WTNH and the Connecticut news market has lost one of its best reporters: Erin Cox. After 14 years at News8, Erin has taken a job in the communications department at Sikorsky (a division of United Technologies). Her background in radio and work as an anchor/reporter at News12 prepared her well when she arrived at WTNH in 1999 and she’s covered all the big stories. She’ll be missed but we wish her all the best for this next chapter. Her last day is this Thursday. December 19th.
Another good reporter leaving the field. Honestly, I thought after she covered the Hayes trial while she was pregnant that she would leave earlier, but she stuck it out. I wish her well at Sikorsky.
I am so happy for Erin. In my sixteen years in broadcast journalism, truly one of the best reporters I had the pleasure to work with. Strong work ethic and a true pro. She will shine at Sikorsky. Congratulations Erin!
Yes, Erin was good and will be missed, but what is it with these reporters and anchors (and Jamie, many others, too) always leaving for jobs in PR, the people who spin stuff for reporters? Reporters generally scoff at PR types.
all the turmoil at Wtnh results from the appointment of novice Al Carl to news director. it won’t stop until he is fired. the general manager who hired him must get him out or he too will be fired.
It does seem to be a bit excessive over at WTNH. As a creature of habit, I do prefer to get my news from a consistent group of anchors and reporters. I understand some will come and go as they progress (or not) through the markets. Erin was one of the last creditable reporters WTNH had left. A bunch of rookies does NOT make for a good newscast – there has to be some balance in abilities.
rating for wtnh are so low. someone has to be responsible. normally its the news director. so i think its fair to say carl is on the ropes. plus, all the brightest talent have defected during his short tenure. i just dont understand how it can last much longer? the heart of the newsroom has been destroyed.
journalism at the station is mainly about boring spot news. house fires and convenience store robberies. is this really what people care about? it seems that carl is just listening to the consultants and doing what they say. the whole watching your back campaign is there’s. he doesn’t have he guts to stand up and say its not working.
building a news operation requires strong journalistic skills, showmanship as a producer and management skills that mix leadership with loyalty. i dont think carl can do this.
so what is the future? more tumult until someone at LIN stands up and says enough. my guess is that will happen early next year.
Let’s look at the past year or two at Channel 8. Kristen Cusato? Gone. Geoff Fox? Gone. Annie Rourke? Gone. Jamie Muro? Gone. Sonia Baghdady? Gone. Erin Cox? Gone. Some solid news people in that group – I’m no expert, but isn’t the message that there is something seriously wrong in New Haven? Would love to hear some thoughts on this…
the problem is novice, small town news news directors. Erik Schrader from Scranton. Al Carl from Alabama. they have no major market experience. plus all the producers are 20 years old and are right out of school. no one there has any kind of strong journalism or producing experience. all they really do is spot news wrapped in graphics. Steamy Noelle Gardner is Al ‘s only hope.
That was my point above without listing the names. I do not think 3 or 30 has experienced that kind of exodus of core staff. And as another pointed out – I did acknowledge ALL stations experience some level of transition each year. People do move up, down, and out of the industry. Turning on 8 is always a mystery these days.
Okay…so…since all the in-the-know posters are claiming that 8’s ratings are gone…and 3’s ratings are gone…I guess the few people in CT who watch local news are only watching 61 and 30? I find 61 trashy and overhyped; I guess 30 is currently enjoying the leadership role?
In the end, WFSB is still #1 and WTNH is still #2 as with everything the upstarts get a little cranky and like to post anger on blogs. Maybe some of these posters used to work at those places and don’t now or maybe they just wish they did work at 1 or 2 and still don’t.
predictions; the following people will leave wtnh soon. velardi, pierce, koutz, kantrow (already being eased out, too close to valin whose contract was not picked up and besides they have another dr. mel type now). erin logan and noelle will become major players. the news director will go. maybe the gm too. weekend morning shows may go as might the noon. probable rebranding. got your back no more. a new set late next year after the dust settles. more consolidation after the next union contract. a push to more citizen journalist coverage with a internet push. more talent under 30.
gm isn’t going anywhere and neither is the branding and no station in america is cutting newscasts they are all adding. are you paying attention at all.
