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2017-10-22
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"5 Simple Ways Newsroom Leaders Can Help Reduce Burn Out"
This week, #NewsGal is sharing a few things every newsroom leader can easily do to help reduce high turnover rates.
Read her full article now: https://t.co/j3ox6PaZz4
MID-MARKET STATION
#KOAT continues to receive negative reviews from current and former employees, most recently a Reporter/Web Producer wrote, "How many times can the previous complaints be echoed. It seems like @Hearst doesn’t seem to care..."
Read more: https://t.co/FQwXLEVw4p
TOP MARKET STATION
#WTSP was reviewed today by a Producer who describes experiencing Sexual Discrimination in the newsroom, and also wrote, "They hire young and inexperienced so then everyone has to be..."
Read more: https://t.co/KwYQRl4cHh
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News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “Terrible.”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“How many times can the previous complaints be echoed. It seems like Hearst doesn’t seem to care.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“If you’re looking for a station where you’re over worked, unhappy, and want bosses who enjoy seeing you hate life, then come on down! You’re the next contestant on KOAT.
Grand Prize is making it the length of your contract without quitting because of the toxicity that is Greg Shepperd.”
News Director: Kelly Frank
“Micromanaged to the point you can’t be creative or successful.”
While working for WTSP this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Only men are hired as managers by the ND. Created an environment where the “me” is more important than the “we”. Anyone who is there prior to the new management is thought to be incompetent.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“They hire young and inexperienced so then everyone has to be micromanaged instead of allowing veteran journalists set the tone for expectations.”
News Director: Dan Delgado
While applying to work for KCAU this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The current news director and their assistant news director (Andrew “Andy” Bottger) accused me, a job seeker of declining an entry-level news producer position due to financial compensation in November 2017 under the former news director at KCAU. Yes, I did applied for a news producer position and given a first-round interview in November 2017, but there was actually no verbal offer or written offer at all. I did not receive anything from KCAU at all and Andy neither interviewed me for the position nor the former news director never mentioned that Andy was present in the interview. The former news director said that he does not allow entry-level producers to be television news reporters saying “I don’t think it will happen” when informing him of my career aspirations, that he was still interviewing other candidates, and will get back to other candidates for the next step in the hiring process. I sent the station in November 2017 a follow-up/thank you note for the phone interview and heard nothing from them. Even on the previous incarnation of the Nexstar career’s website, the job status was “application received” or “applied” and the job status never changed on the website.
Dan and Andy simply gang up on me and told me you cannot apply and be consider for any news jobs, including another news producer position I recently applied to at KCAU because of something that never even happened. It is already significantly very difficult for job seekers and college graduates like myself to find employment in this industry. KCAU could still try to deny me from applying for other television news jobs at other Nexstar local network station affiliates. Sioux City, IA and Siouxland would have been a nice place to live, but not at KCAU.
For job seekers applying to KCAU or any other starter market station (or even a medium or large market station), do your research, keep all correspondences of the conversations you had with news directors, assistant news directors, executive producers, and all newsroom management personnel, get everything in writing, especially job offers and defend yourself if you come across a television news station falsely accusing you, the job seeker of something that you never did and/or never even happened.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Jesse Fray
“He’s a nice guy who cared most of the time for what the reporters went through. He was reporter in the past, so he really pushes the reporters to be the best they can. He was new to being a news director and it showed when he first started, but towards the end of my time he became better. I liked how he scheduled meetings with each employee to talk about anything.”
While working for KSNT/KTKA/KTMJ this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I’m sure many people will say working in a small town with nothing to do is toxic. Some of the employees didn’t have lives and cared what what happening in yours instead. The company is through Nexstar and that company is just a headache just thinking about it. They require on air talent to do too much volunteering during their free time.
The workload increased once we became Nexstar. It was PKG, 2 VOSOTs over that PKG and a separate VOSOT different from that story which could be an hour or more out of the way.
I’ll say I signed with Media General when they were a thing. Nexstar paid the employees about 21 to $23,000. So a couple thousand less than older reporters on a different contract.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“You’ll learn more than you ever expected. That’s the best part. Yes, you’ll be miserable living in Topeka and you may even want to quit like several other reporters did I worked with back then, but looking back it was all worth it.
Would I recommend: yikes…idk. Yes, but I wouldn’t put myself through that again even if someone paid me $1M an hour.”
News Director: Janet Hundley
“She just started a few months ago. Rachel Bonilla is the AND. Janet is fabulous so far! She has great ideas and is much more focused on creativity and growth. Rachel’s only priority is weather. She’s a pleasant person but she has favorites and isn’t afraid to show it. I’ve heard she might be on the way out, but if she’s still there, I wouldn’t apply unless you have a weather focus.”
While working for WVIT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The management team, specifically the AND and Managing Editor are completely dysfunctional. There is almost zero communication with staff on major issues. We’ve had several people go on maternity leave over the last few months and their replacements weren’t told until days before. Producers are salaries and not given overtime, but consistently forced to work 10-12 hour days with no compensation. Reporters are often asked to stay late and cover other shows but they are unionised and paid hourly. Serious advice: if you do not have a weather focus, *do not* apply. You will not be happy. Very little enterprise reporting done here, stories are basically weather related, minor “breaking news” (ie. car crash, small fire) or a copy of what the competition or local paper did a few days ago. New ideas or suggestions are generally shot down. Assignment desk (managing editor) and AND make *all* of the story decisions, reporters don’t pitch and are discouraged from weighing in, they just show up and are assigned a story. Please be cautious accepting a job here. The only reason it’s worth it is because it’s an O&O and typically pays more than the competition.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“There’s a reason this station suffers in the ratings and is constantly understaffed.”
News Director: Lisa Chavez
“She’s a web aficionado Made news director. Web is thriving while TV is floundering. She’s indecisive and plays favorites. Unless you’re from Idaho or planning on living in Idaho forever, you will be ostracized from the inner sanctum.”
While working for KTVB this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management hangs in a clique because they’ve been working with each other for 20 years. So, unless you’re in their in-crowd, you won’t get the good stories, or access to station resources. Retaliation is also common in this newsroom for personal issues.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Again, unless you plan on staying. Boise forever, it’s not worth uprooting your life. There is better experience elsewhere.”
News Director: Ashley Talley
Experience described as: “Constructive, educational”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“I was surprised to read the other review about this station. I believe Ashley is a great leader and she’s very open to feedback from her staff. This is the perfect market if it’s your first stop and you’re looking to get your foot in the door. It’s also a great opportunity to grow as a leader in a newsroom if you’re looking to get into management. You’re encouraged to be creative and try new things no matter what position you’re in. There are a lot of people who come in with a two year contract and end up signing extensions, which wouldn’t happen if it was toxic. Ashley’s also helpful if you want to move on to a bigger market. She seems to want what’s best for her employees. I don’t know who wrote that other review, but I don’t think it was accurate at all.”
News Director: Morgan Schaab
Experience described as: “Good, was better under Vogel”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“I love this station, but Aaron Vogel turned this shop around! He is the best thing that’s happened to WAND!”
News Director: Callie Starnes
“Great News Judgement, little tempermental. There is a method to her choices and she is great at managing talent.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“This station, is organized chaos. Not in a bad way, but there is always room for improvement. This station will break you down, and build you back up again even stronger. Although at times this newsroom can be messy, it’s one of the best newsrooms I have seen in a while. The news director is great at managing and cultivating talent if she takes an interest in you. Although you do have to stay on her, about critiques. She is harsh, but for her to be so young, she is wiser beyond her years. Stand your ground in petty squabbles and you’ll do fine here. It’s not a place for newcomers, you definitely need experience, but people at this station jump high and for good reason. Great newsroom to work and grow as a reporter. Plenty of opportunities to succeed and grow, you just have to earn it.”
News Director: Andy Paras
“Really great. Andy is a great leader to the newsroom. He takes on a sort of fatherly figure (NOT in a weird way). He is so supportive of what we want to cover and really listens to us. I’ve grown a lot in my year here with his support and critiques.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“I’m so glad that I chose WGFL as my first job. It is a really positive work environment where all of the reporters support, critique and volunteer to help each other. We are owned by Sinclair, but since we are small, they don’t really try to control us. But also what comes with that is lack of money. The equipment isn’t that great, but we find ways to make it work. Andy is always a great advocate for us to higher management and to tries to better our opportunities in any way he can. In the long run, I’d take a small market with not-so-great resources any day over a toxic newsroom. I decided to stay and finish out my 2 year contract because I am extremely comfortable here.”
News Director: Jenny Martinez
“News director hardly shows up to work to give you feedback on your on air talent and she always lies to your face. Do not believe a word she says.”
While working for KRGV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Jenny will sweet talk you into joining the company but she lies about everything. She will tell you that you can grow and become an anchor but once you sign the contract they do what they please. They tell you that they will have you do Spanish stories “AS NEEDED” but it’s an everyday thing doing double work for English and spanish stories. One of the female producers is always yelling and talking trash behind your back. Do not work here. The assistant news director is very unorganized and just sits in his office and watches wrestling. He is very clueless and makes a news story more difficult than what it should be and you can’t miss him from a mile away.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Jenny the news director is always gone for months and shows up for a few weeks then leaves again for a few more months. You never get feedback from her about your on air talent. And she always lies to your face.”
News Director: Morgan Schaab
“I’ve worked with several news directors and Morgan is by far the best. She knows her stuff and is a team player and roots for everyone’s success.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Postive, Fun
News Director: Jana Gray
Experience described as: “Good”
While working for KNDU this person experienced:
“I will say this, everyones experience is different. While this station has its flaws like every newsroom does, I had an overall positive time at KNDU. For the most part I was able to get along easily with the other employees including other reporters, anchors, and management. Although there were some people who were at times tough to work with, some are no longer there. I will say I wish I had gotten more feedback from my News Director. There were a lot of times where I could have really used some direction and constructive criticism, and it just wasn’t there. There needs to be just as much positive feedback as telling someone what they did wrong. Scheduling could get a bit wonky here and there as well, but it often would get figured out in the end.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Despite the flaws, I look back on my time at my starter market as a positive one. I got along well with the other reporters and we would all hang out outside of work. There is no competitiveness between reporters either. Everyone is always willing to help each other. Tracci Dial, the main anchor, acted like a mentor to me. She would always stop what she was doing to go over my scripts and helped me become a stronger writer. She was the main source of the positive feedback on your stories in the newsroom. I think your time at this market is what you make it. You need to be a self-starter and motivated because no one is really going to hold your hand. KNDU has had some strong newsrooms in the past with hard working reporters so it can easily have that again if you’re willing to be a team player. You’ll also want to be willing to learn more than one position as you will often be trained to do weather or fill-in anchor. Jana Gray (news director) is also incredibly understanding about personal situations. And when I approached her near the end of my contract to let her know I was searching for my next job, she was incredibly supportive. Jana respects the hardworking reporters so as long as you show her you’re ready to work and put in the time, you won’t have a problem with her. So even though the other reviews on here state that it is an incredibly toxic newsroom, I didn’t have that experience. It does have its flaws (no newsroom is perfect) but from research while moving onto my next market, there are far worse newsrooms out there. My advice, take each review with a grain of salt because everyone has a different experience. Maybe some of the people who wrote the negative reviews didn’t have a good experience because they weren’t the best of employees…..Something to consider.”
News Director: Ashley Hall
“She is a toxic, negative, manipulative, and fake.”
While working for KRDV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Ashley is not suited as an ND. This station has a lot of new stuff, and will give you loads of experience, but be prepared to work in a hostile, negative environment where you are not valued whatsoever.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
News Director: Amie Hudspeth
“An utter nightmare. No leadership or organizational skills. No productive criticism. Yeller, screamer with no purpose. Really has no newsroom skills and tries to cover through a berating and condescending attitude. A fourth grader would be an upgrade.”
While working for KAVU this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“If I were a minority or female, I might’ve had a chance, but the black female news director has a serious chip on her shoulder regarding white men.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The GM has no desire to change things. First-timers beware. Don’t just jump at the first opportunity. Do research.”
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Problematic”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I enjoyed my time on the air at this station, but it was also very difficult off the air due to the toxic work environment. Mike Rausch pins employees against one another and it seemed to me over the course of the three years working for him that he was intentionally making things tense.
Why? I think he is obsessed with being the center of attention and he makes that very evident in the way he treats other employees. Futhermore, he ran out other workers that he did not personally bring on, giving him absolute power over everyone.
I do not recommend working here.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“It is trash.”
News Director: Dan Fabrizio
“He’s great, intimidating at first and somewhat rude… Just stay on his good side.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Positive, Fun
News Director: Kyle Fobe
“Over sensationalizes, lacks people skills, poor time management, and questionable news judgement”
While working for WTAJ this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The scheduling of employees is consistantly an issue. They’re often surprised when they’re short-staffed because of multiple vacation/holiday requests, which were okay’ed, but not kept track of. That creates additional stress on other employees.
There’s a lot of turnover within the newsroom, which is normal at this sized market.
The news director comes from Las Vegas and often over sensationalizes stories. The station has come under fire by the viewers for his handling of certain breaking news stories and it’s led to many of the anchors, reporters, and photographers questioning his decision making. There’s poor communication with his employees, which leads him to make last minute changes on shows, stories, and coverage plans, adding to additional strain in the newsroom. He lacks people skills. Conversations/Communications with him often leave newsroom coworkers/viewers with a bad taste in their mouths. Often times he comes off as immature when he talks about newsroom employees behind their backs, rather than providing critiques or constructive criticism to the employees.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“It is a Nexstar station. Anyone in management sides with the higher-ups, so there’s no feeling of support within the newsroom. What you pay for (or lack there of) is what you get. It’s become a station that hires students right out of college and throws them on air, whether they feel prepared or not.
The lack of leadership often means that more duties fall on the anchors, who do try their best to mentor and give feedback to young reporters, but that puts even more on the anchors plates, which is already full.
They’ve low-balled talent and what’s told to new-hires, as far as job responsibilities, isn’t always the truth. I’m told that one reporter quit after a day because they were misled during the hiring process and other producers have said that what was told to them while interviewing was not the case.”
News Director: Angela Green
While working for WFXG this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Rick Jacobs
Experience described as: “Ok”
While working for KGW this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I personally don’t have any troubles with management but have observed people come and go. I’ve witnessed blatant ageism, sexism, and bullying, though. HR must be aware of this. Management (general term – I’m only writing about one guy) is very condescending and rude to people he doesn’t like and repeatedly sets them up for failure, even if they are good employees and good people. It really doesn’t matter how good they are at their jobs. I’ve seen good people pushed out and horrible people saved. The guy at top is a horrible, spiteful person who appears friendly but really is a first class jerk. I’m surprised several former employees haven’t sued. I’m on management’s good side right now and trying to stay off the radar. But I’m writing this because enough is enough.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This was once a great station. But managers have no idea what works and are throwing everything at the wall to see what will stick.”
News Director: Eric Walters
Experience described as: “Negative, Toxic, disrespectful,”
While working for WBTW this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The overall feel for this newsroom is toxic. If you work in the bureau, you are expected to do a lot more with very little resources, and absolutely no help. In less than two years, five reporters have either quit or been fired and four of them were in the bureau. The Assistant News Director quit in October, and two bureau reporters quit for the same reason in November. There is documented evidence of unequal treatment, disregard for safety, and discrepancies in policies. The one photographer in the bureau does not work with the reporters. The News Director created a position for a night-side photographer in Myrtle Beach, but did not do that for the bureau. There is currently one person working in the bureau (MMJ) and there’s a reason. I would suggest doing research and reaching out to the former bureau reporters before accepting ANYTHING. The General Manager, News Director, Assignment Manager, Executive Producer, and EVEN HR are NOT on your side. HR is not a safe space, and does not document anything, but will rather take the side of WBTW. The managers do not know anything about the bureau, and often times stories go un-reported because they don’t think the news important. The bureau will always come second, and I was told this by managers. Overall, it’s an UNHEALTHY work space.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: David Lowell
“He may have the experience on paper, but he doesn’t use it in this newsroom. He’s just waiting for his time to retire, and the newsroom struggles. It’s like having no news director.”
While working for KMID/KPEJ this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“People will argue with you and try to manipulate you. No one has your best interests in mind. You will be over worked. I worked 12 hour shifts for 6 weeks and was expected to produce 3 hours of content every day. During that time I was covering a vacant position and saw zero compensation. Nexstar pays next to nothing and never let me sign up for health insurance. No one wants to be there. Both general managers say they’ll fix problems, and never do anything about it. The news director doesn’t direct the newsroom. We had zero plans for election night until our web editor got tired of waiting and made one himself. The production staff is trained poorly, and shows constantly get messed up. The production manager has no relevant experience and has a bad temper. You’ll rip your hair out working here.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Odessa/Midland is a very expensive area to live in because of oil, and KMID/KPEJ doesn’t pay a living wage. If you don’t work in oil, you’re screwed. Over 2/3 of my income went to rent each month, leaving me nothing for other expenses. I went broke working there.”
News Director: David Lowell
“All of management is terrible. Mike Lee is a babbling idiot, Dave German is a creep, David Lowell is lazy, Doug Faltus does terrible things about his employees and has caused many production assistance to quit because he lets the production manager bully people.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Warren Korff
Experience described as: “Okay. Not the best ND but not the worst. Understanding of situations and give reporters a lot of freedom.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“Decent gig for someone straight out of college. Not the worst, but not the best. Very gossipy. Management doesn’t have much experience in their roles which can sometimes cause a problem.”
News Director: Bryan Queen
“HORRIFIC. Has no human decency, lacks basic communication skills, sets team up for failure, is in no way a positive leader and creates a toxic work environment.”
While working for WHP this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management is completely unprofessional and lacks all leadership skills. The stations turnover rate is incredible and constant.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Rod Jackson
“He acts as if he is bipolar. Behaves very bizarrely. Not a good manager and embarrasses people in the newsroom”
While working for WBRE this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Multiple complaints were filed against the GM (Bob Bee) who is now in Harrisburg. A part-time camera operated sexually harassed a half dozen women before getting fired. He tried to take photos of women in the stages of dressing and undressing.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Nexstar is buying tribune and the #1 station WNEP is tribune. Many are worried what this will mean for WBRE”
News Director: Jim Lemon
Experience described as: “Below average”
While working for KEYT KCOY KKFX this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Hard to advance and everyone hates being there”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Do not recommend to people just starting out in the business – many of my fellow coworkers have now quit the business because of the experience at this station. Better for someone who knows the behavior is not normal!”
News Director: Mike Rausch
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
“I was a job candidate. I read the reviews on here and was wary to work at KRDO. I know someone at another station who told me not to work there and after how I was spoken too on the phone in a condescending matter treating me as an option saying to me they are waiting for the other candidate to get back to with and then criticized my demo reel, I said “F” these people.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
News Director: Amy Adams
Experience described as: “Repugnant”
While working for WOWT this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“No one was treated fairly. She would work you until your absolute breaking point with zero compassion for any personal life outside of work. You will work mornings, middays, evenings, overnights in the same week. “you’re young you can handle it””
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I would like to start by first congratulating Vic (GM) and Amy (ND) for running that station into the ground and shoveling viewers over to the competition. Every decision made was opposite of what it should be. Every employee was left scratching their heads and turning to booze to cope with them. The environment was so toxic that 20+ employees quick within mere months. No one was hired to replace them either. All that responsibility fell onto others and all Amy did was send out unprofessional emails with the attitude of the a 7th grader to those who remained. Go to HR? HA! She is useless and would just tell you to go to corporate. HR was part of the power pack and helped the ND and GM screw people out of holiday time off and solutions to legitimate problems. Such as sexual discrimination and sexual harassment on top of not following Gray’s own policies. Until that station has a complete turn over on who runs it you need to run and hide from this sinking ship.”
News Director: Janis Harper
“The company doesn’t care about their employees. Upper management doesn’t empower the news team and allows toxic employee support to run free, making the station a horrible place to work. ND doesn’t know how to lead and the top-heavy management structure doesn’t foster respect. No room for growth, as it’s the only station in the company’s portfolio. Beautiful place to live but you’ll hate your job.”
While working for KTVA this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The company doesn’t care about their employees. Upper management doesn’t empower the news team and allows toxic employee support to run free, making the station a horrible place to work. ND doesn’t know how to lead and the top-heavy management structure doesn’t foster respect. No room for growth, as it’s the only station in the company’s portfolio. Beautiful place to live but you’ll hate your job.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“If you value your job here, don’t express an opinion that differs from the management team.”
