More downsizing at KTLA?

ERS News says that seven Channel 5 news staffers got the pink slip today, including on-air reporters Walter Richards, Bill Smith, Willa Sandmeyer and Janet Choi. Two long-time executive producers also are named, along with Joseph Russin, the executive planning editor who had previously been an assistant managing editor at the L.A. Times in charge of coordinating coverage with KTLA (thus, doing what Sam Zell says he wants his properties to do.) I have no independent confirmation of the names, but you'll remember that in May a new boss was brought in to start downZelling the newsroom. Back in April ex-anchor Carlos Amezcua predicted big changes at KTLA — and not for the better. Meanwhile, the reporters' bios remain on the staff page and Smith's blog is still up.