Anchor Mike Barajas off Fox 26 KRIV website
UPDATE 1/18/2011
FOX: KRIV 26 anchor Mike Barajas is on vacation
The emails started coming in after midnight Saturday morning and went into the night. Sorry I am only posting this now, but I was busy watching my son and reporting on Texas gun owner fears after the Arizona shooting.
I am told by multiple sources connected with Fox 26 KRIV that main anchor Mike Barajas is no longer with the station. His last show was the Friday 9pm newscast. There was supposedly no mention about his departure on TV. Barajas announced his departure after the show to a surprised staff.
According to Barajas' online bio, he's been with FOX since 1986. He started out as the weekend anchor and was later promoted to anchoring the midday newscast. In 1992, he was promoted to the main newscast FOX 26 News at 9. Before KRIV, Barajas was a reporter for KPRC.
And as I have written before, KTRK 13 anchor Erik Barajas is Mike's nephew. Once again, Houston will only know what it is like to have one Barajas on TV news.
I have been told various reasons as to why he is leaving, including news about other possible talent departures coming up. Will try to sort it out with the Fox Broadcasting Monday. Stay tuned.
(Thanks to all that sent me this info and even complained I did not have it up Saturday...I know you care!)
UPDATE 1/18/2011
FOX: KRIV 26 anchor Mike Barajas is on vacation
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Wow, what a big loss for them. Probably not as they'll just replace him(if they haven't already) and move along. Hope to see Mike catch on elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteWhat is going on at KRIV they continue to throw out every person they have hired in the past 10 years. I guess they think no one would notice?
ReplyDeleteIm not surprised at all. KRIV has been a mess for the past year, with the producers making reporters give their opinions that feel like they are 10 minutes long as well as making such a big deal about some small story instead of doing what they are supposed to be doing... just delivering the news!!! I wish Mr. Barajas all the best though. His talent deserves better...
ReplyDeleteRick is right. Fox News news been just plain awful for the past year with stories about nothing that go on forever. Don't blame the anchors...fire the managers who put this crap on the air.
ReplyDeleteThe way they've handled this situation is awful! Is this the way you treat an employee who's been with the station for over 20 years? Everyone was just bummed Friday. Melinda was in tears. Regardless of how you feel about Mike as an anchor, he was a steady and calming presence in Houston. I hope LULAC storms the station for this!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's the way they treat all fellow employees. No mention of what happened to Mike Barajas, Lanny Griffith, Erin Anthony, Matt Sampsel, Carolyn Canville, Matt Lavine, Todd Duplantis or Cecilia Sinclair. It's as if they never existed even though they've been a part of the "Fox family" for years. They just quietly dissapear. Sad.
ReplyDelete8:26: What exactly happened? Why is he gone?
ReplyDeleteAs a former KRIV insider,I speak from fact. Mike has been on the scope of the GM since the GM arrived about 10 years ago. The GM has wanted his own people from his own ND to his own hand picked on-air staff. The GM has no talent when it comes to picking talent. He goes on gut instict and blows off all the tools that go with talent selection. That is why you have seen the complete destruction of KRIV over the last 10 years. Once a rock and a pillar of consistency and high news ratings has turned into a bottom feeder with a revolving employee door. The GM was aware of Mike's popularity and has been walking on egg shells with Mike since 2000. Mike has always been aware that he would probably be gone at the end of every contract under this GM. Mike is a class act and belongs in a class operation, not that abortion called KRIV.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they will replace Mike with world class anchor Stipe? He was promoted to morning anchor a few months back and at least one manager has taken a liking to him. Funny thing is, everyone one else who comes in contact with him wants to see him spit teeth. Sort of the opposite of Barajas , who was a likable guy.
ReplyDeleteOne might think that KRIV's general manager's days are numbered given the stations lackluster performance in the news dept. I'm surprised he's lasted this long.
ReplyDeleteLooking at their current male talent, Zizka would be a good choice for the 5 and 9, I think. Wish the Chron would do something on Barajas leaving ... I'd like to hear from him.
ReplyDeleteI doubt Ziska will get the job. They'll probably hire someone younger and cheaper.
ReplyDeleteThat's sad..... Mike and Melinda were the ONLY 2 reasons I ever occasionally tuned in to FOX 26 any more.. so uplifting and proffesional they were together...
ReplyDeleteLooks like i'll be watching Art and Melanie at 5 from now on...
Why Mike? He's the best. I wouldn't have much to say about it if they replaced Doug Delaney.
ReplyDeleteMy post was also deleted.i'm an insider who knows that the desk is empty and mike is not on vacation. this blog is pathetic if you can't decipher between fact and fiction. i'm on the insider telling you that you are wrong about vacation but you dont want to hear it. pathetic.
