TV stations trimming staffs, watching expenses
> Who's your favorite local TV personality?
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
DAYTON — WDTN-TV, Channel 2, has decided not to renew the contracts of two of its on-air news personnel and is offering voluntary buyouts to eligible newsroom employees.
WHIO-TV, Channel 7, has managed to maintain its staff in a newsroom of about 50 full-time employees, but didn't fill a handful of positions in the newsroom and its administrative and support staffs during 2008 to hold down operating costs, said Harry Delaney, vice president and general manager at the CBS affiliate.
ABC affiliate WKEF, Channel 22, and Fox affiliate WRGT, Channel 45, let go their shared news anchor Mark Pompilio at the end of December.
WKEF and WRGT, which have a total work force of about 115, also made cuts totaling a dozen positions during 2008 through job eliminations, layoffs or not filling vacancies across the production, promotion and sales departments, said Dean Ditmer, general manager over both stations.
"It's belt-tightening, is how I'd describe it," Ditmer said Wednesday, Jan. 7.
The actions are in response to the economic downturn that has prompted work force reductions and expense-cutting at companies in various industries, executives at the stations said.
At WDTN, the contracts of reporter Mandy Sheridan and Mike Schell, a news anchor and reporter, expired at the end of December and were not renewed, said Lisa Barhorst, WDTN's vice president and general manager. Details of their departures are confidential, Barhorst said.
There are no plans to fill either their positions or that of Bob Phillips, who just retired as WDTN's chief photographer after 51 years with the station, Barhorst said.
If as many as five newsroom employees accept the voluntary buyout offer, WDTN would be able to reduce or entirely avoid layoffs there, Barhorst said. The station, Dayton's NBC affiliate, has a newsroom staff of about 50 people.
Carl Nichols, 65, a longtime weatherman at WDTN, is retiring after his broadcast shift on Friday, although he plans to return and fill in periodically when the station needs him. He had already cut back to part-time work in recent years, Barhorst said.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By Getaf***inglife
November 7, 2009 7:17 PM | Link to this
Lisa Barhorst is a waste of space! Hire Dan Rather!
By j
October 13, 2009 6:59 PM | Link to this
what happened to Jeff Porter ? we don’t see him anymore?
By Milkman
June 2, 2009 9:24 PM | Link to this
Hmmmmmmm my favorite TV reporters of all-time are Connie Lockwood from the 70’s on Channel 7 and Karen Golden on channel 7 saw her in person one Christmas WOW !!!! Elizabeth Cowart from ABC 22/FOX 45 Mandy Sheridan and Danielle Ellis
By Jay
March 3, 2009 1:20 PM | Link to this
Sharon Howard is a waste of Money She’s a branch of the naacp, has been for ever,I think thats why shes still there, doing their bidding. It’s not because of talent. Do you think wdtn would put on a show that was 98% white, no way. just another double standard.
By R Paul
February 26, 2009 10:08 AM | Link to this
Mike Schell was one of the best reporters and news gathers at WDTN. His reporting always left the viewer with complete and accurate information instead of lingering questions. Mike consistently got the “whole” story and presented it very well. Mandy too was just screwed by Barhorst. Barhost is totally blind to talent, preferring corporate incest masked as tenure!
By R Paul
February 26, 2009 10:03 AM | Link to this
WDTN has very poor management, starting with the station manager Lisa Barhorst. Recently, they let Libby Kirsch back into the AM anchor spot along with Edwards, when Megan O’Rourke clearly made a better and more professional appearance. The CINergy with Dan and Jamie was so much better with Megan. Libby Kirsch needs to be flushed out of the system, and go back to making babies instead of reporting news.
By R Paul
February 26, 2009 10:02 AM | Link to this
Clearly there is too much politics being played at WDTN, almost to the point of corporate incest. If they would listen to some feedback, Bucher would be gone as well.. All you have to do is watch him for a week, listen to how he manages to say nothing almost the whole time he is on air, except make faces and bobble around, while trying to direct the camera. What a waste of a potentially valuable segment. Here, tenure gives Bucher the right to torture the audience.
Poor Management, and clearly, the inability to make decisions based on the best talent, instead of longest tenure, has resulted in poor ratings, loss of viewers, and loss of advertising dollars. Now WDTN is left with it’s hand out begging for support from the cable companies. What a pity!
