Projo Biz Blog

Citadel Broadcasting, which owns five radio stations in the Rhode Island market, has laid off three of its on-air personalities, including Charlie Jefferds, a long-time DJ on WWLI-FM (Lite 105) and a member of the Rhode Island Radio Hall of Fame.

Barbara Haynes, market manager for Citadel, said the company also let go Joey Foxx of WWKX-FM (Hot 106) and Kerry Collins of WPRO-FM. She said the company also laid off one additional employee who was not on the air. "It was just necessary economics," Haynes said. "We had to have some real serious belt-tightening. Good people are losing their jobs right now."

Jefferds, who had been on Lite 105 for 17 years, has a career in Rhode Island broadcasting that goes back decades, with time out for stints in Philadelphia and New York City. In a phone interview, Jefferds said he and Citadel parted on good terms. "I had a very good run in this business. . . I was very lucky I was able to do something I wanted to do every day. I feel blessed I was able to do that."

Jefferds, who gave his age as "across the old 70 mark" said he hopes to stay busy with free-lance work. Initially, he said he doubted he would go back into full-time radio. Then he called back to amend that: "But you never say never."

 Tags  Charlie Jefferds Citadel Broadcasting Joey Foxx Kerry Collins layoffs WPRO WWKX WWLI

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