Pete Saiers: Last News

EXCLUSIVE: Another shakeup is afoot in the news division of LA’s Nexstar-owned KTLA, this time behind the scenes. The station’s news director, Pete Saiers, is out. The station’s staff was just informed of his abrupt exit. His last day was today. The official stance is that Saiers and the management mutually agreed to not renew his contract, I hear. Deadline has reached out to KTLA and parent Nexstar for comment.

Michaela Zee editor Longtime KTLA News anchor Lynette Romero will join NBC4’s “Today in LA” as an anchor and reporter, KNBC announced Tuesday, with her first day on-air scheduled for Oct. 10. Prior to NBC4, Romero worked as an anchor at KTLA Los Angeles for 24 years, with her most recent position being a weekend anchor for its morning newscast. KTLA announced her sudden exit on Sept. 14 without a goodbye message from Romero, which sparked controversy on social media. KTLA news director Pete Saiers said in a statement to Variety: “After 24 years, Lynette Romero has decided to move on from anchoring our weekend morning news. We really wanted her to stay and KTLA Management worked hard to make that happen. Lynette decided to leave for another opportunity. We had hoped she would record a farewell message to viewers but she declined. Lynette has been a wonderful member of the KTLA family and wish her and her family the best.”

A Los Angeles news anchor was canned after going off-script on-air and criticizing management for how they dealt with his former colleague’s departure – and viewers are not too happy about it!

Ellise Shafer Anchor Mark Mester is no longer employed by KTLA, Variety has confirmed. Mester was fired on Thursday following a suspension after he criticized on-air how the station went about his co-anchor Lynette Romero’s sudden departure. KTLA announced Romero’s exit last week without a goodbye message to viewers, which drew criticism on social media. According to the Los Angeles Times, KTLA general manager Janene Drafs announced Mester’s firing during a meeting in the newsroom. Mester is also no longer listed as an anchor on KTLA’s website. KTLA news director Pete Saiers said in a statement to Variety: “After 24 years, Lynette Romero has decided to move on from anchoring our weekend morning news. We really wanted her to stay and KTLA Management worked hard to make that happen. Lynette decided to leave for another opportunity. We had hoped she would record a farewell message to viewers but she declined. Lynette has been a wonderful member of the KTLA family and wish her and her family the best.”

Carmen Best, the first Black police chief in Seattle's history who stepped down earlier this year amid budget cuts, started a new gig on Monday as a law enforcement analyst for NBC’s Seattle affiliate, KING 5.   “I am honored to have Chief Best on the KING 5 News team.