Nexstar lays off local TV journalists including KTLA’s Glen Walker and Lu Parker

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Nexstar Media Group is laying off employees at its television stations, including some well-known on-air personalities at KTLA in Los Angeles.

KTLA has let go of anchors Glen Walker and Lu Parker, as well as meteorologist Mark Kriski, sources say. These sources were not permitted to discuss the changes publicly.

Kriski started working at KTLA in 1991, and Walker has been an anchor there since 2010. Parker began his time with the station in 2005.

A Nexstar spokesperson stated the company doesn’t discuss employee matters, but confirmed they are “making changes to stay competitive during this rapidly evolving time.”

Nexstar, a major media company based in Texas, is cutting jobs at its stations as part of a larger effort to reduce costs. This comes as the company finalizes a $6.2 billion merger with Tegna. The cuts are happening because fewer people are watching traditional TV, which is impacting advertising revenue as more viewers switch to streaming services.

TV station owners are asking the government to remove a rule that currently limits their reach to 39% of homes in the United States. They argue that removing this limit would allow them to compete more effectively with tech companies, which aren’t subject to the same restrictions.

Nexstar owns more local TV stations than any other company in the United States. They also run the NewsNation cable network, which started in 2020 but hasn’t yet gained much viewership compared to major news channels like CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC.

Nexstar, the owner of Chicago’s WGN, has recently reduced its staff. Over the past few weeks, 21 employees have been let go, including nine news reporters and anchors on Monday alone. This impacts the station’s ability to produce its 12 hours of daily local news.

WGN, often called “Chicago’s Very Own,” is a beloved local station. Recently, the station has received a lot of messages from concerned viewers after its parent company, Nexstar, let go of several long-time employees with valuable experience and knowledge of the station.

Hollywood Inc.

People watching TV over the internet are discovering lots of free news channels, including CNN, that let them watch what they want, when they want, without needing a subscription.

Dean Richards, a well-known entertainment reporter and critic for WGN, is among those who have been laid off. He was a regular presence at Hollywood press events.

Nexstar cut at least three on-air jobs at WPIX in New York, including weekend anchor and reporter John Muller and Arrianee LeBeau, who reported on transportation for the morning news.

SAG-AFTRA, which represents employees at KTLA and WGN, issued a statement blasting the cuts.

As a lifelong movie and news fan, I was really disheartened to hear about Nexstar laying off journalists. It feels like they’re chipping away at the very foundation of local news – the people and resources communities depend on for reliable information. It just highlights how dangerous it is when media companies get too big and consolidated. Honestly, it feels like regulators and Nexstar need to step up and remember that serving the public and supporting the journalists who do that work should be their top priority.

As a big movie and TV fan, I noticed a change a few years back. Back in 2019, Nexstar bought Tribune Broadcasting, and that meant stations like KTLA, WGN, and WPIX all became part of the Nexstar family. It’s interesting to see how these things change the landscape of what we watch!

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2026-02-25 23:31