ABC News Expected To Offer “Hundreds” Of Buyouts Tomorrow (Update)

by Steve Krakauer | 2:46 pm, February 23rd, 2010

» 55 comments

Mediaite has learned a major round of buyouts are expected to be offered at ABC News tomorrow, numbered in the “hundreds.”

This comes as major changes are happening at the network in key anchor roles, with one job (anchor of This Week) still unfilled.

We hear from two sources buyouts are expected to be offered to employees both on and off-air.

ABC has largely been spared from cutbacks as competitors like CBS News went through major layoffs earlier this month.

We’ll have more as this develops.

> Update: The Los Angeles Times‘ Matea Gold has more on what is expected tomorrow:

ABC News is poised to make a major round of cuts that will reduce the size of the news division by as much as 20% and radically reorder the network’s traditional approach to news gathering.

Forced to belt-tighten by the weak advertising market, network executives have opted to restructure the labor-heavy newsroom from top to bottom in favor of a leaner, more nimble operation, according to multiple sources. Many of those remaining in the pared-down news division will be expected to both produce and shoot their own stories, acting as “one-man bands,” a model increasingly being adopted in television news.

ABC News has seen cuts in March 2008, September 2008 and January 2009, but never reaching into triple digits at any given time.

With Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos settling into their roles at World News and Good Morning America, respectively, the final piece to the anchor shift puzzle is at This Week, where fill-in anchors continue hosting the Sunday morning show.

> Update at 3:45pmET: Here’s the full internal memo from ABC News President to staff:

From: Westin, David
Sent: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 3:40 PM
To: ABCTV News ALL
Cc: Sweeney, Anne
Subject: ABC News Transformation

Over the past several years, we’ve seen a lot of changes — changes at ABC News and in the news industry overall. I’m proud of the way we’ve responded both to unexpected transitions in our programs and to the economic realities of our business. We’ve adapted quickly and effectively and – above all – put our audiences first. Our programs are stronger today than they were ten years ago. This is a credit first and foremost to the men and women at ABC News.

But all of us are good reporters. We can see that our entire society is in the middle of a revolution — a revolution in the ways that people get their news and information. The digital age makes our business more competitive than ever before. It also presents us with opportunities we couldn’t have imagined to gather, produce, and distribute the news. We can have great success in the new world – but only if we embrace what is new, rather than being overwhelmed by it.

The time has come to anticipate change, rather than respond to it. We have a rare opportunity to get in front of what’s coming, to ensure that ABC News has a sound journalistic and financial footing for many years to come, and to serve our audiences even better. But we must move boldly and promptly. In the past, we’ve sought out less expensive ways to replicate what we’ve always done. The time has come to re-think how we do what we are doing.

To that end, we anticipate that between now and the end of the year ABC News will undergo a fundamental transformation that will ultimately affect every corner of the enterprise. We will be guided by one central principle: In everything, we will ensure that we put our audiences first – providing them with first-rate journalism covering the things that matter the most to them in ways no one else does. And, we will do it with a business model that ensures we will be here for our audiences for many years to come.

The transformation will have six basic components:

1. In newsgathering, we intend to dramatically expand our use of digital journalists. We have proven that this model works at various locations around the world. We believe we can take it much further;

2. In production, we will take the example set by Nightline of editorial staff who shoot and edit their own material and follow it throughout all of our programs, while recognizing that we will continue to rely upon our ENG crews and editors for most of our work;

3. In structure, we will combine our weekday and weekend operations for both Good Morning America and World News;

4. In special events, we will rely upon our program staff through the day and night to cover unexpected events and marshal personnel from across the division to cover scheduled events;

5. In newsmagazines and long-form programming, we will move to a more flexible blend of staff and freelancers so that we can respond to varying demand for hours through the year; and

6. Overall, we will eliminate redundancies wherever possible.

An essential part of this intended transformation will be extensive training in the new technology – whether in the field or in-house. This is an extension of the digital bullpen training we’ve undertaken already, but it will be on a scale that we have not seen before. This training program and changes it will make possible in all of our operations will make ABC News the place to work in the digital age. We won’t just be preparing people for the new world; we will be living in it.

