Ever Wonder What It Looks Like For Someone To Get Fired On Air, Well That Happened Yesterday At 87.7 The Game
(Source) According to a report on the Chicago Tribune’s website today, due to financial struggles and low ratings, WGN Radio will be ending the failed sports station WGWG-LP/The Game 87.7. They also have removed (or are removing) popular show hosts Garry Meier and Jonathon Brandmeier, as well as ending/re-imagining the online WGN.FM. WGWG-LP staffers were not told in advance of the station’s demise. Most found out as the Tribune’s report spread via social media. WGWG-LP midday host Ben Finfer was clearly angry and upset on the air today. He was openly furious at station General Manager Jimmy de Castro for not showing enough class or respectfulness to personally inform the employees in advance of leaking it to a Tribune blogger.
Well after news was already leaked publicly, de Castro sent an email to station staffers trying to soft sell the fact they were being fired in a matter of weeks. In it, de Castro said “We built a bold brand in The Game, and we ventured to push the envelope of digital listening with WGN.FM. We got tremendous support from the Tribune leadership and reviews from listeners and peers that made us proud, but timing is everything. In this down market, the revenue cannot sustain these products without significant change.”
Lastly, the soon-to-be-unemployed staff was told in de Castro’s memo: “We can’t thank you enough for your spirit of collaboration. We will keep inventing together.” Considering many of the people reading that memo will not be working with de Castro in 2015, it seems highly unlikely any of them will be “inventing” with him again. There was no apology for not informing the employees first and allowing them to find out from elsewhere.
So quick backstory to fill people in who may not be in tune with the comings and goings of Chicago radio. 87.7 The Game started last February, plucked some solid talent from various shows in the city, giving guys like Ben Finfer (the one on our left in this video) more air time. Obviously a risk to leave a job at 670 the Score but in terms of a career and having your own show I think we can all agree that Finfer should and would take that opportunity every time. Then flash forward 9 months to yesterday when news of the station’s demise is released over twitter and not by the actual bosses in charge. Brutal stuff. To literally be sitting at your job and have someone on twitter be like, oh yeah you didn’t hear? You’re fired. I can’t even imagine. Thought Finfer handled it about as well as anyone in that position could. Fairly blasted his bosses for being cowards and sounded exactly like a guy who just went from him own show and a shot at something, to unemployed right after Christmas. It’s too bad as well, I’m of the mindset that the more competition the better in Chicago Radio. I had hopes 87.7 The Game would stick but obviously this isn’t charity, if it’s not making money it’s not making money, just have to think there’s a better way to let your staff know they’re out of jobs. Basic human decency.
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PS
How awkward was it that Quigley, the guy on the right, is part of management and knew the Station was going down. He basically just sat there the whole time trying to make himself as small as possible.