KDKA-TV Cuts Jobs Amid Paramount Restructuring Efforts

Pittsburgh, PA – KDKA-TV has laid off several employees, including on-air talent, as part of a company-wide reduction following the ownership transition to Skydance. The cuts announced today affected a dozen positions at both KDKA-TV and sister station WPKD.

Among those let go were reporter Katie O’Malley, along with Kelly Dzanaj and Lisa Smith, both of whom were key on-air personalities. O’Malley took to social media to express her gratitude for her time with the station, stating, “I truly love being part of Team PTL and I’m beyond grateful for this chapter in my journey.”

The restructuring move appears to align with new company goals as outlined by Paramount CEO David Ellison. In a memo acquired by TribLive, Ellison noted, “We recognize these actions affect our most important asset: our people.” He emphasized that minimizing redundancies and realigning roles is essential for the company’s future.

The layoffs are part of a broader action affecting approximately 1,000 jobs this week, with another 1,000 cuts anticipated in upcoming months. Additionally, CBS News announced plans to cancel streaming shows, including “CBS Mornings Plus,” and close its Johannesburg bureau.

Dzanaj and Smith had not publicly commented on their dismissals at the time of this report. Going forward, the weekly show “Intersections” will transition to a monthly release, moderated by various KDKA talent.

This latest move adds to the ongoing changes within the media landscape as companies seek to reposition themselves in a shifting environment.