellion on its hands --a real drama that will make the current Haener trauma look like a day at the beach.

*Rich Lieberman 415 Media EXCLUSIVE