While you were busy reveling in November sweeps cliff-hangers and specials, the shape of local news was being transformed. With familiar faces leaving, editorial staffs shrinking and other assorted wackiness, it's been a busy month for D.C.'s media bigwigs. We're here with the highlights for those who still supplement their fake news with homegrown headlines.

The first hint of the month-long mix-up came when Channel 4's sports institution George Michael declined to renew his contract. Whether you grew up watching him on local news or caught "The Sports Machine" in national syndication, Michael's departure from daily broadcasts next year marks the end of an era. His decision comes amid a swath of cuts at NBC. Despite the cutbacks, Michael told the Post, "NBC made me an extremely, extremely beyond-my-wildest-dreams offer to stay and sign a new deal."

For those overwhelmed by Michael's effusive praise of NBC, look no further than Susan Kidd. After 23 years with Channel 4, 18 of those in the anchor chair, Kidd says she's been "kicked to the curb," as the network focuses on attracting younger viewers. NBC4 mainstays Arch Campbell, Wally Bruckner, I.J. Hudson and weatherman Clay Anderson are similarly being shown the door.

Channel 7's most recognizable anchor Kathleen Matthews also said goodbye this Tuesday. Her departure, to handle communications at Marriott, was friendly, though the announcement initially came as a surprise to network execs. They face a difficult search to fill her shoes.

Photo by Flickr user katmere.

Too erudite for television news? The Post dropped their own November bombshell, announcing a major restructuring, including "slimming down" the editorial staff and a renewed focus on washingtonpost.com. Executive Editor Leonard Downie, Jr., says story length will be shortened and "news holes" (the amount of editorial, non-paid content) like stock tables in the Business section will be filled.

Shortly after that decision, Post political reporters Jim VandeHei and John Harris made public their plans to leave the paper and launch a multimedia venture centered around a political news Web site. The undertaking, backed by Channel 7's parent company, Albritton, may also have a television link. Details are about the plan are still fuzzy, but it still marks the loss of two solid journalists from the Post's rolls.

Let's just hope this venture doesn't involve any re-enactments of CNN's election-night blog party at Tryst. The eerily bright lights and almost total lack of chatter between folks furiously typing away was a bizarre foray into taking blogging to the small screen. Trust us, blogs are like laws and sausages: nice to have around, but making them isn't pretty.

Finally, in the "news IS the news" category, D.C.'s "other" paper got wrapped up in a kiddie porn investigation. Former Washington Times HR director Randall Casseday pleaded guilty to soliciting sex from a minor online. Unfortunately he did most of his dirty deeds on his work computer and in his office. D'oh.

So there's your roundup of the fourth estate's sweet November. We're not sure what all these changes mean quite yet, but we suspect local news in 2007 will be cheaper, younger and webbier than ever.