Just as the Nexstar/Tegna merger was being finalized, Sara Sanchez, an anchor with Fox 61, was making the decision to leave the television news business. Her last day will be April 19.
In an honest, yet dramatic post on social media, Sanchez said the latest merger – which will have an effect on operations at both Fox 61(Tegna) and WTNH(Nexstar) in the months ahead – is just part of a pattern that has followed her throughout her career. Here are some key passages from Sanchez’s announcement:
“There are a lot of assumptions about local news. Most of them are not true.
What “outsiders” never understand is we are at the whim of media groups and, inevitably, mergers. Yesterday, a deal closed combining two local television owners. One of them is my employer.
“Overshadowed by the Tegna/Nexstar merger (I jokingly said, this was supposed to be MY BIG EXIT, TEGNA!), yesterday the announcement was made to my newsroom that I’m leaving the industry. Impeccable timing. I can’t do it anymore. I’m tired.”
“…I have been outrunning the beast. The beast — changing local journalism. Always looking over my shoulder. Wondering what massive changes I’m walking into day after day after day. Watching the dust settle behind me as I scurry out stage left.
“The beast didn’t catch me, it’s chasing someone else now.
“Yes, the merger is today’s news. But, this is nothing new. I’ve been dealing with this my whole career. And I’m out.”
