WGRZ-TV (Channel 2) anchor-reporter Heather Ly joined the exodus of on-air talent leaving the station after her final broadcast of the Saturday edition of the morning program “Daybreak.”
A Chicago native who arrived at the station more than 17 years ago on the day of the October 2006 surprise ice storm, Ly joined a wave of highly visible departures and changes at the station.
Anchor-reporter Michael Wooten left in late August and later joined WKBW-TV; “Most Buffalo” host Kate Welshofer and weather anchor Maria Genero departed on the same day in December; and sports director Adam Benigni announced last week that he was dropping his daily weekday anchor duties but would remain on “Sports Talk Live.”
A long list of Channel 2 staffers who aren’t on the air – producers, directors and photographers – have also left the station in less than two years.
The departures and the slowness in filling their replacements has led to declining morale.
The previous on-air talent didn’t say their departures were about money.
Ly confirmed her departure is about money.
In a telephone interview Saturday, Ly said she was offered the job of “Most Buffalo” host last Thursday but declined it because she and station management were about $30,000 apart on salary.
The job is now listed on the WGRZ website with a salary of $80,000. Another job listed for an anchor and multi-skilled journalist with two years experience preferred pays $75,000 to $85,000.
“Some people may take that the wrong way and think that I’m being greedy or whatever,” said Ly. “But I had a figure in mind that I thought was appropriate compensation for everything that I do, where I would feel appreciated. I would feel that it’s worth me staying there. But it had nothing to do with being tired of news. It had nothing to do with not having it in me anymore. I’ve worked in that newsroom for a very long time and if the offer would have been closer to what I was looking…
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