KTSM has undergone numerous changes in 2008 and the changes listed below will make for a very different KTSM in 2009.
The newsroom is confronted with budget cuts. Layoffs, demotions and the cancellation of a least one news show are some the areas that will be affected.
Longtime reporter and news anchor Nick Miller was moved from the 6 and 10 p.m. news to the 5 p.m. news earlier this year. His spot was taken by Ben Swann, formerly of KFOX and ABC-7.
The mid-day show is going off the air, directly affecting news anchor Melanie Olivas and meteorologist Chester Lampkin.
Gary Sotir, KTSM general manager, said in an e-mail that "It's certainly no secret that every business in this country is looking to operate as efficiently as possible and we're no exception. There is no $200,000 mandate in budget cuts so that figure in not accurate. My only charge is to manage NewsChannel 9 as prudently and efficiently as possible, just like every other business should and will do. We did layoff two people in our newsroom this week but that has been the extent of the layoffs."
Of Miller and the noon show, Sotir said: "Nick Miller is and has always been a loyal and valued employee of NewsChannel 9 and is in the process of making decisions about his future. I'd urge you to speak with Nick to see if he wants to share that with you. Nick is an excellent journalist and we're fortunate to have him. As for the noon show, we've chosen to discontinue the broadcast because we're seeing that noon is not the time of day for high news viewership. It is in no way a budget cut and no one is losing a job because of this decision."
Miller declined comment on the negotiations or his future.
Sotir also wrote that two news photographers were laid off.
Sotir said that he was "so proud of what NewsChannel 9 staffers contribute every day and we are thriving in a difficult economic time and my hat is truly off to them. They are accomplishing so much by not letting challenging times affect the quality of their work. Our news director, Kim Bridger is leading a group of people who continue to thrive as evidenced by NewsChannel 9's recent Emmy award.”
