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Tulsa’s NBC affiliate has cut newsroom staff as its owner pivots toward continuous streaming news — a change that could reshape how local stories are reported and when residents learn about breaking events. The move is part of a wider strategy by the station’s parent company to prioritize digital, always-on coverage over traditional studio-centered newscasts.
What happened at the station
People familiar with the decisions said about 28 employees at KJRH lost their jobs, including newscast directors, producers and most photojournalists. Those affected were given a final working date of Sept. 1, according to sources.
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The cuts come after companywide announcements that the owner, E.W. Scripps, will eliminate roughly 268 positions across several local TV properties as it rolls out a new production model focused on streaming and faster field reporting.
Why the company is changing course
In a note to staff, Scripps leadership framed the reorganization as a response to audience behavior: more people are consuming news on streaming and social platforms, and the company says it needs a different workflow to meet them there. Executives described the initiative as a shift toward putting more reporters in communities and delivering news immediately as it develops rather than waiting for scheduled broadcast hours.
The company plans to debut continuous, around-the-clock streaming programs first in roughly a dozen smaller markets and then expand the approach to other stations, adapting formats to local needs. Scripps operates about 68 television stations nationally; KJRH is its only outlet in Oklahoma.
Local details and reaction
Former KJRH executive producer Loren Cosby, who reviewed details of the reductions, said the station retained most meteorologists but did not keep a recent weather hire. He warned the changes were not unexpected and suggested other Oklahoma newsrooms could face similar shifts down the line.
Responses on social media were immediate and sharply critical. Former local broadcasters and residents warned the cuts risk leaving gaps in community coverage — from school board meetings and city hearings to urgent public-safety alerts. One former anchor warned that without enough reporters, routine oversight and rapid reporting on local crises may decline, leaving readers and viewers with fewer independent sources of information.
Broader newsroom context in Tulsa
These layoffs follow earlier consolidation in Tulsa’s television market, when two other newsrooms were combined under Sinclair Broadcast Group, affecting KOKI (FOX) and KTUL (ABC). The twin developments mark another contraction in the number of reporters and production staff covering local government, education and public safety in the city.
- Staffing changes: Fewer producers and photojournalists available for in-depth or on-site reporting.
- Production model: A move to continuous streaming with quicker, more frequent updates rather than fixed broadcast windows.
- Audience impact: More content pushed to digital and social platforms; traditional broadcast schedules maintained but de-emphasized.
- Coverage risks: Potential for reduced local oversight of government, slower emergency reporting and fewer investigative resources.
What to watch next
The shift raises immediate questions about how local beats will be staffed and how smaller or routine community stories will be prioritized. Residents who rely on local television for emergency information, school and municipal coverage, or investigative reporting may notice shorter or less frequent on-the-ground coverage.
Industry observers say the rollout in smaller markets will serve as a test case for Scripps’ broader plans. Local news consumers, civic groups and elected officials will likely be watching how the changes affect transparency and public information in the weeks after the announced job reductions.