ReplyDelete"My post was also deleted.i'm an insider who knows that the desk is empty and mike is not on vacation."
ReplyDeleteHey anonymous genius. There are two posts on Barajas. Your comment is on the other one I believe so it was not deleted. Try not to hurt yourself using the Internet.
I did delete two comments. One was making all kinds of accusations that I have no idea about. The other attacked me...not that I care, but readers were offended by the language so it is gone.
John... Doug delany is not an anchor. I think you mean chris stips? They kinda look alike.
ReplyDeleteNo you ass, thee were two about his desk. Mine was DELETED! Try not to hurt YOURSELF using your own blog. It's obvious why your career has taken a turn for the worse.
ReplyDeleteThe way you sweet talk me, you must be in management!
ReplyDeleteAs you wrote,"i'm on the insider." If you are on The Insider, tell Lara Spencer hello for me.
Anoymous, I meant Doug Delaney. I know them apart. Doug comes on in the morning almost begging people to go to My Fox Houston blog site. He did call his self "My Tech Guy" at myfoxhouston.com blogs. He came on with blogs like, "I had to suspend a few..." He has litterally ruined the blogs. If you don't already know, just check it out. It used to be interesting but now, it's litterally dead. It sucks. In a city as large as Houston, there's not an excuse for that. They just suspend members for anything. Sometimes for nothing at all. They never answer an e-mail as to why and Doug Delaney never answers his messages either. I would like to see him go and I would lmao. But Mike Barajas, now this is unbelievable that he would go! They are screwed up.
ReplyDeleteKHOU stopped using their blogs too for some reason. i think all the media sites have moved on to facebook and twitter. blogging is on the decline because of social networking.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2011/01/10/blogging-in-decline-or-just-evolution
Anonymous, the blog site at myfoxhouston is not closed like KHOU, it's still opened. But they will delete the account if anyone carrys on a decent bebate. Agreed that facebook and other places are more popular but people still blog too. It's not so public as the social sites are. It's the moderators at myfoxhouston site doing this to the blog site. And Doug has come on in the past and admitted to suspending members. They are just sorry. A member writes a blog and they are deleted. BTW, still checking for info on Mike. Anything new?
ReplyDeleteNo update as of now.
ReplyDeleteI wated fox26 this morning for the first time. I didn't think it was that bad, except for the American Idol segment. The dj chick they had on there was horrible. Perky works on the radio, but not on tv. It would be a good segment if they got someone that really knew music, like Scott Gertner or someone like that. Is he still around?
ReplyDeleteRemember when you first reported that Mike was gone, within hours someone posted that "LULAC should storm the building". It appears that LULAC is now making inquiries. Please post an update.
ReplyDeletethree weeks and counting... and mike is still on vacation in january and the desk is still empty??? yea right!
ReplyDeletemike do you actually report for cw 39? i didnt think anyone watched that network and i didnt know they even had a news program.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.newsblues.com/
ReplyDeletehouston anchor suspended for flipping the bird on youtube?? do you know who this is?
I said it was going to be a long vacation. I wish him well and hope he stays in Houston.
ReplyDeleteThe bird flipping was Owen Conflenti; it appears he was not suspended: Details
ReplyDeleteSince Mike Barajas did not take it easy on Tom Delay in his interview with him after his conviction, I knew something was going to happen to him, since the FOX Network is owned by the Republican Party.
ReplyDeleteSo let me get this straight, in other words: Mike was given the boot at Fox 26 by the arrogant GM dictator (the dude has threw out everyone good over there from the late Robert Smith, Cecilia Sinclair, Matt Lavine, etc.,)
ReplyDeleteWho's next, Jose Grinan better watch his back.
It is very unfortunate that the idiot GM has no clue to what he's doing. Mike is and has been a prominent figure in the city of Houston for 26+ years. No doubt he will end up elsewhere and continue a successful career. Best of luck to you Mr. Barajas.
ReplyDeleteHey Mike! We miss you! Fox News is not the same without you, so we won't be watching. It's not the same without you.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know where Mr. Barajas is? I would love to see him again. His voice and face are surely missed.
ReplyDeleteMike is a neighbor. He is still in HOuston happy with his family. Not in Alaska as some idiots have falsely posted on this site.
ReplyDeleteIts sad to know that Mike Barajas is no longer with FOX news, I will trully miss him.
ReplyDeleteWe moved here from another state and it is Fox Houston is going downhill. They report on mundane issues. We do remember Mike Barajas who is a true professional and we hope to see him again soon on another more appreciative network.
ReplyDeleteHow about replacing Mike with Randy Wallace?
ReplyDelete