News Director: Eric Walters
“Doesn’t pay attention, doesn’t give feedback, shows favoritism”
While working for WBTW this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Racial discrimination. All of the black/Hispanic/and most of the dark haired white people get placed in the bureau. All of the blondes are at the beach. In the past year, FIVE bureau reporters quit/were fired. And between September and November 2018, two beach reporters, the assistant news director, and two bureau reporters left all for similar reasons: blatant disregard for safety and lack of support in the field. You’ll be sent to notoriously dangerous places by yourself and you’ll be questioned when you tell management that you don’t feel safe. If you work in the bureau, assume you’ll never work with the photographer. And on the RARE occasion that he’s assigned to work with you (I was assigned to work with him fewer than 20 times during my time at News13), he’ll make excuses as to why he can’t show up. He’d rather cover trick-or-treating events than court hearings. You’ll never get adequate training. Training periods (at least a few weeks of training before you’re thrown into the fire) are not a thing here. Managers just want people on-air as quickly as possible because they keep losing people so rapidly. They’ll tell you how much they care about your success here but their actions and constant disregard for your concerns prove otherwise. Management is full of liars. They’ll set up meetings with you and when you show up on time, they’ll tell the boss that you were hours late. Keep ALL emails. You’ll need them to defend yourself when management decides to lie on you. And trust me, they will.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Don’t work here. I would recommend this station to my worst enemy or the devil himself.”
News Director: Allison Gibson, Shane Moreland prior to her.
Experience described as: “Good”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational
Additional comments:
“Shane Moreland was a wonderful news director who takes chances on new reporters and works with them to help them grow. He is very straight forward and for those willing to listen instead of getting defensive, it paid off for them as reporters. When Shane left Allison Gibson came in. She is very kind and willing to listen and hear you out if you ever have concerns. There are a lot of great people at the station including the main anchor Ron Steele who has been there for more than 40 years. I look back on my time at KWWL with good memories and am thankful to have had the experience.”
News Director: David Lowell
“David Lowell is a really nice guy and I truly believe he knows the business. However, management at the station is essentially non-existent. When problems arise, management (especially the general manager) is quick to dismiss them.”
While working for KMID/KPEJ this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Every department is toxic. No matter where you go in this station, there are people out for one another. People claim that it’s “constructive criticism” when they tell you what you’re doing wrong. But in reality, KMID/KPEJ is a station full of big egos and small minds. Everyone wants you to do things their way. And if it is not done their way, they will tell you it’s wrong.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I appreciate the skills and experience I have gained during my time at the station. But at the end of the day, the job does not pay anyone well enough to deal with the everyday stress. If you are looking for a starter’s market. I would recommend anywhere but KMID/KPEJ.”
News Director: Allison Gibson, shortly before her Shane Moreland
“This year alone (2018) a number of on-air talent left the station, most of them finding ways to leave their contracts. It really says something about a station when they lose a met, an anchor, and several reporters in a short amount of time. I think many quit after the former ND Shane Moreland left because they had gone through so much belittling, verbal abuse, and disrespect from him. They finally felt liberated. The current ND Allison Gibson somewhat got a bad situation having to deal with all of this, but she really didn’t make things better like some people had hoped. Not sure what’s going on, but management has yet to fill most of those positions, although it’s been months. The station likes to put on a front like it’s a welcoming, friendly, ‘Iowa nice’ environment. A few people were kind, but there were some very negative, miserable ones behind the scenes who had nothing better to do than to plot against others. You’d think the focus would be the news, right?”
While working for KWWL this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Phillip Ohnemus
“I worked under Alan Wagmeister. He was a nice guy, but a know it all. Always wanted to be the smartest person in the room. Talked about all his accomplishments as a producer. He’s now out of the business, probably doing communications.”
While working for KULR this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“While I was there, the main male anchor made his female counterpart so uncomfortable. It put the newsroom in a weird position because he would literally not talk to her, even if she talked to him. He did this in front of everyone and was never reprimanded. She was eventually pushed out the door.
They never let any reporters anchor a newscast while I was there. If they’re going to pay you $10.10 an hour, they should at least let you on the desk. They opted several times to have the sports reporter anchor newscast over people in the news department.
There was also a hometown hero who worked there that thought he knew how to do everything. A lot of the locals who work there view people from out of state as outsiders. They show it in not so subtle ways. Smile in your face, but definitely talk behind your back in Facebook messages. They aren’t the brightest lot. Left the messages up.
They hired some crazy woman to weekend anchor who could barely put a camera on a tripod. She was useless as a reporter unless she was going live and had a photographer. The station only had two.
They also launched a statewide morning show while I was there and poured a lot of resources into it. A former anchor in the market, who was a beauty queen at one point, came to anchor it. She was catty and treated the main female evening anchor poorly. Talked about her clothes and a sponsorship she had at a local store.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I’m sure not much has changed besides the managers. Main male anchor is still there and he seems to have hit it off nicely with the new female anchor that moved from the morning show to evenings.
Get your start there, then leave. Don’t stay within the company and go to KHQ in Spokane. I hear it’s not much better despite the nice market jump. Terrible pay for MMJ’s.
Leave Cowles Company.”
News Director: Tom Henderson
“Nice guy and seems super attentive when you first start, but stays in his office a lot and doesn’t know what’s going on his newsroom.”
While working for NewsChannel 9 this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Managing editor is extremely condescending. She and a lower employee gossip about other employees where they can be heard. Also, she and assignment manager pick favorites and not everyone gets equal opportunities. For example, a “favorite” will get all breaking news stories, best photographer, etc.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The news director favors the managing editor, Latricia, and even though 15+ employees have left citing her as the problem for a toxic workplace the problem is ignored. I wouldn’t let my worst enemy work there.”
News Director: Lena Sadiwskyj
Experience described as: “Horrible she is a disgusting human being.”
While working for WTVY this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This work environment has to be the most unpleasant place I have ever worked before. Management is so dysfunctional, unprofessional and very racist especially towards African American woman. Reginald Jones is the Assistant ND and he is a black coon that does not stick up for anyone or anything and shows extreme favoritism.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This is a market for many that want to get their foot in the door also known as a starter market. However if you can go anywhere else GO. You will repeat stories daily there was a case where four different reporters did the same exact story. Management thinks if your young that they can speak to you any type of way which is unacceptable and unprofessional. The newsroom is a big high school and they don’t care about the employees. We have no rain gear, cold gear etc. This place is piss poor. Overall I don’t understand how this place is still functioning.”
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Unprofessional”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“KRDO is not a good place to work. I have had the honor and pleasure of working with many great people in this industry and out of all of them, Mike Rausch is single-handedly the cockiest of them all, a self-described professional who claims to be one of the nation’s most successful TV news executives. If you are talking about multiple ethics and FAA violations, then Rausch is your guy.
If you want to be in a newsroom that is free of gossip and all that other crap that prevents a newsroom from getting work done, I would suggest finding another place to work. The Assistant N.D. is a yes man to him, so she won’t be much of a help to you, either. There’s a reason why there are so many job openings here — no one wants to stay.
Be careful before you agree to a contract. That’s all I have to tell you. But don’t get me wrong, there are amazing people here. But if you want to make friends, there’s an APP for that. There’s no reason for you to waste your time.
Also, if you apply for an Associate Producer position…just be aware that it’s not a permanent position — you will likely get laid off. They won’t tell you that during the interview, so just be aware.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I hear the radio end is much more organized and professional, but the television side is a mess. Please do not waste your time. I have seen so many diligent, hard-working employees come to work crying because they are so sick and tired of being belittled at work by Rausch. A line has been crossed if your workers don’t even want to get out of bed in the morning.
The news meetings in the morning help in some ways, but ultimately they are kind of a waste of time, because Rausch is going to do what he wants anyway.”
News Director: Chad Hypes
Experience described as: “Nice. But super disorganized.”
While working for KTVL this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Everyone wants to leave. There’s only a few that have been there longer than a year. It takes a couple of months for reporters and producers to see how unorganized the place is. The pay is low, and it’s unprofessional. The people that have been there for a long time don’t really care. And the newbies get tired quickly. No constructive criticism. You are basically on your own.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“What makes it good is the other reporters that understand what you are going through.”
News Director: Rick Jacobs
“He is the worst kind of an asshole. He makes a bunch of promises, lies all the time, he harasses people he doesn’t like until they quit. He hands out “free days off” like they’re candy and forgets he gave them to you. He blames others for his shortcomings .”
While working for KGW this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“He constantly talks negatively about women. He claims to be honest but he often uses other opinions to justify his own . But if you ask the employees who allegedly gave him the information they will swear upon their mothers grave Jacobs is making shit up. He is a piss poor communicator and a kiss ass.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“People are great. You will learn a lot. But beware of the wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
News Director: Stan Sanders
Experience described as: “An asshole”
While working for WBBJ this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Stan would make me feel like nothing I did mattered. He would try to blame me for things that weren’t my fault. He would scream at me in front of other employees. It’s hard to work for someone who’s extremely negative and always has a smart comment to say. Surprised nobody decked him in the face.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Don’t work there as long as he is the news director. He is an asshole who needs to be fired from his job.”
News Director: Marybeth Jacobi
“Overall negative, however this news director was tasked with taking over a newsroom ran by a fired news director on accusations of sexual harassment”
While working for WVLT this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“A horrible work environment. Toxic and downright miserable. There is a high turnover in the newsroom. Management is inexperienced and will sell you on promises of OT or whatever will get you to sign the contract. They are consistently under staffed. They pay is very low. Management does not value the employees. This list could go on and on, but I felt compelled to write this review to warn any young out of college kids looking for their first or second gig. Stay away from here and apply for the NBC affiliate in town.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I worked multiple jobs at this station for several years including producing and reporting. There are good people here, but management and the pay makes everyone miserable. It’s a bully type of environment. You’ll get run right through the mud and will not be given proper resources to do your work. They don’t care about quality, you’re just filling time between the commercials. The previous news director was extremely inappropriate with the girls and if they chose to speak out they could work up a big lawsuit. This note is not from a “disgruntled” employee, but as someone who got away from a sinking ship and wants to warn others before they sign the dotted line. I gave my all to this place. It was my dream job, they ruined it. You could give 110% or 50% and you would be treated the same exact way, day in and day out, like dirt. Management is only looking out for themselves and the entire newsroom is extremely ego driven. The egos think they are in New York when they are in mid market Tennessee where most the viewers don’t even know their names. Sad situation for young people looking to get into the business, it doesn’t have to be that way and it’s not at other stations in this market. I would suggest applying to the NBC affiliate.”
News Director: Marybeth Jacobsy
Experience described as: “Toxic”
While working for WVLT this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Honestly, this was BY FAR the worst job I have ever had and pray to never have another one like it. Employee morale and management is a HUGE issue and will always be until they gut the place from the top up and start over. I never thought I’d be saying this about a company as it should never be able to get to this point, but it’s the absolute truth. Those in charge have been for a while and I am convinced do not have any reasonable or genuine sort of leadership or compassion for their employees. They are going to do what they want to do regardless of who they lie to and hurt to get there. I read reviews similar to this before taking the job and wished I would have taken them seriously. I thought there was no way a place could be so immoral. While at WVLT, I was left with a bunch of unfulfilled promises and taken full advantage of. Please AVOID at all costs. No job is worth your happiness. I have moved on from this place and have finally found how a true newsroom should operate and what true leadership and support feels like. No job is perfect (not even this new position) but WVLT runs a whole different environment that I personally do not feel should be acceptable.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Please consider finding real guidance and a strong team of motivators. A bad leader can take a good staff and destroy it, causing even the best employees to flee and the remainder to lose all motivation.”
News Director: Tom Davis
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
News Director: Roger Seay
Experience described as: “Not bad to work for”
While working for KFVS this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control
News Director: Tim Ryan
Experience described as: “He is ok”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Awful”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The co-workers are great here, but Mike Rausch is a piece of garbage.
Morale is so low that some reporters became physically ill because they didn’t want to come to work. A line has been crossed.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Don’t work here. We haven’t even been able to bring on a new EP despite the fact our previous one left months ago. Avoid this storm. Find somewhere that’s sunnier.”
News Director: Rick Jacobs
“His employees don’t respect him. We think he is knowledgeable but he talks down to us and regularly throws people under the bus.”
While working for KGW this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Women are skeptical of the ND and they often take notes on what he says. He plays favorites and doesn’t try to hide it.
He talks down to people all the time.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Kimberly Wyatt
“Kimberly Wyatt is by far the worse ND I have ever worked for. I understand every station has its problems, but this is different. I want to spare others from going through the same thing. Our jobs are hard enough.”
While working for WEAR this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management is not respected or trusted because they have no news or ethical judgment. The news director, Kimberly Wyatt, is scatterbrained, unprofessional, and lacks basic leadership skills. The newsroom is always in a state of chaos. The newsroom is run by an inexperienced staff and operates like a small market. The producers and reporters are very green. They’re never given any guidance, direction or supervision. Their work is never adequately checked before it hits air. There’s no emphasis on real journalism, accuracy or enterprise storytelling. Content is driven by “clicks” and it’s a Sinclair station, which comes with its own set of problems.
The toxic environment is further strained by an understaffed newsroom, and what little staff they do have is constantly walking on egg shells around the New Director. That’s why most everyone is miserable and frustrated all the time. Hence, the almost constant mass exodus of employees since Kimberly Wyatt’s arrival. There’s also a lot of petty gossip, backstabbing and retaliation in the newsroom. It’s something that is encourage and cultivated from the top down.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Kimberly Wyatt sees what she wants to see and won’t hesitate to turn on you. She will lie and manipulate a situation so that the staff and individual employees take the fall for her screw ups or look like the “problem” when her superiors come down on her; which is often because she has absolutely no clue what she’s doing. She feels threatened and challenged by anyone who knows more than her, so she resorts to attacking, belittling and berating employees on a near daily basis. She always has something to prove and is constantly in a power struggle with the station’s longtime anchors, who are trying to keep the station afloat.”
News Director: Mikel Lauber
Experience described as: “Nice, but anchors run the newsroom”
While working for KOLN/KGIN this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Anchors scream and cuss at you. I cried constantly.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“They made me send in photos of what I was wearing before I came into work, because they said the clothes I was wearing didn’t “flatter the shape of my body.” No one finishes there contract. Everyone quits or pays money so they can get out of their contract.”
News Director: Mikel Lauber
Experience described as: “Nice, but anchors control station”
While working for KOLN/KGIN this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Anchors scream at everyone. Made me cry constantly.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“No one stays more than a year. Most reporters break there contracts and pay lots of $ just so they can leave.”
News Director: Josh Morgan
“I’ve had a positive experience working for my current ND. He’s willing to work with young reporters to help them grow into more seasoned journalists.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“I think this is a great station for reporters just out of college. The newsroom at WREX really pushes you to become a better reporter. We are required to enterprise original content, develop sources in our community and vet stories everyday. Highly recommend.”
News Director: Jeff Houston
“He is the worst person I have ever worked for. Clearly unorganized, major OCD about minor things. Completely incapable of communicating effectively with staff. He’s the kid that was bullied in middle school and now takes it out on others because he has some power.”
While working for WBMA this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management consisted of bullies. The GM, The ND, and HR all team up to bully you. HR here is a joke. She will only take the station side no matter what. Even if you go to her first, she turns it around and blames you.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Avoid at all costs. I worked here in production several years ago under different management. I loved it then. I came back as a producer and it wasn’t the same station. Everyone is miserable. Everyone! I’m the 4th producer to quit in the last 2 months. The other 4 are looking to quit as soon as they can.”
News Director: Jana Gray
Experience described as: “Negative, Toxic”
While working for KNDU this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“KNDU went from being a pleasant, educational starter market station to a toxic place when Jana Gray took over as News Director. There are moles in the newsroom who report to her. Adult newsroom veterans regularly berate young reporters, insult them, call them names, and curse at them. Do not trust anybody in this newsroom besides Tracci Dial and the kids fresh out of college. Especially management. Watch your back.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Just stay away. There are so many better stations and locations to get your career started in the Northwest: Medford, Eugene, Spokane, Boise, Missoula. Just stay away from KNDU.”
News Director: Jana Gray
Experience described as: “Negative, toxic”
While working for KNDU this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“KNDU went from a good Starter Market station to a truly negative place when Jana Gray took over as News Director. Older newsroom folks regularly berated young reporters, called them names, swore at them. Don’t trust anybody in the newsroom except the kids fresh out of college, especially management.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
News Director: Chad Mahoney
Experience described as: “Tough yet fair & ethical”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“You don’t do breaking news or live shots alone, if photographers are gone you front from in the studio, safety is a big deal. Small market (family owned), best situation for an mmj. It’s very structured and they won’t allow you to just toss anything on air. ND Chad was once a reporter/anchor and if you ask around people say the same thing, you’ll learn a lot and grown as a journalist. Cost of living is cheap in area so I don’t have to worry money with the salary. No station is perfect but Id recommend working here to reporters in a heartbeat!”
News Director: Dave Busiek
“One of the best in the business. Unfortunately retiring soon.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“KCCI has long been top dog in the market and it shows. The station goes all out when there’s breaking news or a big story and the product is much better than the market size would indicate. It’s on par with some of the bigger-market stations in the Hearst chain.
Reporters do not shoot. There is an excellent veteran photographer staff plus some great younger photogs.
Newsroom culture is relaxed but people take their jobs seriously.
If you’re a reporter, you will be live a lot, and that’s what you make of it. For some, it’s a hassle. For others, it’s an opportunity to be creative or practice.”
News Director: Victoria Spechko
Experience described as: “Wonderful and educational”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“If you want to hit the ground running, this station is for you. Victoria is an excellent news director and the best I have ever worked for. She’s tough, but for good reasons. She allows you to take on extra roles if she feels you’re capable and is always willing to offer help and advice. The newsroom itself is very friendly and everyone works together—like a family. We bicker sometimes, but what family doesn’t? If you get offered a position here, take it. I have no negative comments.”
News Director: Morgan Schaab
Experience described as: “Wonderful, team player”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Positive, Fun
While working for KNDU this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Morgan Ashley was aggressive and would constantly tell you how incompetent you were, that you were an idiot, etc. Management didn’t want to hear concerns and turned a blind eye.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Horrible. EP was crazy and acted like she was in a bigger market. Berated everyone and harassed people in the workplace. Avoid at all costs.”
News Director: Tom Lewis
“His nickname is Tom Lucifer for a reason. He screams at everyone but especially reporters. I tried to avoid him as much as possible. The man is downright scary. He also has zero clue how to run a news station. He does not watch a single newscast, never gives feedback, yells if you make a mistake. Guy would force reporters to do stories when his friends when they open a new business or store. Their pandering and relationship with the police is disgusting. They have a weekly segment praising a police officer just for doing their job. I honestly felt I was becoming a worse journalist there and only served to fix mistakes. Avoid at all costs this toxic shit station. Also if you are a male reporter don’t even bother applying. He only hires hot girls.”
While working for WMBB this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I want to make it clear that is was not me who received the sexual harassment, but I witnessed it. The Super old meteorologist Jerry Tabbott would take a lap around the newsroom and force every single woman to hug him during the day. Nobody would speak up but they all felt uncomfortable. They just let it happen. He is no longer there but just know, Tom Lewis will NOT hire a male reporter. He will only hire attractive female reporters. There hasn’t been a male reporter in years.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This place is the worst. Do NOT move here just because it’s the beach or the weather. It’s not worth it, because this station is so horrible. Nexstar is a bad company they pay the least compared to anyone else. They can barely afford working equipment and when they do get money it is wasted horribly. I honestly wonder if it’s just a money laundering scheme that’s how bad it is. I saw like 5 people break their contracts in the time that I was there. The news director literally hired his friends kid to be the evening news producer because she needed a job. She had no news qualifications.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
“Absolutely the worst. Fake attitude, fake personality.”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Greg Shepperd and Melissa Williams (Assistant ND) are who of the worst and stupidest managers I have ever worked for. They constantly berate staff unnecessarily for the absolute smallest things. They constantly make the work environment hostile that people don’t want to come into work.
You can never do good or do anything right for these two. It’s a “damned if you do/damned if you don’t” type of newsroom. They micromanage everything to such a degree that we almost have to detail everytime we take a breath.
They don’t talk to each other, and Melissa and Greg each tell us opposing orders and they each get mad if you do what either says.
It seems that they treat those of minority worse than others as they always seem to be more in trouble than anyone else.
We can’t work on any investigative stories because Greg and Melissa are afraid of lawsuits. Neither of them know what investigative journalism is. They think that a public record request about crime numbers is investigative.
These two seem to have made Hearst believe they are the best thing since sliced bread. Well, they aren’t these two shouldn’t be in the positions they are in. Greg and Melissa need to be gone.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Don’t let Greg and Melissa trick you into coming here. I realized my interview was all smoke and mirrors when I started. They flat out lied to me about many things to get me to come here. I regret it every day.
Steer clear of KOAT until Greg Shepperd is gone.”
News Director: Morgan Schaab
“Watch out! She plays favorites and regularly talks smack about people. She’s capable, but not trustable.”
While working for WAND this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This is a gossipy station and the chief gossip became news director. She plays favorites and regularly throws people under the bus. Run !”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Too much turnover for a reason”
News Director: Morgan Schaab
Experience described as: “Horrible”
While working for WAND this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Can’t catch a break – disorganized as hell, favorites always played”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Run!!!”
