Douglas’ farewell email: Regrets ‘not saying goodbye to viewers’

WCCO chief meteorologist Paul Douglas, just let go from the CBS TV station, apparently with little warning, sent this email to friends and coworkers:

I wanted to drop you a quick note, before you read about it or hear about it elsewhere. This week I was terminated from WCCO-TV, after 14 wonderful years at CBS. Times are tough, many people are losing their jobs, and I am not exempt from this troubling trend. The simple truth: like many other CBS employees I was a target at a time when there are systemic, long-term challenges. No attempt was made to negotiate a lower salary; it was pretty cut and dry. It’s just business, dollars and cents – I get it. My only real regret: not saying goodbye to viewers and radio listeners, who I am indebted to for a glorious 22 year career in this market. I leave with fond memories, having worked with the best anchors, reports, producers, directors in the industry, people who I count as irreplaceable friends as well as colleagues.

Yes, I’ve been blessed to be able to rub shoulders with professionals I genuinely care about. Know this: Laurie and I are committed to staying in Minnesota long-term. We have new things cooking, new challenges, new goals. The future is bright, the outlook promising. Hey, trust me. I’m a weatherman. Thanks to Garmin’s purchase of Digital Cyclone last year I won’t be living in a van down by the river anytime soon (although I must say I’d be fine with that if I had DirecTV, a small Doppler radar, and a fistful of gadgets, by the way). I’ve found that things in life, however jarring and unnerving, usually happen for a reason. I guess I was meant to turn the page and move on to the next chapter. Sometimes we all need a kick in the tail, to get us on the course we’re meant to take.

So I’m fine. Laurie is fine. We’re a bit dazed, but anyone picking up a newspaper or watching local news wouldn’t be shocked at this aggressive cost-cutting measure. I realize it’s not personal. On the family front things are good. Our family is ok. Our youngest son, Brett, just got an appointment at the U.S. Naval Academy. Walt is loving Penn State, has 2 jobs lined up this summer.

We will remain involved in the charities and community organizations and causes we really care about. We are dedicated to Minnesota. Our Chicago experience proved to us that bigger is not necessarily better. Minnesota is an extraordinary place, and we are here for life. No question about that. I hope we can keep in touch, share laughs, share our lives – the only change is that I won’t have to schlep downtown twice a day.

It’s been a great 11 year run at ‘CCO, and I’ll miss working with many of you on a daily basis. The only predictable thing is change – a new door has opened up and I have to follow my heart (and business trends) and focus where the eyeballs are headed – the internet.

After some meetings in D.C. we are now on to New York, back in town next Wednesday. But I wanted you to hear this directly from me, unfiltered.

No spin.

We’ll be in touch.

Doug