KCBS-TV LAYS OFF SIX EMPLOYEES AND WON’T FILL NINE OTHER JOBS

CBS’ latest round of corporate cost-cutting hit the local level Wednesday as KCBS-TV Channel 2 laid off six employees and said it would not be filling nine other vacancies.

That reduction of 15 staff positions follows the elimination last September of 26 other jobs at the station, General Manager Frank Gardner said. Six people were laid off then, too, he said.

The station has thus trimmed its work force by about 10% since last fall, a station spokeswoman said.

The CBS Broadcast Group, of which KCBS is a part, had said earlier this month that it planned to cut 700 jobs in an ongoing effort “to reduce cost and enhance productivity.” The belt tightening was attributed to slowdowns in the national economy and network audience growth that have prompted advertisers to balk at spending ever-greater amounts for TV commercial time.

Among those dismissed at KCBS Wednesday was newsman Bob Dunn, a reporter at the station since 1967.

The station also laid off two news researchers, a graphic artist, a clerk and a newsroom assistant. Gardner said their departure “will in no way affect the quality of our on-air product.”