The WCJB exodus…
Sources tell Florida News Center that reporter Josh Rosenthal is leaving Gainesville’s WCJB. He’s headed to Little Rock, AR (a 104 market jump!). Rosenthal is the third reporter in the past few weeks to leave the station. As Florida News Center reported on Monday, reporters Robert Bradfield and Jordan Smith are leaving the station as well.
Our story on Monday inspired (what’s left of) WCJB staff to come out of the woodwork….
Sources tell Florida News Center that with the departure of Rosenthal, Bradfield and Smith, WCJB is left with three reporters. Two of those reporters are new grads hired from the Univ of Florida. The third is weekend meteorologist Aaron Boll. Reporters are made to work six day work weeks and vacation time has been denied, because the station is so short staffed.
As Florida News Center reported on Monday, a producer and photographer have also put in notice to leave the station. Now, we learn that they aren’t the only technical staff to leave. Other producers, as well as most of the photographers and ENG/sat truck staff have also left the station. No new hires have been made. One source says, “the place is a ghost town.”
Out of the MANY e-mails that we have received over the past week, the one comment that you hear most is that morale is completely gone as the station. One e-mailer says, “no one wants to work for News Director Brett Buell. He’s impossible to work work with. It’s all quantity and no quality.” Another writes, “most of those departing the station, do not even have jobs lined up yet. They can’t even hold on to job-less UF grads.”
So, where are all of these staffers going you may ask? The answer – across the street to triopoly WGFL/WNBW/WMYG, who is currently building their news department for an October premiere. Stay tuned for further information.