News Director: Linda Miele
“Probably one of the worst station managers to work with. Makes a big deal about small stories, demands graphics work on a skeleton crew, and nit picks over every single detail.”
While working for WHDH this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I worked at WHDH for only 8 months and it was the most miserable experience I’ve ever had. I can’t speak for everyone’s boss, but mine was the worst. My supervisor was probably one of the most bad tempered, and foul mouthed person I’ve ever met. He would berate, swear, and shame me if I made a mistake. Calling me things like, “inadequate,” “useless”, and “worthless.” The whole place was a mess, not just with the department I worked in; the head Director was married to the station manager, part time employees were hardly given any extra hours, sexual harassment was a huge problem (not that I experienced any of it, but heard stories from coworkers and saw it with my own eyes). The place was and is a mess, when your head morning weekday anchor leaves to another station, you know WHDH isn’t going to last long.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“It is a total mess. It’s outdated and barely functioning and holding onto old ways. It’s full of yes men, and corrupt politics. I would avoid working at WHDH like the plague, it’s stressful no matter what department you work in.”
News Director: Tom Lewis
“If you like your sanity, DO NOT work for Tom Lewis. He constantly puts people down, gossips and creates rumors/drama about the reporters. He’s constantly in a bad mood on the edge of losing it on people. Extremely hostile work environment, with daily verbal harassment, but people who work under him are too scared to speak up because the retaliation would be way worse. More then 5 people left their contracts early in two years under him.”
While working for WMBB this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“News director pits reporters against each other. Thrives off drama. You won’t hear from him unless you make a mistake and you definitely won’t get feedback. But you will get made fun of to other reporters.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Everyone else at the station is mostly great to work with, people will have your back when it comes down to it. A small market and good to start your career in.”
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Mike’s OK”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational
Additional comments:
“I was reading some of the comments and what a bunch of crock, sounds like sour grapes to me. There is a toxic gossipy click that thinks working gets in the way of their gossip and tearing others down. If you are lucky enough to avoid this group it’s a good job. For goodness sake put some elbow grease, do some work and you wouldn’t complain about Mike Rausch or anyone, there wouldn’t be enough time, IT’S A NEWS ROOM! My advice for the complainers is grow up!
I learned a lot here, and based on my experience I was able to move up to a bigger station. Cindy, Natalie and other members were helpful in their advice.”
News Director: David Lowell
“I’ve had a pretty good experience working for this news station so far. Management is struggling to fill open positions because of the current economy”
While working for KMID/KPEJ this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“There’s a lot of pettiness in the newsroom. A lot of gossip, people talking behind each other’s back instead of addressing issues in person. Not many people can handle criticism when it comes to script writing. It’s interesting to see how many people think they have the industry figured out when they’ve only been in it for a year or less. There are people who are nice and work hard but of course there are also people who are just mean, to be mean.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This is a great starting market and because the contracts are typically 2-3 years here, new people will be joining the team soon and others who are coming up on their contracts will rotate out, that’s how it goes!”
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Good.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational
Additional comments:
“There are some employee that complain and gossip all the time and very immature. It’s like high school around them and this gets tiring. If you ignore this, then its a grate place to work. some of your co-workers are great and you help each other out. some of the season veterans give you tips on how to do things better.
Sometimes it gets chaotic but what newsroom isn’t. I like the place, it has good benefits, a good News Director, and amazingly a good Human Resources lady that cares. so all in all I recommend KRDO. It is better than most station.”
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Meh”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Just unprofessional. That’s the management side. Everything else is fine, but Mike Rausch and Cindy Dixon are very condescending and detrimental to the team.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Don’t come here until Mike and Cindy are booted.”
News Director: Kimberly Wyatt
“Chaos, very hostile. Workers who fail to meet expectation are given special treatment while workers who exceed expectations are shunned for questioning decisions. She makes it feel more like a circus than a newsroom. New potentials applicants should think twice.”
While working for WEAR this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Employees that share the same race as News Director are given special treatment. For instance, 4pm producer does not carry enough experience to work in mid-level market, and makes constant mistakes. But is never disciplined for on-air mistakes. While another employee that works hard, makes few mistakes was written up for not going to a meeting before their shift. Gay employees are mocked to their faces. New Director hit an employee during a meeting for yawning.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“It’s bad enough that Sinclair owns this station, but to have to deal with the constant stress of this station is excruciating. Anyone looking for a job here should find somewhere else.”
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Waste of time”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“It was tough working here. I am an individual of few words, so I’ll make this quick. The newsroom is incredibly divided. Mike has created a hostile work environment since he took over a few years back. I honestly don’t even know why Cindy is even there other than to serve as Mike’s sidekick.
A lot of the employees are brought to tears by the way Mike treats them and if you do any basic research, he has a long history of treating his people like dirt.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I have worked for several news stations, some good, some bad. This is the worst. It has nothing to do with the quality of personnel, but morale is down, and for a reason. Management treats you like you are replaceable. That’s a recipe for failure.
We should be encouraging people to be better, not discouraging them. That creates a domino effect.”
News Director: Nic Moye
Experience described as: “Unhelpful, frustrating, disappointing”
While working for KTVZ this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The managers at the station don’t know how to manage. On top of that, they are nit picky about how certain employees do their job or make judgments about what employees are eating. I have worked 21 hours straight in a 36 hour period without a thank you. The General Manager and News Director would have meetings about my performance without me being part of the meeting. This created a hostile work environment for me. I didn’t want to come to work and feel like people were talking behind my back. It was very stressful and I couldn’t enjoy my work. When I asked how I could improve the News Director would say, “I don’t know how to help you”.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“If this is your first job, don’t go here. If you struggle, management can’t help you. Instead, they will talk behind your back. Find a job where you don’t have to worry about being bullied by management. Find a job you are encouraged to grow. I am no longer in the news business and don’t know if I will ever return, because of this experience.”
News Director: Kathryn Bonfield
“Best experience I’ve ever had. Kathryn is fair, laid back, experienced, level headed and “one of the guys.””
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This station is a DOMINATE number one. It tops the ratings of all the other stations in the market COMBINED. There is a sense of camaraderie and pride. The folks I worked with were smart, dependable, assuring, laid-back and everybody had a sense of humor. Laughing is what the best part of the job was. The same can be said about a number of the departments in the building. I was sad to leave it behind but had to to advance my career. A shout out to Bob Ellis (GM), Kathryn Bonfield (ND), John Gaughan (Chief meteorologist) and Keira Barnard (the funniest, most caring, open and respected HR lady I’ve ever met and probably the only one that should be TURN HERSELF INTO HR) for being the best in the business.”
News Director: Cathy Hobbs
“Positive. She is passionate and knowledgeable, but often stretched thin trying to meet corporate demands, which often her out of a newsroom leadership role.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“In the past it has been toxic, but most of the bad apples have either moved on or been let go. It’s unorganized at times, causing the station to play catch-up on some stories, but that’s mostly due to understaffing. Good overall.”
News Director: Jeff Klotzman
Experience described as: “Cares about each employee, strong news judgement, experienced”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“The atmosphere is positive overall. It is like a family and you will grow as a storyteller and writer. Live shot capabilities are limited aside from the morning show.”
News Director: Tom doerr
“He was dishonest, condescending and did not provide good leadership.”
While working for WINK this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Jay Quaintance
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Management was hard to work for, but my experience with the anchors and journalists was very positive.”
News Director: Marybeth Jacoby
Experience described as: “Negative”
While working for WVLT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Extremely unorganized. Management is out of touch.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Mike Rausch
“Mike is fair and has good ideas, if you are willing to work hard then he will develop your talent.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“I had a good working experience. If you put in the work you get fair treatment. There is no discrimination, you are just required to do your job. I liked working here, I learned enough to help me move to a larger market.
Like any job, you get out of it what you put into it. This business is not for the week of heart. Mike is a good mentor and allowed me to have the opportunity to learn and move forward in my career goals.”
News Director: Jenna Huff
Experience described as: “Like working with an angry bulldog”
While working for WGXA this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Jenna pits people against each other and pushes out good talent. You’ll volunteer to help and get stuck with a crappy shift or no days off for months at a time.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Jenna her her pet Mallory Huff have the same last name but they’re not related. They’re two incompetent bitchy peas in a pod. The GM is toxic as well. Stay away unless you like getting your job threatened every day and making peanuts for years to get your “experience”.”
News Director: Bob Walters
Experience described as: “Awful, as I was overused and underappreciated.”
While working for KWTX this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“ND simply does not care about if you’re overworked. You better be able to cover five different things in a day AND turn one of them into a PKG if possible. If you’re a weekend producer, you better also be able to photog because the ND will NOT hire more reporters for you and set you up to fail. Digital at this station fell to one person, who also had to revert back to photogging and not getting to follow his real strengths in news. He finally left just after over two years, which just pissed off the ND because this poor man did four jobs (digital, weekend associate producer, photog, weekend assignment manage) and of course was still getting paid his starting pay. Photogs, reporters, and sports personnel have left under him, so we all knew the bosses up at Gray TV aren’t happy he can’t hold a crew. On top of that, gossip pervades the newsroom and managers simply do not check in with field crews on status for breaking stories unless they want lots of live hits for anything. Sister station KBTX has less staff, but appears to have better culture. Some of us envied for them despite our nicer set and larger facilities. Management also refuses to buy things like generators and newer laptops for field crews, whereas station #3 in the market has all of those PLUS a better editing software.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“KWTX may be #1 in newscasts, but in a digital age they suffer and morale is rock-bottom. Newsroom management is at best shoddy, at worst dysfunctional. The current ND may be a seasoned veteran, but he’s catty and prissy. He demands respect but never offers it back. You can bust your butt all day in the field and rarely hear a compliment from him. He will screw over staff with less experience by forcing them to work terrible hours and juggle more responsibilities. Simply put, the top station in DMA 87 is behaving like its sister KXII in Sherman, a mere 3 hours north. This is supposedly the crown jewel in Hilton Howell Jr.’s crown. It could use some shine and something else to fix the cracks.”
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Unfortunate”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I always felt that Mike never had my back. Moreover, Cindy, the assistant news director, and Mike, would intentionally create a hostile environment, turning co-workers against each other.
It is very unfortunate because the people that work at KRDO are amazing, exceptional people. But the management is so poor, it’s honestly not worth it.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Don’t work here until the entire management team is replaced.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “One of the worst.”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Greg Shepperd and Melissa Williams both are the two worst people I have ever worked for. They constantly make poor and terrible decisions that end up putting the newsroom behind the competition. They freak out over the smallest thing that doesn’t matter on a story.
They have pitched stories that have already run weeks after they’ve originally run, because they don’t pay attention to their own news.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This is a very toxic work environment, I can’t describe how bad it is here. When people joke about “today may be the day Greg and Melissa make me Quit” you know it’s bad. The turnover is astonishing, people don’t want to work here. Those two think they are the best in the world when that is just completely the opposite. They are judgemental and treat their staff like scum. They also micromanage so much that things won’t get done or get done twice because they want their hand in everything, making staff feel in trusted and unwarranted.
Yo, Hearst Television, wake up and get rid of these two, they’ve driven a station’s morale and respect to the ground. It’s the absolute worst place to work, I wish things were better.”
News Director: Roger Seay
“An excellent boss. The NEW GM is great too!”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational
Additional comments:
“Roger has excellent news judgement and wants to help you succeed. I wish I could have him as my boss here in my current job.”
News Director: Ally Berger
Experience described as: “Pleasant ND to work with”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Open to Creative Control
News Director: Andy Paras
“Andy definitely cares about his reporters. He usually has an agenda on what he wants to cover, but definitely leaves room for creative ideas.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Unorganized, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“I’ve had a great experience here. The people are awesome BUT resources aren’t always so good. That is the only thing this station is lacking. We get great first job experience, open to be creative, and the staff gets along AMAZINGLY. There are only three reporters and a sports reporter when fully staffed. For the lack of resources, we really get the job done though and our work is extremely competitive, if not better than other competitors in our market with better resources.
There’s no studio. Our anchors are at a satellite station in Arkansas. BUT no one in the community actually knows that because we pull it off.
I think that hard work to pull off a good product in this small market can drive staff together because we are proud of what we’ve created with little.
All in all, I’ve loved my experience here, but definitely am eager to move up.”
News Director: Eric Gaylord
Experience described as: “Stagnant”
While working for KRTV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“My intention is not to bash this station because overall the people that work there are “nice” and it is a stepping stone to move on to bigger and better things but when it comes to the work environment it is an extremely toxic environment. Absolutely no direction in anything when asked. No critiques when asked, always put to the side and don’t even get me started on the cliquish groups there. The news director has his favorites and it shows. He will attack you verbally when one of his favorites come to him complaining about you. He’ll never sit you down in his office like a manager should and hear your side and try to diffuse the situation. All the managers need to be trained on how to handle issues in a work place. It’s unfortunate that everyone is not treated the same. But a good thing is that the news director is understanding most of the time so if you need to leave early or need the day off he will give it to you.
Now when it comes to vacations others get priority due to being the favorite. There is absolutely no leadership there. The GM isn’t any better either. You could never go to him with any problems because he will find a way to make it sound that you are blowing it out of proportion. He has his favorites as well. Back to the news director same story. He never solves anything he just says that he will and the same problem always continues. Not the best place to learn, after awhile the workflow becomes stagnant. But as i said before overall people are “nice”. If you want to get ahead in the business you have take it upon yourself and learn, don’t expect any feedback. But for the favorites they get all the help and advice making others feel excluded and unmotivated. It is very discouraging especially to those new to the business and right out of college. Also side note everything is a secret. Communication there is absolutely horrible. When a new employee is hired it is so hush hush. So weird. The station is for sale and the current employees found out from another local news outlet instead of the general manager growing some and telling his employees. If you’re wanting to start your career in a smaller market beware of this station, you’ll get no help.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Marlene Speas
“I worked at the bureau so I worked for the Assistant News Director Andy Grove. He lets you do your own thing, if that works for you it’s a good situation.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“There are times where things are dysfunctional here but largely it is what you make it.”
News Director: Eric Walters
“Eric Walters as a leader left much to be desired. He didn’t seem to have the news judgement to make the calls necessary to lead a local newsroom to success. I saw him often dive after stories that would make the front page of Reader’s Digest and scoff at stories that were incredibly important to the community.”
While working for WBTW this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Walters delegates decisions regularly to an additional cast of managers who in the year since the Nexstar purchase have only grown more and more hostile to less-than-traditional newsgathering and journalism. This would usually manifest in many solid pitches being torn apart for lack of irrelevant details, or because the management/producers didnt know enough about the story/region to offer an opinion at all. Communication was terrible. Reprimands were given often. Emotional/career support or praise, hardly ever. Just a negative place to try and get a start in an already difficult industry.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I shook my head as I checked the box marked “Educational,” because I learned here that there will always be people who think they know best, and sometimes those people are your bosses. I saw/heard some colleagues berated for their story choices, watched producers break informational stories down into “gotcha” tales, searching in vain for controversy where there was none, and alienating reporters sources, just because they wanted clicks on social media. Management is negative and unorganized and here is why– WBTW is more than 60 years old. They are trying to do the “serious” old-school news in Myrtle Beach, and are falling further into the crack they made themselves.”
News Director: Susan D’astoli
Experience described as: “Ignorant, unappreciative”
While working for News 13 this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“News management has absolutely ZERO regard for family life. My wife and I had a young son with medical issues which required a few impromptu call-ins to get him necessary medical attention. I was told after missing 2-3 days due to these issues that “WE need you to be HERE” when discussing my missed days.
They also changed my contract from hourly to salary. And started working me 65-70 hours per week, up from the 40-45 I worked when I was hourly, thus lowering my pay.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“God forbid, if you have a young family, you may rarely see them. For a 24 hour LOCAL station, they send crews all over the state and out of state consistently for story coverage (a couple have warranted this, like the parkland school shooting) but nothing as to the amount of time you will spend away from your family.) “Favorites” among the news staff are definitely a factor when it comes to news management, and is reflected in preferable or unpreferable schedule changes and certain privileges.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “Toxic, condescending, two-faced, liar”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I don’t know why I’m writing this, Hearst Television Corporate doesn’t seem to care about these. But,
Greg Shepperd is one of the worst people I have ever worked for. His attitude, and the way he treats people is absolutely terrible. He treats us in production like we are scum. Always yelling at us and trying to micromanage a department he isn’t even in charge of. During news events he’s always yelling at us in the booth to do something different when a shot isn’t ready. He treats his news staff even worse. He’s constantly making bad decisions. I’ve seen the same stories on tv for weeks, it seems like he is scared to do any reporting other than who was in court or arrested today, or, “what story from last month can we follow up on even though there isn’t anything new or to update?””
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Jack Acosta
“He has a short attention span but is generally nice.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Pretty fun and family environment overall, but we do need to work on organization across the board.”
News Director: Bruce Barkley
“Awful experience – was the worst boss I’ve had. He threatened to sue me for pursuing other options.”
While working for WYFF this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“An executive producer racially and sexually discriminated against me. It was an awful work environment. I wanted to desperately to get out and I would advise anyone I cared about NOT to sign with WYFF. It’s one of those stations that makes nice people mean.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Very toxic work environment. Also there is no work-life balance. I’ve worked at other TV stations and this was by far the worst!”
News Director: Susan D’Astoli
Experience described as: “A nightmare.”
While working for News 13 this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Every black person at the station worked overnight and weekends. No matter if they had seniority. Definitely could see white producers/reporters were favored more. The morale is super low and management seems to only do things to keep that morale down. A very toxic environment.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This station pays the least in the market. It’s on a 24 hour cycle, which means they are on all day and will work you like a Hebrew slave for pennies with no regard for your outside life.”
News Director: Steve Simon
While working for KDAF/CW33 this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Horrible place.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
News Director: Jeff Lenk
“He’s great. Sinclair, not so much.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Positive, Fun
News Director: Lane Kimble
“Excellent mentor, learned a lot from him. Can’t remember him ever saying no to a story pitch and is willing to let you grow in whatever way you’re interested in. (Want to anchor more or do more live shots? Ask Lane and he’ll probably say yes.) He’s a great person to start your career under.”
While working for WJCL this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Hard to advance to meaningful storytelling or opportunities for growth.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Open to Creative Control, Positive Fun
Additional comments:
“This is a fantastic place for broadcasters right out of college to get their start in. The newsroom culture is supportive, creative and collaborative. You’ll learn a ton here and be well-prepared to move on to your next job after two years.”
News Director: Philip bruce
“Amazing news director. Really cares about making a great newscast, and his field crews.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Positive, Fun
News Director: David Lowell
“Really nice guy, but he’s lazy and rarely watches the newscast or gives constructive criticism.”
While working for KMID/KPEJ this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“There’s so much gossip. People who don’t work hard get rewarded and those who care get overworked. People drop like flies. The station is always understaffed. Management doesn’t take issues seriously.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Odessa/Midland is really expensive because of the oil field. Unless you’re making $50,000+, you’ll be BROKE.”
News Director: Jon Janes
“He yells and can be very harsh. He creates a stressful environment and sometimes you will hate yourself. But he does truly care about the news and want the best so it will force you to become better at what you do.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Photogs are really good here, good staff
The only thing not positive is the ND. Jon Janes is very conservative and not open to creative ideas or ideas outside the box. He does watch the news and care about little mistakes which is good. It can be very stressful environment but you will learn a lot.”
News Director: Melissa Luck
“Prior ND (Jerry) was passive. Melissa walked all over him. She can be very direct, sometimes mean.”
While working for KXLY this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Morale is very low here. Extremely unorganized. Station has been in last place for more than a decade. Newsroom is cliquey.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“ND claims to not like “overly ambitious” people. People gossip and are very passive instead of addressing issues face to face. New director never watches the newscasts. This is a backwards move, will hurt your career.”
News Director: Bob Walters
While working for KWTX this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Is it the #1 station in Waco? Yes. Is it easIer to get interviews and have exposure/perks because you are the community leader? Yes. Does the station win awards and special recognitions? Also yes. But trust me, this place can be toxic. Newsroom gossip is bad here. Some of the employees are genuinely mean spirited, and difficult to work with. Management has overwhelming expectations compared to the short staff and resources. There is a very high turnover rate. If you’re an MMJ, they will overwork you and get mad at you if you work overtime. I don’t have an axe to grind. I genuinely don’t want anyone to go through what I did. I needed therapy after I left that place. None of the friends I made there work for them anymore either. In fact, this job made some of them quit the news industry all together.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“It may be market 87, but it’s really like a 133+ in disguise. There is NO NEWS. You will go crazy trying to find a story here, and often sell your soul covering garbage vosots and chasing accidents just to fill content. You will learn and get better at this station…not because you get feedback or mentorship, but just because you do it alone repeatedly everyday.”
News Director: Mark Ferrel
“Awful! He will try to manipulate and screw you out of every opportunity for growth.”