By sam
February 24, 2009 6:40 AM | Link to this
It is amazing that they did not renew the contracts of Mandi Sheridan, who did the exclusive with the Lauderbach story, and Mike Shell but in 2007 and 2008 they hired 4 new general reporters: Jordan Burgess, Sonu Wasu, Holy Samuel, and Chelby Kosto. So how can they say it was a cost cutting measure..THis stinks..Mandi was good and professional. Maybe the new 4 reporters were cheaper to keep Than Mandi and Mike. SO why keep 2 veterans to do the news..I am sure that only makes sense to WDTN.
By Thrill
January 27, 2009 7:37 PM | Link to this
Natasha Williams is a class act…
By newsveteran
January 14, 2009 8:45 PM | Link to this
Speaking from experience:
The management at WDTN is terrible. They have absolutely no idea how to run a newsroom. The experienced reporters left town years ago, as did the producers, who are now basically paid interns. The equipment is atrocious. As for the layoffs, Mike Schell never should have been hired to begin with. Mandi Sheridan was borderline psychotic. They could save a bundle by firing Sharon Howard, who is absolutely useless and always has been.
By Charlie in Dayton
January 9, 2009 7:32 PM | Link to this
Hey,Dan Edwards! During these difficult times, I look forward to your updates and your progress for the Dayton area that I hope will come from your recent visit to Louisville and visiting with their leadership. It takes some courage to step outside your local station comfort zone, and your viewers should be pleased and grateful that you are looking at the “big picture” to make our community a better place. Stay after it, sir!!!!
By susan
January 9, 2009 9:55 AM | Link to this
Dear Hello, I never claimed to be the “Queen of Media Knowlege” I just work in the business, who said I departed from WDTN I still work there.
By Hello
January 9, 2009 9:32 AM | Link to this
Sounds like Susan’s departure from WDTN wasn’t a pleasant one! Sorry Susan, errr, Queen of Media Knowledge.
By susan
January 8, 2009 4:02 PM | Link to this
to, anotheronewhogetsit, you might want to change your name to anotheronewhodosen’t get it. Unless you’ve been on the inside you don’t see the whole pitcure. There is a lot that goes on behind the camera and the advertisements.
By susan
January 8, 2009 4:00 PM | Link to this
Mitch, I have worked in Media for many, many years, I know how it is suppose to work. Obvously WDTN was NOT making enough in advertising which is why they were trying to get money from Time Warner. Were you not getting all the facts on the whole thing. Barhorst had a webcam message stating they were wanting money from Time Warner. I know WDTN well I worked there I so I know how they work, thank you very much.
By AnotherOneWho"Gets"It
January 8, 2009 2:03 PM | Link to this
Mitch, well said. Why doesn’t everyone else get it?!
By Mitch
January 8, 2009 1:38 PM | Link to this
Susan, It has nothing to do with WDTN or Time Warner. It has everything to do with the industry and the market..TV makes practically all of its profits on advertising..The auto industry comprises more than half of the advertising revenue.When the auto industry(this includes the Big 3, as well as all of the imports)are not doing well, they cut back on advertising, which in turns trickles down to the tv stations, and other media outlets. The cable disputes occur regularly when contracts are up.
By susan
January 8, 2009 1:27 PM | Link to this
to teacher: Nothing means anything to WDTN except for their bottom line. The don’t care about anyone that is beneth the Executive Offices. I quit watching WDTN about the time they were trying to get money from Time Warner and I don’t miss them. So either they didn’t get as much from Time Warner as they hoped or the big wigs are pocketing the profits. Either way, WDTN employees who are cut will be better off somewhere else.
By teacher
January 8, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this
I am so sad to see Mandi Sheridan go! She was one of the most professional, unbiased, well-spoken, mistake-free journalists on the air in Dayton. She was also their senior reporter and broke the biggest news story of 2008 with the Maria Lauterbach story. Mary Lauterbach would only talk to Mandi! That should mean something to WDTN and it is definitely their loss. I will not watch Channel 2 now! Some of them are very good, but the younger crew isn’t! I’m sure Mandi will do very well!
