Sources say KAEF North Coast News has fired "all except for two reporters"

 

A reader reached out to me.  The reader specifically asked me to follow up and mentioned that this had not been covered by any other local media. 

"Did you know about the Sinclair pink slip express wiping out KAEF except for two reporters?"

The Sinclair specific reference is posted below from the original media source that reported it but the Sinclair layoffs were covered by various media outlets.

I initially reached out to KRCR General Manager Teansie Garfield.  She has retired. I contacted KRCR Assistant New Director Nazy Javid who directed me to the new KRCR General Manager John Manzi. KRCR oversees KAEF North Coast News operations and staff in Humboldt. 

Layoffs are being done across the industry. I knew this, saw it coming years ago and shared the possibility of mass media layoffs in many conversations. I also knew it was a matter of time before KAEF would be impacted. The fact that KAEF lasted this long is surprising. Sinclair should have cut their financial losses and left Humboldt years ago. 

The reader ended the email with, "Also, I think your court reporting is top notch and lacks any sort of favoritism. Always a good read for a former local."

I appreciate what this reader said. My blog has readers all over California and the nation even though it is Humboldt focused because of the content. 

What Humboldt needs is more reporters who are not under the control of the Humboldt cabal. More reporters who are trained journalists adhering to standards and reporting what is considered news by the rest of the state and country. That cannot be achieved when local funding is petty and retaliatory.

The Humboldt cabal and connected idea of "news" is stroking their egos. They are the people with the money and connections in Humboldt and they have shown through their actions for decades that they will never fund actual journalism. It is against their interests. 

We need reporters who are not locally biased and who the Humboldt cabal does not try to destroy, intimidate and make it financially difficult to exist. In today's economy and changing media environment, we also need to fund independent and actual journalism. Support those who invest time, hard work and make personal and financial sacrifices to bring quality news to this local community.  People who have earned trust and loyalty. 

It is a choice to report and do real journalism in this community. Humboldt does not have the big paychecks, the bigger market, bigger connections where they value initiative, talent and old fashioned journalism adapted to today's media.

Reporters who develop connections, do shoe leather journalism and learn to develop news leads. Reporters who can gather accurate information and report live without interrupting and hindering law enforcement. Reporters out in the field breaking news, getting scoops, covering multiple developments and news under constant change and fast paced environments.

Mainstream and larger media has always been controlled by money. Today, media means complete control by a few special interests who buy clicks, SEO results and run the same feed and content. "Credentialed" and "verified" aka sold for dollars and beholden to oligarchs.

Talent is stifled and independence discouraged. Cookie cutter content and mass layoffs because people are treated like commodities to be used and conveniently discarded.

Most of the other media is locally owned yet they all publish the same cookie cutter content; most of which which they don't write. The other local media has virtually no local or original news for days and months and a pathetic daily output on most local media for months and years despite having the staff and resources. 

Yet, the Humboldt cabal and connected fund these lazy, sloppy, banal outlets? 🤔 Look at who owns them, manages them and publishes them. What they write, what they ignore. Like everything else in Humboldt, there are multiple conflicts of interest, nepotism, unqualified and incompetent hires in what passes for most local "media". Both TV stations have lost excellent reporters because of the Humboldt curse.  

I saw the need for court reporting and in a unique way 9 years ago. Now people want to read more of other news. One has to pay attention and adapt content accordingly. In today's world, independent and citizen journalists are needed and respected because people trust them more than mainstream media and for good reason. Generating money is a different story and it gets harder every year.

Anyone outside Humboldt from lawyers to national TV syndicates and other readers give me and have given me the same feedback in this email. They highlight my court reporting but value all my coverage. That is because they can recognize journalism and hard work without the "Humboldt filter." 

The Humboldt haters are meaningless. They will continue to be petty and dismissive. They have no clue about news or talent and the latter applies to every industry and government in Humboldt. They don't like being called out on their bias, agendas, incompetence. The status quo works for them and they keep it that way by stleath, underhanded tactics and the cabal making sure money stays in their hands and their minions.

Humboldt readers demand a lot but when it comes to funding or donating; crickets. Ignore works both way. Don't email, call, demand when you want something but have been MIA and done nothing to warrant any response or courtesy. 

Not only do most of you expect and demand for free but you are callous to the conditions  and lack of resources and time some of us have spent for years to bring you detailed, investigative and quality journalism. Try working  while dealing with trolls, attacks and abuse by the Humboldt cabal. It is the same people who troll every site, every Facebook page and fire of multiple, irrelevant emails, often with multiple email addresses. 

It is also the same people investing, donating, contributing. The same people saying thank you, sharing links, being loyal news tipsters, telling businesses where they read about them. Any one interested in the truth would educate themselves by reading various sources and giving credit appropriately.

I worked for mainstream media all over the country years ago. I started this blog because there is a need in Humboldt and it has impacted news coverage in a positive way in Humboldt. You will not hear people or colleagues say that in public anymore and locals know exactly why but stay silent, as usual. 

When reporting was more traditional, when there was the time of having either yourself or an editor go through and proof read every article. These days you are competing in a different environment. You have seconds to be the one to get that scoop, those clicks. With live, online, more visual media, people want that information instantly. No one is looking for the content to read like a college essay or legal thesis. 

To the locals and former locals who are supportive of me and regularly read me everyday and often:  We have honest conversations. Even when we disagree, we do so respectfully. You all value independent reporting and hard work. I appreciate you and your messages, kind words and support.

Humboldt public is smart. If you ignore the same names, the trolls, the shills, anonymous or not who try and dominate certain media and social media, you get to connect and hear from diverse people, from those who just want information and accurate feedback on what most people are thinking. 

More and more people are speaking up and demanding better from the local media, the County and the local courts. They should. Humboldt deserves quality and relevant journalism and leaders who uplift everyone in this community and a justice system that is fair.

The people who have been in charge for decades have a failed record. Destroying industries and livelihoods, targeting inmocent people and attacking every effort to build Humboldt and move the County forward.

https://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2023/3/18/sinclair-continues-layoffs

ftvlive.com Excerpt:

We told you that cuts were made at WACH (Columbia, SC) and WGXA (Macon.

We also hear that deep cuts were made at WSMH, the Sinclair station in Flint, Michigan. Howard Stirk owns its sister station in Flint, WEYI, Sinclair operates WEYI, and the newsroom is shared with WSMH.

Sources tell FTVLive that Sinclair’s KAEF (Eureka, Calif.) fired all but two reporters.

Once again, as FTVLive told you yesterday, not only are people being cut, but newscasts are also being canceled.

Read Sinclair's response to FTV.live.

https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/sinclair-responds-to-reports-of-layoffs-at-some-of-its-stations/

Adweek excerpt:

Sinclair Broadcasting has confirmed with TVSpy it is planning changes to some of its local stations.

This morning, FTLive reported layoffs have hit WACH in Columbia, S.C. and WGXA in Macon, Ga. In addition to layoffs, FTVLive said “word is that newscasts are being cancelled and will be replaced by news from Sinclair’s The National Desk.”

When we asked Sinclair about it, a spokesperson said the station group was not planning mass layoffs or closing newsrooms, but will be making some changes to the way it produces news in a few of its markets.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/03/03/media/sinclair-layoffs/index.html

CNN excerpt:

Citing the coronavirus pandemic, the Sinclair Broadcast Group said on Wednesday that it will reduce its workforce by approximately 5%, amounting to hundreds of layoffs across the company.