A prominent Californian news anchor, a familiar face to viewers for nearly three decades, has left her station following fraught contract negotiations that she describes as a cost-cutting move targeting older, expensive employees.
A Shocking Proposal After Decades of Service
Darya Folsom, 60, had anchored the flagship morning news show at San Francisco's KRON-TV, a Nexstar outlet, for 27 years. Her contract was due to expire on November 12. However, just weeks before that date, negotiations took a startling turn. Instead of renewing her on-air role, the network proposed a stark demotion.
Folsom revealed the offer was for an off-air position as a producer for the station's app and streaming content. This new role would have been just one day a week and came with a salary $50,000 lower than her current earnings. "They made it clear that they're cutting costs and they want to save money. And I think that they jumped at the opportunity to save my salary," Folsom stated.
She interpreted the message from her employer as: "Let's get rid of old, expensive people." The veteran broadcaster felt the proposal was akin to being hidden away. "I kind of felt like it was a way to stick me in a closet or something," she added.
Fighting Back and Ultimately Walking Away
Refusing the lowball offer, Folsom, through her agent, pushed to retain her original morning show role. She believed the terrible offer was a deliberate attempt to force her out. While KRON eventually agreed to let her stay on air, they attached a significant condition: the new contract would not make her eligible for severance pay and would last only one year.
"You're old, you're expensive, you get severance. So what we're gonna do is we're gonna have a new contract that says you don't get severance," Folsom explained. Faced with this choice, she decided to let her existing contract expire in November and accept the severance package from that agreement instead.
Folsom noted that the network had been struggling financially and that she had previously agreed to a pay freeze and forfeited an allowance for clothing and makeup. Having joined KRON after stints in Arizona and Washington DC, she considered the Bay Area station her professional "home," where she had even raised two children, famously keeping a "puke bucket" by her desk during morning sickness.
Legacy and a New Chapter
Reflecting on her long career, Folsom emphasised the value of experienced staff and the deep connection she forged with audiences. "There’s huge value in listening to older people," she urged. "They [viewers] can get the story from Google, but they tune in for me." She recalled offering comfort during grim headlines, assuring viewers, "But it's okay. Good morning. It's okay. We're gonna get you through this morning."
Now off the air, Folsom offers surprising advice: "Don’t start your day with news - start your day with you." She is now channeling her energy into a more positive venture, planning a YouTube channel named Wake up with Darya to explore uplifting stories. "My life is me awakening," she reflected. "I do want a voice. I do. I’m not done. This was never me retiring. This was KRON not wanting me."
