WLS dumps staffers in cost-cutting 'bloodbath'

Just this:Citadel can go FU++ themselves!!!!!Thank you.--- J.J.

Why don't the greedy bastards at S*itadel sell a few of their 223 stations?

This is so typical. All they care about is their stock price.

This is a very bad business decision. In order to pickup (supposedly) economies of scale, the big "Citadels" of the world believe they can give markets one personality versus local people. They are in for a rude awakening in Chicago. To not realize the gem they had in Jake Hartford is a crime.("Thanks for all the memories, Jake.") To let Jennifer Keiper go is beyond belief. To all of the WLS people let go, please know your fans are praying for you in these tough times. You will land on your feet. You are a most talented bunch.

All about the bottom line,that's all that matters.Sad.

Not Surprised wrote:

Why don't the greedy bastards at S*itadel sell a few of their 223 stations?
This is so typical. All they care about is their stock price.

Ditto,and DITTO(but NOT a dittohead)!I'm actually from Park Ridge,also.

Greg-Schaumburg wrote:

This is a very bad business decision. In order to pickup (supposedly) economies of scale, the big "Citadels" of the world believe they can give markets one personality versus local people. They are in for a rude awakening in Chicago. To not realize the gem they had in Jake Hartford is a crime.("Thanks for all the memories, Jake.") To let Jennifer Keiper go is beyond belief. To all of the WLS people let go, please know your fans are praying for you in these tough times. You will land on your feet. You are a most talented bunch.

Maybe Farid wants to turn it into "Radio Free Arabia"

Hey Citadel, take a lesson from the Macy's playbook. I'm sure this will work too.

Ironically, I tried to get a job there not too long ago, and now I'm glad I'm not there. When Eileen Byrne was the 9-11 host, they were looking for a new producer, and I applied for the job. According to Eileen herself (I saw her a couple of weeks after the interview on the "el"), everyone over there talked very highly of me. I interviewed with her and a couple of producers (including the station's program director), and the interview went very well. It looked like I was going to get the job, but upper management had already decided to "promote someone from within". As upsetting as that was, I can look at it now and be almost glad. Eileen ultimately lost her gig due to a cost cutting move, and the whole sale from ABC Radio to Citadel held just about every hiring decision for months with hardly no end in sight.

I am terribly disappointed to learn that Citadel has abolished the Smooth Jazz (105.9) station in the Washington, D.C. area. I have listened to this station at home, at work, and in my car for over 10 years. Many of my friends and co-workers feel as I do. I do not like the new "True Oldies" at all. I will not be listening to it. Please bring Smooth Jazz back to us. Thank you.

I love the local hosts: Don & Roma, Jerry Agar and The Roe Conn Show. The are all entertaining and informative. I spend about 3 hours in the car everyday and they make the trip bearable.

The news staff that supports them are a key part of their success.
And judging by the amount of commercials on each of the shows, they should be very profitable. I believe Charlie Gibson even commented on that when he was in the studio last week.

Citadel needs to focus on the markets and stations that are broken and leave the successes alone. If they replace a local host with Imus, I will be tuning out.

Maybe now Bill Cameron can get off of his knees and stop reporting breathlessly on the "doings" of Sen. Obama and Sen. Durbin.

Terrestrial radio has been dead for years.

SIRIUS satellite radio is here to stay.

Join the revolution

Steve Langford wrote:

Terrestrial radio has been dead for years.
SIRIUS satellite radio is here to stay.
Join the revolution

Perhaps in Philadelphia, but some of us care what is going on in our city and neighborhood.

WLS has been a great station and homogonizing the local news and local flavor out of it will certainly remove its viability.

Hey...either buy your own station or quit complanining....local news does not pay the bills.

Rush and Roe pay the bills.

Steve Langford is correct. WLS is the only terrestrial radio station I still listen to, and firing Bill Cameron, Christina Filiaggi and Jennifer Keiper is a travesty. Bringing Don Imus could make me never listen to thier station again.

Big Tuna wrote:

Hey...either buy your own station or quit complanining....local news does not pay the bills.
Rush and Roe pay the bills.

Roe is "local"

James wrote:

<quoted text>
Perhaps in Philadelphia, but some of us care what is going on in our city and neighborhood.
WLS has been a great station and homogonizing the local news and local flavor out of it will certainly remove its viability.

I'm not in Philly, that's just the ISP.

I listened to the local Chicago stations for years, but it's over. Once you get satellite radio, you will never listen to that censored, commercial filled garbage again.

What they are doing to WLS is one of the many reasons terrestrial radio is dead.

I don't understand what they are thinking over there. Their strength should be local talk. What they really need to do is eliminate Rush, Hannity and all those goofy get rich quick radio advertising shows and focus on cultivating local talk radio. While i can live with Kommando and Brinker, the rest of that piped in stuff is simply boring.

Bill Cameron - you are a class act and I wish you nothing but the best. This is a terrible way for someone to honor your hard work reporting the news for the City of Chicago. I am sick to my stomach. Just sick

Except for Rush, as soon as the nationally syndicated shows come on the air I switch to music or off. Listening to the locals give you a view of the "neighborhood", especially when they are local born and share your experiences growing up. I want to know how my family & I are being affected LOCALLY.
Citadel needs to open their eyes and realize their actions will lose them listeners because the pap they want to feed us can be gotten anywhere on the dial, terrestrial or satellite. It's the uniqueness that keeps us tuning in.