By Steve
January 8, 2009 12:45 PM | Link to this
It’s sad to see people getting cut, especially since the company already went through a Black Friday when the previous poor excuse for a company, Sunrise Television, let go 13 individuals back in 1998. The current GM at the time didn’t know a TV from a transistor radio, since he wasn’t up to 21st century standards and didn’t understand how a UHF station-WKEF could compete with 2 or 7. It’s what happens when you have investors, instead of qualified broadcast professionals running these companies.
By Carol
January 8, 2009 12:40 PM | Link to this
To Bob Smith: Put a possitvie spin on the economic situation? LOL what rock did you just crawl out of? Have you looked around Dayton and the surrounding areas? Middletown as small as it is has about 580 empty forclosed on houses, in a town of about 50,000, unemployment is up, people are being laid off, left and right, businesses are closing. Where in the Hell is the positive spin?
By Bob smith
January 8, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this
What the media needs to realize is that it is cutting its own throat! The longer they doom and gloom on the economy in this town the worse things are going to get! The local and National media really needs to try to put some positive spins on things or this town and this country are in for a very big mess! We may all be living on the streets before long!!!!
By Susan
January 8, 2009 12:17 PM | Link to this
clipper, not only is Sharon Howard a waste of money but a waste of space. She only has her job because she has people there so afraid of her no one will fire her. She should be fired or at least made to work and pull her weight (if she can) like everyone else who works at the station.
By Copywriter
January 8, 2009 11:28 AM | Link to this
Channel 22/45 are you listening? You are the smartest newsroom in the region and don’t go on and on regurgitating the same news for an hour and a half! Your reporters and anchors seem genuine and there’s much to be said about not hiring teenagers who stumble through their reports (Channel 2). I would LOVE to see Mandi Sheridan as an anchor on channel 22/45 and all of my peers at my business would tune in to your station over the others in a heartbeat! Mature, educated people are great to watch!
By clipper
January 8, 2009 11:12 AM | Link to this
Someone teach Mark Allen what to do with his thumbs. Sharon Howard is a waste of money. Get rid of that unfunny, irritating juvenile, Jim Bucher. Brian Davis is a terrific meteorologist.
By Medwayguy
January 8, 2009 10:52 AM | Link to this
Donnelsvilleguy, you are so right. Take us back to the days when all they needed were two lead anchors, and guys to do weather and sports. Beyond that, the camera guys did all the field work. Why do we need so many “reporters” telling us not to go out on the roads when they are spread out from Springfield to Troy to Trotwood doing just that?
By Karpis
January 8, 2009 10:47 AM | Link to this
I happen to like Dan Edwards
Asa ——no-talent eye candy
Libby——great newscaster
Mark and Marsha——-rea class
Megan——fine, as long as her hair is right
Anton——-STILL can’t seem to figure out how to do his job
Kennan—-ditto
Mike T———good guy
Mandy——-should have been allowed to stay
Danielle——-stuck on herself
Gabby——stuck on firefighters
By George
January 8, 2009 10:43 AM | Link to this
Nazi look-alike Eric Zarnoff (or whatever it is) is awful. He recently said that the last time we had a white Christmas was in 2002. Apparently he forgot the terrible storm we had just before Christmas in 2004.
By Herbert
January 8, 2009 10:39 AM | Link to this
All that really matters is that TV news stinks these days. They all need to go back to thirty-minute newscasts and drop all the garbage that they push at us.
By DonnelsvilleGuy
January 8, 2009 10:36 AM | Link to this
Don’t watch local TV much - local newscasts focus on car crashes and shootings - not things that affect the one million folks in their viewing area very much. Too many on air personalities who don’t know an error while reading the teleprompter if it slapped the in the face! Good luck to Carl Nichols - a really nice guy - Brian Davis will do a fine job. Cut all local news down to 30 minutes max. Skip the sports - just run a line along the bottom with scores - that’s all we need anyway.
By ThankYouAll
January 8, 2009 10:05 AM | Link to this
Jimbo,Randy,Howard,thank you.Dan Edwards is annoying.He can’t read,he stammers,talks uphill.Hate the adlib attempts,trying to be funny,offering personal opinions…STOP IT ALREADY!Last week he “read” new movie revenues.He “read” “Benjamin BOTTOM”.Did he not realize that was wrong?Apparently not as he said again in the same broadcast, then to make matters worse, said it again on Monday’s broadcast.It’s “Benjamin BUTTON” Dan.Oh yeah, get rid of the high and tight.
