WRGB eliminates four jobs December 31, 2008 at 12:08 pm by Chris Churchill, Business writer
WRGB Ch. 6 today eliminated two part-time positions and declined to renew contracts held by two full-time employees, Robert Furlong, the station’s general manager, said this morning.
Furlong, who blamed the reduction on the economy, declined to say which employees were affected by the cuts, and whether they are on-air personalities.
Sources with knowledge of the situation, however, say Mary Beth Wenger, a reporter at the station, is among the four who lost jobs. Wenger, a Saugerties native, joined WRGB in................http://blogs.timesunion.com/business/?p=6628
Besides that fact that we have all been 'conditioned' into expecting 2,3,4 or even 5 people reporting 'local' news, sports and weather, each station could do well with 1 or possibly 2 people reporting on all of these issues. We don't need to sensationalize the weather or sports. JUST REPORT IT!!
We don't need 'tv news reporters' at all of the community functions. Is it really necessary to have Liz Bishop, in a long evening gown, hosting the CP Telethon? Or Benita Zahn at a blood drive? Sure it's a nice touch, but the question is....Is it necessary in today's economy??
And although we have become accustomed to seeing these same people report the news day after day, year after year, they are NOT our family or friends. They are clearly just a familiar face. And in light of the present economic downturn, I say lay others off and bring it down to the bare minimum. There is no choice, IF you want to keep afloat. IMHO
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Now now - don't go bad-mouthing Liz. Remember, she actually was the first female reporter allowed in the Yankee's locker room, and look how that's bolstered her career. Why now she's... she is... err... okay, just about exactly where she was 30 years ago when she did that, but somewhat heftier.
And actually, given that the station has abandoned the good ship Schenectady (CBS 6, Albany) and discarded all remnants of honoring Dr. W.R.G. Baker, I could care less if it folds completely. As opening a new commercial television studio takes a lot of cash and clout now, there probably wouldn't be a replacement unless maybe the Golub family or their equal actually wanted to give it a go.
I watched channel 6 news last night at 5pm. Then again at 5:30. Than again at 6pm. Than again at 6:30. They reported and repeated the same news, weather and sports.
This should surprise no one. Everyone but government is belt tightening here. Channel 6 is the lowest rated news, and utterly refused to follow up on the Big Hose scandal. Too much National news, reading wire stories and happy talk filler. Channel-9 is another unwatchable flop. Repeating the same tired stories for days. Their election results are the slowest and most inaccurate.
NISKAYUNA — Longtime WRGB reporter Mary Beth Wenger has lost her job at the television station.
Station sources said Wenger, who began working at CBS6 in 1981 and anchored weekend newscasts for about 20 years, was told her contract would not be renewed on Wednesday.
I agree with others that the TV news has become broadcasts with a lot of "filler". The public doesn't need local news aired at 5 pm, 5:30 pm, and 6 pm, particularly when the majority of the content is repeated. We don't need weather every 10 minutes (on the "6s", the "11s", etc.) unless there is a potential weather emergency developing. I could care less about the new CBS6 anchor woman (Carrie) doing stories about how to stretch my food budget by providing food recipes. I view such broadcasts as nothing more than commercials for the grocery chain that participates in the stories.
The local news should be reduced to one broadcast in the morning, at noon, at 5:30 or 6 pm and at 11 pm. Give the weather once or perhaps twice during the broadcast. And "deep 6" the recipe swapping sessions.
Broadcast news needs to return to its roots in reporting the important news of the day.
I'm sorry to see Mary Beth being let go. She seemed to me to be one of the more serious and credible newspersons in the area.
It's cheaper for a station to provide their own "content" than to syndicate or use the network feed for those time slots. They feel the weather and sports are "popular" - but like newspapers, are failing to realize that people are getting their information from radio (which doesn't cost anything to turn on) - or, heaven forbid, the internet, ipod, cell phone, etc.
These stations and newspapers need to realize, the Internet is where it's at for most people, 24 hours a day - and is fresher content than anything they can broadcast during a "scheduled" newscast.
I can get local news 24x7 on my cell phone, internet, ipod touch, radio in the car, etc - anytime I want. Why would I interrupt dinner, family time or work to watch a scheduled broadcast which only lasts 13 minutes, but is spread over 30 minutes with annoying commercials? A) I won't.
Yes, I know - not everyone has the internet ... that's what radio is for.
Newspapers and TV need to step out of the last century and realize there's money to be made by providing immediate content via the web, SMS, on-demand, etc.
They should stop teaching everyone how to cook.....that's what talkshows and the food network and cable are for.....maybe if they filled those voids with extreme questioning of our local politicos we would be moving better........
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Mary Beth was a bright spot in a horrible "news gathering" operation. Hopefully, she will find employment in a bigger market. Don't forget that CBS-6 is "news gathering partner" with the Gazetto. That could explain their continual last place finish in the local news ratings.
Get back to reporting local news. Not recipes, national news, phony economic doom and gloom, movie/entertainment gossip.
Yup Benny, you are right. The Gazette and WRGB seem to walk hand and hand. WRGB dropped the ball on the plex. We don't hear anymore about that. And the Gazette is reporting more and more on places outside of Schenectady.
Someone at work had the paper today. They remarked how the Gazette is now posting their police blotter with arrests from Cobleskill, Gloversville, Montgomery and St.Johnsville. They thought that was strange and frankly so did I.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Dropped the ball? Try completely ignoring the Metrograft Mess.
BT does your friend live in Montgomery County? They print a slightly different Gazetto out there. Same terrible editorials. In a recent Gazetto, 57 SPD arrests and 1 Sheriff's arrest (for a one week period!) in the police blotter. Wish we had the crime problem St Johnsville does.
Logged
This should surprise no one. Everyone but government is belt tightening here. Channel 6 is the lowest rated news, and utterly refused to follow up on the Big Hose scandal. Too much National news, reading wire stories and happy talk filler. Channel-9 is another unwatchable flop. Repeating the same tired stories for days. Their election results are the slowest and most inaccurate.
