A longtime fixture at KATE Radio in Albert Lea is no longer on the air.

After working at the local AM station either part-time or full-time since 1982, Steve Oman was told he no longer had a job at five minutes before 5 p.m. Aug. 14. Oman and Station Manager Bob Mithuen acknowledged the layoff had to do with the same news media cuts found across the nation.

“It’s kind of an industry trend to a point,” Oman said, “but it is also, and I mean this in a nice way, financial management of the company.”

He said Three Eagles Communications, which owns Albert Lea Radio, license holder of KATE-AM and KCPI-FM, has purchased too many stations and needs the revenue made from less staff to pay the debt. He said Three Eagles made cuts companywide. Syndicated shows have replaced live announcers.

“Automation is one way to save money,” he said.

Mithuen disagreed with Oman’s explanation, saying the weak economy is affecting the entire media industry. He said unfortunately it sometimes results in cutbacks with the on-air side of radio stations.

He gave a statement:

“Due to the downturn of both local, regional and national economies, our company, no different than others of its size, has been put into a situation to restructure and reorganize the staff and management of Three Eagles Communications and Albert Lea Radio. We wish Steve the very best in his future endeavors and take solace that if a position comes available to best use his time and talents, he would be available for bringing back.”

Oman, 59, was the news director for the station. Police knew him from visits in the mornings at the county courthouse to review police reports, which he read on the air during news segments. He interviewed local officials during his live afternoon show. His voice also was heard often on announcements of upcoming fundraisers and public events.

Two months ago, his afternoon show was cut in favor of a syndicated program based in the Twin Cities. He said he asked Mithuen if the show’s cancellation meant he would lose his job. Oman said he was told “‘No, we want to keep you here,’ then, boom, two months later, I’m gone.”

Mithuen declined to discuss the conversation, saying it was a private matter.

Oman said he had five minutes to clear out and didn’t get a chance to say farewell to staff or listeners.

“I really did enjoy working with the community. I met a lot of nice folks and made a lot of nice friends,” Oman said. “Hopefully, I can get back to doing something similar.”

He said live and local broadcasts draw a greater audience than syndicated feeds.

“He’s right,” Mithuen said. “Our company prides ourselves on live, local and relevant programming, and when possible, we exercise that as our company’s mission.”

He said the station will maintain its 70-year history of serving southern Minnesota and northern Iowa.

“All of our associates are valued and it is very unfortunate we have to adjust our operation to the current economic times,” Mithuen said.

He noted the company that owns KIMT, a TV station in Mason City, Iowa, recently went through bankruptcy, and he pointed out a morning announcer was cut at KQPR, an FM station in Albert Lea.

Media of all sorts — from book publishers to wire services — are dealing with industry changes in technology, the economy and audience preferences. Newspapers get the most attention, but various companies such as McGraw-Hill, Univision and National Geographic have suffered job losses.

Being on the air for 27 years, Oman had become a household name in Albert Lea.

Oman worked for Three Eagles Communications for nine of those years at the station. He said he received no severance package. He has filed for unemployment and said he will look at what jobs are available.

“I’ve worked pretty much the past 20-some years in radio. That’s what I like doing, and that’s what I enjoy.”

Oman has a wife, Kari, and two daughters, Ajay, 14, and Cassie, 8.

“Life throws some strange curves at people, but you got to roll with the flow sometimes,” he said.