Major staff cutbacks now extend to radio stations

While layoffs at newspapers are occurring almost every day, personnel at some radio stations are being hit with pink slips, too.

Citadel Broadcasting, Corp., which calls itself “the largest pure play radio company in the United States” has laid off staffers, including on-air personalities, in the past few days, observes Grumpy Editor.

It comes after Citadel last Friday reported its fourth-quarter net loss widened to $848.1 million from a $1.08 million loss in the like year-ago period.

Performance of ABC radio stations, acquired last June, was "disappointing” and the Las Vegas-based broadcasting company is “completing a major restructuring of these stations to both improve short-term profitability as well as position them for future growth,” said Citadel chairman and CEO Farid Suleman.

Especially hard hit with staff cuts was WLS, Chicago, heavy with news and talk.  Several news veterans, including the news director and a City Hall reporter, were let go along with some ad sales and support staff.

Other cutbacks were reported at Citadel stations in San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta and Washington, D.C.

Departing at KSFO in San Francisco was morning co-host Melanie Morgan, a Bay Area radio personality for 27 years.

Citadel operates 66 AM and 177 FM stations in more than 50 markets.

Those connected with updating Citadel’s Web site might be on shaky ground.  Opening page still spotlights a Feb. 15 mention that (the already released) fourth quarter earnings would be reported on Feb. 29.