Working Conditions at Buffalo’s WIVB Are ‘Stressful,’ Station Sources Say

By Merrill Knox 

An article in today’s Buffalo News expands on the goings-on at local CBS-affiliate WIVB, where veteran meteorologist Mike Cejka was recently reassigned to a weekend shift after years on the morning newscast. Citing anonymous sources at the station, the News reports Cejka’s new assignment — which has included some reporting duties, such as a voice-over on a feature about the Barbie doll — may indicate what’s coming at the station:

Senior reporter Rich Newberg is also being “pushed” by management to shoot and edit new video, station sources said.

“Over the past year, every one of us has been told to try it,” said one source. “Some of us seem to be asked more than usual, and in the last two months Rich Newberg has been asked repeatedly to take a camera and shoot his own stuff. Occasionally he has been asked to edit his own stuff.

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“He does it,” the source said. “He doesn’t complain too much. Editing requires help, especially on deadline.”

Newberg, who has worked for Channel 4 since September 1978, was named senior correspondent in 1999. He has been the recipient of 10 New York Emmy Awards and one Chicago Emmy.

Sources described the current working conditions at WIVB as stressful.

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