TV Turmoil article highlights Erie TV pay
Visit GoErie.com to read a new article which gives insight into the exodus of many Erie TV personalities for new markets and new industries. Leaving a market the size of Erie is a norm for motivated TV personalities. Will the loss of many solid TV personalities lead to a bumpy, rough road for stations looking for talent? Will station management take risks and reinvigorate stagnant news casts and traditional formats and segments? Or will the revolving door keep turning and never slowing down to gain momentum and make progress?
TV Turmoil
Revolving door in small news markets part of the biz
In Jennifer Taylor’s broadcast journalism game plan, Erie was always considered a steppingstone — not a destination.
Taylor, 28, recently left her reporter/anchor job at Erie’s WSEE-TV for a new reporting job at WNWO-TV in Toledo, Ohio. In doing so, Taylor joined a growing list of anchors and reporters who have left Erie’s local television news scene since January.
Karla Mullenax.
Pat Van Zandt.
Dan Wells.
Sarah Arbogast.
On-air talent turnover is a frequent fact of life in Erie — the 142nd largest television market in the U.S. out of 210 such markets nationwide. Read More…
A lot of TV people work hard and put in extra effort because they love making news. The pay scale does not reflect their hard work. Often the people working the hardest are making the least (producers, control room, videographers, assignment editors, etc). However, without their support and dedication– news casts would not be as successful. Off air workers deserve major kudos– and a bump in pay– but they seem to be ignored in the Flower’s article (and maybe in the newroom?). I have to question how much NABET really gets done for union members around town. Do members ”sit down and take it” more than going to head-to-head and filing grievances, when appropriate? (Perhaps not, but I felt obligated to ask the question)
The happiness and success of people in the TV industry is impacted by management’s attitudes and initiatives. Some people feel chased away because of the lack of support they feel in lean news rooms. There are a lot of opportunities for increased efficiency in TV. Newer talent should embrace these ideas and push for them. A little imagination and courage could go a long way– and could be a major game changer for local TV ratings.
7 Responses to “TV Turmoil article highlights Erie TV pay”
July 8th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
I worked for an Erie television station several years ago as a photog, and I also worked as a cashier at a second job. I made more money as a cashier than I did at the TV station. It doesn’t seem like the pay is any better today.
I do know that the people working for the Erie stations have to spread themselves very thin, and many times you have to be a jack-of-all trades when you work in the technical side. These guys also don’t have the best equipment to work with either. The pay just doesn’t reflect the effort that you put in.
And $26K a year to be a weekend anchor? That’s pitiful, and you have horrible days/hours to boot. I can’t blame Jen Taylor for leaving. I would guess that she would make at least 25% more in Toledo than in Erie, and maybe more.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Didn’t one of the anchors get caught with their clothes off? Thus resulting in them being asked to leave?
July 8th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I prefer to not comment on that too much because of personal conflict of interest — but there were two people from two different stations which had topless photos of them circulating around Erie through text messages. To my knowledge, both are still employed.
July 8th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Interesting stuff
July 8th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
I am like Mike. I also worked at an Erie TV station many moons ago as a Photographer. I also had a second job. I made more on my second job than what I made in TV. I stayed around in TV because I really enjoyed what I did. Once the station was sold It was suggested to me that I “find another career” because I “made too much money.” Odd…I wasn’t making anywhere near $10/hr but was still considered too pricy. Anyway, nice to see things haven’t changed too much since I “voluntarily” left!? LOL
(I miss Jack Tirak and his blog)
I don’t wanna comment about the topless pics except to say my mind is wandering…
July 8th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
darn…I thought comments were encouraged
July 8th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
I’ll be provocative and answer your question about the NABET union. It seems to me that more often than not lately the union just “sits back and takes it” instead of filing grievances. Back in the old days grievances were filed on a regular basis.
I know the union is very fearful of the one general manager who runs 2 local stations. Better to just keep your mouth shut and keep your job than rocking the boat and losing your job in the process. Things ARE NOT like they used to be in this market!
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