By TVGUY
January 8, 2009 9:55 AM | Link to this
Asa George….yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmy. The only reson to get UP in the morning…
By TnGirl
January 8, 2009 9:44 AM | Link to this
When I’m home visiting I watch Ch. 2. I love Libby Kirsch and I think she does a great job not only anchoring but reporting as well. I think it says a lot about her commitment to journalism to be willing to get out behind the desk and report on a story. Most anchors don’t remember what its like to actually get out and find the facts of the story for themselves. I”m sorry to see anyone lose their jobs.
By Pete Logan
January 8, 2009 9:01 AM | Link to this
Natasha Williams - Always very professional and all around, a very pleasant person.
Anton Day should be somewhere digging ditches. The absolute worst TV News persons ever!
By Barking bulldog
January 8, 2009 8:49 AM | Link to this
Channel 7 - PLEASE DUMP HAIRBOY MIKE HARTSOCK. I swear I’ll go crazy if i here him say “stay right there” one more time. The man is brainless.
Jamie Simpson and his junior poodle boy Jeff Porter need to cut the time it takes them to tell us what the weather is going to be. Guys its only the weather its not that important! Scale down your egos!
By leavingohio
January 8, 2009 8:41 AM | Link to this
I think Natasha is the absolute worst in the Dayton market. She cannot read and acts surprised/dumbfounded everytime she reads a story even though she’s already read it 3 or 4 times before within the past hour. She stammers and stutters and ruins even the simplest story. She is a legend in her own mind! How she stays on at channel 7 is beyond me!
By karen
January 8, 2009 8:12 AM | Link to this
Christipher, Sharon Howard is nothing to no one, she just thinks she is. To getalife: go to church and pray?what kind of bs is that. And for the record yes I have spoken with the people at 2, including Sharon Howard and she knows I think she is an insufferable b——.
By Howard
January 8, 2009 8:07 AM | Link to this
I agree Dan Edwards has to me always been abrasive for some unknown reason, he needs to get rid of the mouse under his nose, I think Jim Bucher freaked out that managers at 2 were going to fire him for the mustache he grew while he was off,,, What a place LIN TV must be to work LOL
By kay
January 8, 2009 8:06 AM | Link to this
Phil, guess not as I don’t drink coffee.
By Mike
January 8, 2009 8:04 AM | Link to this
Would it not be great if they all went back to 30 minutes of news ? Instead of reporting a little bit of this and a little bit of that as teasers to get you to watch the news at 6:00 At 5:00 they could run buggs bunny roadrunner cartoons like they did when we were kids, or the Uncle Orrie show, Kims Kartoon Capers, or Clubhouse 22 with Malcom and duffy the dog..
By Randy
January 8, 2009 8:01 AM | Link to this
Here’s a thought. If WDTN is trying to cut costs, Get rid of DAN EDWARDS… what a waste.
By Stan
January 8, 2009 7:47 AM | Link to this
Wanna put money that we all don’t have on a bet? If tv stations are cutting personnel because revenue is down, watch for the 1 1/2 hour local news casts at 5 shrink to an hour or, if there’s a God, 30 minutes! Costs more to produce local news than to put on Judge Judy or The Doctors from syndication (and content level is about equal). 30 minutes of local news is about all Dayton/Springfield can provide without having to watch reports talk about impending ice, on an average day.
By Chuck
January 8, 2009 7:42 AM | Link to this
Channel 2 WDTN Lin Television needs to invest in technology that will pass NBC’s high definition programming all of the time. When school closings are run I get about 20 inches of viewing area on my 50” HD plasma..
By jimbo
January 8, 2009 7:17 AM | Link to this
I miss Salley Taylor, I’d drink her bath water!…
By joe
January 8, 2009 6:29 AM | Link to this
Asa George and Kimberly Thompson
By Harley Davidson
January 8, 2009 6:14 AM | Link to this
I want to marry Gabrielle Enright. Too bad someone else beat me to the punch.
