Merlin Media, LLC, the owner of WLUP-FM and WIQI-FM, as well
as the operator of WKQX-LP, has done yet another round of mass layoffs.
Released Friday were almost all of the rest of the non-on-air staffers from the
former FM News 101.1 format, according to Chicagradioandmedia.com.
In mid-July, Merlin Media abruptly ended the FM News 101.1
format on WIQI-FM, "officially" releasing 27 staffers, although the
actual number of people who lost their jobs from Merlin Media's actions was
much higher. The news format was changed to a 90s music format, which was again
changed one month later. The company kept on its staff a few of the employees
who were not on-air personalities and worked behind the scenes, to allow them
to help with the company's other stations.
That changed Friday morning, as almost all of those
employees were informed they were no longer needed at Merlin Media.
According to inside sources, the following employees all
lost their jobs: Brad Robinson (former News & Sports
writer/reporter/anchor), Safa Eshmawy (former new writer/editor/producer),
Sarah Engel (former news writer/producer and an anchor for Merlin's
Philadelphia station, while based out of Chicago), James Edwards (former news
writer/producer/researcher), Michael Cronin (former new writer/producer/fill-in
editor), Megan Buckley (former news writer/editor, who had been working as
Merlin Media's music researcher since July), and Shannon Beverly (former news
writer/editor), now Shannon Ward, who was just married this month and coming
back from her honeymoon when she was given the news of her termination.
Of the many dozens of employees of FM News 101.1 FM that
have been hired since the station started when Merlin Media, LLC itself started
just over one year ago, only three former on-air staffers remain employed in
some capacity by Merlin Media: Rob Hart, Mary Ellen Giest, and John Czahor.
Only two non-on-air staffers remain: Christine Fiedler and Lindsey Reiser.
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