While working for KTEN this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I felt that no matter what I did, they did not value my work. They changed my schedule around all the time, i could be mornings then go do an evening show.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This station is not good for those looking to grow and get feedback on their stories. They invest zero money into their reporters and offer zero feedback. Their news anchors are redneck and unprofessional, and one of them is extremely biased towards conservative. Stay away from this station.”
News Director: Austin Kellerman
“Great station and staff! Encourages storytelling, teamwork”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“Station needs more diversity.”
News Director: Chris Best
Experience described as: “Terrible/Awful”
While working for WKRG this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Chris Best is just simply a terrible news director. He does not care about his employees at all. He also has terrible news judgement. He cares nothing about your life outside of work and he will call you any time any day. He also has no people skills. We all wonder how he got into this position in the first place. He absolutely terrible and hopefully he’s not here for good.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Just don’t come here. If you have any choice work at the other stations in the market. Avoid Chris Best and his assistant ND at all costs.”
News Director: Greg Dawson
Experience described as: “Great”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Poor”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Mike Rausch and Cindy Dixon need to be fired. Mike will take credit for every great story that you do, but will also blame and chastise you when viewers leave us nasty comments. Cindy is incredibly two-faced and will smile to your face, but will tear you down in closed door conversations. They have a horrible problem at being direct and lack the initiative to make KRDO a great station.
On Mike’s LinkedIn profile, he claims to be “One of the Nation’s Most Successful TV News Executives,” but a News Director is not an executive position, and being the ND of a mid-market station is not exactly top notch. I have never met a man in my life who has that big of an ego, and really has nothing to back up his talk.
The producers hate him. His reporters hate him. The anchors can’t stand him. The entire station can’t stand him. Mike has a history of being a terrible people person, but has never been held accountable for the careers he has ruined.
If you make even the slightest mistake, be prepared to hear slander, lies, and outright untrue things said about you around the grapevine. And, we all know who is behind it.
If you want to work for a child and a yes man… work for KRDO and the team of Mike Rausch and Cindy Dixon.
But you would be wise to save your career and avoid this sh**hole.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This place ruined my love for an industry I once adored.”
While working for KTMF this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“They over work, under pay and under appreciate their employees. You will never get a photog, a chance to anchor or be able to take care of yourself. They are known for working their reporters to the bone. Compared to the NBC and CBS affiliates in the state you will have to turn 3/4 stories a day, NBC and CBS are usually required to do 1.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“You will burn out so fast working at this station.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “Egotistical, confused, bad news judgement, two-faced”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Greg Shepperd and Assistant News Director Melissa Williams are both terrible managers. They make awful decisions that come back terribly and ruin plans. They both talk down to us and try to baby us with their micromanagement. If a good decision is made by a subordinate, the two managers get angry because the decision wasn’t theirs and counter it with their own (even worse) decision.
If they both make a bad decision, they try to pin it on others other than themslves so they can say they “have a clean slate.” Melissa Williams is one of the dumbest people I’ve met, she constantly throws others under the bus when she can’t understand something, and pushes stories that viewers do care about. Only to find stuff out that ONLY she cares about because she doesn’t want to do research. She sends photographers on wild goose chases that result in nothing not lost pkgs and time in a show.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Hearst Television needs to rid the company of Melissa Williams and Greg Shepperd. Greg has a proven record of ruining stations he goes to. He ruined KHBS/KHOG. He’s ruining KOAT. Melissa Williams is helping him sink the ship.”
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Not Good”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Morale is very low and it has affected our product across the board. Mike tries, but he can’t help himself because he is a very terrible people person. He thinks his words mean well, but they bring people down.
However, he has a history of this at other stations, and hasn’t been held accountable.
The station, meanwhile continues to suffer.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“It felt like Mike never had my back…regardless of the situation. I finally got sick and tired of it. Mike has also belittled some of our other employees to the point of tears.
This is not how you lead a station. Mike has to go.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “Terrible, egotistical, rude, harassing, dumb”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Greg Shepperd is one terrible news director. My experience in production with him was terrible. He would always talk down to us making the atmosphere unprofessional. He would borderline call us stupid without outright saying it. He would blame others for his mistakes just so he would have a clean slate. He kisses corporate’s butt and throws a fake smoke screen to make it appear that everything here is fine. It isn’t, everything here is terrible.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Corporate needs to wake up and get rid of this man. His micromanagement, abusive, fake attitude has made the place a joke to work at.”
News Director: Tim Maestas
“A Has Been who use to be in the market a long time ago.
He is new so you have to kiss his butt.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“KOB-TV A.K.A “Kids on Broadcast TV” Lot of kids with little experience that makes us look like a glamours community access channel or a low 200 market station. With that said, of course the pay is not commensurate to the market size with the excuse the area’s low cost of living. More obvious how people dress and have no money or sense aesthetics. There is a new sheriff in town (cough) News Director so everyone is on edge when he starts swinging the blade.
This is not a great station as it seems where you can craft enterprising impactful stories that make a difference and provide real viewer benefit. Good luck building on the station’s history of providing viewers with the best local news in New Mexico. LOL. Not with this news crew. The daily content is stupid. It is the same crap of stupid breaking news of shootings, car thefts, and car wrecks or Mexicans and liberals playing the victim role about illegals coming over at the border and other mindless video to fill a show.
Overall not a good market to make a career move unless you are from here. Outside the city are someone pretty places to visit, however, an unsafe poor quality of life with high crime that will make you mark daily a “X” on your calendar when your contract ends.”
News Director: Chuck Maulden
“Best news director I’ve worked with. Always available to chat, answer questions, in person or via phone. Feedback when necessary and when asked. ETHICS is his number one priority. Truly cares about his employees.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“The desk is a little disorganized. We’ve missed a couple events and sometimes you don’t find out you are working on your normal day off until a couple days before.
Overall, a great place to work. The newsroom feels like family. Chuck, the producers and the desk are very helpful and collaborative. Ethics is a priority – Chuck always asks “does the public have a right to know?” He runs the newsroom as best as possible, always putting employees and our safety first, and great content on air. You’ll never run a live shot by yourself. MMJ occasionally. Enterprise over death & destruction. Chuck for President.”
News Director: Mike Gonzalez
Experience described as: “Amazing”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
News Director: Roger Seay
“They are unable to retain employees because they claim they can’t afford to.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational
Additional comments:
“Do your two years and go. Avoid taking on any extra duties because they will not pay you extra for it.”
News Director: Jessica Laszweski
Experience described as: “Negative”
While working for WMTV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This station is constantly trying to do more with less and it is hurting the quality of news they create. Promises and expectations are made for reporters when they start and nothing is followed through on. People will leave positions and management just decides not to fill them. Everyone is constantly stressed and there is no leadership. Jess has good intentions but has no vision and is inconsistent. Sometimes you’ll get an email back about some obscure, while you may never get a reply for something actually important. She thinks communication solves everything, but no amount of constant and thorough communication can compensate for NO RESOURCES. Expectations are high, but unclear- and no solutions are offered for how to achieve them. Gray is running yet another station further into the ground. It is embarrassing to work here- especially when you go to stories and leaders feel bad for you and look down on you and your station when the other stations are consistently kicking butt and never miss a beat because they have resources.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Poor”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“For the last two years, we have been understaffed to the point that producers like myself have been extremely overworked to the point that some are producing as many as 16 shows a week.
On top of that, we are treated like slaves by the management team of Mike Rausch and Cindy Dixon.
During news meetings, Mike spends most of his time talking about himself instead of putting forward enterprise stories.
When he was the News Director for WFTV, ratings declined 39 percent. KRDO has also suffered under Rausch’s tutelage.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The people that work at KRDO are tremendous, but management is extremely lackluster. Do not work for KRDO until Mike and his associates are given the boot.
Mike is also very disrespectful to women in the workplace. Don’t make the same mistake many others have. Work elsewhere.”
News Director: Mike Rausch
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Wasted a good amount of time here.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Don’t work here until Mike and Cindy are no longer employed.”
News Director: Sam Eaton
“Sam was nice, but the first ND, Matt Rist, was a nightmare”
While working for KOSA this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Was sexually harassed by a photog.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Horrible company (Gray TV), horrible station, always short on budget, management changed time cards and actually deleted hours of overtime worked by employees, some members of management participated in talking negatively behind emoloyees’ backs and gossiping. This place was the worst year and a half of my life. I saw so many young, talented, passionate journalists be abused and overworked to the point they quit the station and the business altogether. I had never been so miserable and depressed at a station in my life. Do not, I repeat DO NOT go to KOSA CBS 7 News.”
News Director: Lena Sadiwskyj
“Lena was great to work with. If she gets upset about something, she knows when to drop it. She’s funny but can also be very serious at the same time. She’s worked in larger markets and likes to treat Dothan like one.”
While working for WTVY this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I would only work here if you’re from here. They take contracts way too seriously and give you a hard time about getting out. And the buy-out is ridiculous for what you’re paid.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Micro managed, lack of communication, if you’re good at what you do, a lot of the work falls on you. Lazy employees seem to get rewarded for being lazy.”
News Director: Jeff Fitzgerald
“Generally good, he lied a bit to get me to interview for the scheduling slot he most needed filled and again to make the working relationships between people seem more positive.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Overall, it is a very good learning station. Most of the people here are team players but unfortunately there are always a few bad eggs who are difficult to work with and don’t put much effort forth to begin with, and management is unable or unwillingly to deal with it. News and sales are given priority above other departments. Money is not great and apartments are not cheap, or if they are, they aren’t very good places to live. Equipment is not always in the best state but work requests go through quickly. Stories are fluff. We’re basically a visual community calendar but it is a great place to make mistakes and grow. Overtime for news staff is not super frequent but when it happens is not typically an issue with management.”
News Director: Ashley Hall
Experience described as: “Negative, condescending, and passive aggressive leadership style.”
While working for KDRV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“So unfortunate, because this is a WONDERFUL area! If they treated their people with respect and payed a living wage, people would stay longer. Overall, employees are overworked, taken advantage of, and constantly put into unsafe situations. MMJ’s rarely (or never) get photogs, even at night, in unsafe areas, when they’ve expressed they do not feel comfortable. The news director and general manager are both extremely passive aggressive, and lack basic leadership skills and understanding of what their employees do and what is realistic. Extremely hard to want to come to work here.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Extremely unorganized newsroom. They struggle with keeping people because they are treated so poorly. Many people choose to leave the TV business completely after working here. Expectations as far as daily workload are completely unrealistic, and they put an emphasis on quantity vs. quality. In my time, it became normal to work as an MMJ turning two packages on two different topics per day, and live for each without a photographer. The quality of work has suffered greatly because of these expectations. It also makes it difficult to feel like employees are doing a good job because of this workload. If you’re new to the business, I’d encourage you to look for employment elsewhere if you plan to stay in the tv biz, because this place will make you want to change career path as soon as possible.”
News Director: Stew Hirsch
“Awful. I have no respect for him, and he is severely underqualified for his position.”
While working for WFFT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Salary is poor, and despite the overall good camaraderie in the newsroom, our News Director and General Manager do nothing to want to foster a positive working experience. Retention rate is low, therefore turnover happens at the end of nearly every contract. The bosses care more about the bottom line and money rather than putting together a good product.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Positive, Fun, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“There are zero photographers here, and we have one show a day. The bosses claim to be working towards advancement, more shows, higher ratings and more staff, but will not spend the money necessary to put these changes in to effect. Our cameras are outdated to the point where they cannot get replacement parts. Video would look better coming from your cell phone. If any equipment needs to be fixed, they’ll look to the cheapest route possible rather than try to actually fix the problem. They use the “band-aid” method in hopes the problem heals itself. Zero promotions are done to promote our staff, we can’t even get a printer that works and our technology lacks in every department.”
News Director: Stew Hirsch
“Has health problems that inhibit his ability to do his job”
While working for WFFT this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Former producer made inappropriate sexual jokes
Only hires female anchors and was told that “females suit the job better” when applied for position
Very unorganized management, no communication and a lack of resources”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Jess Laszewski
Experience described as: “Relaxed”
While working for WMTV this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination
“There are managers who make comments assuming young women/reporters are incompetent or naive.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Jess took over a news room in crisis and she is doing the best she can. She is a strong woman with high expectations but is willing to listen and make a plan if you need help or want to change something. She has vision and is trying to make it an innovative station on all platforms, but is quite unorganized. Employees were once signed to 1 year contracts under the old ND. Jess requires a 3 year.
Other managers are horrible and often negative. They will roll eyes if you ask questions and do not understand what working in the field is like. AM, Chief PJ, and EP have clear biases and are often discouraging.
Anchors are experienced, knowledgable, helpful, and give awesome feedback to producers and reporters.
Pay is low, especially compared to competing stations. A great starting market for someone out of college who has strong experience from internships or college work (dayturns, liveshots, policy & court knowledge). The pay is far too low for a second market job. Many people like the city, station, and coworkers but leave because they just won’t fork over the cash to keep them.
Madison is a fantastic city and market. Overall, if you have a good attitude and work hard and can deal with some BS, you will love the city, the station, and your coworkers (except managers).”
News Director: Curtis Jackson
“He is a nice guy. However, poor leadership and management skills. Not very helpful and somewhat absent from the newsroom.”
While working for KIFI/KIDK this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The news director is supposed to be the leader but he’s very absent. Too many people trying to be in charge. Very poor decision making also. Decisions are usually made last minute and not communicated through the newsroom (which is inexcusable because it’s small).
Reporters aren’t treated well and thought of as less important if we aren’t Mormon or if we don’t have kids and families.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“There are some good things: getting a photog for live shots, photogs and the promotion department are willing to go out with you if you need them. There are some very helpful people it’s just unfortunate that the overall environment is toxic due to lack of leadership and a “real boss.”
News Director: Crysty Vaughan
Experience described as: “Deceitful”
While working for WOLO this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“AVOID”
News Director: Janis Harper
Experience described as: “Nothing special”
While working for KTVA this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Main female anchor is difficult to work with, a bully, and very condescending. New desk person is very rude and makes people feel bad. The women who work there gossip and do not support each other.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Work somewhere else.”
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Bad — much like a prison”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Mike Rausch is an experienced news director and has good ideas, but the way he presents himself is very arrogant, misogynistic, demeaning, and snobbish.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Some days were good, others were disastrous. Turnover has been extremely high lately because employees are treated so poorly.
Many departments have gone understaffed for years because management does not know how to treat people, nor have they made any attempts to change their demeanor.
However, this has gone on for so long, that any change would not seem genuine. Don’t work here.”
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Bad, Terrible, verbally abusive, has no principles, only cares about himself”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Morale has been in free fall since Mike Rausch arrived in October 2016 due to his pompous and outright disrespectful attitude. The newsroom has been a living hell since. We had a feeling this sort of environment would come upon us after a report from the Los Angeles Times said in a 2002 release that Rausch, as news director at KATU, agreed to have one of his reporters speak at a funeral for two girls who were kidnapped and murdered in Oregon City, Oregon, while a video of the ceremony was posted on the company website.
Reporters are not hired to write columns or commentaries. They report stories, which are meant to exclude opinion — not that Rausch would care, though. Ethics? That word does not register in the Dictionary of Rausch (DOR).
The management team at KRDO also agreed to send out a drone to get exclusive coverage of the 117 Wildfire, which caused air drops to be halted as a result. Flying a drone near firefighting aircraft not only endangers pilots, but when aircraft are grounded because of a violation, the safety of firefighters on the ground is also compromised, and firefighting aircraft are not available to protect nearby homes and property.
KRDO did issue a statement on the matter. “Prior fires in the same vicinity this year did not have TFRs in place.”
A TFR stands for Temporary Flight Restriction. A translation of that statement really means “We assumed there was no Temporary Flight Restriction because there wasn’t one for the other fires which occurred in the same vicinity.”
It sounds very similar to the dog ate my homework sort of excuse that never works.
Rausch has shown that he has a long history of not having principles. He doesn’t care about his employees in the newsroom, and apparently, he doesn’t care so much about the lives of our first responders, either.
Mike has run a once proud station into the ground, ran out many talented people, and has purposefully torn down many of our producers and reporters to tears, often over issues that have required no such reaction. The least he can do is treat his people like people and not garbage disposals.
Mike has also pinned reporters against one another. A simple misunderstanding has almost resulted in physical altercations because people are so wound up that they nearly go ballistic on one another. It is the most toxic work environment I have ever experienced, and anyone else who comes out of this place unscathed deserves a medal in my humble opinion.
I grew up in poverty, and I was much happier living in the slums than I was working for KRDO. Think about that for a second. I was happier poor than I was working for this place. That will tell you a lot about what Mike has done to this once glorious station.
Mike is also extremely egotistical. Look at the man’s LinkedIn Page. He describes himself as a success catalyst and one of the top 100 TV News Executives in the United States. The ratings of this station and Rausch’s track record say otherwise.
The editing equipment in the newsroom could use some work. The editing team has been unfairly blamed for a lot of the issues, and it could be fixed if KRDO invested in better equipment. They have the money for it; it is the initiative that is lacking.
The producers are overworked, and some have trouble getting out of bed in the morning because they dread having to deal with Mike that much. All of the producers are on salary, so no overtime, and some work as many as 14 days consecutively with no days off, there are four months out of the year that you are not allowed to take a day off, and the comments from viewers are absolutely horrendous.
The least I would ask for is support from Mike and his assistant Cindy Dixon, who is nothing more than a female “yes man.” People have also been passed over for promotions and are choosing to leave as they see no room for advancement.
Yes, long story short. This place needs a lot of work. I have received several calls from former co-workers who applied to KRDO for employment. I have told them that they are better off working somewhere else because their love for this industry will be destroyed if they end up here.
One individual still decided to give it a shot and told me over the phone about their interview with Mike. “Mike’s a jerk.”
If that is how Mike comes off on the phone, trust me, it is much worse in person.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I think I have said enough. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE I URGE EVERYONE TO READ THE REVIEWS ON HERE. IT SPEAKS VOLUMES.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “Terrible, egotistical, not smart, terrible news judgement”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Greg Shepperd has caused much unrest at this former #1 station. Everyone used to be proud to work at KOAT, until Greg came in. Since his tenure began, the ratings have tanked, many great talents and staff have left.
Greg is egotistical forcing people to follow what he says. If you disagree against his decision, he will harass you until you agree. Greg is constantly over-doing stories that have no new content, turning away viewers. He does not listen to his staff, nor does he care about them. He hates confrontation and people being upset with him so much that he will make decisions after he leaves the office.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Until Greg leaves this station, it is not one to work for. While the staff tries hard and are awesome, Greg is making KOAT the worst place to be.”
While working for KULR this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This market is 170, so be prepared to do everything yourself with no help. It’s management like this that drives the talent pool to dry up so they resort to job recruiting at job fairs with people who don’t have college degrees because everyone is leaving. All the bosses care about is getting the content as quickly as they can with no regards to good quality. I have been sent out in below freezing weather, by myself just for the sake of doing a live shot even if it adds no value to the story. Many reporters have left KULR early and broken their contracts due to terrible management of the company and poor pay.”
News Director: Rich “im balding and don’t know what im doing” Kurz
“He fucking sucks. he’s a total misogynist and is completely incompetent. He has like 10 meetings a day in his office yet cant seem to do anything right. He always wants to do stories that KGW (our competitor) already did. News-flash you fucking idiot, thats not news.”
While working for KOIN this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Currently he’s trying to hit on a new reporter and it’s totally obvious to everyone that he’s being a creep.
He treats the women around him like shit, and he tries connecting with the men via sports knowledge. Talk about toxic masculinity.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“If you’re thinking of Portland, don’t go to KOIN.”
News Director: Matt Templeman
“Matt takes on a lot because he’s also the main anchor. He’s attentive and tries his best to resolve issues at the station. But is sometimes limited by what corporate and the GM doesn’t allow him to do.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“Matt seems to favor the male on-air talent over the women. There are some people who want to move up the ranks, but get pigeon-holed. However, I have seen some people get promoted. The assistant news director there was a witch and should never work in a newsroom. But I heard she’s gone now so hopefully things will look up again. As long as you are a team player and focus on yourself, you’ll more than likely have a good time there! There are many people there who will take you under their wing and make you feel comfortable like anchors Renee and Sean.”
News Director: Chris Best
Experience described as: “Awful”
While working for WKRG this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Working here will do absolutely nothing to help your career.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I left the only positive review of this station (at the direction of ND Chris Best) and would like to retract it. Run for the hills. Work hard? No one cares. Do nothing but slack off, sexually harass or discriminate against female coworkers? No one cares.”
News Director: Tom Bell
“He is new, from our very brief interactions he seems like an actual journalist, hope he can turn this place around… don’t know how we landed him, but thank God.”
