NEWS ANCHOR: “I am no longer employed at WMT victim of down sizing”

Like similar messages on other mornings, WMT Morning News Anchor Lauri Struve sent this Tuesday morning on Twitter: “On the 600WMT newsdesk: Fatal Delaware Co. crash; same sex couples tie the knot; more swine flu- not a single pig is sick, just people.”

Less than five hours later she sent this message as she was walking out the door at WMT: “I am no longer employed at WMT victim of down sizing.”

“Seemed like the thing to do, since I tweeted so much about the news and what was on air,” she told me today about her decision to sent the quick update to Twitter.

Lauri Struve, former radio anchor and current Twitter user

Twitter has turned into an instant news machine for many. This evening, for example, I read up on KCRG’s Mark Geary’s play-by-play on a shooting investigation in southeast Cedar Rapids.

You can share as much or as little as you want.

In days past, people might not have thought of publicly announcing that they were downsized, especially as they were leaving their former employer’s place. But, then they might also not get immediate support from friends.

By mid-day Tuesday, people had offered their support to Struve and even passed along information on job opportunities. Her tweets were also posted to her Facebook page, so friends sent support there, too.

“The connection of social media has really made this a different experience,” she told me tonight.

“Thanks to all my friends online for the support today. It means the world!” Struve tweeted at 3:49 p.m. Tuesday.

About a half hour later she told the world about telling her mom about what happened that morning.

“Told my mom about being one of the black tues 590,” she tweeted. “That sucked more than being told I was one of the cuts.”

Related stories:
For KWWL’s story on Clear Channel layoffs click here. For the Des Moines Register’s story go here.

Also, in March, Cedar Rapids’ unemployment rate stood at 5.4 percent, according to this report. Iowa City’s is the second lowest among U.S. metro areas at 3.6 percent, according to the same report.