Oregon Media Insiders

Two things: I have never worked with nor met Mr. Whelan, but I understand he is regarded as a "good guy." I have never worked for KOIN at any time. That being said, after thirty years, he did not even show up in any research. Even after his stroke, viewers did not flock to him, and in my ten years in Portland, they never have. This was, pure and simply, a business decision, like it or not, just as when any talent signs a huge contract for lots of security and even more money. Add this to the fact that local sports has taken on a less-than-important role over those years because of cable. Does any sports fan stay up until 11:25 pm to get a score? I didn't think so.

Unfortunately, you live by the the contract, you die by the contract.

I think too many postings on this site, while insightful, focus too much on hurt feelings. I believe most of the people who take the time to post are either journalists or ex-journalists, and often have trouble seeing the "big picture" of profit and loss, interpreting research, managing personnel, etc.

If you are NOT in the top 5 on-air talent in any market, regardless whether or not you are a "good guy" or have been on the air for thirty years, and your station is in the tank, and you are at the top of the heap in salary, you are vulnerable. No hurt feelings--business!!! A little more brutal and on-display than most, but a business none the less, with hundreds of millions of dollars in play in the market every year.

"This is the business we have chosen," said Hyman Roth in the The Godfather. We all wish Ed well, but if he and his support team over the years had done their jobs better, he might still be sitting in the seat.

You want stability? Go into another business--without contracts.