While working for KVVU this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“News Director is coming into chaos so he is trying to get a handle on where everything is organizationally. None of this is a reflection on him, but the assignment desk is EXTREMELY mismanaged. The assignment desk Manager has made inappropriate comments to photographers who are afraid to go to HR because they don’t want things leaked on social media. She also pushes most her work off on already overworked MMJ’s and asks MMJ’s to put themselves in harmful positions like door knocks on murders doors solo (which is also backed up by the assistant ND). No feedback is given, ever and the one EP at the station never reads reporters work just accepts it as is no feedback for growth.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“People don’t stay at this station for a reason. Ego driven/mean girl managers who are lazy. Reporters are all young and most have already asked lawyers to look at their contracts for early outs.”
News Director: Nic Moye
Experience described as: “Terrible, bad management, picks favorites”
While working for KTVZ this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“General manager is extremely discriminatory, treats employees like children, employees are overall unhappy. Managers talk badly about employees to other employees. No room or opportunity for growth.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“It’s a BAD place to work. Stay away from KTVZ, it will completely drain your passion to continue in this business.”
News Director: Dave Parker
“Great ND. Genuinely cares about storytelling. Positive, helpful, creates a happy newsroom environment. Willing to teach and help you achieve your goals in and out the newsroom.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Great place to learn. Team players. Great storytelling. Would highly recommend.”
News Director: Morgan Schaab
“Our news director is amazing. She is new to the position, but not new to the station. She is always on top of everything and is willing to help at a moments notice. There have been times I’ve called her at 10PM needing advice. She really is incredible.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“We strive on teamwork and working hard. Everyone gets their job done efficiently and by deadline. The newsroom is a positive environment and the new director’s door is always open. WAND is #1 for a reason. These are just a few of the amazing things about this station.”
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Terrible”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The news station is completely and utterly disorganized. There is hardly any communication between the managers and the staff and when there is an issue, they won’t let you know for five weeks and proceed to grill you over a previous mistake you made.
There is no encouragement from the managers. The co-workers, on the other hand, are fantastic. We pump each other up, while Cindy Dixon and Mike Rausch will demean your character and call you nasty names until you can no longer function. Then, they have the audacity to question why you are feeling down.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Mike Rausch describes himself as one of the top 100 tv news executives in the country, yet can’t even get a mid-level tv station to function halfway decent.
He is a fraud and the story ideas that come out of this dump are stale, old, and downright boring.
Great station aside from Cindy and Mike, but the onions are just too much to bear. They will kill your your passion for this industry because they can’t stand their own pathetic lives. Avoid.”
News Director: CJ Hoyt
“CJ is a completely toxic manager, verbally abusive, and overworks his employees. The worst manager I’ve ever had.”
While working for WHTM this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Female reporters are called fat slobs, bitches, and stupid by station management. The new GM told females they can’t wear sleeveless dresses, meaning we’d have to pay for a new wardrobe, but he bought men new ties.
One of our main anchors currently has a sexual discrimination lawsuit filed against the GM and station. The GM has made inappropriate sexual and racial jokes.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“DO NOT come to this station, even if you’re desperate. It was a great station before Nexstar bought it and brought in its terrible managers. The news director is like a slave driver. He has MMJs do two to three stories a day and then write and cut different versions for each show. We are cutting five to 12 different things a day. No one can do quality work anymore. MMJs are not allowed to do sweeps pieces so we can “focus on day turns.” We’ve had 35+ people leave in the year Nexstar took over. It’s like being in market 180. Please stay away!”
While working for WABG this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Janis Harper
“Can seem hands off at times but respects hard work and makes providing training/learning opportunities for everyone a priority.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This station is #2 in the market but is locally owned & has the resources behind it to take control of the market from its competitors who are now owned by Gray Television. Opportunities here include traveling the state and beyond (Reporters have gone to villages in rural Alaska, Afghanistan, Greenland etc. for stories), time to work on special projects, and stories you won’t find anywhere else in the world. People come here for the job and often stay for Alaska. If you don’t embrace adventure (think hiking, glaciers, northern lights, dog mushing) then this station is not for you. No news room is perfect, and KTVA comes with normal daily frustrations, but employees here are fairly compensated in a newsroom environment where harassment and discrimination are not tolerated.”
News Director: Tim Ryan
Experience described as: “Horrible”
While working for KVUE this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management doesn’t seem to care about employees.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Karen Arazia
“She has extremely poor news judgement and poor judgement of character. She overworks and overwhelms her staff. She’s inconsiderate of exhaustion and burnout. Morale is incredibly low and is not getting better.”
While working for WCSH this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“It comes down to the news director, her lack of news judgement, and the lack of communication with the top to express our frustration with. You will come in with ideas and energy, and then be punished for it.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I don’t blame Tegna, but theres no safe line of communication to the top that could avoid these issues.”
News Director: Matt Kummer
“Matt Kummer has a great first impression. I remember thinking how lucky I was to score a job with this new director – he’s smart, witty, and easygoing. Well, boys and girls, first impressions are deceiving. Matt Kummer makes promises he cannot, or will not, keep. Countless times I’ve heard him tell people in the newsroom, myself included, one thing – and do the exact opposite. As reporters, your pitches are worthless. “Why would you do a story on that?” (You’re defeated, your pitch is nothing. Then, several days later, he pitches the EXACT SAME STORY as if it were his own brilliant idea.) As producers, your stacking is incorrect. Your leads are weak – if he bothers to look at the rundown. Often, he sends emails to the newsroom, saying, “we need get to this!” or “we need to confirm this!” not realizing we’ve already sent a push alert – and switched a reporter to the story. His job as a news director is worthless. We are a sinking ship, without a captain. And don’t get me started on his scheduling. He will switch your off days at will, without telling you. You work dayside? Be prepared to come in at 3:00 a.m. on a random Wednesday. Your family is flying in for the Christmas holiday? Don’t worry, you’re suddenly working overnight all week long. You work at 2:00 p.m. regularly? There is no regularly. Come in at 11:00 a.m., on a moment’s notice, please. If there is some sort of confrontation, you will not hear it from him. You may receive a passive aggressive email, that will demean your soul, but he will never say anything to your face. You will never hear a “good job” or be appreciated for the way you bust your ass. For your news director is not a director at all.”
While working for WBAY this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I am a smart person, who happens to be female. Coincidentally, a female reporter leads our newsroom, racking in top awards annually, and getting our station inside information before most any other station has it. But because I happen to have a certain body part, categorizing me as female, I believe my news director struggles to speak to me. He may be socially awkward with men, but with women it’s a whole different story. He will walk right by your desk, and not say a word, but email you everything you did wrong in a story. It’s honestly just uncomfortable.
As far as an “Overall Toxic Work Environment,” what news station isn’t? But, here at WBAY, your hard work WILL go unnoticed. Because you are able to produce, shoot, and report? You’re not valued. You are taken advantage of. If you have a good work ethic, you will be worked to the bone, turning stories for as many shows as they can find a place for you.
Many of us face metal instability because of this newsroom — but there is never an appropriate time for a breakdown. You are treated as a number. A head. You fill a role. But you are not a person.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This station is terrible with communication. I know that’s our field, but for some reason, we’re lacking in that department.
You’re a reporter and there’s breaking news? Management will suddenly decide you’re live in the 4:00, 5:00 and 6:00 — and NOT tell you. They won’t even tell you you’re switched to that story.
You’re a producer and there’s breaking news? You won’t know your reporter has been switched to the story either! Suddenly you’re supposed to be leading with this brand new information, but you have no idea there’s a situation at hand. No email has been sent, phone call has been made. You’re supposed to magically know of this change.
Recently, our station was bought by Gray, and several cuts were made. Our news director did not sit us all down, and explain corporate cutbacks. Instead, he sent an email. “Hey, your good friend has been fired. Oh and by the way, you’re all MMJ’s now.”
These new changes do not benefit us at all. Reporters are told they’re supposed to shoot for OTHER reporters, potentially their own live shots. Producers are pulling double duty, editing, producing and potentially even helping with web. Photographers, well, the five of you that are left, are being pulled in 100 directions, as each reporter yearns for help with their mounting stories.
The moral of the story is: our station is a legacy. We are number one, and have been number one for years. But it doesn’t feel like it anymore. We are slowly seeing it all fade away. And honestly, with the way we’re being treated, we don’t care.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “Terrible, verbally abusive, untrustworthy, egotistical”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“He picks favorites in the newsroom, but even if you are a “favorite” he is two-faced and tries to put employees against each other.
He doesn’t care about personal lives of employees, denying people of taking off for personal issues.
His verbally abusive attitude has caused a mass exodus from the station.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Megan Lewis
“Megan is trying to turn this station around. She is overall understanding and wants the best for a person individually. She expects a good product and pushes you to get that. Megan was one of the only good experiences I had working for the station.”
While working for KFBB this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“There’s a serious lack of resources – beyond just starter market struggles. They do not have photogs. They’re behind our competitors in almost everything and it’s not even close. There’s not a budget to get content done that you want. It’s an overall negative work environment and often tension and drama throughout the newsroom. The people who have been at the station awhile are a bit controlling. Nobody wants to stay in a small market, but nobody ESPECIALLY wants to stay in THIS small market.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The pay is barely livable (as in, you qualify for food stamps) and the town is horrific. The only upside to coming here is that it gives you experience to get somewhere else. If you have nothing else, I would take it. The communities and people are really nice outside of the actual station. If you have other offers, I would choose those over KFBB.”
News Director: Tom Doerr
Experience described as: “Brief and had little to no contact”
While working for WINK this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Long story short…. I had to go to therapy for the constant trauma after being forced to work well past my shift to stare at dead bodies just so the producer can have ” eyes on scene” even after all info was reported and they wanted confirmation that the scene was clear. They would kill a great story for something as little as a car accident. The only station I’ve been to where 21 year old producers have more power than the ND’s themselves. All with their minds set on Blood and Destruction over covering actual news.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“After we would have editorial meetings in which all positive story ideas were shot down for “Vulture news” going door knocking in Gang neighborhoods to ask if they knew who shot up the house next door. The producers constantly thought of themselves as Detectives instead of reporters of the facts. If you were asked to come in early or on your day off and said no, you were berated into giving an excuse as to why not. One word describes this station….Hell”
News Director: Matt Kummer
“The most incompetent, lazy and socially awkward man I have ever met in my life”
While working for WBAY this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This is the number one station in the market, with several outstanding veteran journalists working there. However, since the news director Matt Kummer took over a few years ago it has gone downhill. He has a hard time separating what he personally finds interesting, from what stories should be covered. New reporters will rarely get to work with a photographer. Producers will have their shows rearranged, rewritten or have new liveshots added without being told. People will have their jobs changed at his whim. You were hired as a web producer? Well, we need an editor, so that’s your full-time job now. The news director will also routinely lie to candidates in order to get them in the door. I’ve seen him promise new reporters they will have a photographer every day and the chance to fill-in anchor, and then never deliver. I’ve seen him promise producers they would be doing one show, then changing his mind on their first day of work. The news director is also socially awkward to the point that he avoids talking with people whenever possible, and never really has an idea about what people are actually covering or really doing all day. He spends the majority of his time in his office watching baseball, looking at google maps (for some reason) online shopping, and having loud personal conversations with his wife with the door open.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Rob Cartwright
“He’s smart and knows what he’s doing. Corporate is what gets in the way of bad content.”
While working for KEYE this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination
“A lot of people in the newsroom feel very comfortable with saying racially insensitive things, including the assistant ND. If it has ever been reported to HR, all these people got was a slap on the wrist. Not sure how a reporter can be trusted to report fairly when they clearly have some sort of bias against certain minority groups and can’t control what comes out of their mouths.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“Rob is fine as a ND. He’s smart, creative, and is a people person. The assistant ND is who you should watch out for. He has terrible news judgment, cannot make a decision to save his life (especially during breaking news situations), doesn’t know how to interact with people (especially if you’re a POC.) He definitely plays favorites. If you can avoid any interaction with the assistant ND and do your job, you’re in good hands. Also, the editorial meetings are death and can go off the rails for an hour. Good luck!”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “Abusive, wasteful, disappointing”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I have never worked under such poor management. All 4 managers+morning EP always make errors, which interfere with our personal lives, but they don’t care. These “grown-ups” ALWAYS find someone else to blame. Talented people have left because of the toxic work environment and negativity. People don’t feel good working in this newsroom. I found more happiness working fast food! Over a dozen negative comments, but nothing has changed. That should tell you something about KOAT and HEARST.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“We don’t get any feedback. It’s only when you don’t perform the way they want you to, that you’ll hear about it. You can’t be creative here. They tell you how they want your story to be. Now that everyone has jumped ship, management is finally starting to appreciate the few still around. Most would say, “with chaos comes opportunity,” but it feels like I’m doing business with fakes. I want to work where people cared and were appreciative from the beginning.”
News Director: Andrea Stahlman
“Andrea is the best ND I worked for. She really wants the newsroom to be a positive experience. The newsroom has its issues though, it’s not perfect by any means.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Positive, Fun, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“It’s not a storytelling station, so if that is what you are looking for you should not work here. If you want to be live no matter what and turn hard news stories every day, this is the place for you. The frustrations come from the mindset that quantity is better than quality. Reporters are worked very hard. You always get a photog but it’s not an NPPA station at all.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “Bad, Terrible, verbally abusive”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Greg Shepperd has pushed out so much good talent because of his terrible, abusive management style. He likes to hide behind his watch and ignores his staff and doesn’t care. I’ve seen him force people to work 4am to 11pm the same day/days in a row because he can’t staff a newsroom. Morale is terrible, as he talks down to his employees. He is more concerned about what is happening nationally rather than let reporters do enterprise stories. He doesn’t let reporters do local news, it’s always localize national news. He has terrible news judgement and shouldn’t be a news director.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The rest of the newsroom staff are awesome who try to put together a good product, but are always met with the stupidity of Greg.
Don’t come here until Greg is no longer at the station. Don’t let him fool you during an interview either.”
News Director: Jeff Nelson
Experience described as: “Horrible”
While working for WDAY this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Very belittling.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Don’t work here.”
News Director: Dan Wilson
Experience described as: “Okay”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“The main reason these stations can’t get out of their own way in the morning show arena is because of the leadership they have in charge of the morning shows.
Neither of the EP’s are actively trying to own their shows. And that’s when they are not calling out sick.”
News Director: Jeff Zeller
“Very weird individual. Not an honest person”
While working for WOFL this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This place had great staff and we got along really well. The management truly was bad we had 4 ND is three years and the last ND got his job because he was the last one standing. Most of the reporters and photog team have left this station because of the toxic environment. I was warned by a former co-worker not to go to WOFL a.k.a W-Aweful. She was right. The former news director Bob Clinkingbeard who was also fired about a year ago from WTSP in Tampa is a bully. He told one African American reporter before he hired her …” I know you’ve heard bad things about this station but you can call a few black women that I’ve hired and they will tell you I’m fair and not racist.” Who does that……?”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This place you should avoid. There are other stations in Orlando that run smoothly. There is an EP Melissa Medilie she is another nightmare . She is now the AD and a parrot for Jeff Zeller.”
News Director: Matt Stein
Experience described as: “Educational, Demanding & Plenty of Feedback”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“A friend just told me about this site and the last rating. Almost all of us hang out after work or on weekends. We have fun and nobody does any backstabbing. It’s not my fault the producer can’t spell and I don’t want to get in trouble for something I didn’t do. We also have a bunch of people on second and third contracts. I’ve had bad bosses in TV and the managers here aren’t bad. If you get to know them, they can even be fun.”
News Director: Nate Smail
Experience described as: “Terrible. Awful.”
While working for WDTV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Smail is a totalitarian. He has absolute zero news judgement when it comes to local news.
One time, he sent a reporter out to “a situation” coming in via phone call at the local Food Lion. He posted a story on the website that said no police were there and police wouldn’t confirm whether or not something happened.
How is that news?
The dude gets WIRED for any sort of weather that’s not sunny, and even when it’s sunny for too long he makes a big deal about it.
He acts like he defends his staff, but as soon as sales reps get mad about a story, he blames the reporter. Spineless.
Doesn’t guide his staff. Comes to meetings late. Tries to avoid confrontation with individuals by sending mass emails instead of sitting the individual down.
Is the worst hiring manager in all of news.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The people you work with outside of Smail are the best. Everyone’s dealing with his garbage so everyone is really close. I’d never trade my time there because I did grow; but no thanks to him. If you’re fresh out of college, it’s not the worst gig. Get your year in and get out.”
News Director: Ashley Hall
“Unorganized, uninspiring, out of touch with what our jobs require us to do”
While working for KDRV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Leadership and feedback are non-existent unless corporate comes down.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Great starter market, but you’re giving away your soul.”
News Director: Jamie Foster
“Jamie places more trust in what he is told about a worker than what that worker actually does. His newsroom has a history of backbiting, and if your coworkers don’t like you, be sure to get to him before they do. He places more trust in the first person to complain, than whether or not the complaint is valid. He is also very rude to people he does not like and feels confident in being able to yell at his subordinates, while condemning them if they make someone else feel uncomfortable. I was yelled at for telling him that I was tired of people lying about me to him: his response was “I don’t care what you’re tired of hearing,” which he yelled loud enough that the entire newsroom could hear it through his closed office closed door.”
While working for WATE this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I entered the newsroom with the most experience and education, and knew my time at this station would be uncomfortable from the first day I walked through the door. Jamie pretended to feel sad when I told him on my last day that I never felt welcome there, but it was his poor management as a news director that encouraged lying by my coworkers… whose main complaint was how much I wore my headphones. There was not much complaint on the quality of my work, but i was often called lazy and standoffish by coworkers who reported anything I said on my social media page… but received pats on the back for the threats they made about me on their accounts.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The station is ratings hungry… and did poor journalism on a daily basis. They actually brought in consultants to teach their producers how to write so that their copy would be more believable: as a news professional, i found that disgusting.
There were a few times when we were introduced to new technology that I had previous experience with; when I said I liked the technology, it was met with scoffs and giggles of disapproval… one man saying in reply to me that he hates the program.
I think the worst part about my experience is that people are more inclined to believe him because he is a news director, and ignore how he dismisses those he doesn’t like, to suck up to those he does like: His staff had no respect for him, telling him one thing to his face and another thing behind his back. But they knew he was easily manipulated.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “Poor”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Morale sank after Greg arrived due to his pompous and disrespectful attitude. We knew what was coming as there were Arkansas websites with dozens of comments about his reign of terror at 40/29 in Fayetteville. The previous assistant news director here left 40/29 for Albuquerque because of Greg, and left here within weeks of Greg’s arrival to get away from him again. Similar stories of his treatment of staff there happened again here and we lost some good employees who didn’t want to deal with him anymore. He brought in a former minion from Arkansas to be his assistant news director. She is little more than a female “yes man”. People have also been passed over for promotions and are choosing to leave as they see no room for advancement.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Many of the people who have left during the Greg era moved on to Top 25 markets. Most of the reporters, producers, photographers, and other staff still here are good hard-working people who do their best to try to make this station succeed. There are good stories to be told here. The market is really big and KOAT has a helicopter which can be used to get to breaking news far from Albuquerque. The general manager is great, but unfortunately is retiring this year. Greg’s three years will be up in August. Hopefully he will move on by then and this station can get back to being a place where people want to work.”
News Director: Jack Acosta
Experience described as: “Really good boss.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“I disagree with the last “reviewer”. Jack is a great boss and news director. He’s made me feel welcome and valued since I came here. I think he’s destined for greater things, like becoming a GM.”
News Director: Ashley Hall
Experience described as: “easy to work with, supportive”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
News Director: Greg Sheppherd
“Unfortunately the other comments are accurate. He’s a hands on boss who doesn’t like to say he is. He gets managers under him to deliver hard decisions and tell bad news. He’s afraid of getting sued for every story. He’s killed good journalism out of fear. His untrustworthiness and pettiness have pushed out great employees.”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The newsroom is managed by several managers who all fear Greg’s decisions. Ratings are slipping, morale is terrible, and people are leaving the station and industry. Avoid this station at all costs until Greg Sheppherd leaves. He’s destroyed a once proud brand.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
News Director: Nate Smail
Experience described as: “Horrendous”
While working for WDTV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“News Director doesn’t know how to lead a newsroom. Morning meetings are not productive and it feels like he judges you rather than guide you while pitching a story. Focuses mostly on national stories and wants you to “localize” it in a very sensationalist way. He mostly wants MOS in all the stories. He sends MMJ’s to local mall or Walmart parking lot to find people. Example of this: he assigns a national story or a story published from the statewide online newspaper and wants local reaction. He also decides to change your story while you’re halfway into your interviews of the day and doesn’t let producers know about those changes. He doesn’t read through people’s work before showtime, yet if there’s a mistake while he’s anchoring, he would communicate with you with thousand emails or texts than rather in person. He over dramatizes weather stories. He has no experience in other markets.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Station’s management knows about all of this but don’t do anything about it, yet they protect him. Aside from that, other MMJ’s and producers are great and we’re all trying to survive. Most are counting the days until their contract ends.”