When we are finished, many job descriptions will be different, different skill sets may be required, and, yes, we will likely have substantially fewer people on staff at ABC News. To ease the transition, we are offering a voluntary separation package to all full-time, U.S.-based, non-union, non-contract employees. Information and details of the program will be sent to your home address in the next few days. The response to this voluntary program will determine the extent to which we will need to make further reductions. I encourage everyone to talk with their supervisor if they have any questions.

Any voluntary separation offers for union-represented employees will be in accordance with our obligations under the applicable labor agreement. Whatever changes we make overseas will be done in compliance with local laws and, where required, include management consultation in advance.

Throughout this process, I will keep you informed of where we are and where we are going with the transformation. Tomorrow, I will discuss this on the 9:30 call, and we will be holding meetings with various groups of staff in New York. Kate O’Brian and I will be in Washington next week to explain what we are planning in person and to take questions. Either Kate or David Reiter will be travelling to the bureaus in the coming days to do the same.

I won’t pretend that all of this will be easy. But I do truly believe that it will be good for ABC News. I believe in this institution. I believe in its mission and in its future. As always, I will need your help in making sure that we are as strong as we can be for many years to come.

Thank you.

—–
» Follow Steve Krakauer on Twitter

abc, ABC News, buyouts

The Real Royal King

Before some ill-informed moron chimes in with how FOX News is #1 or ABC is “tanking” or both, please note:

Last Thursday:

Shep: 2.2 million (on a 2.3 average)
ABC Nightly News: 9.4 million (#2 among the real news channels).

Last Sunday:

This Week: 2.5 million (sans a permanent anchor and only #2 to MTP’s larger audience).
FOX News Sunday: 1.2 million.

Yes, reality bites.
Cactus

@RRK: “Ill-informed morons”? Seeing how this just got linked by Drudge, I’m sure we’ll be seeing nothing but the finest, cogent, and most rational blog commenting on the Internets.

I’ll start: This is the beginning of the end of the lamestream media!! Fox News über alles!!
OTTO5432

I hope Barbara Walters is eligible for one of those buyouts.
Kenny48

I agree in part with Cactus. This another phase of the end of the big 3 evening broadcasts. The big 3 have lost a tremendous market share over the past ten/fifteen years for several reasons: NO one cares about the news and instead watch re-runs of Mr, Ed or something similar. They are voting with their feet because they are sick of being lied to by the big 3.
NO One trusts the big 3 any longer as the big 3 all lean to the left and practice what I learned to be “yellow journalism” at Northweatern University 30 plus years ago., and yes, FOX and CNN are dominating the news along with the internet. If one reads Drudge or listens to cable news during the day; the evening news on the big 3 is old news to most.
I think that it is great that the big 3 are losing their market share and FOX is gaining. I like FOX because you get both sides not the tainted left view. I always thought that Cronkite was a jerk and along with Rather. The last good presenters were Huntly and Brinkley in the 60s and early 70s.
The Universities who teach journalism are suffering, too. Under NO circumstances will I ever contribute to my alma mater, Northwestern again. They are leftists and have on their law school staff Bill Ayers’ wife, Bernadette Doran. I personally hope that somehow scholarships to these leftist diploma mills are dried up and that the feds stop funding education.
wet_nurse

FYI: Drudge sent me,

Who defends ABC? Let me guess a couple of burnt out hippies confusing FOX News with Richard Nixon again, or are they a couple of Liberal Arts majors with a minor in Women Studies that finished their recylcing for the day early? Next time someone says pot should be illegal because it makes people apathetic I’ll link them to this message board.
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

It’s too bad for anyone loosing a job in this climate, but the one-man band thing has worked seemingly well for the affiliates and it’s the norm for the internet, which is the new competition.

(Insert image of an old Al Franken bit, here)

Otherwise, I wonder if tomorrow’s announcement will include anything about “ABC News Now”? I’m still amazed at how long they’ve sat on the thing without making any effort to expand it. Heck, though I’d prefer for it to be advertiser supported, you used to be able to subscribe for a fee, but those links seem to be gone.

