Veteran Los Angeles news anchor Jeff Michael sued Kcbs-tv on Friday, alleging the station breached his contract and discriminated against him based on health issues.
Michael was co-anchor of Kcbs-tv Channel 2’s newscasts at 5, 6 and 11 p.m. for more than three years. The Emmy Award-winning anchor joined Kcbs in early 2017 after nearly two decades of working as an anchor at Fox’s Kttv Channel 11. Before that, he was a crime reporter for Kabc-tv Channel 7.
Michael was part of a May purge by the station, a company-wide cutback after the ViacomCBS merger that saw him dismissed along with anchors Sandra Mitchell and Sharon Tay and meteorologist Garth Kemp. Kcbs said at the time that the staff cuts were caused by the pandemic and by “the ongoing and transformative changes in the media industry,” according to a statement.
“These were difficult decisions to make and we understand Jeff Michael’s...
Michael was co-anchor of Kcbs-tv Channel 2’s newscasts at 5, 6 and 11 p.m. for more than three years. The Emmy Award-winning anchor joined Kcbs in early 2017 after nearly two decades of working as an anchor at Fox’s Kttv Channel 11. Before that, he was a crime reporter for Kabc-tv Channel 7.
Michael was part of a May purge by the station, a company-wide cutback after the ViacomCBS merger that saw him dismissed along with anchors Sandra Mitchell and Sharon Tay and meteorologist Garth Kemp. Kcbs said at the time that the staff cuts were caused by the pandemic and by “the ongoing and transformative changes in the media industry,” according to a statement.
“These were difficult decisions to make and we understand Jeff Michael’s...
- 8/29/2020
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Jeff Michael, a veteran local news anchor in Los Angeles, filed a lawsuit on Friday alleging that Kcbs-tv breached his agreement and discriminated against him based on his heart and stress issues.
Michael was let go in May, along with anchors Sandra Mitchell and Sharon Tay and meteorologist Garth Kemp, as part of a broader newsroom layoff. ViacomCBS has engaged in several rounds of cutbacks at various divisions in the wake of its merger.
In a statement, Kcbs said the staff cuts were caused by the pandemic and by “the ongoing and transformative changes in the media industry.”
“These were difficult decisions to make and we understand Jeff Michael’s disappointment over the elimination of his position,” the station said. “That said, we firmly believe his claims are entirely without merit and we are prepared to defend against these accusations.”
Michael joined the station in 2017 after 19 years at the local Fox affiliate,...
Michael was let go in May, along with anchors Sandra Mitchell and Sharon Tay and meteorologist Garth Kemp, as part of a broader newsroom layoff. ViacomCBS has engaged in several rounds of cutbacks at various divisions in the wake of its merger.
In a statement, Kcbs said the staff cuts were caused by the pandemic and by “the ongoing and transformative changes in the media industry.”
“These were difficult decisions to make and we understand Jeff Michael’s disappointment over the elimination of his position,” the station said. “That said, we firmly believe his claims are entirely without merit and we are prepared to defend against these accusations.”
Michael joined the station in 2017 after 19 years at the local Fox affiliate,...
- 8/28/2020
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
CBSViacom’s layoffs this week also impacted CBS News and CBS-owned affiliates, the latest fallout to hit news media amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The layoffs were said to make up a single digit percentage of the news division — reportedly 5%, or around 75 employees. They follow recent staff cuts at outlets such as The Atlantic, BuzzFeed and Vox Media.
CBS News president Susan Zirinsky wrote in a memo on Wednesday that “no one could have foreseen the economic fallout from the pandemic coming on top of the cost savings initiatives already underway from the merger of CBS and Viacom. As a result, we have scrutinized our entire business model, our budgets, and what we learned in news gathering during the last months. We are not alone; media companies and businesses all over the country are re-organizing and developing new operating models.”
Among those leaving are correspondent Don Dahler, who wrote to...
The layoffs were said to make up a single digit percentage of the news division — reportedly 5%, or around 75 employees. They follow recent staff cuts at outlets such as The Atlantic, BuzzFeed and Vox Media.
CBS News president Susan Zirinsky wrote in a memo on Wednesday that “no one could have foreseen the economic fallout from the pandemic coming on top of the cost savings initiatives already underway from the merger of CBS and Viacom. As a result, we have scrutinized our entire business model, our budgets, and what we learned in news gathering during the last months. We are not alone; media companies and businesses all over the country are re-organizing and developing new operating models.”
Among those leaving are correspondent Don Dahler, who wrote to...
- 5/29/2020
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Stu Mundel, perhaps the most well-known of L.A.’s TV helicopter reporters — specifically for his frequent coverage of police car chases and brush fires across Southern California — is boarding a new chopper. Mundel has exited his longtime perch at the CBS-owned Kcbs/Kcal duopoly for a new gig at crosstown rival Kttv “Fox 11.”
Kcbs/Kcal confirmed the departure, and Fox 11 plans to make a larger announcement when he officially starts in June. Kttv VP/news director Erica Hill-Rodriguez announced the hire in a memo to staff:
“Stu Mundel will be joining Fox 11 as an aerial breaking news reporter, bringing us the important information on brushfires, pursuits, dramatic rescues, and all breaking news,” she wrote. “As many of you already know, Stu has been an iconic voice in our market, reporting breaking news from the air for the last eight years for Kcbs/Kcal. I am thrilled to welcome...
Kcbs/Kcal confirmed the departure, and Fox 11 plans to make a larger announcement when he officially starts in June. Kttv VP/news director Erica Hill-Rodriguez announced the hire in a memo to staff:
“Stu Mundel will be joining Fox 11 as an aerial breaking news reporter, bringing us the important information on brushfires, pursuits, dramatic rescues, and all breaking news,” she wrote. “As many of you already know, Stu has been an iconic voice in our market, reporting breaking news from the air for the last eight years for Kcbs/Kcal. I am thrilled to welcome...
- 5/28/2020
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Acm Talent is expanding its team with veteran voice-over agent Robyn Starr. Starr moves to Acm following a nearly two-decade stint at Buchwald.
Starr, who began her career with Abrams Artists Agency, has worked with top voice-over talent and has booked campaigns for major brands including At &T, Subway, Lowes, Nissan and Verizon, among others. Long-time clients and buyers will be moving with Starr to Acm, co-founders Marc Guss and Phil Sutfin said in announcing Starr’s hire.
“We set out to create the most integrated and diverse Vo talent representation company. The voice-over world has dramatically evolved over the recent years and we needed to as well so when the opportunity arose to work with Robyn, it was a no-brainer. With Robyn’s commercial Vo expertise we have now become as full service as possible”, said Guss.
Added Sutfin: “Robyn’s collaborations with voice-over performers, industry advertising creatives and...
Starr, who began her career with Abrams Artists Agency, has worked with top voice-over talent and has booked campaigns for major brands including At &T, Subway, Lowes, Nissan and Verizon, among others. Long-time clients and buyers will be moving with Starr to Acm, co-founders Marc Guss and Phil Sutfin said in announcing Starr’s hire.
“We set out to create the most integrated and diverse Vo talent representation company. The voice-over world has dramatically evolved over the recent years and we needed to as well so when the opportunity arose to work with Robyn, it was a no-brainer. With Robyn’s commercial Vo expertise we have now become as full service as possible”, said Guss.
Added Sutfin: “Robyn’s collaborations with voice-over performers, industry advertising creatives and...
- 1/2/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
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