Sam Kantrow wouldn’t be a loss. Seems to be a nice guy but too nervous on air. He isn’t keeping it a secret that he’s looking as he’s mentioned going to DC and Chicago in the past two months. I don’t see Kountz going anywhere, but I am praying that they finally catch a clue and ease out Nyberg. She is whiny on and off the air and looks very unkempt with her hairstyle. She looks like she is wearing a very ill fitting wig.
general downsizing of staff. both the desk and producers after union negotiations is why the number of newscasts would be cut. plus some shows like the weekend have negligible numbers. I’d love see someone like Bill Applegate come in there and clean house. he knows Connecticut.
nobody anywhere is losing newscasts. i bet none of the people mentioned leave, except possibly the weekend weatherguy and is that really a big deal. station is up in ratings and has a lot of good energy with craig moving into the night seat. lets move to another station NBC30 had all the momentum a year ago and now seems to have moved back into the backseat. ideas why?
very sad and depressing at channel 8 newsroom. no producers or assignment people want to work there anymore. there is generally a lack of all respect for Carl who is seen as kind of a baffoon. a ship with no captain sad Erin is gone. what a loss.
last one wasn’t written by someone who works here. both new EPs have pumped energy into the casts some of those losses mentioned have people happier to come to work each day. whoever the internal expert is i wonder where they are internal to.
new ep’s are a joke. staff with no experience. either small market background or under 30. stackers who don’t understand journalism or the showmanship of a good producer. no one here has ever worked even as a p-a in New York or Boston. average producer is under 25 making 800 or less a week. so sad. plus the state is losing an important source of information. we all want out. station has ads all over seeking replacement personnel.
Congrats to Erin, and it’s a huge loss for 8, and once again this market. To those pushing back in earlier comments need to wake up -and quick. The industry as a whole has been going down the drain since 2008, and Lin TV only mission is to reduce budgets at all O&O stations and switch to a part time “digital reporter” reporter model. You would be an idiot to stay in this market or this industry. Poor hours, pay, never full time hours…for what? The product has been watered down so much now, and poor resources that there’s barely any substantive news to report. PR, Marketing, and new media is flurishing via the web, and there’s opportunity there. Muro, Cox, Bagdaddy all made beyond smart moves in leaving the market, as this is sinking ship won’t stop taking on water. If you want to defend your career into the ground go ahead, but your going to be looking for jobs soon anyways.
all true but Al Carl has made everything worse. he does not understand the process the least bit. how can someone be in charge of producers when when he himself can’t produce. he worked in bloody Montgomery, Alabama for heavens sake. the hillbilly in Connecticut.
Connecticut being so sophisticated. If you are basing decisions off where people came from you are even stupider than you already sound. The station’s ratings are up and they are raking it in. The corporation obviously loves the GM and the NEWS dir. So give up the posturing and leave 8 alone. Whatever views you have about how you’d do it differently, you aren’t making the calls and never will be.
several medium-major market news directors have reportedly already been soft pitched about taking over the news director spot at channel 8. if that happens i dont see how the gm can stay. i guess its back to vegas?
brian heres a quick explainer on how tv works. the person who hires and fires newsdirectors is the gm. so if anyone was ‘softpitching’ the job, it would be the gm. your whole wishful thinking delusion could not make less sense. the nd has been there for about 3 months and his first book was reportedly very good. so what are you possibly basing any of this on?
Let’s look at this from a ratings perspective. 8 has strong ratings at 5:00 because of the Judge Judy lead-in. The ratings drop quickly as the show progresses. Look at the numbers for the six and 11 – the shows with the most viewership, and 3 and 30 are easily one and two.
No doubt, Darren Kramer is one of the most solid anchors in the market. Professional – smooth – likable. Nyberg is beloved because of her professionalism and the fact she understands branding. (See “Nyberg’s Network Connecticut.”) Three has a household name in Dennis and Denise – 30 with Brooks – all have great reputations and carry with them years of award-winning experience. The reporting staffs at 3 and 30 have more veterans – 8 has been hiring younger and younger for years. Doesn’t mean they’re bad – just means they don’t carry as much “real-world” experience as someone who is Erin Cox’s age, etc. Guess what folks – experience means something in ANY career…when you put yourself on tv – a lack of knowledge about the real work shines through…that’s why a loss like Cox hurts the credibility of an organization…
Now, let’s examine the local news model as a whole. It’s a noble pursuit, sure, but it’s a business. All stations, and I mean ALL in the country, are looking for ways to streamline employment and make profits. “Tonight – why orange juice will kill you!” “Did you know diapers are causing holes in the ozone layer? Find out how YOU can help.” Ridiculous. People see through it – viewers aren’t dumb. It’s why people change the channel. Find something that is well told, well shot and interesting – many will tune in. (Either on-line or on-air)
The future 25-54 demographic is getting their news from Twitter, or the internet, they’re not watching the evening news – to see what drug dealer is dead at the hands of another drug dealer. Does anyone care about a car wreck with no injuries on Route 6? Or a burglary at CVS? It means NOTHING. You want to make money – you have to offer something worth watching. How do you build a customer base? Be consistent with good quality. That’s something many stations in the U.S. are lacking…
Local news IS important. What stations like 8 need to do – if they truly want to be different, is can the marketing slogans, and get back to quality, local journalism. No one cares if Sears isn’t honoring a rebate on a dryer – find stories about health care, land issues, environmental issues, business development, trends in the work force, sports and society, etc, etc etc. The issue is that stations won’t give reporters time to do quality work because they have to do two to three stories a day (small staffs – a sea of shows – gotta fill it one way or another…) – what kind of in-depth journalism are you going to get when someone has an hour to work on a story? Crime is easy – the tape, the lights, a police spokesperson speaking about why this person died, find the crying family member…
What local broadcast news needs is an evolution. The trend now is it’s going in the wrong direction – and if the trend continues, one day we will see only one or two stations doing news – because people eventually will get fed up with the crud and move on. If that happens, it’s almost impossible to bring them back.