News Director: Nate Smail
Experience described as: “Heinous”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“News director does not know how to do his job. He shows up to work at 11:00 am, leaves all afternoon, and then runs into the studio, while shaving, five minutes before air time. He does not provide any helpful skills or tips to further your career. He always picks on the new reporters and makes them feel like they are stupid. His idea of news is having his reporters interview people in Walmart parking lots. The newsroom cameras or cars never work. He is obsessed with weather related stories. If there are a few rain drops outside he demands that we go into severe weather mode and every story must be about weather. He dramatizes everything and likes to scare our viewers. He might be a decent person outside of work, but he has no idea how to do his job. This is the only station he has ever worked at in his entire career.”
News Director: Ashley Hall
“Don’t do it!”
While working for KDRV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Matt Stein
Experience described as: “Complete and utter disaster/ lack of positive leadership/ Toxic”
While working for WAAY this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“A very toxic work environment with poor leadership. Managers offer little feedback at all, so you’re forced to guess on how to make improvement. Even if you request more feedback they won’t take the time. Matt Stein picks favorites not even based on performance, but more about who he can joke around with.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Only work here if you’re desperate to get your foot in the door. The station has a bunch of backstabbing people that you should avoid. After working here, a lot of people either end their contract early or get out of the business because they feel like all stations will be just as bad. The few that stay do move up to better markets because the station is like a unorganized and stressful military boot camp.”
News Director: Scott Nichols
“I worked for two news directors there and under a horrible, misogynistic GM. The GM is George Kayes. The two NDs: Len Stevens and then Scott Nichols. All three men bullied and harassed me relentlessly”
While working for WSET this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I am not going to get into details here. But it was a daily onslaught of harassment, targeted bullying, retaliation for reporting such illegal behavior…and one of the WORST places I have ever worked. And I’ve worked for more than a few. Sinclair management seemed to sign off on the illegal harassment against several women. Despite repeated effort to report the behavior of management. There is no doubt that the hostile work environment that I fostered by management to include lower levels of EPs and anchors is illegal.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“By far and away one of the worst places I’ve ever…ever…worked. I have PTSD from the horrors I suffered there. George Kayes is a Trump toting misogynist and is only interested in hiring managers who will follow his lead there. WSET is not interested in the least in truthful, compelling news reporting. The EPs are terrible!! Like laughably bad writers and “fact checkers” who run a gossipy, bully-fest of a “newsroom” and retaliate against anyone who stands up to them. Most of them have never worked anywhere else. Even if you think you HAVE to get a job in TV-do NOT go here. You won’t learn anything except how to dodge bullets flying at you on the daily. I was warned against taking a job here…I should have listened.”
News Director: Janis Harper
“Quiet, not engaged, shows favoritism”
While working for KTVA this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Favoritism, negativity, mean girls”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Negativity, verbally abusive anchors, gossip, mean girls club.”
News Director: Jayne Ruben
“She is supportive of real journalism and handles issues when you bring them up to her, if you provide the solution.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“KSLA has a great family atmosphere. There is a good mix of people who have been there a while and new people. The work load for MMJ’s is very reasonable, typically one story a day. The station has very experience photographers who handle breaking news and vosots for the most part. They are usually available for live shots. The newsroom is organized and communication amongst producers/management and between people in the field was not perfect, but better than your average newsroom. Real journalism and lead stories are preferred here. If you don’t want to turn dumb feature stories everyday and want to cover news that matters, this is a good newsroom for that. Investigative journalism is valued by the company, which is a plus. Shreveport is a great news town. Not the best from a resident perspective, but a gold mine for news stories. KSLA has it’s problems like every newsroom, but overall, I would recommend working for KSLA.”
News Director: Scott Nichols
“It was pleasant at first and then the dynamic changed when I spoke out against something I felt was racist. From that moment moving forward, he saw me as a problem.”
While working for WSET this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I chose Racial discrimination and toxic work environment because what I had to experience. I was the only Latina in that newsroom that had an opinion about stories of immigration. There was a story that I found to be racist and my news directors as well as my morning show producers did not understand why I felt the way I felt. In the end, I was reprimanded for speaking up and accused of being “biased” and “racist,” according to one of my producers. This then leads me to my toxic work environment explanation.
WSET is a toxic place. I found zero support from none of my coworkers except production. The fear that runs there is ridiculous. The most unprofessional place where everyone knew your business.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Just stay away from this station. They’re not open to change or helpful. The most stressful 4 months of my life. Your talent is not appreciated. It was so toxic, my health declined.”
News Director: Scott Fitzgerald
While working for KRNV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“If I knew what I know now, I would have never signed a contract with News 4. This is by far the most toxic and evil environment and newsroom I have ever worked in. Everyone talks horribly about others (even their “friends”). I saw less drama, backstabbing, and hostility in my high school. No one takes responsibility for themselves, their actions, or their mistakes. They’re always looking to blame someone else. Coworkers are extremely ignorant and closed-minded people who have no empathy for people who aren’t like they are. Managers are incompetent and don’t help out when asked and then get frustrated when things aren’t done their way. The station is and always has been understaffed therefore employees are expected to do the job of at least 3 different people. Producers are given an ungodly amount of work and aren’t supplied the resources to succeed. If you ever get a call from the news director here, don’t listen to a word he says about how much the station is thriving. It’s not. And neither is anyone who works there because we’re all burned out and miserable and we’re just trying to keep our heads down, do the job the best we can, and get out. AVOID NEWS 4 AT ALL COSTS.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Do yourself, your sanity, and your career a favor and don’t work here. You’ll be much happier anywhere else. Trust me.”
News Director: Chris best
Experience described as: “Negative”
While working for WKRG this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“It’s an extremely toxic work environment and the news director blames it on employees. But long term, good employees are leaving yet he won’t get the message.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The station cares more about pinching as much work as they can from you for the little pay you get, than you actually succeeding. They will work you to the ground and if you complain, they talk it up to you not being fit for the business. It’s a shame because this was once such an amazing station but it’s losing its solid reputation. Managers want good story telling but they also want to cover every bit of breaking news. Employees can only handle so much”
News Director: Jack Acosta
“The news director is a nice enough guy, but totally clueless.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“No direction and no overall vision. The station doesn’t do real news, just fluff so they can get Facebook views and likes. ND is nice, but doesn’t know what he’s doing. It’s clear that he’s never actually been a news director before. Hires reporters based on looks rather than talent and ability. The rest of the managers are okay, with some being really helpful and good at their jobs and others almost as clueless as the ND.
The overall newsroom is pretty positive and fun, but if you’re looking to do serious work and improve yourself it can be pretty negative and toxic. If you don’t care about that, though, it’s the place for you because the ND clearly doesn’t care about anything except for trying to please his corporate bosses and what kind of food to order for the producers most days.”
News Director: Nicole Hogensen
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized
News Director: David Williams
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
News Director: Bruce Barkley
“One of the most unlikable humans you’ll ever meet. Several dozen people have left in the ~8 years he has been there.”
While working for WYFF this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“If it weren’t for the ND, everyone would be happy. People have been there for decades. People who were there for decades left when he came in.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized
Additional comments:
“Avoid at all costs.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
“Very arrogant, lacks news judgement, constantly harasses staff”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“There’s no communication between managers. Greg and his Assistant ND Melissa always contradict each other. If you do anything one asks, the other yells at you for not doing what they said and vice versa. They have a very bully-like management style, they care very little about their staff and have tremendous turnover. Both have pushed out very talented people. They always seem to be in meetings with each other, and unavailable to do their actual job. They are always leaving early, eating on the company dime.
Since Greg Shepperd took over there have been over 30 people who have come and gone from the newsroom. And he doesn’t seem to care to hire open positions.
Nothing is his fault, even if the idea is his, he will blame others for his mistakes and never take responsibility for anything. He’s very demeaning to staff and has caused morale to be at an all time low.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“As long as Greg Shepperd and Melissa Williams are at this station. Do not come here, The news product suffers because of their poor judgement. Staff doesn’t want to stay and is constantly unhappy. Look elsewhere.”
News Director: Anna Velasquez
“She comes off as fun and supportive, but over time the facade thins and you see that she is all about herself. She is a former reporter turned ND due to to lack of jobs in the area. She will take the good stories from reporters.”
While working for KLEW this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Not many employees here are happy, and it all comes from the lack of leadership and support from the people who run the station.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This is a good place to start as an mmj, but be ready to work. Not all days are bad and the ND will push you to your limit and force you to learn (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing). Even though leadership is not the best here, my fellow reporters, anchors and the production staff were amazing and helped keep me sane. Lewiston itself is an awesome place to start. Local law enforcement and emergency responders are awesome and easy to work with. If you can get around the lack of leadership I highly suggest starting here. And if this says KLEW is market 73, it is NOT! It is the only station in Lewiston, ID but is within 2 hours of Spokane so sometimes get lumped in with market 73.”
News Director: Ed Reams
“Doesn’t care about his employees. Sees them as a nuisance. His way or the highway. Has run off all the best reporters and photographers.”
While working for WKOW this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“No one feels motivated to try because you are treated poorly at every turn. Morale at an all-time low.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Don’t take a job there”
News Director: Matt Griffin
“Horrible, walking on eggshells to please him”
While working for KXII this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The other reviews are truthful. ND Matt Griffin has an obvious infatuation with blondes and prefers to give men the “big stories.” Being the morning MMJ, I learned from the wonderful morning crew, half of which is no longer there. Griffin was a terrible leader, mentor and communicator. If he isn’t pleased with something you’ve done, he won’t pull you to the side for a private and constructive conversation where he’ll look you in the eye and be straight with you — No. Instead, he’ll make angry and/or passive aggressive comments to the entire newsroom that were narrow enough to embarrassingly single someone out. The station has wonderful people who are passionate about their jobs and helping young newsies, but Griffin is a nightmare. If you get a job at this starter station… get in, get your feet wet, learn from the more experienced colleagues, build that reel… and GET OUT.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
News Director: Kelley Dickens
“Ignored safety concerns, dismissive and avoidant.”
While working for WBND this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“It’s an incredibly rough place to work, especially as an MMJ. I could fill an entire book.
Biggest issues:
SAFETY! MMJs are live alone every day pretty much no matter what. Live shots while driving to show poor weather conditions is a pretty regular thing too (in the car alone, no photog to help set up, drive or troubleshoot live gear issues… all that while you are trying to navigate icy/ snowy roads and trying to sound halfway decent on TV warning viewers about how unsafe driving conditions are.)
Poor Leadership. Management is not receptive to feedback. They have little concern for the well-being of their employees. Many, if not all MMJs that I worked with often felt miserable or even depressed at times because of the work environment.
Newsroom is a mess.
They are constantly in “crisis mode.” There is no tried and true way things are supposed to go. Every newscast has embarrassing spelling mistakes, graphics issues, tech problems. The ones making the calls have questionable ethics, known to get the story wrong. ABC 57 is not respected by the other stations in the market or by many people in the community. This can sometimes make things tough when you need to get sound from people who lump you in with the station’s bad reputation.
I could go on and on and on and on… but here’s the bottom line. All newsrooms have their issues. All first MMJ jobs are tough. When hired at ABC 57, MMJs are warned the experience will be like boot camp. This is not a joke.
It will break you down physically, emotionally and mentally every single day.
Please take my word for it: it doesn’t have to be THIS hard.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I heard WBST is hiring.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
“Proven track-record of being a bully and poor people person.”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“How Hearst has allowed Greg (and Melissa) to continue their abusive management style in market after market is unreal.
When Greg worked in New Orleans as Asst. ND, his fellow managers admitted he had terrible people skills. Sacramento, same deal.
In NW Arkansas his difficult, disrespectful, toxic management style led to a mass exodus of many long-time employees both in front of and behind the camera. Including the Asst ND who transferred to KOAT to escape (only to be under Greg’s leadership again) the long-time chief meteorologist, both morning anchors, the entire sports department, and producers.
Reading comments from current co-workers here shows nothing has changed.
Greg has ran a once proud station into the ground, ran out many talented people.
He cares little about people or the product. Just look at the ratings.
His only focus is dressing his cats in costumes, his Starbucks venti soy drinks, wine/dines on the company dime, and blaming everyone else for his and his managers failures.
Because he’s unlikely to change as a person, my only advice is to look elsewhere. Avoid KOAT as long as Greg is in charge.
You’ll be glad you did.
***Remember the devil wears Puma.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Consider yourself warned.
Just watch the product.
You can see people dread being here.
Is it enough to get Hearst corporate’s attention?
Unlikely.”
News Director: Darryl Huger
“Awful. Completely Clueless as to what just aired on our newscasts. Would routinely undercut anchors/reporters ideas and planning. Played favorites with certain on air and behind the scenes talent because of prior relationships in market or just because he liked them better. Not based on talent or journalistic abilities at all.”
While working for WACH this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The main sports anchor sexually harassed a female sports anchor and wasn’t fired, even though the whole station found out about it. The harassed employee quit and they just had HR read us the open door policy in a meeting. The sports anchor still works there to this day like nothing happened.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Station has gone through like 2 Gms and 4 news directors in 2 years. The last GM resigned after picking a fight with a local towing company after they towed her car and she forced a reporter to run a hit piece on them to lead the 10PM News. It made TVSpy and everything. The Newsroom environment was terrible, missing breaking stories left and right. No sense of planning or direction by management. Every MMJ and Reporter since like 2013 has left in 2 years or less. Hard work by reporters there is not rewarded instead political maneuvering by the less talented get promoted. In general Wach FOX is only good for getting a foot in the door early in your career. If you consider working here please know not every place is like this. Wach Fox is uniquely stupid.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
“A micromanager with unoriginal ideas. Small town mentality for News. Has to have a meeting about everything but no results or resolutions. Melissa Williams is his equal.”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The morale of staff is very low. Both Greg Shepperd and Melissa Williams do a great job at micromanaging staff, not offering critiques that actually help growth,Williams is very nasty/condescending when you ask for clarification or don’t agree with her. Greg is better about it. There are so many meetings during the day that are pointless and could have been an email. If you want to feel annoyed while at work, you should apply now.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Both greg Shepperd and Melissa Williams love smiling at you while forcing you to work on your days off. 6-12 day shifts are not unusual here.”
News Director: Tom Bell
“Quiet and detatched. Im not sure he would even know my name if we passed each other in the hallway.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“Desk has always been an issue. Strongest desk employees get picked up in larger markets. A lot of newsworthy stories have been tossed to the side because of unusual management opinion. If they could get a solid desk in that newsroom and a more approachable ND and AD, morale would sky rocket. I also want to note, whatever position you are hired in, get comfy… hardly ever promote from within.”
News Director: Ashley Talley
Experience described as: “Noxious”
While working for WMBF this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The news director fosters a negative work environment. She is curt, terse and abrupt when she speaks with you. When you do get a photog to shoot with you like a sweeps piece or a special, they forget to do the basics like using a light on an interview or get important shots which makes it hard to write to video and craft a story. The operations manager not much help either on the technical side or relationship side when issues come up. The station spends too much time on backwoods-backwaters crime that there is no take away for the view of value and benefit.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Just because the station is by the ocean in a tourist destination does not mean living by the beach is part of the benefits package. The pay is horrible and not a place to grow and hone in on your skills.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
“Best news director I’ve ever worked for”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Greg Shepperd is a genius manager. His stories of his past markets are inspiring and I have a lot of respect for him.”
News Director: Darrell Adams
Experience described as: “Bad”
While working for WBBH this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“He has horrible news judgement. Unless you’re gay or a kiss ass you’ll get treated poorly. He’s never around anyway…….his minions are just as bad.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Be prepared to turn at least 2 pkgs a day. If you have no experience anchoring this is the perfect place for you. Its only a matter of time before reporters shoot their own live shots.”
News Director: Mike Snuffer
“He’s an idiot”
While working for WSIL this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“He’s up the GM’s butt.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“One live truck but its never used for news. Bad equipment-always breaking down. Wx guy thinks he’s a know it all-he’s a lifer there because he sucks.”
News Director: Darrel Adams
“unless you’re gay or a kiss ass it sucks”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Be prepared to shoot your own stuff.You’ll be expected to turn stuff for the 4, 5, 6-sometimes two pkgs a day. Live for the sake of live. Its a very clique-ish place much like high school. Poor news judgement. Very consultant driven.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “Chaotic, toxic, unsatisfactory”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“They overwork us, but yet never satisfied.
Morning meetings go on far too long and they sometimes don’t benefit us because things still get screwed up. Management will throw you under the bus if something goes wrong.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Positive, Fun, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“During the week we have at least 5 managers working dayside, but still, this place is unorganized & management can careless about how it interferes with our day.There’s no opportunity for growth. It’s always the same photographers and reporters creating sweeps piece’s, special projects. The same people in promos. Overall, not a fun place to be. Poor representation of Hearst.”
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Demeaning, tears you down”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“When I was little, I dreamt about being a reporter or anchor for a major news network one day. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but I was ready to put in the work. After studying for four years, getting multiple degrees and working my tail off on horrible shifts, I can honestly say I have lost that passion after working under Mike Rausch and Cindy Davis. While giving “constructive criticism”, Mike will demean you and make you feel stupid. Cindy Davis (Assi. ND) is never happy with what you do and will smile at you while completely tearing you down. Their expectations are unrealistic and overkill and they overwork their employees to where we have lost tons of people in the last year. Look, this industry is hard. We work horrible hours, weekends, nights, mornings. We never get holidays off, have four months that we cannot take off, get paid terribly, can never see our family, and get awful comments from viewers. I would hope we could AT LEAST have support from our managers. When you don’t want to get out of bed because you hate coming to work, a line has been crossed.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Matt Griffin
Experience described as: “A nightmare, he is toxic”
While working for KXII this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Working at KXII is a nightmare. I’ve often gone home and cried. Matt Griffin prefers blonde reporters and will constantly give them better stories and more live shots. He does not give positive criticism and will only call you into his office if its to tell you what you did wrong. Dan Thomas is the the nightside anchor. He is just as bad, if not worse. He is condescending, demeaning and racist. If its not his way, he gets upset. When you complain about him, Matt and GM take his side and say your proof simply isn’t good enough. KXII is toxic. Maureen is the only person I can honestly say has taught me anything. Without her, I would have broken my contract a LONG time ago.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“So many great stories out of this area but if you’re not blonde, you won’t get to cover it.”
News Director: Cristi Jessee
“This article tells you everything you need to know…
http://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2017/2/7/there-goes-the-credibility”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
News Director: Cristi Jessee
Experience described as: “Horrible news judgment. No experience. No vision. No motivation.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This is by far the cheapest station in Las Vegas. It is an embarrassment to Meredith. If you want an ice cream sandwich or a homeless toiletry kit for Christmas instead of a raise or fair wage, pick GM Todd Brown’s station!”
News Director: Bruce Moore
Experience described as: “Brown-nose”
While working for WREG this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Station morale is falling faster than the ratings (we’re really #2 now at 5 & 6 despite the promos) and operates on a culture of fear. No one feels free to speak their mind. The upcoming takeover by new ownership is only making things worse around here. The ND prides himself on how many detailed “notes” he keeps on every employee and only likes you if you are one of his “yes” men or women. Although some people, especially anchors making big bucks, can be very good at pretending. He loves to bring up the Bible, but will stab people in the back and is very passive-aggressive. His #2 is clueless and always out the door by 6:20 and doesn’t know how his desk is a joke. He only has his job because he never stands-up for the newsroom and has figured out how to brown-nose everyone above him – from the GM to consultants or corporate. Turnover is very high unless he traps you under a contract. He never gets out of his shell or reaches out to the community beyond his suburban bubble.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“We all know we are only holding on because we have anchors who know the community and CBS is so strong.”
News Director: Ryan Hawes
“He is the best part of the station, but out of touch with what goes on in the news room.”
While working for KBOI this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Unorganized, lack of communication, lack of team environment and overall unethical in news practices.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Would not recommend, especially if you are looking for a middle market/second jump after a starter station.”
News Director: Joe Skurzewski
Experience described as: “Controlling in every aspect”
While working for KMOT this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination
“Women’s opinions and thoughts are not taken seriously. If a women is asked, they will go to a man right after for their thoughts. If you are a female, you will be better liked by your GM if you are a blonde.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“This is a great station to get your feet wet in the business, but isn’t worth staying any longer than needed. As a meteorologist here, you aren’t given the proper equipment to do your job correctly, and overall it just sets you behind. I was told on multiple occasions over a time span of a year and a half that we would get new graphic systems and we never did. I don’t expect them to ever do so either. You get your experience being in front of the camera but you don’t learn much of anything else.”
News Director: Jenelle Shriner
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“KPLC is a wonderful place to work at whether you have experience or are brand new. ND Jenelle let’s you try new things and encourages creativity. You are constantly learning and if you’re goal is to move up the Raycom family will help you get there.”
