Lotus Communications has reportedly laid off its entire news reporting unit for Northwest Newsradio, as well as some news anchors in a round of budget cuts.
According to a report from RadioInsight, as many as nine employees were laid off last week.
News reporter Corwin Haeck confirmed that he was one of those who had departed the station, writing in a Facebook post “I had been planning to retire sometime in the coming months, but had not yet announced it. Instead, the station made the decision for me…by LAYING ME OFF along with every other reporter on staff! I kid you not. After 19.5 years and two ownership changes, they’ve sent me packing.
“Much of our tight-knit newsroom had been there as long as me or longer. I’ll miss working with them all. It’s a shame our new owners decided, after only 18 months, that a dip in revenue warranted these draconian measures,” Haeck continued. “I’ve heard they plan to continue as a 24-hour local news station. I’m curious to see how they manage it without reporters.”
Others who have confirmed their departures include sports anchor Eric Heintz and news anchor Kathi O’Shea.
