KFI-AM/Los Angeles Significantly Reduces News Team

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, November 12, 2024 | 10:10pm CT

KFI-AM/Los Angeles

Talk KFI-AM in Los Angeles has significantly reduced its news team, affecting 13 employees and cutting the staff in half. The layoffs were part of a broader initiative by parent iHeartMedia to trim its workforce nationwide, amidst financial challenges including a substantial debt of approximately $5.21 billion.

Chris Little, the station's long-serving News Director who joined KFI-AM in 1991 and was promoted to News Director in 2000, was among those let go. Little shared the news on Instagram, posting an image of a freshly decorated Christmas tree -- a stark contrast to the grim news delivered to the team. According to Little, the reduction left the newsroom from a team of 25 to just 12.

KFI-AM host Tim Conway Jr. discussed the layoffs during his show. Conway expressed his personal connection to the affected colleagues, recalling how some had been part of his life since his early days at the station when his daughter was only three years old. He described the layoffs as a difficult reality, where familiar voices would leave, and new ones would soon take their place. Conway committed to keeping listeners informed and encouraged them to seek information on the changes.

iHeartMedia's CEO, Bob Pittman justified the layoffs as a necessary step in the company's "modernization journey" during a recent earnings call. Pittman highlighted the integration of technology to streamline operations and improve efficiency, aiming to save about $150 million by eliminating redundancies.

iHeartMedia Los Angeles President Paul Corvino emphasized that although the layoffs were hard, they were crucial for KFI to fully leverage the capabilities of iHeart's 24/7 News network, ensuring better service for listeners in the Los Angeles area. Despite the cuts, Corvino expressed optimism about the future, appreciating the contributions of all KFI employees and looking forward to enhanced resource availability for the remaining team.