Scripps restructuring brings anchorless approach to Corpus Christi

E.W. Scripps-owned KRIS in Corpus Christi, Texas, eliminated its morning anchor position as the broadcaster continues restructuring local news operations around a digital-first production model.

The change followed companywide layoffs and the departures of married morning anchors Bryan Hofmann and Michelle Hofmann, who delivered their final “Sunrise” newscast Aug. 18 after their positions were eliminated, according to reporting by Chron.

“KRIS 6 recently made some difficult staffing changes tied to how we produce our newscasts, including eliminating the morning anchor,” KRIS General Manager Kristen Darden told Chron. “With these changes, we were able to add reporters to our team and expand our coverage of the community.”

Darden told Chron that reporters are working different shifts to support “a 24/7 stream of content across broadcast, streaming, social and connected TV.”

The restructuring affected both on-air and production roles.

Scripps did not disclose the number of positions eliminated at KRIS or KXXV in Waco, Texas, but current and former KRIS employees told Chron that producers, photographers, technical directors and other staff were among those affected. 

The changes are part of a wider Scripps effort to reorganize local stations around continuous news production rather than traditional broadcast dayparts.

In total, roughly a dozen other markets are moving towards the anchorless format, which the broadcaster claims puts more journalists in the field to publish reporting across broadcast, streaming and social platforms throughout the day.

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TheDesk.net reported the reorganization has resulted in upwards of 270 layoffs, with the company leveraging AI and broadcast automation tools to adjust workflows for reporters and producers. 

A similar shift has already appeared at Scripps-owned WMAR in Baltimore.

The ABC affiliate began airing some 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts without live anchors in August, using prerecorded reports, graphics and national material produced by Scripps.

The anchorless WMAR broadcasts followed layoffs that included production employees, anchors, producers and directors. Other newscasts at the station continued to use anchors.