You Can't Get Rid of Me That Easily John Matthews

Whether it was the Aloha shirts, the morning tabs, or the unbelievable Disney obsession, there was no escaping John Matthews unique personality. From day one via email I knew we were going to be best friends. (I know that has become one of my tag lines but this is genuine.)

John today handed me my original cover letter and resume today that I submitted over a year ago for the position of news desk assistant. I was desperate to get a foot in the door to broadcast journalism. I career choice I had very little experience in, but knew I wanted to spend my life pursuing.

John returned the resume because he was cleaning out his office. He was one of about 5 we lost in the citadel massacre. Someone in Las Vegas seemed to have been very confused and decided his position was no longer necessary. BIG MISTAKE.

Citadel Cuts MAL's Core & More - 2/29 - A bloodbath at Citadel talker WMAL today. Longtime DC radio talker Chris Core (right) has been let go and WMAL promptly erased him from its 630wmal.com website. We're told that it was "not personal," just "part of a massive cutback country-wide by Citadel." Core has worked at WMAL more than three decades, doing the Bill "Trumbull And Core" afternoon show in the 1980s. "I'm okay with it. They were very generous with me," Core, 59, told a trade pub. "It's been a great run." DCRTV hears that evening man Chris Plante will be moved into Core's 9 AM time slot. Plus, WMAL News Director John Matthews, a 25-year WMAL vet, got the axe along with reporter Matt Bush. WMAL already farms out its night and weekend newscasts to Metro Networks. Also, DCRTV is hearing that Citadel is seriously thinking about ditching WMAL's Fred Grandy and Andy Parks morning show. For Don Imus? And there are rumblings of yet more cuts at Citadel's three DC stations - WMAL, WRQX, and WJZW - including the latter's entire airstaff (see newsblurb below). Stay tuned.....

The hits came as a surprise to everyone, including Chris Core and our GM Chris Berry. So when I spoke with the management team over the loss of Chris, needless to say it came as a huge blow to find out John was included. As I am sure you all have seen in previous pieces, John was a superior boss, and is a much needed friend in this industry. But above all he is a superior boss and family member.

After taking this job as web coordinator, I have started to use the video camera for some of my web reports. The first ones I did for practice was this one here on John. This was just a week ago. Thank goodness I had the chance to make it!