News Director: Dan Schillinger
Experience described as: “Positive. Direct communicator, hands-off.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Great “team spirit”. Good place to start for a lot of reporters. Few people doing a lot of work, but you learn a ton. Work environment is positive and always trying to make young reporters better.”
News Director: Phillip Hickman
Experience described as: “Positive yet disorganized”
While working for WTAP this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Rampant sexual discrimination at this station and it gets brushed under the rug. They also use and abuse their employees. I have to say, the station got a MILLION times better when the new GM took over in March 2017. News director is a great person, easy to talk to, but not a great teacher. He’s probably just too busy to teach all the entry level people that come in. You’ll learn more from the journalists who have been there longer than you.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I would just find a station that would give you more direction and respect you. But that’s hard to find anywhere these days….”
While working for WVII/WFVX this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“It is a horrible station that will kill your passion. They treat their employees with no respect, and fail to follow through with items on contracts.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Do not work here. You will regret it.”
News Director: Kevin King
While working for KSFY this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Nobody is happy but the main anchors. The GM is a know it all who rips you apart in weekly meetings. If something goes wrong, the news director will side with the main anchors before anyone else so be prepared to take the fall multiple times.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Perry Boxx
“Absolutely awesome. He is a leader, talent developer and incredible mentor.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
News Director: John Peterson
“Mostly friendly, but sends passive-aggressive emails, doesn’t stick up for employees when it comes to problems with viewers, avoids conflicts and doesn’t give feedback about work unless it’s bad”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“No issues with other talent. Mike Powers the main evening anchor is great to work with and gives great positive feedback. If you work for the station, stick with him. The assignment editor can be difficult to work with. Her job makes her uptight and sometimes demeaning. Overall, don’t stay past your contract. Get in, learn, then get out. Pay is better than many starter markets that are higher than on the DMA list.”
News Director: Stew Hirsch
“Sends passive aggressive sometimes rude emails/texts”
While working for WFFT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Other anchor and former producer always yelled at each other, everyone talked about everyone, high demands from management but equipment constantly breaks”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“It’s a great places to learn. We’re the most underpaid in the market”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
“Very inferior, not sure why he hasn’t this job”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Most of the toxicity comes from the News Director and Assistant News Director. They are both lacking in news judgement. Neither of them know how to handle or talk to their staff. You are always tagged as insubordinate if you ask a question or raise a concern if there is a problem. They care more about being sued than putting together a good quality story. They love national news more than covering local news and make National a priority over local. The News Director and his Assistant News Director like to keep doing stories on old news rather than enterprise new stories. They constantly discourage staff from pitching good ideas and talk down to them a majority of the time, while always trying to find a reason to be angry at you.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“All of the reporters, photographers and anchors are awesome and are the best people I have ever met. The News Director and Assistant News Director don’t need to be in the position they’re in. They both took a former #1 and respected station and drove it to the ground where viewers no longer rely on the station for local news.”
News Director: Rob Elmore
“About as laid-back as they came. Wants to make subtle changes within the context of saving money.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This company changed for the better when CapCities and ABC merged in 1986 and made an even bigger change when Disney bought CapCities/ABC in 1996. No more drunken newsroom parties, no more management debauchery, much higher competency expectations of managers. This company goes out of its way to promote fairness and a non-toxic workplace. All kinds and colors are in top management and staff positions. Good for them.
In 37 years the station only had five news directors. Newsroom stability is the hallmark of how the ABC-owned stations operate, though recent changes are more indicative of the state of the business rather than the company’s health. This is the place everyone in town wants to work. Better equipment, the perks of being a Disney employee, etc. The downside for photos is that they do not hire staff photographers any more. All new hires are freelance; making the same NABET wage as the staffers, but no paid sick days, vacation time or Disney benefits.”
News Director: Brad Ginsberg
“Nice guy, has a lot on his plate and things can get cluttered. He’s a good guy and genuinely wants the best for the entire newsroom.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“The station has been number one for years, and it deserves it’s rating. They are good to all of their employees and give reporters time and freedom to learn and hone their craft. Monroe is a great news market. A lot of the management staff here has been around a while and are open to new ideas and give fair, constructive feedback. As an anchor there is plenty of opportunity to get better and work with some talented minds. For a starter market, this is a great place to begin. Would highly recommend to anyone wanted to get a start in the business.”
News Director: Jennifer Hardy
“More focused on profitable transition from Calkins to Raycom than on-air content. Left decision making to “managers” (i.e. senior producers)”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational
Additional comments:
“Newsroom is a mixture of experienced staff and young hires, providing excellent opportunities for skill development. A reluctance by ownership (prior and current) to invest in the newsroom means broadcasts are still in SD, equipment is aging, and many people end up tasked with duties beyond their job description.”
News Director: Matt Brown
“Best news director I’ve worked with yet. Gives feedback often, good and bad. He used to be an anchor/reporter and understands both aspects.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational
News Director: Cristi Jessee
“Absent. No quality control. Does not watch. Detached. Would prefer to post pictures on SnapChat than confront news gathering challenges.”
While working for KVVU this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Morale is very low. GM constantly brags about the amount of money the station is making, but very little of it goes toward the newsroom.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This is a station for reporters on their second jobs looking for a stepping stone. No veteran journalists. Kids only, with zero oversight. It’s a shame, because the talent that already exists at FOX5 could be focused and harnessed if management spent time focusing on the quality of the product. Other stations in the market laugh at FOX5’s reputation.”
News Director: Crysty Vaughn
“Crysty was absolutely incompetent and had little to no understanding of how a newsroom operates.”
While working for WOLO this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Things are so backwards here, it’s hard to maintain any positivity. Severely underpaid, I don’t know how people could afford to live on their own. The people getting paid the most didn’t care at all about quality and had no news judgement whatsoever.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Crysty reeks of incompetence and barely understand how news operates. There are never enough people to cover anything, God forbid any big news breaks. The station literally only has 3 reporters, at full staff. Often last when reporting anything and often very wrong. For the most part, no one cares if what makes it to air is good or factual, as long as something is on air. No one cares about quality. Crysty and her “assistant news director” are collectively as intelligent as a pile of bricks. Their news judgement is awful at best. It’s impossible to actually get any criticism from people who are supposed to be in charge because no one actually knows anything. The employees are mostly great, but the people in charge are awful at what they do for a living. Additionally, the company is unbelievably cheap.”
News Director: David Springer
“He was nice. Didn’t put in any effort. Was there to get a paycheck, not to make it the best it could be.”
While working for KAAL this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination
“I was treated differently for being gay. The stationed favored a very religious anchor. The GM was very religious.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Postive, Fun
Additional comments:
“GM is way too old school. Not open to anything new or “with the times.” He put one anchor on a pedestal because they shared religious beliefs. She was allowed to have those influence the shows she worked on. The News director is a great guy, but in the wrong position. Everyone in a leadership position shouldn’t be. People in lower level positions work very hard, but get little reward. They are the ones who push to be number one, but it will never happen because of poor management.”
News Director: Rich Kurtz
“Hardly know him or what he wants.”
While working for KOIN this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Women’s opinions are discounted and ignored.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Nexstar is the current owner and is penny wise and pound foolish. We are losing personnel and they are paying and offering less.”
News Director: Perry Boxx
“THE greatest news director you’ll ever have”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“One of the best television families I’ve come to know…though it often is a revolving door with staff for personnel issues (because of the staff member, not necessarily because of superiors). A place where you can falter, but the staff will be right behind you to put you back on your feet. Excellent news directors, supportive producers and anchors, learning MMJs. An encouraging place to work, with people who just get it.
Family owned (Quincy Media) so there was no pressure from corporate that pushed political agendas like Sinclair, Nexstar, etc. You’ll get a chance to meet the people who run Quincy Media, and address possible issues. They’re always there to listen and provide reassurance.”
News Director: Ernesto Romero
“The worst experience I’ve ever had with a boss”
While working for KYMA/KSWT/KECY this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I have never worked in such a frustrating, demeaning and overall horrid place in my life. Do not apply here this station will break you.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Dont apply here. Literally any other small market is better. You will get zero help and will be working in a newsroom less organized than your college. It’s hard because Ernesto is a nice person, but such an inadequate boss you will end up hating him no matter how hard you try. Also HR is a joke, this woman should not be allowed to interact with people for a job let alone run an HR department.”
News Director: Brooks Blanton
“Polite and respectful to most employees, but often becomes the opposite when there is major breaking news.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“The day to day of the station usually runs pretty smoothly but there have been some questionable decisions made by management over the past year. Quantity of stories is usually prioritized over polishing good stories, including sweeps stories. New hires in nearly all positions go untrained for months at a time, and often lack sufficient experience.
The new GM has made it clear that the Photographer position will be fazed out in favor of MMJ’s, and raises are not usually given out to hourly employees.
Communication is the biggest issue as information often falls through the cracks between morning, day, and evening shifts.
The field-crews and in-house producers are great people who are passionate about their work. Most are very easy to talk to and bounce ideas off of.
Overall, the station is a good stepping-stone for someone looking to move out of a small market, but is not a great place to stay long-term.”
News Director: Darrel Adams
Experience described as: “Bad. Bad manager”
While working for WZVN this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Unless you’re a kiss ass or gay you’re no good”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“You’ll be expected to turn as many pkgs a day and you’ll have to shoot your own stuff.”
News Director: Chris Turner
“Terrible unless you are his favorite.”
While working for WJTV this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Kevin Roseborough
Experience described as: “Smooth”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Great station to work at if you are a photog/Editor. I have worked for several nightmare stations but WJBK FOX 2 news is a breathe of fresh air. We have a staff of about 30 plus full time photojournalist/ Editors and about 4 Per Diem photogs/ editors. This is a union shop so everything goes by seniority ( Shift pick Vacation time for major holidays).
Most folks that work at this station are from the area . There is no room to move up in terms of being a Chief Photographer we don’t have one. I can truly say in the 15 years I been in the news business this is the best job that I have held. None of that foolishness that most people deal with on the regular basis. No yelling reporters or management. A very calm respectful work environment. Some people may complain that work here but they have never worked anywhere else they have been here all of their career. They haven’t worked in sweat shops that pay just enough for you to get to work the next week. If you get a freelance job here the pay is 29.00 per hour and top pay is 34.83 an hour. You make about 72k a year with no overtime.”
While working for KWES this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Unorganized, lack of resources, not interested in your safety. I found myself doing solo lives at 5 a.m. with nothing to show just for the sake of going live and at 10 p.m. during active crime scenes. Anytime I brought up safety I was told those were the resources we had and was later made felt guilty for fighting for my safety. Headstrong women- beware.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Cost of living in this area is extremely high (oil money central), don’t let them low-ball you. If you don’t fight for yourself here, no one will.”
News Director: Matt Weesner
“Poor. Does not cultivate young journalists.”
While working for KHGI/KFXL this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management does not address concerns brought forward by employees. They merely listen then do nothing.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“Was never repaired with the photog.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
“An Artiste News Director with incomprehensible news judgement”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“There has been a high turn over of photographers because, Gregg has created a hostile work environment with his over reactionary verbal abuse and micro management style.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“How has Hearst Argyle let this guy fail up through the company ranks destroying and demoralizing a once competitive station?”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “Horrible, dumb, arrogant, condescending”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The News Director has to be one of the worst people I have ever met. He constantly talks down to people and seems not to have a clue of what’s going on. He has poor News judgement, and rarely allows enterprise stories. He goes out of his way to micromanage everything. His assistant news director is dumber than a sack of bricks and just follows what he says to the smallest detail. They both make terrible decisions.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The other staff members and other managers are some of the best people I have met. Everything that is wrong, and the terrible morale in the newsroom boils down to the News Director and Assistant News Director. It’s a great station to get experience with as there’s lots of breaking news, but those two need to move on if the station wants to continue to succeed.”
News Director: Joe Radske
“He was disrespectful, bad at communication and incompetent. Has been fired from past news director jobs.”
While working for KVRR this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The co-workers are great but management is terrible. This new news director is driving away their good journalists. He’s called his subordinates names, like “dyke” and “stupid,” in a non-joking way. Equipment is always broken. There are three shared edit bays for news and sports combined, can’t edit at your desk. Morale is at an all time low. Pays lower than the competition.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I would be surprised if it still has a news operation in two years. Joe Radske is driving KVRR into the dirt. He acts as assignment editor and script editor since he’s not willing to hire someone else to do that. Good story ideas from reporters are mostly shot down, but he frequently complains about a lack of good story ideas and blames it on the reporters. Besides those duties, he spends most of his time on the clock watching TV, doing crossword puzzles and writing in his journal. Working here really feels like being at number three. Big stories are frequently missed and the production value is dirt cheap.”
News Director: Warren Stewart
“Horrible. The worst person I’ve ever met. Manipulative liar who likes making people miserable. Sounds hard to believe, but true.”
While working for KJRH this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The previous news director tried to turn the station around, but corporate fired him for not moving quickly enough. Then they brought Warren in, and he ran it into the ground in a hurry. He treats people like playthings. People are bailing from this place as quickly as possible!”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The station has a long history of high turnover. Just check FTVLive! To be sure, there are some really great people in the newsroom, but management is awful. It starts at the corporate level and goes down from there. Avoid KJRH like the plague.
I will say I learned an awful lot at this place, mostly what NOT to do. It forced me to grow more than my previous station. It’ll also make me appreciate the next job even more!”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
“Worst News Director I’ve ever met”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Constantly harasses staff. Doesn’t know how to treat employees. When a complaint is filed against him, he confronts the person who filed it.
Always wanting micromanage everything and blame staff for things that are his fault. Has a very low threshold for breaking news (fender bender and a tweet are breaking news). Terrible news judgement. Worries more about what the competition has rather than enterprise our own stories.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“He and his Assistant News Director need to go they’re both not very good nor do they know how to treat or approach staff. He might as well not have other supporting managers as he constantly picks at them. News Director has caused massive turnover where people don’t want to stay, since he took over the ratings have also gone downhill.
Other colleagues at the station are awesome to work with, just in a horrible situation.”
News Director: Jefferson Houston
Experience described as: “Horrible boss. Worst I’ve ever had.”
While working for WBMA this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I was constantly harassed by another coworker. Upon reporting it I was immediately deemed a “non team player”. I reported it over and over and nothing was done about it until I was finally demoted.
The News Director’s mottos for leadership: “I prefer to inspire with fear” and “if people like you, you aren’t doing a good job.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Avoid if at all possible. Unless you are on the favorites list, you will be bullied constantly, by management. There has been a complete turnover in the newsroom in less than two years. And the turnover continues.”
News Director: Audrey pryWITCH
“This news director has to be one of the most hated in the market. PryWITCH (also known as Titler) has worked very diligently to crush the union and the souls of those subject to her reign. With the Lame one by her side they seek out new ways to snuff out creativity and the willingness to carry on at times.”
While working for KTVI this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Toxic does not even begin to describe the gulag by the landfill. Not even the common decency to give a shred of compassion to anyone of the inmates that may be having health related issues or family problems due to the long hours they are forced to endure daily. While shoveling slop into the news bin for your nightly consumption, crews are sent into hostile and dangerous situations with no regard for their safety. Ferguson anyone? I watched live as my former colleagues were pelted with rubber bullets and subjected to tear gas all in the name of live TV. Be safe my friends. Some of you will figure out who this is.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This newsroom under a previous ND used to be the envy of storytelling in the market. With many creative and award winning photojournalists on staff. Now slaves to the daily grind to feed the ever hungry monster it has become under Titler and Lame Ass (the assignment sidekick) creative story telling is a thing of the past. Many really talented people still reside in the gulag. From editors and photogs to the staff behind the scenes. Though their souls have been crushed, they forge on.”
News Director: Jenelle Shriner
Experience described as: “Great! Positive, motivating, connected”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“It’s a great place to get started. It has a family feel which really helps when you’re so far from home. If you want to move up in the company, they help you in every way they can. There’s a ton of big news and the experiences you get are incredible. Definitely a great place to learn.”
News Director: Mike Rausch
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Working under Mike Rausch and his management team is the worst. Mike sets a very hostile environment. He always talks about how great of a reporter he once was yet fails to make his talent better. The newsroom has been a living hell ever since he became the ND (October 2016). His hires are his favorites and it’s obvious. Mike is BAISED and demands all reporters to check The Drudge Report before the morning meetings. How baised can it get? Cindy Davis, the assistant news director treats all the reporters like crap. She’s very condensing, ungrateful, and never is pleased with anyone’s effort.
The assignment editor likes to gossip about everyone. Many wonder why he’s there!
Reporters only have photogs (except AM reporters) for live shots and are over worked. Trying to get OT approved at KRDO is merely impossible. Management truly doesn’t see value in their employees.
KRDO has had amazing reporters but they either were pushed out or broke contract. Working under Mike Rausch and his management team is hard, uncomfortable, and disappointing.
Mike makes you want to lose your passion for storytelling!!!!!!!
Work at KRDO when he’s NOT the ND.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The the producers, reporters, photographers are all amazing individuals that motivate one another when feeling discouraged (sadly, that’s often).”
News Director: Jayne Ruben
“I rarely saw Jayne outside of her office. The only time you really interact with her is if you’ve done something she feels is wrong or briefly for morning editorial meetings. I found she showed favor towards black employees and women.”
While working for KSLA this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The overall toxic environment came from just a few people in the newsroom. The problem is at least two of them were managers and had a major influence on the mood in the building. During the reign of a particular Assistant ND, I dreaded coming to work every single day. There is also a long standing reporter who still works there who is an absolute snake in the grass. He appears to be nice up front but trust me, he has only one person on his mind and that’s himself. He will intentionally cause drama and go out of his way to make your time at work a living hell. He’s been in huge trouble, even being called out in a public press conference by a local sheriff’s office, but somehow still works there.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Positive, Fun, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The people there besides the few I’ve talked about make the station almost a family-like environment. That’s why I selected fun and positive as an option. However, on a day to day basis, while I was there the overall vibe was negative and toxic. I put a lot into that station but ultimately left because hard work and passion is not rewarded by the ND.”
News Director: Rachel Sommerfeld
“A pleasure to work with. I wish more news directors were like her.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
News Director: Ed Kosowski
“Seems determined to step up news coverage”
While working for KETK this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Once the station started to be remodeled it became super toxic. Staff speaking negatively about each other (reporters mocking other on-air talent). People seem mad 24/7. Ed is still new to the station, he replaced the previous ND who is still at the station b/c he’s the main anchor also. On-air talent shoot & edit their own packages but would have a photog for live shots. Managers took that away so reporters now do their own live shots, which took away from creativity & the quality is bad because people are rushing to get things done. People seem to dislike the assistant news director the most, staff talks about not liking him daily. It’s also the least diverse station in the market for on-air talent. It was known as the more conservative station under the old ND, but Ed seems to changing it to be more fair.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Invest in employees by paying them better, since the work load increased. Take the time to train the few photogs that are left (managers wouldn’t trust certain ones with assignments, because they felt they skills weren’t good enough) . The station’s new set is amazing but it takes more than that to keep employees wanting to work there.”
News Director: Matt Griffin
Experience described as: “Frustrating”
While working for KXII this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“ND prefers and favors male reporters and female reporters w/Blonde hair. It’s weird.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Mediocre reporters aren’t helped to become better here & good reporters are run into the ground. This station doesn’t care about your professional development/career goals–you will just be used to fill air time. If a story negatively impacts an advertiser, it won’t see air. If a story could upset a PIO, it won’t see air. ND doesn’t want to “burn bridges.” This is a place where you can practice skills (reporting, writing, shooting & editing) but not somewhere to learn the art of storytelling or do hard hitting pieces. You’ll also be expected to work overtime frequently then yelled at for overtime every two weeks when time cards are due. There are some really GOOD and kind people in this newsroom–but it’s just not enough to make up for how poorly it’s managed.”
News Director: Mike Rausch
“Absolutely terrible, he plays favorites and has been pushing out almost everyone who was not hired by him. Has no respect for peoples personal time. He is also very condescending.”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Unless you were hired by the News Director, then you feel like your job is always at risk. If you were hired by the News Director, then you will get better treatment then the rest of the employees, to an extent. Regardless you will almost constantly be ripped apart for your work, after working 12+ hour shift without a lunch break. If you decided to sign a salary you will be completely taken advantage of. Also there is a problem with almost every department being understaffed, some of them have been that way for close to a year.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Travis Sherwin
“Travis, has a great eye for news, but seems overwhelmed in his new role as News Director.”
While working for WPBF this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management is absolutely terrible with communication and planning.
For example, during the most recent hurricane season. They lacked simple logistical planning for housing reporters and stocking up on food for staff. Lastly, during the holidays, on-air talent did not find out their schedules in a timely manner. If it was not for an anchor expressing their frustrations to the station’s general manager. Our assistant news director would have been “The Grinch” this Christmas.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Believe me when I tell you they live by their brand, “Live. Local. Late Breaking.”
Not a storytelling market. Just turn and burn. Just make slot.
