"There's a lot of black smoke here", offered up a prominent news reader who didn't want their name used.
Let's state some quick, beefy bullet points...
*How acrimonious was the Carolyn Johnson departure? Sure as hell a lot worse than you read, except here.
Word was, according to a newsroom source, even though she's leaving for a LA station, (which I'll tell you in a moment), Channel 7 management, (Watkowski and GM, Bill Burton), was insistent that Johnson continue to work to the very end. Embarrassing --at the last minute, morning anchor, Kristen Zse, apparently is scheduled to work the evening newscasts temporarily filling in for Johnson.
*The whole dog-and-pony show that is being planned when Johnson leaves is fraught with bullshit: A. I doubt Johnson will be on hand for a "newsroom celebration" and if a cake is ordered looks as if the interns will eat it. Hardly any staffers will want anything of it. They're worried about their job, particularly the writer/producers; the ones especially without union protection who feel as if they're about to be nudged out any day now because KGO is bringing in younger, cheaper, hires, with little or no experience.
*One of those younger hires happens to be the daughter of Brian Copeland, the host whose "7Live" show was dumped because of horrible ratings, (or lack thereof)--the feeling from the inside: "They're giving this woman a cush daytime position and that's really been met with a backlash by some of the veteran guys. It's a slap in the face really."
*Curious timing that this inner turmoil at KGO is just a few weeks before an important Spring sweeps period beginning at the end of April until May. The latest developments and toxic atmosphere in the building isn't going to rally the troops one would think.
*Several insiders insist Disney is trimming their station(s) to make a sale more appealing. Yes, the stations make money for the company but profits have been down and the cost of labor, notably the high-priced anchor/reporter talent pool is considerably higher.
*There is a major disconnect between staff and ND, Watkowski: Said a popular personality: "She micro-manages everything; she blows up on people without any care or thought and she has absolutely no people skills."
WHERE IS JOHNSON HEADED?
Look for Carolyn Johnson to land at NBC O and O, KNBC. She'll be making a lot more money, (I'm told $400-500K with significant perks and financial aid in moving expense). Keep in mind this is a HUGE move for Johnson. She's got 2 teenage kids and an attorney husband so this means having to uproot the family. Then again that first check should cleanse the wound.
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*The whole dog-and-pony show that is being planned when Johnson leaves is fraught with bullshit: A. I doubt Johnson will be on hand for a "newsroom celebration" and if a cake is ordered looks as if the interns will eat it. Hardly any staffers will want anything of it. They're worried about their job, particularly the writer/producers; the ones especially without union protection who feel as if they're about to be nudged out any day now because KGO is bringing in younger, cheaper, hires, with little or no experience.
*One of those younger hires happens to be the daughter of Brian Copeland, the host whose "7Live" show was dumped because of horrible ratings, (or lack thereof)--the feeling from the inside: "They're giving this woman a cush daytime position and that's really been met with a backlash by some of the veteran guys. It's a slap in the face really."
*Curious timing that this inner turmoil at KGO is just a few weeks before an important Spring sweeps period beginning at the end of April until May. The latest developments and toxic atmosphere in the building isn't going to rally the troops one would think.
*Several insiders insist Disney is trimming their station(s) to make a sale more appealing. Yes, the stations make money for the company but profits have been down and the cost of labor, notably the high-priced anchor/reporter talent pool is considerably higher.
*There is a major disconnect between staff and ND, Watkowski: Said a popular personality: "She micro-manages everything; she blows up on people without any care or thought and she has absolutely no people skills."
WHERE IS JOHNSON HEADED?
Look for Carolyn Johnson to land at NBC O and O, KNBC. She'll be making a lot more money, (I'm told $400-500K with significant perks and financial aid in moving expense). Keep in mind this is a HUGE move for Johnson. She's got 2 teenage kids and an attorney husband so this means having to uproot the family. Then again that first check should cleanse the wound.
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