iHeartMedia is doing yet another round of layoffs and this time, one layoff decision has led to another employee just packing his things and leaving. Jim Moore, who co-hosted the midday show since 2021 on KJR in Seattle, was notified at the end of last week his position had been eliminated as part of a nationwide cutback of iHeart employees.
Turns out, Moore’s partner on the show, Jason ‘Puck’ Puckett had been in contract negotiations to stay with the station. However, when Puckett got the news he would no longer be working with Moore, he decided to end those negotiations even after saying he had received the offer he had been looking for.
Both hosts took to social media to explain the situation with Moore saying “…the timing was such that [Puckett] thought if he returned with a new contract, it would look like he got paid at my expense since I had lost my job. I don’t think that was the case, but Puck didn’t like how that appeared and wanted none of it. If I wasn’t coming back, he wasn’t coming back – even though the station honored his contract request. So, he turned down a great salary and a great job to take a gamble on himself and support me at the same time. It’s one of the nicest things anyone’s ever done for me. I told him several times to sign the contract…but he wouldn’t do it and stuck to his guns…I greatly appreciate his friendship and support, and it’s cool to see in what is usually a me, me, me world.”
Moore went on to thank several of the people he worked with and for at KJR as well as his listeners and readers. Moore spent 25 years as a sportswriter before 15 years as a sports talk show host.
Puckett, who had been with the KJR since 2002, posted on his X account to explain his side of things. “First off I want to apologize for being off the air for the last three weeks,” he said. “These last few weeks have been the most exhausting and agonizing time of my life.
“I had been in contract negotiations with iHeart – KJR since the start of January and in the last few weeks we mutually agreed that I would be off the air until we reached a deal. So, no, I was not on vacation or sick. Why I chose to remain silent was not deceive you – the listeners- I just didn’t want to take my personal business to the airwaves and social media.
“Both sides worked hard to get a deal done and the process was long and time consuming. Late last week I received the offer that I had been looking for and was excited and grateful to get back to work on Monday. However, a day after receiving the offer I learned that my partner Jim Moore was terminated as part of nationwide layoffs within the company. The timing of the move left me angry, sad, confused and conflicted. Since last Thursday I have grappled with what direction to go in. Many, many sleepless nights has led to my decision to part ways with the station and not seek a new contract.”
Puckett continued and said, “I’m a firm believer in loyalty and the treatment of others. From my perspective I couldn’t in good conscience continue to do the show despite my love to do so.”
No official word yet on what the future holds for the duo, however, Puckett’s post ended with him saying, “The process has energized and motivated me to great lengths. Stay tuned because very soon I’ll deliver the same nonsense in a different form.”
