STATUS’ Natalie Korach noted after the Washington Post’s sweeping layoffs in February, it “brought on Bailey Johnson to cover the Capitals and Danielle Allentuck to cover the Nationals.” A Post spokesperson said that reporters are “not being hired back from the same roles they had before.” The spokesperson added, “We are listening to customer feedback and addressing it in real time.” The spokesperson noted that Exec Editor Matt Murray has “maintained that The Post will continue to cover sports since the February cuts” (STATUS.news, 4/2).
SWING-AND-MISS: In Chicago, Jeff Agrest wrote White Sox TV voice John Schriffen “sent shockwaves through the Sox’ offices” this week after he “bestowed a potentially racist nickname on Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami” during Tuesday’s game against the Marlins. Schriffen called Murakami the “South Side Samurai.” Analyst Gordon Beckham “seemed to approve.” Sox officials were not “as excited about the possibility of offending viewers.” Fans should not “expect to hear the nickname again” (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/2).
ON THE MARKET: In Montreal, Brendan Kelly noted French-language TV rights to 39 Canadiens games are “still available for next season.” Just as the team finally exits from years of losing, it is “possible that francophone fans might not be able to watch all the games on conventional TV.” Last October, Bell Media, which owns RDS, announced that the French-language sports network will broadcast 45 regular-season Canadiens games a year as of next season, down from 60. Kelly: “If Quebecor doesn’t buy them, who will? One scenario is that TVA Sports can take some of the games and the rest will go to a streaming platform” (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 4/2).
