Citing downturn, WVEC-TV lays off employees

WVEC-TV, smarting from the recession, has laid off an unidentified number of employees, its general manager said today.

Jim Berman, the president and general manager of Channel 13, the local affiliate of ABC, declined to say how many were laid off. He said that was against the policy of WVEC’s owner, Belo Corp. A Web site devoted to media news in Virginia, www.vartv.com, listed at least seven positions eliminated by WVEC.

Berman said none of the laid-off employees was a full-time on-air personality. Most left the station Monday, he said.

“Obviously, the economic downturn has created some real challenges for us,” said Berman, citing, in particular, declines in automotive ad revenue. “We’ve had to make very difficult decisions as it pertains to how we will manage our expenses moving forward.”

He added: “This is affecting our business, the radio business, the newspaper business. We’re all in the same boat.”

Before the layoffs, WVEC employed 146 people, Berman said.

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