Big Layoffs at Young Broadcasting’s KWQC Davenport, Iowa
Station Lays Off 12, Cancels Newscasts at 6:30 a.m., 9 a.m.
By Michael Malone -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/11/2008 11:26:00 AM
KWQC Davenport, Iowa, became the latest Young Broadcasting station to experience heavy layoffs. A total of 12 employees were let go, and the NBC affiliate’s 6:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. newscasts were dropped.
Among those to be dismissed were weekend news anchor Chris Williams and production director Rick Greenlee, AP reported.
Neither the station nor a Young spokesman returned calls as of press time, although a KWQC source did confirm the number of layoffs and the cancellation of the newscasts.
Just a few weeks ago, the Quad City Times reported that news director April Samp and chief meteorologist Terry Swails were leaving KWQC. Samp told the paper it was time to move on, and Swails was apparently let go in a corporate decision.
The Young stations are reportedly attempting to excise as much as $20 million from the budget. WTEN Albany, N.Y., reportedly cut 10 staffers in late January, and WKRN Nashville, Tenn., let at least as many go.
Young is hoping for a speedy sale of KRON San Francisco to free up cash.
