'Not the goodbye I hoped for': Emotional reactions pour in after Rogers radio layoffs
Former Rogers employees are sharing their shock online after the company shut down six radio stations, resulting in 230 job cuts.
A spokesperson for Rogers Sports & Media confirmed the news in an email to Daily Hive on Tuesday.
“After a thorough review of our radio stations across the country, we have made the difficult but necessary decision to close Sportsnet 650 and News 1130 in Vancouver,” they stated. “We are grateful to our listeners and to our team for their contributions to the local community.”
Six news and sports stations in Vancouver, Calgary, Halifax, and Kitchener have been shut down, resulting in hundreds of employees being laid off.
“We continue to own and operate 44 radio stations in nearly 30 communities across the country and to invest in local news in the impacted markets,” they stated.
According to Rogers, the decision was due to declining advertising revenue and changing audience habits.
“These changes are part of our plan to focus our investment in areas that will drive growth long-term,” it stated.
“I loved my job”
Brian A Jackson/Shutterstock
As news of the layoffs spread, former employees took to LinkedIn to share their experiences and say goodbye.
Content producer Taylor Dingman described her experience at Sportsnet 960 in Calgary, stating that her time at the news station helped her find confidence in her voice.
“While this isn’t the goodbye I hoped for, I’m leaving incredibly grateful for the experiences, lessons, and people who made these four years so special,” she wrote.
News director Terry Schintz thanked the thousands of people who tuned in to listen to News 1130 in Vancouver.
“Thank you for placing your trust in us. We never took it for granted,” he stated. “And to my colleagues over the last few years, thank you as well. I’m very fond of you, but you know that. I honestly looked forward to every shift.”
In an interview with Daily Hive, News 1130 traffic reporter Alex Carrigan talked about the listeners who will also be impacted by the closure.
“It’s devastating for a lot of people,” he said. “For the traffic side, we picked up a lot of listeners and responsibility when AM 730 went down. And as much as we think about our colleagues, your heart goes out to the people who relied on the traffic updates as well.”
On social media, broadcast journalist Chris Halef described working at 95.7 NewsRadio Halifax as “one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences of my life.”
“I loved my job,” he stated. “I still can’t believe I got to do it for as long as I did. I’m going to miss it. Thanks for listening all these years.”