Of course, it’s probably losing money, so maybe it’s about to go.
The Real Royal King

Thanks, Kenny48. I thought Cactus was saying something quite different.
Cubby

Oh man, a link on the Drudge Report! The floodgates have been opened … look forward to comments that will make Karl Spensen look like Jim Lehrer.
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

My EARS are BURNING!!1 So you want to know what I THINK about this issue??!1 Of COURSE you do!!1 This WHOLE THING is simply because the American Barack Channel (ABC) did not spend time on IMPORTANT ISSUES like CLIMATEGATE and VAN JONES and SOCIOFASCISM!!!1 Sure a bunch of CRYBABY LIBS will say that it represents the “shrinking of journalism” or the “declining role of broadcast networks” or some other CRAP that I can BARELY UNDERSTAND, but we True American Patriots know the TRUTH!!!1 This is ALL because the American Barack Channel (ABC) has been in the TANK for the Obamessiah from the VERY BEGINNING – and now they will PAY the PRICE!!1 I’ve heard LIB whining about “working people losing their jobs” – BOO HOO!!1 They should have THOUGHT OF THAT before they started blindly following a SOCIOFASCIST REGIME!!!11
Kenny48

Real King: Cactus was saying something quite different which is why I only agreed with Cactus that the mainstream media is disappearing. The rest of the comments imply that Fox is facist which is strange since most facist nations start out as extreme left countries. FDR only put facism on the right side of the political spectrum to serve his needs as a liberal when we all know that facism is extreme liberalism.
As far as ABC and the other two biggies: Their days are numbered because of the specialty networks like CNN and FOX but THEIR biggest competition, like the newspapers’, is the Internet which flows news all day long. That is why I said the news on the big 3 in the evening is “old news” because people already know what is going on and again, the big 3 are losing to local independent stations who play reruns of Mr. ED, Leave it to Beaver- you get the message.
lifenliberty

Royal King… Please continue to keep your head in the sand and ignore the reality around you. From your post you must either work at ABC or know someone who does. I prefer to get my viewership FACTS from an unbiased 3rd party that blindly counts viewership… NIELSEN…

Network Season to date (FOX):

http://tvbythenumbers.com/category/ratings/nielsen-network-tv-ratings-season-to-date

Top Cable News(FOX)

http://tvbythenumbers.com/category/ratings/top-news/cable-news

The viewership for the major broadcast networks continue to tank… Your comparison between OVER THE AIR BROADCAST ABC and PAY CABLE NEWS shows is just plain flawed. Not everyone pays for or, in the present economy, can afford cable.

Yes, Reality Bites!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Mitch-Siegel/621951382 Mitch Siegel

“But I do truly believe that it will be good for ABC News. I believe in this institution. I believe in its mission and in its future.”

What is ABC News’ “Mission”? To get as many liberal Democrats elected as possible?
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

Mitch – HAHAHAHAHAHahahahahaHAHAHAHAHahahaHAHAHAHAHA HIGH FIVE!!!!!!!!111
mda

It couldn’t happen to a more deserving and “unbiased” new organization!!! hahaha!!!

Look on the bright side, it’s not like we’re losing any credible news reporting… just a few poll analysis (if they swing far enough left…) lol How’s that hoax and chains working for you out there? Remember, things are getting better – there’s no recession…. BO said so!!!
The Real Royal King

FDR only put facism on the right side of the political spectrum to serve his needs as a liberal when we all know that facism is extreme liberalism.

—

Since you seem to like the word so well, it’s “fascism”.

Beyond that, you should contact Oliver Stone.
The Real Royal King

What is ABC News’ “Mission”? To get as many liberal Democrats elected as possible?

—

So, you are suggesting that Ms. Sawyer went to work for Nixon because she knew some day she’d anchor ABC News, and that when people accused her employer of a liberal bias, she could say, “But, I worked for Nixon.” I’d never considered that.
Azarkhan

The sooner ABC shuts down, the better. Hopefully CBS won’t be far behind.

