E.W. Scripps is moving ahead with a significant companywide reorganization that results in the loss of 268 jobs at its stations across the country. Locally, eight employees at WKBW-TV (Channel 7) in Buffalo are among those affected by these cuts, with departures scheduled for September 1.
Among those leaving the station is anchor Pheben Kassahun, who has served as the weekday evening anchor since 2020. Her departure leaves a noticeable gap in the station's primary broadcast team. The reduction in staff also impacts the station's internal structure, including the departure of an assistant news director, three directors, an executive producer, and a digital news producer.
Scripps leadership stated the layoffs are part of a strategy to shift resources toward streaming and digital news delivery. The company plans to roll out 24/7 local news streams while maintaining scheduled broadcasts. Executives noted that traditional television industry models focused on specific dayparts are no longer sufficient to meet modern audience habits.
To bridge the gap, the company intends to rely on automation and artificial intelligence to assist with production tasks. This approach aims to allow reporters to spend more time in the field rather than on studio production. The company stated that the ultimate goal is to build a sustainable model that serves viewers across multiple platforms, including social media and on-demand streaming.
These changes come at a challenging time for WKBW, which already maintains one of the smaller news staffs in Western New York. With the addition of recent departures in the sports department and among other on-air talent, the station faces a transition period as it adjusts its internal workflows to align with this new, technology-driven operational structure.