After more than a decade with the network, Ellina Abovian is speaking out on an unexpected career setback that came at a deeply personal moment in her life.
The Los Angeles-based journalist, who spent more than a decade at KTLA, revealed she was let go just as she was approaching her 40th birthday. After 11 years with the station, the sudden decision left her grappling with shock and uncertainty.
A Sudden End After More Than a Decade
Abovian detailed the experience in a solo podcast episode titled My KTLA Layoff, where she described how quickly everything changed. What began as a routine workday ultimately became her final day at the network.
Earlier that day, she had been reporting from LAX and working alongside a photographer she had known for 13 years, someone connected to her earlier time in San Diego. She later reflected on that moment as unexpectedly symbolic.
Shortly after, she received a call from her boss requesting a meeting. It was there that she learned her time at KTLA had come to an end as part of a broader round of layoffs at KTLA.
“This can’t be it,” Abovian recalled thinking as the news was delivered.
She also described addressing her superiors directly during the meeting, pointing out that she was a single mother with two children among those affected by the layoffs.
Emotional Impact and Personal Reflection
The timing of the dismissal added to the emotional weight of the situation. Abovian shared that the experience resurfaced long-standing fears tied to financial stability and uncertainty.
On her podcast, she explained that the moment triggered a “scarcity mindset” she had experienced growing up. As a parent, her immediate concern centered on how such a change could impact her children, even as she expressed confidence that she would ultimately be okay.
“As a parent, the first fear was whether something like this could affect her children,” she said, describing the internal struggle that followed the news.
Despite the shock, Abovian has been open about processing the experience publicly, offering insight into both the professional and personal challenges that come with sudden job loss.
Abovian was not alone in the cuts. Several other KTLA figures, including Glen Walker, Lu Parker, Mark Kriski, and Kacey Montoya, were also affected.
The layoffs come as Nexstar, the station’s parent company, moves to reduce costs while pursuing a merger with Tegna.
Abovian has said she felt blindsided by the decision, particularly after dedicating 11 years of her career to the station.
Her story highlights the often unpredictable nature of the media industry, where long-standing roles can shift without warning. As she continues to share her experience, Abovian is offering a candid look at resilience in the face of sudden change.
