A 56-year-old television newsroom on the Central Coast was effectively shut down this week, reportedly by parent company News-Press & Gazette Company.
Reportedly, 13 staff members of the Salinas-based newsroom KION-TV were laid off Tuesday, including anchors, reporters and meteorologists, according to Monterey County Now.
The station will now be carrying news coverage from San Francisco station KPIX-TV.
In a news release, KPIX-TV said that “viewers in Santa Cruz, Salinas, Monterey, and Carmel – will now see local reporting and weather coverage delivered by CBS Bay Area.”
“It’s going to change the landscape of news coverage in this area,” Jeanette Bent, KION-TV’s former managing editor, told Monterey County Now. “It’s a disservice to this community and we’re all heartbroken.”
Victor Guzman, KION-TV’s former assistant news director, told Lookout Santa Cruz that he was blindsided by the news, which came after he produced what would be his last morning show on Tuesday. “I couldn’t believe it,” Guzman told the outlet. “I still can’t believe it. I ended my morning show by saying, ‘We’ll have more news at 5.’ I had no idea.”
Without KION-TV’s local team, there is just one news station, KSBW, for Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties, according to Lookout Santa Cruz.
Now rebranded as “KPIX News on KION,” the new newscast is described as an “evolution” of the original newscast, according to a news release.
“While the station will no longer produce its own full local newscasts, the new partnership ensures Central Coast viewers receive trusted reporting, relevant community updates, and world-class CBS content all in one place,” officials wrote in the news release.
Rall Bradley, the executive vice president of broadcast at KION’s parent company News-Press & Gazette Company, said the partnership would ensure viewers get “the high-quality local journalism they deserve.”
“This collaboration brings together KION’s deep roots in the community with the trusted reporting and innovative storytelling of CBS Bay Area – delivering a seamless experience for viewers during a time of change,” Bradley said in the news release.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 1:45 p.m., Sept. 24, to reflect that KION-TV is partnering with KPIX-TV and has not merged with that outlet. Additionally an earlier headline incorrectly stated KPIX-TV was involved in staffing decisions. KION-TV is owned by News-Press & Gazette Company, which has not yet responded to questions about the reported staff layoffs.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 11:55 a.m., Sept. 24, to correct information on KSBW’s coverage area.
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