By Just Mymagination
January 8, 2009 4:19 AM | Link to this
Is there a very visible female anchor who started lisping all of a sudden about two years ago? I was wondering if she got one of those re-teeth jobs and it affected her speech. I never noticed it until I started noticing her teeth, which had never attracted my attention before. I’m not trying to be hateful, I just wondered if it was just me or if it appeared this way to anyone else.
By tom bolton
January 8, 2009 1:01 AM | Link to this
“I could listen to Gabrielle Enright read the phone book” yea i was gonna say a bunch of things, but Gabrielle can talk to me all day
By Aztec
January 7, 2009 11:39 PM | Link to this
The female reporters at 2 are so young. I feel like I’m watching a high school tv production class. But they apparently work cheap and that’s why they were hired because they really have no credibility.
By Bob
January 7, 2009 11:37 PM | Link to this
People might diss WHIO/Channel 7, but the truth of the matter, is people watch them because they do not play musical chairs with their anchors. Jim Baldridge and Cheryl McHenry have been the main anchors for about 17 years. Before that, Don Wayne anchored for about 25 years. Dayton people want continuity.
By Jimbo
January 7, 2009 11:37 PM | Link to this
Libby is awesome…very smooth. When she was with Guy Fogle on weekends they were a great team. Edwards is hard to watch. He’s like Ron Burgundy. Brian Davis is good. Cheryl McHenry is a good as well. Don Hammond tries way to hard to be credible. He’s cheesy just like 22/45. Jill Del Greco is enjoyable on weekendmornings at 7.As for the no sports guys since Omar? Omar was well-liked but too stiff. Fogle, Don Brown and Ryan Brant were at least entertaining.
By Sherry
January 7, 2009 11:31 PM | Link to this
I think that James Brown is the best news anchor in the business today. He is professional along with personable. He has the cutest smile and is not one of those anchors who is stuck up. He is willing to go out in the public and talk to people without acting like he is better than everyone else. I know him personally and he is a Great man and a Great anchor. Keep up the good work James, the rest can only wish they were as good as you.
By Wanda
January 7, 2009 11:24 PM | Link to this
WDTN has class with Steve Diorio running the show. Mark Allen, Marsha Bonhart and Carl Day are the best. Mehgan O’Roarke is much better than Libby Kirsch, and the last time you had a good weekend anchor, was when Dave Bohman did it. As for FOX 45/ABC 22, the people running the show there, need to go. In regards to Channel 7, I grew up watching Don Wayne and Jim Baldridge, along with Ted Ryan and Gil Whitney. The newer people are not that great.
By Barry
January 7, 2009 11:22 PM | Link to this
I could listen to Gabrielle Enright read the phone book
By gary
January 7, 2009 10:39 PM | Link to this
Letitia Perry is very good and always has a smile.
By jason
January 7, 2009 10:38 PM | Link to this
That one lady would have to be Natasha Williams, she always acts like she is in heat.
By M
January 7, 2009 10:26 PM | Link to this
There are some reporters I am not impressed with, but I won’t single them out by name. I don’t focus on looks or male/female, black/white, etc. I just go by how professional, knowledgeable and informative they are. There have been only a couple who were unprofessional, but they are long gone. There is one lady though still on the air, and I think she is way too flirty with the men on the station, and I don’t like that. She is not a young hottie either.
By newshroom
January 7, 2009 10:26 PM | Link to this
I miss Salli Taylor. She is soooo HOT!
By william
January 7, 2009 10:19 PM | Link to this
Also, local news needs to stop playing 911 calls during the newscast. There is no journalistic value in that; only pure sensationalism. I’m not surprised to find that on 7 and 22/45 but not 2. Rise above that! Lay off the traffic accidents and delve into more substantial and thorough news stories. Think NPR and PBS, not Fox News and CNN. We have brains; stimulate them!
By M
January 7, 2009 10:17 PM | Link to this
Of the anchors/reporters I have seen (I watch different channels here and there), I would like to see this combination on a news channel: Mark Allan, Michelle Kingsfield, Marsha Bonhart, Mark Pompilio, Dan Edwards, Gabrielle Enright, Letitia Perry, Jim Otte, Jack Pohl, Hutch Konerman, Jamie Simpson, Brian Davis, Jeff Porter, Rich Wirdzek, the consumer reporter John Matarese and another guy — I think his name was Anton Day?? He was African American and he lost a lot of weight??