BTW, Royal, there are a lot of things you don’t consider. Stop stating the obvious.
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA YES!!!11 Those hundreds of people now out of work are going to THINK TWICE before they employ their INSIDIOUS brand of LIB BIAS!!!11 They’ll have plenty of time to think on the UNEMPLOYMENT LINE!!!11 HAhahahahahAHAHAHahahaha!!!!!!1
Kenny48

The Real Royal King: I apologize for the mispelling; when I type fast I have a tendency to error.
I am no fan of fascism nor am I a fan of Oliver Stone, probably one of the biggest distorters of current history in Hollywood.
I am a conservative who likes to hear the truth; not someone’s fantasy of the truth which Oliver Stone loves to do. I would not watch an Oliver Stone movie under any circumstances. He specializes in left wing BS.
The Real Royal King

While I would disagree with you about Stone’s leanings (I believe him to be apolitical), I do rather loathe him and his work, and I do appreciate anyone who sincerely holds his or her conservative beliefs. I don’t believe I recognize your comments, but I welcome them and you.
The Real Royal King

Azarkhan says:
February 23, 2010 at 4:34 pm

The sooner ABC shuts down, the better. Hopefully CBS won’t be far behind.

—

Yet their ratings, Ailes’ life blood and the tiresome mantra of all of the FOXites, are stunningly grander than FOX’s. Odd, isn’t it?
Kenny48

ps: Sorry, another grammar error. “I will not watch an Oliver Stone movie under any circumstance.”
Kenny48

Thank you for your comments, Real King. I am not familiar enough with Stone’s works to judge his politics any more than to describe him as a leftist who distorts history to fit what I will call “his agenda” which always seems to favor the left.
jadams76

LAYOFFS?? BUYOUTS?? You mean people DON”T want to hear all about how great Obama and the Democrats are doing all the time?……. Really? ?………Huh……………………………….Stupid people.
Azarkhan

Why did President Obama lie about his relationship with the criminal organization ACORN? He said he had only worked with them in the early 90′s.

A new videotape has been played on Fox News, exposing his lie.
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

YES YES YES!!!!!11 TOTALLY on topic, AS USUAL, Azarkhan!!!!11 You are a True American Patriot and a credit to the cause!!1 People need to be CONSTANTLY REMINDED of the Obamessiah’s ties to the criminial SOCIOFASCIST institution known as ACORN – a lesson the American Barack Channel (ABC) learned TOO LATE!!!!1
Azarkhan

Yes, Royal, it is odd. It’s also odd that while ABC and CBS are laying off staff, Fox is not.

Now don’t you bother applying at Fox. They want reporters who can be “fair and balanced” in their coverage of politics, which clearly leaves you out.
The Real Royal King

Azarkhan says:
February 23, 2010 at 5:09 pm

Sorry. I forgot the dominance of ABC, CBS and NBC news is a burr in your burrito. Don’t let it bother you. Try to have a good evening, anyway.
Kenny48

Most of us in suburban Chicago tried to warn you about Obama but our words fell on deaf ears.
I first heard about Obama, his “smoking habits” and radical agenda, before the 2004 elections. In suburban Chicago, the collar counties are Republican strongholds and there were “get out the vote rallies” sponsored by the Republicans. I attended just about all of these events and heard from legislative aides all about Obama; his politics and habits.
Most of us, outside of Chicago were truly amazed at how the press treated him like the second coming.. Most of us found it quite chilling to see the press operate with such little integrity in covering the man.
mda

Now hold on….it’ no that FOX is just “fair and balanced” (allowing both sides to converse) ABCCBSMSNBCNPRCNN all take their orders from the White House (which the have made known!!!!)

What a wonderful day – capitalism (customers) rear its ugly head!!!

What will we do without ABC??? hahahaha
http://www.karlspensen.blogspot.com Karl Spensen

I LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!!!!!11 I feel like I’m SCROOGE MCDUCK in his MONEY BIN, except that my MONEY BIN is this comments section and the GOLD is all of you Proud Right-Thinking American Patriots who are making this issue ALL ABOUT the OBAMESSIAH and his SOCIOFASCIST agenda!!1
Facebook User

Maybe if ABC would report the news instead of covering for the liberals at every turn. Good Riddance. Anyone comparing FOX ratings to ABC should look again. Do you know how many MORE homes have free network TV rather than expensive cable? Makes the numbers sort of ridiculous. Also true of CNN -MANY more CNN carriers WORLDWIDE than FOX which REALLY makes the numbers crazy.
mda

Go Karl!!!

