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News Director: CJ Hoyt
Experience described as: “Not engaged. Doesn’t care about anyone except anchors.”
While working for WXIN this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Talk about a toxic work environment. Management does not value any employees. Morale is at an all time low. All I ever hear are complaints of misery from coworkers.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Low pay, poor health coverage, toxic environment.”
News Director: Jay Quantanince
“He may be a sociopath. HATED photogs and pushed literally every vet out when he came in. Also seemed to believe TV wasn’t important which is a bad look for a TV News Director.”
While working for WJHL this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Josh Smith is a BULLY. He will threaten you and has the cache there to follow through. Jay is worthless and they lost all their good employees after his reign started.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I almost left the industry after working at this station. I feel so badly for any fresh faces coming here and getting THIS as their first taste of a newsroom. Please avoid at all costs.”
While working for KOKI this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“If you are out in the field, you’re worked like a dog. Management prides themselves on how hard they work their crews. That trickles down to producers who carry that same attitude when talking to reporters and photographers. They’re only worried about live shots and content. Your safety or you being comfortable is an after thought.
Reporters must turn two different stories a day that usually involve some type of crime. Arrest and booking reports are their bread and butter. Reporters who are interested in doing real journalism should go elsewhere, but if you’re down for turn and burn, this is your place.
Live shots by yourself and expected to make them creative, engaging. When an issue arises because of the insane workload, the individual is made to feel like they’re the problem. That isn’t the case because a lot of reporters who’ve left have gone on to bigger markets and better stations.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This station is organized and educational in the most negative, toxic way possible.
If you suck up to management and do whatever they say without question, you’ll be fine here.”
News Director: Valerie Sullivan
“She is very nice, but does not stand up for her employees. She plays favorites and lets the GM call the shots.”
While working for WVNS this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The station is extremely toxic due to a lack of leadership in management and the general manager, Al Sandubrae. Al takes every opportunity to undercut his newsroom management and tear down growing reporters. This environment could be a good place for young reporters to grow. Instead, the GM harassed reporters and producers and belittles them in front of an audience. Not a healthy environment. If you want to get burned out quickly in news, this is the station for you.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Many reporters and producers have left the station with a sour taste in their mouths due to the GM’s behavior and treatment. It could be a wonderful place if some of the leadership stepped aside. I would not recommend this station to young reporters. Way too toxic.”
News Director: Darrel Lieze-Adams
“Rarely work with Darrel. EP and Asst. ND are my main “bosses””
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Waterman is the most organized station I have ever worked for. You have to be a go getter. Seek feedback, speak your mind, reach out to management about upward mobility. You may be surprised at what they’re willing to let you do!”
News Director: Tom Henderson
Experience described as: “Chaotic”
While working for WTVC this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Tom’s vast knowledge of the news industry is overshadowed
by a hot temper and poor, dictator-like leadership. He does not trust his staff and fosters a culture finger pointing and scapegoating. He is out of touch with the happenings of his own newsroom. The man knows good story telling and will drops some solid gems along the way. Just be prepared for some character assassinations.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Managing Editor and Anchor, Latricia Thomas is also veteran journalist with a lot to offer. Rather than make good on her word to help develop rookie reporters, she wields her power in the newsroom to crush creativity and patronize lower level employees. She engages in petty office politics. Sometimes, falling down on the job to catch errors before air, she becomes combative with anyone from photogs to web staff. She simply has too much on her plate, and will throw you under a moving bus to save face.
You will walk away from this station a solid reporter with a thick skin, and likely a good psychologist on speed dial. Keep everything in writing. HR will likely be copied on any email against you.”
News Director: Heather Corson
“She is utterly clueless as to how to run a newsroom. The only reason she has a job is because the tyrannical owner wants a puppet in the newsroom.”
While working for KTWO this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Numerous complaints have been filed for sexual harassment with no response from management. This place is pretty much run in the dark ages where women are seen as objects.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Do not work here. This station is extremely toxic. The middle management and news director are spineless rubes who cower at the corrupt owner Mark Nalbone. His job is to ruin your life. This place should be investigated for so many sketchy and morally rotten dealings.”
News Director: Matt Stein
Experience described as: “Terrible, constantly putting you down, never positive”
While working for WAAY this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The staff at WAAY is made up of mainly females and I think the ND does that on purpose because he can intimidate them. He does not allow female reporters to wear what they want meaning multiple colors on air, patterns, long/dangle earrings, bell sleeves, you name it, he doesn’t like it. He will call people out in front of everyone and then make people change. He once said someone looked homeless, and he wasn’t trying to be funny.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I worked there for a year and a half and my mental health suffered so much. I would cry to my parents about how I was treated and how the management didn’t care about any of the reporters. They overwork everyone there and give no affirmation for it. I never wanted to go to work and when I did I avoided ND and all other management like the plague. The managers are so far up the ND’s you know what that they are like robots. The assignment manager disliked me from the first day I started and I never gave her a reason to dislike me, so she made it extremely difficult to work. There’s a big difference between being critical and giving helpful advice, and just being negative. The ND never gave helpful criticism it was always well you did this wrong and no advice on how to do it better even when you ask him for suggestions. I felt like in the year and a half I was there I only grew because of the experienced anchors and reporters who would give me advice and feedback. The producers get put on a pedestal because the ND used to be one. He pays them more, he defends them and blames reporters, you can just tell he likes the producers more. Another thing is reporters rarely ever get a photog, which there was only one of, and then the ND gets mad when reporters can’t do active stand ups or live shots. He doesn’t see that he’s the problem. I’m going to keep adding to this there are too many reporters/people who need cameras and cars and not enough cameras and cars. The news reporters are given everything they need while the sports people must take the leftovers. There’s a lot more to say, but I’ll leave it there. Main point of this, don’t work at WAAY while Matt Stein is the ND.”
