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MMJ (OMB) Job details
Yearly salary40000
Contract2 Years
Paired with a photogNever
Station market rank#1
News Director
Judy Slate
Review of News Director
A toxic environment has been proliferated by a leadership team of bullies.
While working here, this person experienced
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
I write this review with the best intentions. The prior reviews are accurate. The current leadership, both news director and general manager have proliferated a very toxic work environment. If you are not the favorite, do not expect any opportunities for learning or growth. There is no constructive criticism, just bullying. Judy Slate has been reported to HR by at least 4 different employees and nothing changes. And from the words of the general manager himself, you are just a number on their payroll. I watched too many young journalists loose their spark and leave news all together because of this. Which is a shame because it is the most viewed station in Southwest Montana. I experienced daily harassment, and by the end of my contract was so beaten down and depressed I almost lost myself. There is no accountability here, no one will stand up for you. They are complacent to the abuse. There is no training program for newcomers, and you will be taken advantage of.
Additional comments
I suggest applying elsewhere until Judy Slate and Bobby Bachman retire.
Review of News Director
The ND I worked under is Staci-Lynn. I’ll preface by saying that nobody is perfect. I can image anyone in a ND role is under immense pressure. Unfortunately, I do have some negative notes on her leadership. She has a habit of coming to agreements with people and then when the time came to fulfill these agreements, she would look you in the eye and tell you, “I never said that.” I used to always advise newcomers to get things in writing with her which is difficult because she is more of a in-person meeting type of manager, a habit I think she’s uses to her advantage so she can walk back on her word.
If you ever set a work boundary with her, you’re suddenly no longer a “team player.” I saw it happen again and again with almost every single person who did not smile and agree with her plans and ideas. She becomes unfriendly and cold, which is fine, she is a manager and it’s not her job to be besties with anyone, but don’t try to come on as a “friendly” individual if you can’t keep things “friendly” when people tell you “no.”
Once you end up on her “not-a-team player” list, she WILL speak badly about you to others. I truly believe that she thinks all of us under her leadership don’t talk to each other about what is said behind closed doors. She has worked in a newsroom as a reporter before, how could she believe that we all don’t talk to each other in confidence about the job? Her and the GM are always saying the most out-of-pocket things about people to other people, thinking it won’t get back to them. It does.
When I first started there I was hopeful and excited to work under a female ND, as the time passed my excitement turned into disappointment. I still hear about how bonkers her and the GM are and all I can do is laugh because they’re a joke. A lot of big names have left, people that loved the station and loved what they did. The integrity that was once upheld has diminished and all that is left are boot-lickers to upper management, ground militia who thrive on buddying up to the ND and icing out those that she has deemed not to be, “team players.”
While working here, this person experienced
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
They definitely favor caucasians. Some POC I knew had some crazy experiences with the ND and GM. Once incident bordering retaliation from upper management because upper management had to be held accountable for an incident that turned into a witch hunt years later. POC are often overlooked for major roles and promotions too, it’s just too obvious of a trend to not observe.
Additional comments
There are some gems in the newsroom and production, in other departments too. I stayed for as long as I could because of them.
This station is a good second or third station for anyone in that point in their career. Not a good starter station! They don’t have the patience for kiddos straight out of college. They will talk to you like you’re stupid, it happens a lot, save yourself. If you know how to do the job right and keep your head down and out of anyone’s mouth, you’ll be fine. It’s an easy pipeline for Denver is that’s your goal.
MMJ (OMB) Job details
Yearly salary000
ContractNo
Paired with a photogN/A
Station market rank#3
News Director
Connor Hackling
Review of News Director
Connor Hackling was very chill and nice, but lacked regard for great work and others time! Everytime you would ask him for something he would swear it would be received quick , but then weeks go by. He also is a very big liar and would say things that even a novice journalist would know was a lie. He also doesn’t care about accurate work and doesn’t get a jiffy on correcting it. He seems like a lazy news director who only cares about getting paid. If you’re not of the upmost important he doesn’t care ! I just feel like I would steer clear because I want to work with the best and be with the best and someone who cares about putting out accurate and great work under tight deadlines. Not prolonging!