Raleigh TV Station WRAL has kicked The News & Observer and its executive editor, John Drescher, off of its “Headline Saturday” public affairs show, Drescher reports in The Editor’s Blog on the N&O site.
“This week, Steve Hammel, WRAL’s general manager, called to say he was changing the format of the show. (WRAL anchor David) Crabtree will host alone and the show won’t be affiliated with The N&O, although N&O reporters could be invited to appear from time to time,” Drescher writes. The move is to speed the pace of the show; since Drescher and other N&O staffers who appear are not paid, it’s not about cost, he adds.
The 30-minute show has been on the air since 2002, originally on Sunday and hosted by Crabtree and Melanie Sill, then The N&O’s executive editor. Drescher took over in 2007.
Drescher got a two-week notice – his last show will air August 22.
Tags: N&O, Newspapers, Television, WRAL