“There’s no line that can’t be crossed,” a WPIX employee told the New York Post in describing the environment at the Tribune-owned CW-affiliate, which has been rattled by aggressive cost-cutting.
WPIX staffers are now dealing with the news that the station is closing down its sports department. According to the Post, WPIX has eliminated the sports director position and reassigned the current sports director, Lolita Lopez.
A source also tells the Post that WPIX is looking into changing union rules so that a photographer won’t be required for on-location shoots, opening up the station’s news reporting to one-man-band reporters.
WPIX appointed Bill Carey to news director in late 2009 and the market veteran has since spearheaded a major renovation of the station’s operations, including the recent launch of an unconventional, desk-less 10 p.m. newscast anchored by Jodi Applegate (right).
Upon joining the station, Carey said, “It’s necessary to make a big change at Channel 11.”
“I don’t think it’s any secret that we’ve never been one, two, three or four in the ratings.”