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By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
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Layoffs at major local television stations in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago are cutting newsroom jobs as one of the nation’s largest broadcasters reshapes its operations.
Newsweek contacted Nexstar Media Group, the company behind the layoffs, for comment via email outside of regular working hours.
Why It Matters
Local TV news remains a primary source of information for millions of Americans, particularly during emergencies and elections.
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Cuts to newsroom staff raise questions about how much local coverage communities will continue to receive.
It comes as Nexstar pushes ahead with a massive merger, which is expected to close later this year and has the potential to make it the media company with the biggest reach in the country.
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What To Know
Nexstar has carried out a new round of layoffs affecting employees at some of its highest‑profile local television stations, including KTLA in Los Angeles, WPIX in New York and WGN in Chicago.
Industry and trade reporting shows the job cuts include on‑air talent as well as newsroom and production staff.
Among those laid off was longtime KTLA weather anchor Mark Kriski, a familiar face to Los Angeles viewers for decades.
Additional departures were reported at stations in Chicago and New York as part of the same move.
At WPIX in New York, anchors John Muller, Craig Treadway, Kori Chambers and Arrianae LeBeau were laid off, according to industry outlet NewscastStudio.
WGN in Chicago laid off eight on-air reporters and anchors—Sean Lewis, Ray Cortopassi, Bronagh Tumulty, Judy Wang, Julian Crews, Paul Lisnek, Chris Boden and Dean Richards—according to the Chicago Tribune.
The reductions appear to be part of a broader effort by Nexstar to cut costs as it navigates rapid changes in the media industry.
Local broadcasters have been under increasing pressure from declining advertising revenue, shifting viewing habits and competition from streaming platforms.
Nexstar operates hundreds of local stations nationwide and reaches a large share of U.S. households, making its staffing decisions closely watched across the industry.
The latest cuts have renewed debate over how consolidation and cost‑cutting affect the depth and quality of local journalism.
Union leaders say the layoffs are especially concerning as Nexstar continues to expand its footprint through acquisitions, concentrating control of local newsrooms under fewer corporate owners.
What People Are Saying
A Nexstar spokesperson said in a statement: "Nexstar does not comment on personnel issues, but the company is taking steps necessary to compete effectively in this period of unprecedented change."
The SAG‑AFTRA union’s president Sean Astin said in a statement: "By laying off journalists across the country, Nexstar is eroding the resources and talent that local communities rely on for trusted news. These actions highlight the risks of media consolidation and underscore the urgent need for regulators and the company to prioritize the public interest and the professionals who serve it."
The Communications Workers of America union, part of the AFL‑CIO, said in a statement: "Over the past two years, workers have voted for union representation in elections supervised by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) at three Nexstar stations and one broadcasting hub. In each case Nexstar refused to recognize the union despite clear election outcomes, instead engaging in frivolous appeals.
"The NLRB has issued four complaints against Nexstar for terminating employees at the Denver locations who supported the union. The NLRB is also investigating five unfair labor practice charges in Henderson, Kentucky alleging the company terminated union supporters and made unilateral changes to working conditions."
What Happens Next
Regulators are expected to continue reviewing Nexstar’s proposed acquisition of TEGNA, a deal the company says will help it compete with major technology platforms and shifting media consumption habits.
If approved, the merger would make Nexstar—already the largest owner of local television stations in the U.S.—potentially the most far‑reaching media company in the country, with control of about 265 stations across 44 states and access to roughly 80 percent of American TV households.
Nexstar has argued that greater scale is necessary to sustain local broadcasting in a challenging economic environment.
Critics, including labor groups and media watchdogs, are urging regulators to closely examine how further consolidation could affect competition, newsroom staffing and the long‑term health of local journalism before allowing the deal to move forward.
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