Writing an opinion piece on the recent KTVL layoffs feels more like writing the station’s obituary.

But let’s be real, that’s what Sinclair did. It took just over a decade, but ultimately it killed a hard-working, local newsroom and managed to strangle the passion and spirit of the journalists who worked there.

My journey with KTVL began in 2002. I fell in love with not just reporting local news, but the people I worked with, the beautiful area of Southern Oregon, and the idea I was turning into a real journalist.

In late 2011, we learned Sinclair Broadcast Group had purchased KTVL. I remember the day several of the company’s top officers flew into Southern Oregon on the company jet to have an all-staff meeting with its latest acquisition.

It was so grandiose, almost like we were being saved. There were promises of new equipment, new opportunities and new incentives. In the beginning, a lot of that came true. We did get new equipment. New lights were installed in the studio. But the bright promises were soon overshadowed.

With no real grasp of our viewing area or the flavor of our local news, Sinclair pushed its agenda on us.

We were told to do certain stories or promos the larger Sinclair-owned stations were doing. Larger markets with triple our staff, better equipment and more resources. It was beyond frustrating, and the pressure was always on. Mostly for our managers.

The subtle changes in our local news program didn’t draw too much attention. At first. Little by little though, we’d get phone calls asking about all the “right-wing propaganda” that was filling our local news.

As journalists, many of us would cringe as we watched these stories from Sinclair’s “national correspondents.” But there was nothing we could do about it.

There was a turning point for me in early 2018. The company forced nearly 200 station anchors to read a scripted statement, in which we all warned our viewers about the “fake news” on other stations and media. Remember that?

No one at KTVL wanted to do it. We thought it was ridiculous, disgusting and went against everything we believed in.

We tried to fight it, but this was a mandate. It wasn’t up for discussion. In fact, there was fear if we didn’t read it, we would be fired.

When people across the country learned about this forced statement, all hell broke loose. KTVL was bombarded with emails and phone calls from angry viewers, many of which I answered. It was too much.

I felt broken. I felt like I had done something wrong, like I had let my viewers down. I felt dirty, like I should have stood up for my integrity, even if that meant getting fired. I imagine my KTVL family is feeling very broken right now and incredibly angry.

KTVL was my first news home and my last. I cultivated lifelong friendships there. Many of those friends, who are now working in newsrooms across the country called or texted when they learned the news.

Their first station, their first home in the news business, was gone.

I learned how to be a journalist at KTVL. I covered massive, historic fires that burned our forests, some that burned our towns. I covered murder trials, a recession and a pandemic. I advocated for those who didn’t have a voice.

The current journalists there, and all the journalists I’ve worked with in the past, have only wanted to find the truth and tell the story.

The local story.

In an instant, Sinclair stole that from them. I’m not only broken-hearted for everyone who lost their job, but I’m devastated there won’t be a KTVL anymore.

It’s almost too difficult to comprehend. And I blame a company that not only had zero business purchasing a small market television station but had no clue how to manage one.