By william
January 7, 2009 10:13 PM | Link to this
As a video professional I can say with confidence that Mandi is a pro and it’s a loss to WDTN and a gain to whomever hires her. Mike Schell also is very good; he would fit well with 22/45. Marsha, Mark, Michelle (stay healthy!), and the other anchors, sportscasters and meteorologists on 2 are excellent. The reporters are also good, but Jordan needs to tone down his cutsie style…very amateurish in my opinion.
By Ann
January 7, 2009 9:30 PM | Link to this
7 can get rid of Jim Baldridge, they need a younger face with no rug on his head. Budget cuts, how about going back to the half hour news instead of starting a story and then having to wait until 30 min. or so to get the other half. Then to set and listen about THE ICE, my gosh 7 had it on for 10 minutes. They are reporting anything they can to make it a 90 min. newscast.
By Jason
January 7, 2009 8:54 PM | Link to this
Also there are no great sports anchors in Dayton and there have not been since Omar Williams retired. I greatly dislike Mike Hartsock’s shouting, he is not calling play by play of the Super Bowl, its the 6 o’clock news.
By Jason
January 7, 2009 8:50 PM | Link to this
Best anchors in Dayton hand down are Jim Baldridge, Cheryl McHenry and Marsha Bonhart. Best meteorologist upon Carl Nichols retirement will be Brian Davis. Marsha and Brian should jump ship at Channel 2 and go work for Channel 7 where their talents will be more noticed. I have watched the Dayton media for many years, all the way back to the days of Don Wayne.
By steve
January 7, 2009 8:42 PM | Link to this
I stand firm that both Schell and Oliphant should go, it’s an issue of seniority. PERIOD Both are new to this market, Schell worked I believe for 700 WLW, let him go back… Oliphant has ZERO personality and looks like a college kid on air for his first time. Howard and Oliphant keep their jobs cause they’re African American and this market has many viewers of that ethnicity.
By Rebecca
January 7, 2009 8:36 PM | Link to this
Folks….you have to learn to spell!
By Getalife
January 7, 2009 8:13 PM | Link to this
Here’s what I see from most of the people and posts on here…you’re cowards. I bet you’ve never told these people to their face you DON’T like them. Did you ever have a conversation with any of these TV people?
These blog posts are nothing but a forum for coward bastards who have nothing better to do with their time. Get a life, go to church and pray nothing bad ever happens to you. God don’t like ugly!
By manbearpig
January 7, 2009 8:12 PM | Link to this
Without a doubt Channel 2 has the best morning news team. Dan Edwards is great, Brian Davis is THE best meteorologist in the area hands down, and Libby Kirsh is really good too. As for Bucher, well I for one like him and his morning sillyness, plus he highlights alot of local restaurants and other businesses. Meagan is a very good reporter also. Honestly I think Channel 2 has the best personnel top to bottom in this market. I hate to see Mandy go though, good luck to her!
By Christopher
January 7, 2009 7:53 PM | Link to this
Is Sharon Howard the Retha Phillips of 2009?
By Phil
January 7, 2009 7:28 PM | Link to this
Hey Kay,
Were you the person that spilled coffee all over the master control board during the newscast a few years ago?
By James
January 7, 2009 7:23 PM | Link to this
Message to this article’s reporter - JOHN NOLAN…FOX 45’s call letters are WRGT, not WGRT. The call letters I believe are an homage to a couple of brothers that had something to do with flight and they also liked bicycles!
By the way, the best Dayton personality is Mike Terwilleger! Hands down, no contest. He’s the nicest guy in world you will ever want to meet!!!
By Karen
January 7, 2009 7:22 PM | Link to this
Jo you know that people like Barhorst and those above will NOT be taking any pay cuts. I am sure the money they save with all the “budget cuts” will just go to increase their paychecks. I bit they are not losing any sleep or missing any meals over the “cut backs”
By Just_us
January 7, 2009 7:14 PM | Link to this
I used to watch these stations for news: WDTN at lunch, WRGT at 10 and Whio at 11. Each station had strong points and weak ones. BTW~ WRGT/WKEF now you only have Pat Berry. I stopped watching 45/22 altogether since they dropped Mark Pompilio. Hopefully, someone will pick up Mark….