I’m stuck in PA with traitor Arlen Specter and he knows this is his last term!!! Another dinosaurer bites (the dust!) And poor Casey has no clue what he’s doing….sorry but he’s a whole fry and burger short of a happy meal… Casey takes his orders from every liberal group in PA and has no moral convictions. (Don’t let the media tell you otherwise….)
Kenny48

Real King: What is your beef with Fox News? There are just as many liberals on the network as conservatives. To make sure that issues are covered fair and balanced, Fox has added independent commentators from both the left and the right to insure that there is a higher degree of integrity to their reporting than other networks. It is apparent that Fox is successful because it is filling a void left by the mainstream media and MSNBC, a real joke. I have not heard of any downturn in their ratings while their competitors are going under.
Kenny48

Royal King: Another factor that you have to keep in mind when interpreting the viewer statistics is that the measurements of audience that you are quoting have been taken during the Olympics which is distorting most of the ratings.
After the Olympics are over it will be a better time to measure the statistics keeping in mind that cable (as noted earlier) is NOT included in the traditional viewer statistics due to its nature of being for all intents and purposes a premium service compared to the traditional networks.
I will be amused at the aforementioned distortion that probably will show higher ratings for MSNBC and CNBC than Fox due to the ongoing Olympic coverage.
ChrisNH

LOL @ ‘weak advertising market.’ These Lib media hacks are getting just what they deserve. Cheering for Obama as they did, these people were really cheering for the ruination of capitalism and the private sector. That’s what Obama wants and everyone knows this to be true. Problem is, these media wizards never realized (or maybe they did and didn’t care) that they were cheering on their own demise. I love it when these Einsteins wail and moan about ‘weak advertising’ and then go right ahead and wave their little Obama pom-poms. What a bunch of wee-todds.
Azarkhan

Kenny48: This website, http://hillbuzz.org/, was begun by supporters of Hillary Clinton who were attacked verbally and physically by Obama supporters during the campaign. They faced the usual slanderous accusations of being racist for supporting Ms. Clinton instead of Obama. Apparently they are still being harassed by the Daily Kos and the Democratic Underground.

The odd thing to me is that the individual I first heard discuss this at length (and I’m sorry I can’t remember on what site I heard him) was both gay and a supporter of Hillary Clinton. I thought only white neanderthal racists like myself would be attacked with that kind of venom.
writer

Kenny, you’re barking up the wrong tree asking Racist Royal King to keep anything in mind. He laughs at Fox’s ratings, while ignoring MSNBCs. He’ll knock Fox for ‘low’ ratings, but if you mention MSNBCs, suddenly ratings are meaningless. Just a heads up when you’re dealing with the ‘mind’ of Royal.
writer

And Karl, that big type is hilarious. Can I try it? RACIST RACIST RACIST. I HATE PALIN. I HATE PALIN. I HATE PALIN. FOX NEWS. FOX NEWS. FOX NEWS. Hey, you’re right. It is kind of fun.
Kenny48

Azarkhan: I am not surprised. Obama is part of the Chicago Democrat Machine where anything goes. It is controlled by the “Irish Mafia” which run Chicago politics. Recently, they have let in black people in the wards that will only elect black leaders. The machine was wise enough to recognize the need to merge with the black group led by Jesse Jackson, Jr.
What you are seeing in the WH is the radical left of the Chicago machine as most are Dems in name only. Mayor Daley, like his father, is more conservative to moderate for the most part.
I do not know if you noticed but Daley got along quite well with “W” and his father got a long with a lot of major Republicans; like NIxon. The old mans only real break to the left was with JFK and that was for religious reasons.
From what I understand, most of the Chicago pols are not happy with Obama and the distorted reputation that he has placed on the machine.
Have you noticed that Obama has not come back to Chciago except for one time early in his term?
For the most part, he is not welcome back here because he looks and acts so radical compared to the real machine. Oprah has paid a big price for supporting him locally and if she had to do it over again I doubt that she would have stuck her neck out for him. Some of the comments locally indicate that she regrets supporting him and is trying to make amends with her audience here and nationwide.
Kenny48

ps: I am not a Democrat but I certainly noticed how Obama dissed Clinton in the primaries. I think that she is preparing herself for a run against Obama in 2012. She is a Chicago girl too and the machine would prefer her to Obama. 2012 is going to be interesting. Never ever count the Clintons out.
writer