The newsroom is severely understaffed. A half a dozen reporters. Both competing stations have twice as many. It takes management an average of 6 months to a year to fill open positions. As a result, reporters are forced to work ridiculous shifts.
ex. M,T,W: 3:30 am – 12:30 pm (am shift)
T & F: 9:30am-6:30pm (dayside shift)
Weekend anchors are forced to work “Super shifts.”
You come in on Saturday and work 3:30am – 9am. Go home and try to sleep and return to work 6pm-midnight shift and do it all over again on Sunday. Try doing that for a few months or a year!”
News Director: Mike Rausch
“Mike Rausch is a condescending misogynist. He has good ideas but executives them in the most demeaning way.”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This place will make you want to get out of the news business.”
News Director: Stan Sanders
“Stan is an okay ND. He’s not big on constructive criticism. In my opinion he would point out problems without lending solutions. The biggest issue I had was his lack of planning. The ND also does the schedule only 2 weeks in advance. Which sucks if you are wanting to plan vacations or make plans on what should be your days off.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational
Additional comments:
“WBBJ a good start. Do your time and get out. You won’t make much money but thats “normal” Overall working in Jackson is good. The people are nice, government officials are easy to work with. When it comes to news coverage WBBJ isn’t a proactive station, reactive at best. Scheduling is horrible and lacks consistency. Even if you request a vacation months in advance, you may not get confirmation until the month of said request. It always seemed like we were understaffed. You will MMJ, even on live shots. There are two photogs but they are usually on VOSOT patrol. Every once and a while they will work a live shot. WBBJ is a good station to work on yourself, get better, get a solid foundation but the product will not blow your socks off.”
News Director: Bruce Carter
“Positive experience working for Bruce Carter. The assistant news director is the one you need to watch out for.”
While working for WLEX this person experienced:
“It isn’t a toxic news room but it isn’t the greatest either. Some of the managers could treat the staff with more dignity or respect. Simple things learned in management 101. The assistant news director can be very abrasive and demeaning. She’s driven a lot of people on to other places because of the environment she creates.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational
Additional comments:
“Aside from a couple of weasels in the news room, most people aren’t bad.
Just do your work and keep a low profile.
and yes!! I gathered all of this as an intern!”
News Director: Sara Howard
While working for WTVQ this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Woman, LGBTQ and minorities need not apply to ABC 36 / WTVQ. There is no opportunity for advancement.
See articles:
http://www.ftvlive.com/sqsp-test/2017/10/19/sexual-harassment-chased-lexington-sports-anchor-away
http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/former-kentucky-sports-anchor-speaks-out-about-sexual-harassment/195658
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/news-articles/ex-wtvq-executive-producer-sues-station/101237
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“College Stations are run better than WTVQ.
Viewers and community consistently express their displeasure with the news product.
It is nicknamed “Where T-V Quits” for a reason.
The newsroom has limited resources and staff burn out quickly.
Beware, you will be set up to fail every single day!”
News Director: Andrea Taylor
Experience described as: “Disengaging”
While working for KTVT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Last place station that is going nowhere. People who have been here for years are complacent and unmotivated doing the minimal to earn a paycheck. The newsroom is extremely understaffed which makes it hard to compete when open position are eliminated or never filed. Not many opportunities to conceptualize and craft enterprising stories. The female news director and the female assistant news director have no personal connection to the area and don’t understand news that matters to Texans which shows when you bring outsiders from from other parts of the country, you don’t improve the level of performance in your newscast.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
News Director: Mark Kraham
While working for WDVM this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“News Director Mark Kraham is the worst news director I have ever worked with in my entire career, which is why he has worked in small-market television news for over 20 years. The mandatory quota is all that the news director cares about. You will only get feedback from him when you have done something wrong. He has a dry sense of humor and lacks empathy for people.
The Human Resources director is a JOKE. Then again, the station is a joke. Do your 2 years and get the hell out!
The only good thing about the station is that it is a START.”
News Director: Jayne Ruben
“She never came out of her office. Even during breaking news situations. Played favorites. Only showed favor towards people who were the same race as she.”
While working for KSLA this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“News director gave people with only 6 months of experience management positions or special projects. Assistant news director is afraid of confrontation and passes off problems. Producers have zero to no experience. Their current 5 pm producer was fired from the competing station because his writing put the station at risk. The news director fired their digital content manager after 15 loyal years. She helped the station climb to second in the company on social media. And ray on isn’t exactly small. Still, she was fired. And replaced by someone with on,y two years of experience. Do not work here…unless you are black. You will be just fine if that is the case.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“One reporter has made several ethical violations (including using his work email to set up an account for Ashlee Madison and making factual errors.) He is still there, while people that did excellent work are forced out because the wrong people are rewarded or recognized. Also, when people leave after their contract…you have to have an exit interview with your direct supervisor. Which is against company policy. It should be with Human Resources.”
News Director: Ed Reams
“Condescending, yells in newsroom”
While working for WKOW this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Great market, station with great resources, lots of talented employees. The news director and management over all is making everyone dread work. Could be #1 with right leadership”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Wouldn’t recommend working for this management group”
News Director: Matt Stein
“Tough but fair, pushes for quality, if you listen you will grow. Acts tough, has a good heart”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational
Additional comments:
“Station has recently made a lot of improvements, added a bunch of people, and seems to really want to do well. Past owners and news directors had kind o run it into the ground.”
News Director: Mark Kraham
“Great news director! Nice guy! Hands-off approach. Feedback is not received/given, but you will hear from him if you do something wrong.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“Great location, being near D.C. Sometimes you’re on the scene with D.C reporters. Nice place to get your foot in the door and get out after 1.5 years. Lack of live shots, breaking news, never work with photog. Newsroom can be negative/chaotic.
If you’re a bureau reporter, you have to be very independent and everything is up to your discretion. No direction is given here. Very unorganized, but reporters are supportive of one another and get along well. You’ll only hear from management if you did something wrong and rarely for nice compliments or any type of feedback.”
News Director: Audrey Prywitch/Joe Lamie
“Easily the most worthless, useless, and talentless News Director-team I have ever had the displeasure with whom to work.”
While working for KTVI this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Easily the most worthless, useless, and talentless News Director-team I have ever had the displeasure with whom to work. There is absolutely no semblance of leadership or vision for how to cover local news, which is sad since it is broadcast journalism 101 type knowledge. The depth to which they lack the ability to recognize and reward reporters and photog talent is almost unimaginable. Therefore, real talent runs from the station at the first opportunity. That is if the News Director and her flunky have not threatened them away already. If the failure to effectively communicate with the staff is not bad enough, the inability to organize the news staff is equally appalling. Any accomplishments achieved at the station are due to the conscientiousness of others in the news room who know (A) how to treat people and (B) cover news. If the station upper management ever hopes to improve the on-air product and ratings, they need to consider finding a news director who does not micromanage, alienate, divide, bully, threaten, harass, lie, kill morale, and treat the job responsibilities as an afterthought.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Matt Stein
“He’s demanding because he wants the best.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational
Additional comments:
“It’s a good place to learn. You’re pushed to be better every day and they want you to deliver.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “The absolute worst”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This place will tear you apart. The News Director is a complete moron. Not everyone likes or supports him. His idea of breaking news is a fender bender on a city street. Constantly assigns stories that viewers don’t care about, or chase the competition, and is afraid to take risks. His Assistant ND caters to his every whim and is spineless. They both like to get angry with staff for the smallest thing, when you ask questions about how can I do this better, they classify you as insubordinate. The News Director has verbally harassed people at the station and has driven people away because of name calling and tearing down staff he doesn’t like.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“If you want to come here, don’t. Wait until the current news director leaves. Everything has gone downhill since Corporate assigned him here.
The station has great coworkers who work hard. Nicest people I’ve met.
News Director needs to be tossed.”
News Director: Kay Norred
While working for WRBL this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“News Director and Producers except the 11:00 producer speak to Reporters like they are trash. Reporters barely get to cover the story they pitch. News Director Kay Norred never has control over her newsroom. News Director shows favoritism to certain people.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Audrey Prywitch/Joe Lamie
“Horrible experience. More focused on micromanaging the employees than covering the news.”
While working for KTVI this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Employees that are considered a threat are bullied and forced out.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Steve Asplund
“Steve is a wonderful mentor who truly cares about the station and his staff. If you are a hard worker, he will recognize that and will help you grow exponentially as a journalist.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This station has all of the typical issues you’ll find in any starter market. Older cameras, not enough help, lack of hard news, and an overworked staff. However, it’s an amazing place to get your feet wet if you’re new to the business. You’ll be able to make mistakes without a lot of backlash, and since you have to do most things on your own, you’ll learn the ins-and-outs of reporting, writing, editing, and production. For market 180, it actually produces a lot of talent that go on to be successful in much larger markets after only two years. The station also very recently underwent a HUGE set redesign/upgrade and (finally) converted to HD, which has solidified its status as the top station in the entire Upper Peninsula. If you can handle long winters, long drives (sometimes traveling 3+ hours to a story), and long hours, you will be fine.”
News Director: Kay Norred
Experience described as: “Awful, toxic work environment”
While working for WRBL this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“No room for growth. News director would rather anchor then give other reporters an opportunity.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Horrible station to work for. Would not recommend to ANYONE looking to grow as a journalist.”
News Director: Mike Schram
“He is a power hungry ND and takes zero ownership for his mistakes. During the interview he is warm and friendly but once you are hired he is cold, moody, and calculating. He treats his Assistant News director poorly and demeans her in front of others. If you don’t kiss up to him he will make your time at EYI very uncomfortable. If you are pushover you will fit right in. Positives? He is thorough and doesn’t yell or curse in the newsroom. And although he is single he is understanding when employees are dealing with private familial issues.”
While working for WEYI this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“It is a great market to grow in.”
News Director: Rhonda LaVelle
“WORST I HAVE EVER DEALTH WITH”
While working for WXYZ this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Rhonda is toxic, demeaning and yells and screams. 30 people have left the station since she started.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
News Director: Ed Reams
“Attempts to be nice but comes across condescending”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I’m not sure if Reams is a good guy or a bad guy…he seems to try but lacks leadership skills. He has little to no respect from employees. No one would follow him into battle — except his dedicated other managers (because he’ll protect them)”
News Director: Deana Reece
“Toxic, un-nurturing, demeaning, plays favorites, micro-manages like no one I’ve seen before.”
While working for WTWO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This station is great for a college grad looking to break into the business, but prepare to hate your life while there (and cover sales driven content). News department has one M-F reporter. No set schedules. No creative control. Piss poor ethical news judgement. #2/2 and perfectly fine with that. ND runs from “ruffling feathers” with big players in market. Out numbered from other station at least 4-1. Team has no desire to learn. Got in trouble for going in on day off to learn other skills. No overtime (will get sent home to avoid paying out).”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Employees openly talk about this place in a negative way. Upper management keeps developments (when there are some) in dark until last possible moment. You are promised growth as a professional but have to fight the “silver platter employees” who get to operate at 80% while others have to work at 110%. You are required to do more without recognition. Underhanded harassment is an everyday occurrence. Corner office only cares for sales. Never heard from ND unless she’s pissed. Would not recommend unless your desperate.”
News Director: Currently Vacant
While working for KTMF this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Not a great experience. Station wears you down.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Jenna Huff
“Manipulative News Director, Very Deceptive and Passive/Aggressive”
While working for WGXA this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The station has lots of potential, but it just never has a sense of direction when it comes to the types of stories to cover and misses the mark most of the time, compared to the legacy station in the market. Management (Jenna Huff) is manipulative and really doesn’t care about the staff. She pits reporters against one another in negative competition, makes false promises and creates a hostile work environment.
She developed a “leadership team” of “yes men” including the Executive Producer who has no clue as to what she’s doing and is very lazy, but only pretends as if she want’s to help and can’t work under pressure. The EP is Jenna’s right hand and agrees with everything Jenna says and does as if she doesn’t have a brain of her own.
The Assistant News Director has a great attitude but is so overly dramatic and freaks out about everything. She plays more of an EP role than the actual EP who has no idea how to lead a news room.
The Assignment Editor is a former producer at the station who seems to hate his job and is miserable. He talks to staff like they are the scum of the earth and will never help with researching information of finding contacts, he’s useless.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Everything is mandated by Sinclair. We ran all types of content “Must Runs” because corporate said so. When I first started working at WGXA I liked it, but then I saw the place for what it was. They took my photographer away and made me cover stories in the ghetto alone. Women can’t even wear their shoulders out because Jenna says so, with no real reason as to why. Glad I got out when I had the chance through the company’s upward mobility program. The station isn’t even in HD and it’s soon to be 2018.”
News Director: Ed Reams
“Condescending. Lacks leadership skills.”
While working for WKOW this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“News Director lacks vision and so station maintains poor ratings and even worse morale. Managers get rid of people they don’t like and bring on additional management to assist in the micromanaging. Then News Director complains to employees about other managers.
Constant complaining and frustration from coworkers.
Like any tv station there’s a disturbing pay gap. Weak breaking news coverage due to lack of both leadership and communication.”
While working for WDSU this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“If you are a white female in this newsroom expect to be treated like crap.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Think twice before taking a job here. There are several toxic people that like to keep the chaos at full throttle.”
News Director: Liz Haltiwanger
“Very supportive, good leadership, cares about the station product and the employees”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Great station to work at! The management really cares about their employees and the parent company is great too. They are not too demanding of your outside of work time and it is a very professional and fun work environment. Can be fast paced at times during breaking coverage but it is all handled well.”
News Director: Brad Ginsberg
While working for KNOE this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The assignment manager Richard Sommers is a bad apple in the newsroom. He has been there forever and is incompetent, has no real journalism background and treats the new reporters at this starter market like the dumbest people alive. He will belittle you and insult you personally in meetings. He doesn’t do his job and has clear biases in the community.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Get in and get out. Don’t spend more time than you need to in this starter market.”
News Director: Anthony Knopps
“Did not work under current ND. Leadership is constantly changing at the station due to low ratings”
While working for WTOL this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I’ve never worked for a station with so much turn over. The majority of people there are unhappy and leave fast. Management is terrible, all reporters are MMJs who are overworked, and tanking ratings are constantly blamed on talent instead of poor leadership from management. You do NOT want to work here. Go to the ABC affiliate in town”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Scott Saxton
“Hard to communicate with, but he’s eager to let people try new roles and grow (from producer to reporter, Photog to reporter, reporter to anchor, etc)”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“It is a small market that operates like a small market. Crappy equipment and cars, low pay and very young/inexperienced talent who make mistakes on air often. BUT, it’s a good starter market and Wilmington is a nice coastal city to live in”
News Director: Lisa Fulk
“Lisa is great. Sometimes clueless for news judgement, but a great person.”
While working for WXII this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The newsroom is a mess. No organization. No drive to chase hard news. We often shy away from some hard news stories. Reporters are required to do 2 stories a day, often missing crucial elements to one story. Competition in the market has one reporter for one story. They have a staff bigger than ours – incredibly bigger and their news content is ace compared to what we put out.
We have no nightside reporter right now. Only one dayside reporter M-F. Weekend anchors help during the week.
Morale is extremely low. Producers are overworked. Sometimes doing 1.5 hours of news daily. Shows look terrible and scripts are poor. We added 4 hours of news in the fall with no addition of any new people.
Our set looks terrible. Lighting never looks good on anchors. If you watch from home, they can be different shades in one show. I’ve heard them complain about this but nothing seems like it will change.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This place is falling apart.”
News Director: Matt Stein
“This station is trash. The last news director ran it in the ground. She (Jennifer Hardy) was miserable in her personal life and it reflected in her work ethic. The station is toxic and the assignment manger was just a photog a year ago. She’s horrible and rude. No photogs, share fear..the list goes on…”
While working for WAAY this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Matt Weesner
“Lack of leadership, very inconsistent, friendly”
While working for KHGI this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination
“Male talent and producers were paid more. If you were single and had no kids you were taken advantage of in scheduling and expected to be there (making less than at the local grocery store) even if you were scheduled to be off.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Positive, Fun, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“If you do your job, beware! You’ll be picking up the slack for everyone who chooses to do nothing around the newsroom or the bare minimum. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great people here but leadership is lacking and good employees are often taken advantage of. The news director would rather have you do the work than actually discipline his employees. They pay you JUST above the amount that would qualify you for food stamps… After struggling to make ends meet here for years they wouldn’t let me out of my contract even a month early to go make a real living. Luckily my current station was able to wait. Did several turn around shifts which compromised my health. Do not recommend.”
News Director: Lisa Lovell
Experience described as: “Like having 6 root canals done without novocaine”
While working for WATN this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This woman has failed up through the system being here for years. She is unapproachable and sits in her glass office with the door shut and her back against you. She plays favorites and congregates with them. She is aloof and cannot say hello or make eye contact with you. Sitting in a morning or afternoon meeting listening to her talk is like listening to “Tony Montana.” She can’t string more than five words together without using the F-word that sounds like slutty porn vocabulary or conversational English at a cocktail bar. Then again, she is a Yankee chic from New York and those people are terse that does not go well with the “Good Ol’ Boys” culture of the South.
The station lacks direction and branding and cannot make a difference in a market that skews to a ghetto target audience and that points to her leadership and the clueless G.M.who has never been happy leaving Green Bay. And since the station is the bottom feeder of the market that no one watches, even when they hired Richard Ransome who was let go at Channel 3, he has not made an impact because, the station does not believe in Nielsen ratings. Storytelling is boring telling. With the cheap G.M. and Nexstar ownership, they won’t hire talented reporters. People come to Memphis hate the city and leave the because, they cover too much crime and lack franchising stories or it is terrible place to live. The I-team is nonsense and needs an over haul or just get rid of haggard reporter. WATN won’t allocate resources covering an important story and will send people home if they do the next day because, they won’t pay for overtime. News never sleeps and if you cannot pay overtime, sell the station and get out of the business. That is why the other stations are competitive and win everyday while WATN will always be the third place loser in the market. Once a number 4 always a number 4.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Do not take a job here. You will hate the culture of the newsroom and the culture of Memphis.”
News Director: Dennis Milligan
“Very positive. Made an effort to become familiar with all employees, even on production side. Greeted and treated all employees equally in the morning. Paid close attention to the efforts and work contributions of employees.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“In my time at WBTV, I started as an intern and was then hired to fulfill a news content specialist position and eventually filled an Associate Producer role writing promos and booking talent for weekend shows. I also briefly filled gaps in the digital department with early morning push alerts and posting to web. WBTV’s management team was absolutely amazing over the course of my year there. ND-Dennis, Asst ND-Kim, and AM EP-Molly were kind, approachable and consistently present. Production Manager Baron encouraged his team to learn new roles and diversify their skill sets. Opportunities for advancement were encouraged and facilitated when initiative was taken. The atmosphere on the morning side was professional, positive, upbeat, and encouraging. On-air team always treated production with kindness and respect. Teamwork and collaboration were embraced and executed. Was sad to have to leave WBTV but can highly recommend it to any prospective applicants.”
News Director: Russ Poteet
“He’s awesome and tries really hard to teach and put something good out.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Honestly loved working for Russ. Did not like the GM Eric Thomas. Meddled WAY too much and got in the way of good stories. We all tried really hard with VERY limited resources that fell apart frequently… Like everything fell apart… Even in the middle of a show..”
News Director: Joe Spadea
“A sinking ship with no lifeboats”
While working for KMTV this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The news director, Joe Spadea, is completely clueless when it comes to news judgment. He sits in his office and hides all day for “meetings,” only to make a rare appearance when something goes wrong. He also doesn’t seem to have a grasp of what’s going on news-wise in the market and is obsessed with spot news like car crashes. Gives literally zero concern for employee safety.
DO NOT come to this station if you hope to be mentored or learn more. Producers go over scripts and will change a word or two – but that’s it. You will never get advice or suggestions on how to improve either your on-air presence or your writing. If you ask questions about how to approach something or for advice, you are labeled negatively for “asking too many questions” at best, or at worst, as incompetent.
Extreme disorganization in the newsroom. Producers literally refuse to read their emails, claiming they are “too busy.” No one ever knows what’s going on.
Deadlines are insane. Expects reporters to both write and edit packages in half an hour less. Producers are unwilling/incapable of moving stories around in shows, even when deadlines are actually impossible. The other stations will send nightside crews to cover the same stories as KMTV. But, KMTV reporters are expected to go live at 4 and have a pkg by 5. Reporters at other stations end up with 5+ hours to work on the same story. The KMTV motto is about being first, regardless if all the information is available. This according to the news director. Does not care about quality.
Management keeps the newsroom constantly in the dark. Switching around shows, removing anchors, adding anchors, etc. without informing anyone.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Everyone in the newsroom complains, criticizes and basically talks s*** about each other constantly. Producers talk down to the rest of staff. There are some people in the newsroom who are working to make this place a better station, but honestly, it feels like a sinking ship.”