WFLD/WBBM reporter retention

[Chicago2008 20]

Good Morning,

I'm not sure if you've noticed this but it seems like WFLD and WBBM hold on to no one. While WGN,WLS, and to a lesser extent WMAQ do a better job at holding onto there talent. Would you all say this is true? If so what are some of the reasons why WFLD and WBBM don't hold onto there people? Thanks. 

[MediaZone4K 2165]

Speaking in generalities, high newsroom turnover is usually indicative of inadequate pay or a toxic work environment. 

[Jase 1046]

6 hours ago, Chicago2008 said:

Good Morning,

I'm not sure if you've noticed this but it seems like WFLD and WBBM hold on to no one. While WGN,WLS, and to a lesser extent WMAQ do a better job at holding onto there talent. Would you all say this is true? If so what are some of the reasons why WFLD and WBBM don't hold onto there people? Thanks. 

 

In what context are you referring? Are you talking about currently or years ago? If my math is correct, WFLD lost 3 people to retirement last year and hired/re-hired 4 people over the past several months. WBBM cut 2 people and hired 1. I wouldn't say currently that either station has issues retaining people. WBBM lost quite a few over the years due to mandated cuts (outside of their control) and WFLD has done the same (cutting people to save $$$), but some moved on to other opportunities or needed to be cut (fired).   

Edited August 8, 2024 by Jase

[Newzgods 0]

WBBM has become a shell of what it used to be. Since Lyons took over as GM the ratings have become embarrassing. She’s hired some bad talent. Lyons has also never had to fix a bad station. She came from WGN which will always be a dominant station like WLS.

WFLD is a typical FOX station. Hire them young and cheap.

[Chicago2008 20]

On 8/9/2024 at 8:53 PM, Newzgods said:

WBBM has become a shell of what it used to be. Since Lyons took over as GM the ratings have become embarrassing. She’s hired some bad talent. Lyons has also never had to fix a bad station. She came from WGN which will always be a dominant station like WLS.

WFLD is a typical FOX station. Hire them young and cheap.

Wasn't WBBM having ratings issues before Lyons took over? And they have over the years made some bad decisions, such as firing Rob Johnson.

[GodfreyGR 652]

On 8/9/2024 at 8:53 PM, Newzgods said:

Since Lyons took over as GM the ratings have become embarrassing.

She is also working with what CBS is allowing her to do... budgeting, creativity, and otherwise. I read somewhere that she wanted to revert to the 2008 theme, for example, which suggests that she believes in breaking the mandate to try and make some headway at WBBM, which we here know is unlikely at best to happen. Also, putting her in charge of fixing the mess in Detroit only detracts from the focus of working on Chicago.

[mouseboy33 92]

WBBM has been a disaster for decades. The reporters they have are awful. Im sorry. There are some good young reporters that are good. But then you have some who are so sleepy and dead in their delivery its like watching paint dry. I do like the new weather people. But the anchor team is just plain awful. And sadly because everything is automated now. Its been stripped of any creatively in camera shots and graphics and music. Its terrible. Thats partially down to the News Director. I look at KCBS/KCAL and WCBS and they are far more livelier productions. WBBM is just  s    l    e    e    p    y for a market the size of Chicago. Its too many small market people bringing small market ideas. And now that Paramount Global is broke its not like they can afford to bring some top talent. Im not sure anything will ever help them climb out of the basement.  SAD

[Chicago2008 20]

17 minutes ago, mouseboy33 said:

WBBM has been a disaster for decades. The reporters they have are awful. Im sorry. There are some good young reporters that are good. But then you have some who are so sleepy and dead in their delivery its like watching paint dry. I do like the new weather people. But the anchor team is just plain awful. And sadly because everything is automated now. Its been stripped of any creatively in camera shots and graphics and music. Its terrible. Thats partially down to the News Director. I look at KCBS/KCAL and WCBS and they are far more livelier productions. WBBM is just  s    l    e    e    p    y for a market the size of Chicago. Its too many small market people bringing small market ideas. And now that Paramount Global is broke its not like they can afford to bring some top talent. Im not sure anything will ever help them climb out of the basement.  SAD

The only two veterans you have there are Dave & Dana. At WFLD you have Lou,Joanie, and Roseanne as your veteran reporters.

[24994J 5568]

I mean, what's a veteran, anyway? Dorothy Tucker is still there, as well, and some, like Lauren Victory & Charlie De Mar, have been at the station 8 years, already. Just because many of the folks from your childhood are gone doesn't mean others haven't earned their keep.

[Chicago2008 20]

5 hours ago, 24994J said:

I mean, what's a veteran, anyway? Dorothy Tucker is still there, as well, and some, like Lauren Victory & Charlie De Mar, have been at the station 8 years, already. Just because many of the folks from your childhood are gone doesn't mean others haven't earned their keep.

I tend to view veterans as someone who has been at the station and/or market for at least 10 years. Yes Dorothy Tucker would be a veteran, as for the others you mentioned they are well on there way. Oh and Dane Palcko is also a WFLD veteran. 

Edited August 28, 2024 by Chicago2008

[WeatherandTraffic 54]

WBBM has improve under Jennifer Lyons leadership. Their main anchor team is solid and better than ABC7's 10pm team. Their reporting bench is solid and have a better investigating team than ABC7. The weather team is good,  buts needs more people added with the uncertainty of Ed Curran. All they need to do is add a couple Meteorologists and fix the morning news. WFLD still struggles, but better than it was 5-10 plus years ago. 

[Chicago2008 20]

2 hours ago, WeatherandTraffic said:

WBBM has improve under Jennifer Lyons leadership. Their main anchor team is solid and better than ABC7's 10pm team. Their reporting bench is solid and have a better investigating team than ABC7. The weather team is good,  buts needs more people added with the uncertainty of Ed Curran. All they need to do is add a couple Meteorologists and fix the morning news. WFLD still struggles, but better than it was 5-10 plus years ago. 

Interesting, in what ways would you say WFLD has improved? The nine o'clock and four o'clock teams are seem decent. 

[Jase 1046]

On 8/28/2024 at 3:12 PM, WeatherandTraffic said:

WFLD still struggles, but better than it was 5-10 plus years ago. 

 

A lot of WFLD's 'struggles,' if you will, stem from the fact that they have gone through a lot of behind-the-scenes people (NDs, Executive Producers, etc...) which effects what we see in front of the camera. If they could hang onto those executives, producers, etc... for more than 2-3 years, then they could establish a consistent look/feel for their newscasts.

 

As far as the overall team, Jackson is a weak link on GDC; but they made a smart choice in re-hiring Gabriella Premus as traffic/feature reporter instead of outsourcing traffic. They're solid at Noon, 4P,  5P and 9P, but they need to hire more reporters to improve overall news coverage.