BREAKING: Political analyst Jon Keller has spoken out following his unexpected layoff from WBZ, a Boston TV station, amidst widespread cutbacks by parent company Paramount. Just last week, five employees were laid off as part of a larger initiative affecting around 2,000 employees across the company.
In his latest MASSterList newsletter released this morning, Keller expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support he received after being let go from the station where he had worked for over 20 years. He stated, “Massholes may not always put their voting energy where their mouths are, but here’s some good news about us – scratch the gruff, bleep-off exterior and there’s a good chance you’ll find a deep reservoir of grace and compassion.”
Keller’s departure follows a long and celebrated career at WBZ, where he joined in 2005 and became a familiar face through his “Keller @ Large” segments featured during WBZ News at 5 and 6 p.m. news broadcasts.
He also thanked his audience for their messages, promising, “We’re going to respond to every last one.” Keller urged his followers to continue engaging with his work, stating, “Please keep reading our work here and in Boston Magazine, and pass the word to others who might be interested. And stay tuned. More to come.”
This isn’t the first time Keller has faced layoffs; he was previously cut from WBZ Newsradio 1030 in 2020 during a wave of layoffs at iHeartMedia. The current cuts come as part of a significant restructuring by Paramount following its $8 billion merger with Skydance, with approximately 1,000 layoffs already implemented.
As the situation develops, it remains unclear how many more layoffs will follow in the coming days. The impact on local news coverage and viewer engagement is yet to be fully realized. Stay tuned for updates on Keller’s next steps and further announcements from WBZ.
