'Blindsided' KTLA journalist and others speak out against recent layoffs

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After Nexstar Media Group announced layoffs at KTLA-TV this week, some viewers have expressed shock and dismay over losing several longtime local broadcast journalists at the station.The cuts included KTLA weatherman Mark Kriski, weathercaster Kacey Montoya, midday anchors Lu Parker and Glen Walker and reporter Ellina Abovian.The layoffs come as Nexstar attempts to cut costs and pursues a merger with rival media company Tegna.Abovian, who was a general assignment reporter at the station, reflected on the layoffs on social media, saying in a video posted to Threads on Thursday that she was “blindsided,” and that the cuts were “part of corporate restructuring.”“Corporate layoffs are a part of life and this is just the game of life.

They’re impacting people across multiple industries right now, so I’m not the only one, and my situation certainly isn’t unique,” said Abovian, who worked at the station for more than a decade.“But it’s hard to process, considering how it happened.”Some viewers and fellow journalists have also expressed their disappointment.

CNN anchor Elex Michaelson responded on X, writing, “Mark Kriski is an L.A.broadcasting icon.

As a kid, the OG KTLA Morning News crew (Carlos, Barbara, Mark, Sam, Eric, Gayle, etc) inspired me to want to be a journalist.I have great respect for Glen, Lu, Kacey, and Elina as well … all great people … and talented broadcasters.” Hollywood Inc.

Meteorologist Mark Kriski is also out as part of company-wide cost reductions at Nexstar.Each of the laid-off journalists had been with the station for a number of years.Kriski had been with KTLA since 1991, and Walker sat at the station’s anchor desk since 2010.

Parker joined KTLA in 2005.KTLA morning news anchor Frank Buckley addressed the situation before continuing with the broadcast Thursday.“As you probably know, we are extremely limited in what we ...