Just to throw it out there, speaking of Chicago. The Bio Channel on Friday is featuring a show about Jeff Fort, leader of El Rukn and best buddies with Jesse Jackson. Might make for some interesting viewing.
Grammie

Writer, could you give us a heads up Friday?

Thanks, Grammie.
timzank

Is it just me or is Karl Spensen more annoying than pop up ads?
Kenny48

One thing that is interesting since Obama’s election. The Jesse Jackson family has kept their mouths shut. I expect that JJJr to be indicted in the Blago trial because I suspect that on tape they have him dealing $$$ for the former Obama seat. Since last February 09 we have heard little from JJJr. or his wife, a member of the Chicago City Council.
Big Jesse has been real quiet too which all adds up to JJJr being the one who was willing to pay for the senate appointment. I am sure that he thought nothing of buying the seat because the Jacksons’ are big on shaking down businesses themselves for what they want.
One of Jesse Sr’s other two sons own a Budweiser Distributorship in the city that they got in a shakedown and there are more of the same with JJ Sr.
Kenny48

Writer: Thanks for the tip about Royal King and his agenda.
writer

No problem. It’s like arguing with a brick wall, sans the personality. I told Royal to be sure and catch the show about Jeff Fort, but I kinda doubt he will.
writer

Sure, Grammie. I saw it advertised last night. I’ll keep an eye out. Next Friday at 8 or 9 on Bio, depending on your time zone, I think.
Cactus

@RRK: Yeah, by using the “lamestream” chestnut and capping off my comment with “über alles”, I figured (again) the sarcasm would be sufficiently dripping. I just have to stop doing that already… I suppose next time I’ll point this out with BIG RED LETTERS. Bah!

Maybe if I USE OCCASIONAL CAPS LOCK and EXCLAMATION POINTS!!1… what, the bit’s already taken? Drat.
Kenny48

Good idea, Cactus. I thought you were serious but, I do not know you.

Speaking of Jeff Fort; there are several Democrat Congressional Reps from Chicago who were members of radical gangs back in the 60s. My recollection is that Bobby Rush and Danny Davis were gangbangers. Funny, how these people wind up in elected office.If I am correct there is another former gangbanger in the Chicago City Council. His name escapes me.
Kenny48

Correction: I am mistaken about Rush and Davis; they are socialists and not former gang members. There was a former gang member or two but they have apparently moved on.
Fidoohki

I used to watch Nightline regularly ages ago. Also Politically Incorrect when it ran on ABC. To see them
going through such straights is a bad sign of the times… and I agree on Offering Barbra Walters an buyout option.;
Thermo

For all these idiots that voted for Obama, they are getting exactly what they voted for:
1) They are getting change – their employment status will now be changed to unemployed
2) They will now be paying lower taxes – they won’t be getting a paycheck and will no longer have to pay taxes on the money they used to make
Kenny48

Maybe ABC can include “The View” as part of its news division. What a shame to see that garbage show go bye bye.

Thermo: You are correct. That is why it is so funny that ABC, NBC, and CBS are in trouble. They played up to Obama and now they are paying the price for their yellow journalism and leftist bias. The public is catching on quickly and it is a crap shoor as to whom will be next. My money is on CBS, a new organization that has stunk since they made Cronkite their head news presenter. Good riddins to them too.

I am also hoping that MSNBC joins the crowd after a take over by Comcast. That station is just a loser and so biased that they do not deserve to be on the airwaves. They are the Air America of television. BYE BYE.
ChrisNH

‘Real News Channels’ don’t exist; they are ALL driven by bias & ideology. Dan Rather’s CBS was one of those so-called ‘real news channels,’ too. No one is buying the silly notion that ABC, NBC, and CBS are somehow ‘above the fray.’ They ARE the fray.