By Star 107.7
January 7, 2009 7:13 PM | Link to this
Did somebody say Dan Edwards? This man has been a Dayton media personality with integrity for over 20 years. Keep up the good work DJ !
By Jo
January 7, 2009 7:05 PM | Link to this
The news channels state they need to tighten their belts, so does everyone else. So I was wondering if the big execs will take a pay cut to help out.
By Steve'sanidiot
January 7, 2009 6:57 PM | Link to this
These comments on here about people are what’s horrible. Steve, how dare you suggest that anybody needs to go! Who died and made you boss. For all those people out there who don’t like Schell or Oliphant, many do. I don’t wish for anybody to lose their job. I hope you don’t lose yours you evil grimlin…or maybe you’re already unemployed and jealous everyone else isn’t in your boat!
By steve
January 7, 2009 6:37 PM | Link to this
Mandi should have stayed she earned her job. Mike Schell can take his republican butt back down to Cincy were he came from. It should have been schell and oliphant. He is absolutely horrible. Everytime I see him I feel like it is his first time on camera… it’s like the movie Groundhog day. WDTN has shown that it has no loyalty to their employees. Sheridan has been her much longer than either Schell or Oliphant they should be the ones’ getting the pink slip!!
By Kevin
January 7, 2009 4:58 PM | Link to this
Megan O’Rourke does a great job and when I have get up early , she is great to watch!! and of course listen to ,Duh..
By Spenser
January 7, 2009 4:41 PM | Link to this
THE ECONOMY IS REALLY HURTING AND Is AFFECTING EVERYONE, JUST DON’T BLAME IT ON THE PRESIDENT EITHER, BLAME IT ON CONGRESS, THEY HAVEN’T HELPED THE UNITED STATES AND THE STIMULUS PACKAGES DON’T SEEM TO HELP EITHER, I’M SAD TO SEE MIKE AND MANDI GO, BUT, THINGS HAPPEN, BUT CHANNEL 2 WILL ALWAYS BE MY FAVORITE STATION, AND THEY HAVE THE BEST NEWS, WEATHER AND SPORTS DEPARTMENTS, CHANNEL 2 SHOULD BUILD A NEW BUILDING IN CENTERVILLE OR ANOTHER CITY AROUND DAYTON. WDTN- THE BEST TV STATION IN DAYTON
By The future of TV
January 7, 2009 4:41 PM | Link to this
First, Mark Pompilio, then this. This is the future of TV folks. No more community service or telethons or local children’s programming, just news. And bad news at that! Apparently local news stations don’t know how to report the “who what when where why & how” of the old TV days. I wish Mandi and Mark the best and hope they get out of TV, they’ll be much happier! All the local stations could care less, it’s not the employees, it’s their corporate owners. BooHiss on LIN TV, again!!!
By Karen
January 7, 2009 4:37 PM | Link to this
I guess they must have have gotten as much money out of time warner has they hoped. Serves them right WDTN is a disgrace and an embarssment to the Dayton Community. And I agree with who ever said they should get rid of Sharon Howard what good is she doing as Community Affairs Director, like WDTN she does not focus on all of Dayton’s issues.
By tom
January 7, 2009 4:10 PM | Link to this
I always thought Mandy did a great job reporting and was professional on camera. i’m sure she’ll find another job soon.
By DAVID
January 7, 2009 4:02 PM | Link to this
WELL MISS MANDY. SHE ONE OF THE BEST REPORTERS THAT WDTN HAD. NOW THEY HAVE NO ONE ELSE THAT CAN DO HER JOB THAT GOOD. GOOD LUCK MANDY.
By Lindsay
January 7, 2009 3:40 PM | Link to this
My co-workers and I stopped watching 3 years ago when Guy Fogle left, He and Nichols, Colleen and Mark Allen were fun to watch…and good. 2 has lost a lot of good people.
