Florida News Center

(from OrlandoSentinel.com) - WKMG and Jacqueline London both agree that her departure from the station was a money issue.

WKMG General Manager Skip Valet last week released a statement that cited the tough economy, which didn’t make it feasible for the station to employ three anchors for 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts.

In an interview, London told me that station management stressed that her removal had nothing to do with her performance and everything to do with the amount of her contract.

But London’s being an anchor was important to many people for reasons beyond money. She was just the third African-American — after Annetta Wilson and Jackie Brockington — to anchor a weeknight newscast on one of the major network affiliates here.

I heard from a reader who wondered why that was such a big deal these days. Well, viewers appreciate seeing people like them in those positions of responsibility….Cont….

(from OrlandoSentinel.com) - Jacqueline London, one of the most recognizable anchors in this market, has left WKMG-Ch. 6 after nearly 14 years at the CBS affiliate.  Her final broadcast at the station was 6 p.m. Thursday.

WKMG General Manager Skip Valet released a statement this morning exclusively to the Orlando Sentinel: “After a lengthy discussion based on this tough economy, WKMG has decided it is not feasible to employ three anchors for our 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts.  As part of this decision WKMG and Jacqueline London have decided to part company.”

In an interview with me, London said, “Station management has stressed to me that this decision has nothing to do with my performance and everything to do with the dollar amount of my current contract, particularly given the tough economic climate.”….Cont….

(also from the same story) - Valet also released a statement today that reporter Donald Forbes is no longer working at the station.

The statement reads: “I want to take this opportunity to thank Donald for his contributions to WKMG.  Donald covered NASA for us as part of our bureau in Brevard County and more recently he was part of our investigative team. Donald has many friends here, and we all wish him well.”

…as NewsBlues.com first reported Monday….(from OrlandoSentinel.com) – It’s never a good sign when an anchor or a meteorologist loses a time slot, especially in rough economic times. Stations are trying to shed high-priced talent to cut costs. We learned that lesson with Bob Frier (right #1), the former WKMG anchor. He lost the 6 p.m. time slot when Mike Garofalo arrived late last year, and that was the tipoff that WKMG was easing out Frier. Frier left the station in February. Recent moves by WKMG suggest that chief meteorologist Tom Sorrells (right #2) and anchor Jacqueline London (right #3) may not be on the air much longer. London and Sorrells are on the new, hour-long 6 p.m. news, but they are no longer on at 11 p.m. — thus the speculation. Here’s the tricky part: We don’t know how their contracts are structured. Appearances could be deceiving. There’s widespread speculation that the well-liked Frier will land at WOFL. Has a contract been signed? When could he reach the air? No definitive news on that front. But there’s more speculation that Frier’s arrival could mean that WOFL’s Cale Ramaker (left) is on the way out. Not true, several knowledgeable sources tell me. The anchor gossip is interesting, but until a station or the anchor tells us what’s up, it’s just talk.

(from OrlandoSentinel.com) – WKMG’s committed to a new strategy to pull out of a difficult period in a tough economy. Orlando?s CBS affiliate is banking on promoting a rearranged team ? especially its personalities. General Manager Skip Valet said a shift in anchorwomen, which started last month as an experiment, already has paid off. ?We?re moving out of the test phase,? Valet said. ?We?re getting very good results. I think the broadcasts are certainly improving. The ratings are definitely improving. We?re going to continue the course.? Lauren Rowe (pictured) will remain at 11 p.m. while Laura Diaz takes her slot in early morning. Jacqueline London continues at 6 p.m. In August, the station?s news shows ran third ? behind WFTV-Channel 9 and WESH-Channel 2 ? at 6 a.m., 6 and 11 p.m. in the 25-to-54 age group that?s most important to advertisers. But WKMG trumpets improvement in that age group, especially women…..Cont……

(OrlandoSentinel.com) – Changes in the work schedule have surprised the staff at WKMG-Channel 6. Lauren Rowe (right #1), who has helped the station stay competitive in the morning, is shifting to 11 p.m. Jacqueline London (right #2), who has had the 11 p.m. role, remains the anchor on the hourlong 6 p.m. newscast. Laura Diaz (right #3) is working the morning shift opposite Erick Weber….Cont….