WIVB has been dumping/losing longtime staffers and replacing them with inexperienced low price people in their place.

The latest to hit the door is longtime Reporter George Richert, who has been at the station for 17 years.

Richert is getting out while he still can. He leaves the station at the end of the month to become the director of communications for Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.

"This really feels right," said Richert to the Buffalo News. "It sounds corny. I've always believed to everything there is a time and a purpose. I really trust my timing on this move."

In other words, he got out before he was pushed out.

News Director Scott Levey has announced some new hires that come with much less experience than Richert and we're betting a much lower salary.

Levy also announced the hiring of Angela Christoforos, from Time Warner Cable News in Buffalo.

A week ago, Levy announced the hiring of reporter Rachele Mongiovi, a Kent State graduate who previously worked at WTAP in West Virginia.

Since becoming news director in November of 2014, The Buffalo News reports that Levy has hired several women reporters and anchors, including Katie Alexander, Callan Gray, Ali Ingersoll, Marissa Perlman and Jenn Schanz. The lone male reporter hired in that time is Dave Greber.

Last July, Levy said it isn’t easy finding qualified male reporters to work in Buffalo, which is now outside the Top 50 television markets.

“It’s not because it’s Buffalo and cold weather specifically, but many male reporters are having the opportunity to skip the mid-size market such as Buffalo and land a job directly in a top 30 market with three-to-five years experience now,” said Levy in July.

“During the hiring process, I’m looking for the best candidate available and talk to both men and women. Gender is not a factor in the decision, but I’m seeing a trend of more qualified females applying for our open positions here in Buffalo.”