News is a great job – but if you are “in the know” – and see where its going – many want to get out. There’s good talent at ALL stations here – it’s a shame some of it is being wasted by poor management decisions. Alas, this is what happens when the dollar dictates news decisions…
still though the immediate problem is Al carl . easily the least experienced news director in any major market. green to everything and a slow learner. so sad. Higgins should go too as he hired him. before coming to 8 I understand higgins was in Vegas with little broadcast experience.
Check his bio. He was a GM in Orlando and Phoenix. Those are markets that make this one look like El Paso. And Carl has been in the business for decades. Someone must need a job bad to be campaigning here.
wasnt carl news director in montgomery, alabama and some place in missouri? Cape Girardeau? does not sound like a major market to me? maybe decades in local radio?
Another good reporter leaving the field. Honestly, I thought after she covered the Hayes trial while she was pregnant that she would leave earlier, but she stuck it out. I wish her well at Sikorsky.
I am so happy for Erin. In my sixteen years in broadcast journalism, truly one of the best reporters I had the pleasure to work with. Strong work ethic and a true pro. She will shine at Sikorsky. Congratulations Erin!
Sorry to hear Erin is leaving, but I understand and I wish her all the best.
So sorry to hear that Erin is leaving. I am happy for her and wish her the very best in her new endeavor.
Yes, Erin was good and will be missed, but what is it with these reporters and anchors (and Jamie, many others, too) always leaving for jobs in PR, the people who spin stuff for reporters? Reporters generally scoff at PR types.
i also understand the contract of jeff valin, the weekend anchor, has not been renewed. he will be leaving in march. he’s gone!
Erin is the best reporter in the business, she will be greatly missed! Congratulations on your new job Erin, Sikorsky is blessed to have you!
rumored to be next go at Al Carl’s News 8…..morning anchor Chris Velardi and reporter Kent Pierce. and so it goes…..
all the turmoil at Wtnh results from the appointment of novice Al Carl to news director. it won’t stop until he is fired. the general manager who hired him must get him out or he too will be fired.
a lot of jealousy and bitterness brian & jojo? stop spreading untrue rumors and go back to tweeting every other minute.
It does seem to be a bit excessive over at WTNH. As a creature of habit, I do prefer to get my news from a consistent group of anchors and reporters. I understand some will come and go as they progress (or not) through the markets. Erin was one of the last creditable reporters WTNH had left. A bunch of rookies does NOT make for a good newscast – there has to be some balance in abilities.
I’ve seen a lot of reporters cycle through at all the stations. Which station hasn’t lost a lot of them in 2013.
Noelle Gardner can never be an Erin Cox. WTNH would be devastated to lose someone like Velardi. Let’s just hope it ain’t comin.
rating for wtnh are so low. someone has to be responsible. normally its the news director. so i think its fair to say carl is on the ropes. plus, all the brightest talent have defected during his short tenure. i just dont understand how it can last much longer? the heart of the newsroom has been destroyed.
journalism at the station is mainly about boring spot news. house fires and convenience store robberies. is this really what people care about? it seems that carl is just listening to the consultants and doing what they say. the whole watching your back campaign is there’s. he doesn’t have he guts to stand up and say its not working.
building a news operation requires strong journalistic skills, showmanship as a producer and management skills that mix leadership with loyalty. i dont think carl can do this.
so what is the future? more tumult until someone at LIN stands up and says enough. my guess is that will happen early next year.
somebody sure is mad they didn’t get the NewsDir job…
Let’s look at the past year or two at Channel 8. Kristen Cusato? Gone. Geoff Fox? Gone. Annie Rourke? Gone. Jamie Muro? Gone. Sonia Baghdady? Gone. Erin Cox? Gone. Some solid news people in that group – I’m no expert, but isn’t the message that there is something seriously wrong in New Haven? Would love to hear some thoughts on this…
the problem is novice, small town news news directors. Erik Schrader from Scranton. Al Carl from Alabama. they have no major market experience. plus all the producers are 20 years old and are right out of school. no one there has any kind of strong journalism or producing experience. all they really do is spot news wrapped in graphics. Steamy Noelle Gardner is Al ‘s only hope.
