After nearly 30 years of being a prominent figure at her local California network, a seasoned news anchor has announced her departure following challenging contract discussions.
Darya Folsom, aged 60, has spoken out after dedicated viewers of KRON-TV, a Bay Area Nexstar outlet, noticed her absence from the station’s morning show. Additionally, her author page mysteriously vanished from the network’s website.
Folsom disclosed that her contract was approaching its expiration date on November 12, prompting her to initiate negotiations with KRON just weeks before the deadline.
Having been the anchor of KRON’s flagship morning news program for 27 years, Folsom revealed that the network proposed a new position for her, involving a shift to a behind-the-scenes role as a producer for the station’s app and streaming content.
She expressed her surprise when she learned that the new position would be an off-air role, limited to once a week, and would come with a $50,000 reduction in salary.
“They made it clear that they’re focused on cutting costs and looking to save money. I believe they seized the chance to eliminate my salary,” Folsom shared with the Daily Mail.
She said the message she took from her former employer was: ‘Let’s get rid of old, expensive people.’
‘I kind of felt like it was a way to stick me in a closet or something. I was like, wait a minute, what?’ Folsom added.
Darya Folsom, 60, has left local California news station, KRON-TV, after anchoring the flagship morning news show for almost three decades
Folsom said she was shocked by the offer KRON gave her during contract negotiations, and speculated that she was ousted due to her age
Instead of taking the lowball offer, Folsom pushed for her original role back on the morning news show.
Folsom said her agent argued that the network was trying to force her out by giving her a terrible offer.
After pushing for her original role, KRON agreed, but declined to make her position eligible for severance.
‘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. It’s only lasting for a year,’ Folsom said about the offer.
Instead of continuing with KRON, she decided to let her contract expire in November and take the severance from that.
Folsom claimed the network had been struggling and she had already agreed to a pay freeze and forfeited an allowance for clothing and makeup.
Folsom anchored news stations in Arizona and Washington DC, before going to KRON, a network she referred to as her ‘home.’
She had two children during her tenure with the outlet, noting that she even had a ‘puke bucket’ by her desk for morning sickness.
The veteran news anchor told the Daily Mail that her network said they were planning to take her off the air and give her a once-a-week role
Folsom was shocked by the offer and fought to keep her job as the morning news anchor, but ultimately decided to let her contract expire
Folsom said she connected with audiences over her decades-long career, and urged other companies to value older employees.
‘There’s huge value in listening to older people,’ she added.
She said she developed a reputation with audiences, and the network benefited from her presence.
‘They [viewers] can get the story from Google, but they tune in for me.
‘I remember when some headlines were so bad and full of death, and I remember saying: “But it’s okay. Good morning. It’s okay. We’re gonna get you through this morning.”
‘I’m the longest serving anchor. I have a lot of institutional knowledge about the Bay Area news and news in general,’ she added.
Now that Folsom is off the morning news, she recommended that others not start their day tuning into harsh headlines.
‘Don’t start your day with news – start your day with you,’ she said.
Folsom said she loved working on morning news, but cautioned others on starting their day consuming headlines
Folsom is looking to create a YouTube channel called Wake up with Darya, where she’ll explore more positive stories.
‘My life is me awakening,’ Folsom reflected.
‘I do want a voice. I do. I’m not done. This was never me retiring. This was KRON not wanting me,’ Folsom tearfully confessed.
The Daily Mail has reached out to KRON for comment.
