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A local TV newsroom disappeared overnight. It’s a warning sign for what’s next.

Poynter · Kerwin Speight · last updated

Widespread layoffs at WRTV in Indianapolis offer a glimpse at the cost savings brought by media mergers

An entire local TV newsroom in Indianapolis disappeared overnight. News of layoffs spread on social media Wednesday morning.

“If you haven’t heard yet, WRTV was sold yesterday to another owner in town, and essentially the entire staff was let go,” read the beginning of a Facebook post by Todd Klaassen, a meteorologist who was laid off from the station. Its new owner, Circle City Broadcasting — already the owner of WISH-TV in Indianapolis — bought it from Scripps for $83 million.

An entire newsroom disappearing overnight is shocking, but for some, these layoffs don’t come as a surprise.

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