I-Watch-News,
That was my point above without listing the names. I do not think 3 or 30 has experienced that kind of exodus of core staff. And as another pointed out – I did acknowledge ALL stations experience some level of transition each year. People do move up, down, and out of the industry. Turning on 8 is always a mystery these days.
WFSB. Terzi gone. Olessa gone. Besthoff gone. Kain gone. Ratings gone.
Okay…so…since all the in-the-know posters are claiming that 8’s ratings are gone…and 3’s ratings are gone…I guess the few people in CT who watch local news are only watching 61 and 30? I find 61 trashy and overhyped; I guess 30 is currently enjoying the leadership role?
In the end, WFSB is still #1 and WTNH is still #2 as with everything the upstarts get a little cranky and like to post anger on blogs. Maybe some of these posters used to work at those places and don’t now or maybe they just wish they did work at 1 or 2 and still don’t.
predictions; the following people will leave wtnh soon. velardi, pierce, koutz, kantrow (already being eased out, too close to valin whose contract was not picked up and besides they have another dr. mel type now). erin logan and noelle will become major players. the news director will go. maybe the gm too. weekend morning shows may go as might the noon. probable rebranding. got your back no more. a new set late next year after the dust settles. more consolidation after the next union contract. a push to more citizen journalist coverage with a internet push. more talent under 30.
gm isn’t going anywhere and neither is the branding and no station in america is cutting newscasts they are all adding. are you paying attention at all.
Sam Kantrow wouldn’t be a loss. Seems to be a nice guy but too nervous on air. He isn’t keeping it a secret that he’s looking as he’s mentioned going to DC and Chicago in the past two months. I don’t see Kountz going anywhere, but I am praying that they finally catch a clue and ease out Nyberg. She is whiny on and off the air and looks very unkempt with her hairstyle. She looks like she is wearing a very ill fitting wig.
general downsizing of staff. both the desk and producers after union negotiations is why the number of newscasts would be cut. plus some shows like the weekend have negligible numbers. I’d love see someone like Bill Applegate come in there and clean house. he knows Connecticut.
nobody anywhere is losing newscasts. i bet none of the people mentioned leave, except possibly the weekend weatherguy and is that really a big deal. station is up in ratings and has a lot of good energy with craig moving into the night seat. lets move to another station NBC30 had all the momentum a year ago and now seems to have moved back into the backseat. ideas why?
very sad and depressing at channel 8 newsroom. no producers or assignment people want to work there anymore. there is generally a lack of all respect for Carl who is seen as kind of a baffoon. a ship with no captain sad Erin is gone. what a loss.
last one wasn’t written by someone who works here. both new EPs have pumped energy into the casts some of those losses mentioned have people happier to come to work each day. whoever the internal expert is i wonder where they are internal to.
new ep’s are a joke. staff with no experience. either small market background or under 30. stackers who don’t understand journalism or the showmanship of a good producer. no one here has ever worked even as a p-a in New York or Boston. average producer is under 25 making 800 or less a week. so sad. plus the state is losing an important source of information. we all want out. station has ads all over seeking replacement personnel.
No matter where you work if you want out then get a clue and leave. If you don’t you’re a joke.
Congrats to Erin, and it’s a huge loss for 8, and once again this market. To those pushing back in earlier comments need to wake up -and quick. The industry as a whole has been going down the drain since 2008, and Lin TV only mission is to reduce budgets at all O&O stations and switch to a part time “digital reporter” reporter model. You would be an idiot to stay in this market or this industry. Poor hours, pay, never full time hours…for what? The product has been watered down so much now, and poor resources that there’s barely any substantive news to report. PR, Marketing, and new media is flurishing via the web, and there’s opportunity there. Muro, Cox, Bagdaddy all made beyond smart moves in leaving the market, as this is sinking ship won’t stop taking on water. If you want to defend your career into the ground go ahead, but your going to be looking for jobs soon anyways.
all true but Al Carl has made everything worse. he does not understand the process the least bit. how can someone be in charge of producers when when he himself can’t produce. he worked in bloody Montgomery, Alabama for heavens sake. the hillbilly in Connecticut.
