Alpha Media Cuts More Staff in Midwest Markets
Alpha Media has laid off more staffers, this time in the Mason City, Iowa and Austin, Minnesota markets, according to KAAL-TV, Rochester, Minnesota. It’s unclear exactly how many positions have been eliminated but they are affecting news/talk KAUS-AM and country KAUS-FM in Austin as well as
operations in Mankato, Albert Lea, and Luverne, Minnesota; Watertown and Brookings, South Dakota; and Fort Dodge, Grinnell, Newton and Mason City in Iowa. Northern Iowa Today reports that in Mason City, KGLO sports director Tim Fleming has been let go as has KGLO and KRIB news director Bob Fisher, who comments, “Alpha Media is going a different direction with their radio stations in their smaller markets. A majority of the programming staff, including myself, were terminated this morning as part of that plan. This is not only happening here but throughout the country with their smaller markets.” After making similar drastic cuts in a number of its Missouri markets, Alpha Media struck a deal with UK-based Podcast Radio and will debut “Podcast Radio Missouri” on two stations there in the coming weeks. Read TALKERS’ coverage of that news here.