Already a little light in the reporter-body department, KSTP-TV lost another one when Ross Kirgiss, a 13-year vet, abruptly cleaned out his desk, apparently over the New Year’s weekend, and vacated the Hubbard ranch. Colleagues who have tried to contact him since say they’ve heard nothing back.
I’m told Kirgiss had several months to go on his latest contract, but that for whatever the reason finally had enough and bailed under the cloak of a holiday. In the biz that’s called a “burn your bridges” move.
Several KSTP staffers remember Kirgiss not being too pleased when the station yanked the consumer beat he enjoyed doing, being further annoyed when he was slid back into the general assignment pool, and being mightily peeved when the suits started consumer reporting back up … without him.
How much that played in his decision, I can’t say. But Kirgiss is gone, and KSTP, which still hasn’t replaced Joe Schmit, Mike Binkley and Kristin Stinar … has others spread pretty thin. Like, for example, Tom Hauser, who is doing super duty anchoring the morning show, (Binkley’s old job), while still hosting “At Issue”, and covering politics.
Can you stand on an overpass in blizzard? Obstruct the view of a burning house while covering a fire? Issue warnings to stay off thin ice? Apply immediately to 3415 University Avenue.
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