Connecticut being so sophisticated. If you are basing decisions off where people came from you are even stupider than you already sound. The station’s ratings are up and they are raking it in. The corporation obviously loves the GM and the NEWS dir. So give up the posturing and leave 8 alone. Whatever views you have about how you’d do it differently, you aren’t making the calls and never will be.
several medium-major market news directors have reportedly already been soft pitched about taking over the news director spot at channel 8. if that happens i dont see how the gm can stay. i guess its back to vegas?
brian heres a quick explainer on how tv works. the person who hires and fires newsdirectors is the gm. so if anyone was ‘softpitching’ the job, it would be the gm. your whole wishful thinking delusion could not make less sense. the nd has been there for about 3 months and his first book was reportedly very good. so what are you possibly basing any of this on?
the gm will go because he is responsible for hiring Carl.
Let’s look at this from a ratings perspective. 8 has strong ratings at 5:00 because of the Judge Judy lead-in. The ratings drop quickly as the show progresses. Look at the numbers for the six and 11 – the shows with the most viewership, and 3 and 30 are easily one and two.
No doubt, Darren Kramer is one of the most solid anchors in the market. Professional – smooth – likable. Nyberg is beloved because of her professionalism and the fact she understands branding. (See “Nyberg’s Network Connecticut.”) Three has a household name in Dennis and Denise – 30 with Brooks – all have great reputations and carry with them years of award-winning experience. The reporting staffs at 3 and 30 have more veterans – 8 has been hiring younger and younger for years. Doesn’t mean they’re bad – just means they don’t carry as much “real-world” experience as someone who is Erin Cox’s age, etc. Guess what folks – experience means something in ANY career…when you put yourself on tv – a lack of knowledge about the real work shines through…that’s why a loss like Cox hurts the credibility of an organization…
Now, let’s examine the local news model as a whole. It’s a noble pursuit, sure, but it’s a business. All stations, and I mean ALL in the country, are looking for ways to streamline employment and make profits. “Tonight – why orange juice will kill you!” “Did you know diapers are causing holes in the ozone layer? Find out how YOU can help.” Ridiculous. People see through it – viewers aren’t dumb. It’s why people change the channel. Find something that is well told, well shot and interesting – many will tune in. (Either on-line or on-air)
The future 25-54 demographic is getting their news from Twitter, or the internet, they’re not watching the evening news – to see what drug dealer is dead at the hands of another drug dealer. Does anyone care about a car wreck with no injuries on Route 6? Or a burglary at CVS? It means NOTHING. You want to make money – you have to offer something worth watching. How do you build a customer base? Be consistent with good quality. That’s something many stations in the U.S. are lacking…
Local news IS important. What stations like 8 need to do – if they truly want to be different, is can the marketing slogans, and get back to quality, local journalism. No one cares if Sears isn’t honoring a rebate on a dryer – find stories about health care, land issues, environmental issues, business development, trends in the work force, sports and society, etc, etc etc. The issue is that stations won’t give reporters time to do quality work because they have to do two to three stories a day (small staffs – a sea of shows – gotta fill it one way or another…) – what kind of in-depth journalism are you going to get when someone has an hour to work on a story? Crime is easy – the tape, the lights, a police spokesperson speaking about why this person died, find the crying family member…
What local broadcast news needs is an evolution. The trend now is it’s going in the wrong direction – and if the trend continues, one day we will see only one or two stations doing news – because people eventually will get fed up with the crud and move on. If that happens, it’s almost impossible to bring them back.
News is a great job – but if you are “in the know” – and see where its going – many want to get out. There’s good talent at ALL stations here – it’s a shame some of it is being wasted by poor management decisions. Alas, this is what happens when the dollar dictates news decisions…
still though the immediate problem is Al carl . easily the least experienced news director in any major market. green to everything and a slow learner. so sad. Higgins should go too as he hired him. before coming to 8 I understand higgins was in Vegas with little broadcast experience.
Check his bio. He was a GM in Orlando and Phoenix. Those are markets that make this one look like El Paso. And Carl has been in the business for decades. Someone must need a job bad to be campaigning here.
wasnt carl news director in montgomery, alabama and some place in missouri? Cape Girardeau? does not sound like a major market to me? maybe decades in local radio?
He’s there as long as he wants to be. Deal with it.
she just had a baby? isnt that dangerous? she’s like 60
Bye!