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Ah, the humanity -- seriously

By ED BARK
You know how it is when a D-FW television anchor or reporter is sacked due to downsizing.

Station managers invariably have no comment. They say it's because they have to protect themselves against possible lawsuits. So no one said anything on the record when the likes of WFAA8's Macie Jepson and CBS11's Robert Riggs were let go.

But it really doesn't have to be done this way, as CBS-owned WCCO-TV in Minneapolis is showing. The station's web site has a March 16th story headlined, "WCCO Releases Jeanette Trompeter."

That's a reference to an anchor-reporter who joined WCCO in 2005 from a Des Moines, Iowa TV station. The story includes this passage:

"In a message to the station's staff, Vice President and General Manager Susan Adams Lloyd said economic realities during the recession required that she make a very difficult decision. She wished Jeanette all the best."

Lloyd also is quoted in the story as saying, "Like so many businesses in our community that are adjusting to these uncertain economic times, WCCO-TV, too, had to make one of these tough decisions . . . It's a difficult day for all of us today."

WCCO also provided a link for viewers wanting to wish Trompeter well.

Kudos to the station for handling her layoff in a very classy and humane way. It doesn't take much. And it can make a big difference.