By Frederick
January 7, 2009 3:26 PM | Link to this
The FCC chairman lied to us all when he said yesterday in Dayton that the FCC makes no money on the digital transition. Millions of dollars will be made when the FCC takes the old analog channels and auctions or sells the spectrum to the new users that’s one reason the Government wanted the channels back. Nextel, Sprint, Motorola, MA-Comm AT&T will make billions of of these new frequencies
By amy
January 7, 2009 3:26 PM | Link to this
“Does anytone else see a conecction between the GM plant closing (I worked there 9 years) and Cannel 2 news building being so close. I think it might be taxes being lost to the station.”
Sure don’t… Could you fill us in on how you think this is related?
By Frederick
January 7, 2009 3:23 PM | Link to this
Local advertising dollars are drying up, which equals less income to pay staff members. Still think Carl Nichols is retiring ? I don’t he was probably one of the stations biggest wage earners….NBC is not doing well providing quality programs that people will advertise on either. We are gearing up for the digital switch to what? The FCC takes in millions of dollars in license fees for the new licenses that will be issued on what used to be our soon to be old TV frequencies.
By troyboy
January 7, 2009 3:07 PM | Link to this
Please keep Michelle O’Rourke. My all-time favorite in the Dayton market.
By Kay
January 7, 2009 3:06 PM | Link to this
I think they should get rid of Sharon Howard, the woman is nothing put a waste of space.
By Greg
January 7, 2009 3:02 PM | Link to this
I think WDTN should hire Katie Couric away from CBS, then after 5 minutes of her gloom and doom reporting of our local news, we would all pack up and leave!
By Karen
January 7, 2009 2:55 PM | Link to this
What I am curiouis about is how is WDTN affected by the economic downturn. There is plenty of news to report and they are still bringing in money to pay the staff - aren’t they? Or am I missing something?
By ukgirl
January 7, 2009 2:53 PM | Link to this
We watch channel 7 news in our house. We love Jamie, Jim and Cheryl. I feel bad for anyone who loses there job right now. There is nothing out there for anyone right now. Good Luck to all.
By Jen
January 7, 2009 2:44 PM | Link to this
It’s all Karma, they fire people if they do not practice a Christian religion. Dayton will be better off if they went off the air
By Leslie
January 7, 2009 2:30 PM | Link to this
They are all great. all of them are my favorite. People need to be nice to Mandi. She is great. Her weight shouldn’t matter all that matters is how she does her job. Sorry to see Mandi and Mike go. best of luck to both of them. Im looking forward to seeing them elsewhere. Channel 2 is my only station.
By Laura
January 7, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this
Amy, FYI-WDTN is not the only company that is letting people go in this country. Have you even watched the national news to find out that other companies in this country is letting people go not just WDTN? You need to get your facts straight because the country is in a recession and I know what I am talking about because I watch MSNBC on a daily basis, get breaking news directly sent to my e-mail box from ABC, and watch the ABC nightly news on a weekly basis.
By forthereal
January 7, 2009 2:21 PM | Link to this
this is ridiculous! They are ALL talented, and deserve to keep their jobs. The economy is just so bad…I hope that WDTN will behave well and go above and beyaond to treat their employees with dignity, and if more cuts have to be made, that they will do it in the fairest way possible, and act with class. I have to say that they do have the best weather team around, and I especially appreciate Jamie Jarosik. As far as the anchor team, Mark and Michelle are excellent! Keep up the good work!
By Who Cares
January 7, 2009 2:17 PM | Link to this
Put me down in the “Can Bucher” camp…a complete idiot, and equally unfunny
By By Lisa
January 7, 2009 2:00 PM | Link to this
Pleae don’t get of Bucher. I think he is the greatest. He makes the news worth watching. I always enjoy watching his stories. He is very personable too in person.
By DJ
January 7, 2009 2:00 PM | Link to this
I love the channel 2 news crew. Dan is always so upbeat and Bucher has a lot of fun which makes me smile. I’m sorry to see Mandy and Mike go. They all have been a regular part of my day since I don’t know when.
By ELF
January 7, 2009 1:59 PM | Link to this
I’m sorry to see Mandy go. They should have booted Ollifant instead. I turn it off if he’s on. I miss Libby but Meaghan is doing a great job filling in. A day without Bucher is a day without sunshine. I suspect those who don’t like him have no sense of humor. I love Carl but it’s time to go. And Jordan needs to learn to adlib. I wish James Brown would go to WDTN. It would be perfect then.