So, I saw the news floating around about the Fox Sports Radio layoffs. Honestly, stuff like this barely raises an eyebrow anymore, which is kind of sad when you think about it. Seems like every other company is trimming fat these days, especially in media.
My Own Run-In with Changes
It definitely brings back some memories for me, not with Fox directly, but from way back. I used to hang around a local station, helping out here and there, more for the love of it than the pay. It felt like a real team, you know? Everyone knew everyone, we’d argue about sports, grab cheap beers after shows. Real grassroots stuff.
Then one day, the vibe just shifted. New management came in, guys in suits who didn’t know a thing about radio, only spreadsheets. They started talking about ‘efficiency’ and ‘streamlining’. We all knew what that meant.
The Process Wasn’t Pretty
I remember watching good people get called into the office one by one. These were folks who’d been there for years, really cared about the listeners and the community. Guys like old Jimmy who did the overnight trucking show, knew every backroad in the state. Gone. Just like that. They gave him a box for his stuff and showed him the door. No real thanks, no nothing. Just “your position has been eliminated.”
It wasn’t even about performance half the time. It was just numbers. Cheaper to pipe in some syndicated show from god-knows-where than pay Jimmy and a local producer. The place never felt the same after that. The heart kind of went out of it. People were walking on eggshells, just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Seeing it Again
So, when I read about these big network layoffs like at Fox Sports Radio, sure, you think about the on-air names people recognize. But my mind goes to the producers, the board ops, the interns trying to get a foot in the door, the folks behind the scenes who actually make the shows happen. Chances are, they got the same cold treatment. Just another line item cut to save a buck.
It’s the way the business works now, I get it. But it doesn’t mean it feels right. You lose good people, you lose local flavor, and eventually, you wonder what’s even left.
