Baltimore Scripps station airing anchor-less newscasts

WMAR in Baltimore, Maryland, has begun airing some evening newscasts without live anchors as parent company E.W. Scripps expands a new production model built around prerecorded reports, streaming and reduced staffing.

The ABC affiliate debuted the format Wednesday during its 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts. Instead of anchors introducing stories from the studio, the programs opened with weather before moving through a series of prerecorded local reports and national stories produced by Scripps. Graphics connected segments, with occasional stretches of dead air before commercial breaks.

The change follows layoffs at WMAR and is part of a broader Scripps effort to move its local television operations toward a 24-hour streaming-focused news model. The company is introducing the format in about a dozen smaller markets, including Baltimore, before expanding it to more of its stations.

Longtime WMAR anchor Kelly Swoope, who joined the station in 2003, did not appear during either of the two affected broadcasts. Other WMAR newscasts continue to use anchors, and the station has not said whether the anchorless format will be expanded to additional time periods.

Scripps spokeswoman Rebecca Cochran said the company’s 24/7 streaming strategy is intended to make local reporting available throughout the day rather than limiting it to scheduled television newscasts.

WMAR News Director Kelly Groft told the Baltimore Banner that viewers should expect additional changes as the station adjusts its programming to reflect changing news consumption habits.

“As we continue refining our newscasts to best serve our community, viewers may notice some differences in the look and flow of our newscasts in the coming weeks,” Groft said to the Banner. “Our commitment, however, has not changed: providing accurate, trusted local journalism that helps people understand what’s happening in their community.”

The restructuring has also reduced WMAR’s workforce. Geoff Turner, business manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1200, said six union employees were notified Aug. 4 that their jobs would be eliminated. The affected workers included production employees, and additional layoffs involving anchors, producers and directors followed.

Advertisement

According to Turner, a human resources letter said the cuts were intended to “align staffing with evolving audience consumption.” Employees were told about additional production changes during a staff meeting the following day.

Turner said his understanding is that weather personalities may occasionally remain live during newscasts using the new format, while most other elements will be prerecorded.