News Director: Barb Roethler
“She was very knowledgeable , had good experience. She was pretty easy to talk to. Never yelled or talked down to people. She also didn’t pit up with lazy people or drama.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“I had a great experience. I learned a lot from management and people who had been there for awhile. I liked that management didn’t put up with drama . It didn’t matter if they were a reporter, producer , Anchor been there for a long time , it didn’t matter. She treated everyone the same and with respect if they did their job.”
News Director: Kyle Fobe
While working for WBND this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Not even sure where to begin — However, I’ll start by saying all of the previous reviews are absolutely accurate. ABC57 is an extremely tough place to work whether you’re a producer, MMJ, or anchor.
There is no overtime, safety is a huge issue with reporters running their own live shots, there’s little training / professional development opportunities ( i.e. conferences, feedback, etc ), and it’s disorganized. There’s no standard protocol for breaking news, etc — It turns into everyone doing different things, receiving different information, and confusing the staff and audience in the end. Multiple people have up and quit ( I can think of at least 15 ) over the 2.5 yrs I was there due to poor morale / toxic work environment. Most of the producers / MMJs I worked with felt anxious / depressed while there.
The station just transitioned to a new ND, Kyle Fobe. Kyle is a nice guy and has improved the overall atmosphere of the newsroom, but his news judgement is horrendous. My impression is that he values stories that would get clicks / likes and quantity over quality journalism. MMJs during coronavirus coverage have been responsible for multiple VOSOTs and PKGs, often on stories that don’t provide any true news value to the audience. While the previous ND was horrendous in the way she treated staff, she did have decent news judgement ( although she sometimes had too high of a standard ) that made the station’s newscasts different from the competitors. Kyle is also notorious for having ideas in his head that could be great in theory but just aren’t realistic due to station / staff limitations. Although, I will say, he is a visually creative person and in the instances his ideas can be implemented, they’re good.
The few bright spots at this station are they will give you opportunities to anchor, travel if you work for it, pay, and South Bend is a great town.
There’s no permanent weekend morning anchor and the station leaves it open for MMJs who want anchoring experience. It’s a three hour show filled with a lot of moving parts so once it’s mastered, you’re prepared to handle other newscasts.
ABC57 / Weigel also sends MMJs to cover big stories — During my time, MMJs went to LA for Dancing with the Stars, almost all of the Democratic debates / first few rounds of the primaries, national championships, and more. Although, I will say I think it was something more emphasized by the previous ND. I’m not sure if Kyle will keep it up.
South Bend / Michiana itself is filled with a lot of cool restaurants / bars, outdoor activities (45 min away from Lake Michigan), festivals, and more. It’s a smaller town but you won’t be bored. It’s also a great news town meaning there’s a variety of things to cover. The station also pays decently compared to the competitors but remember there’s no OT which sucks because you will work a lot of extra hours.
Overall, this place is tough and will break you — I was warned it will be like boot camp and it was. If you feel like you can handle it / it’s your only option, great, take it. It will help you get to your next station. Most reporters / producers have gone onto top 40 markets after ABC57, but like the one review mentioned, it doesn’t have to be this hard / there are probably better opportunities.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Joe Inderhees
“I couldn’t wait to get out of there.”
While working for WTLV/WJXX this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“News director Joe Inderhees appears to have issues hiring minorities. All the minority on-air talent who have left has been replaced by non-minorities. The racial disparity is also apparent during coverage of news stories. Stories that happen in predominantly white neighbors get more coverage than areas where African Americans live.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The problem with First Coast News is that management does not get challenged. All fall in-line behind news director Joe Inderhees and fail to challenge. This leads to the station being third on nearly every story and playing catch-up on a daily basis.”
News Director: Open
“He was shady. Just took orders from corporate. No one in this position has a voice. It’s disgraceful.”
While working for WBFF this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Certain people are given preferential treatment, leading to pettiness and poor treatment all around.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
News Director: Tom Henderson
“Tom is a very nice man. He’s very persuasive when he wants something, and will make promises to you for the future, but doesn’t actually adhere to them. ALWAYS get EVERYTHING in writing. He loves the “managing editor” Latricia Thomas. Anything she says goes and she knows it. Tom is a little old fashioned and doesn’t agree with most of the new reporters stories. Unless it involves being dirty and calling out people in the city. Great man, but doesn’t actually run his newsroom.”
While working for WTVC this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Where do I even begin.
News Channel 9 thrives on one thing, and that’s getting the juicy stories.
There are people that make the newsroom toxic, and unfortunately it’s the people that are in charge.
Latricia T. (5,5:30 anchor, and managing editor) she is condescending and rude. 0 compassion comes from the person that’s being paid to mentor reporters and MMJs. Latricia picks her favorites and if you’re not one of them she’s sure to let you know it. She takes all your scripts and makes them her own. Don’t expect to actually do or write something you’re passionate about. She’ll read it, crumble it up and throw it out then force you to read and claim what she wrote as your own. She doesn’t change things because they’re factually incorrect or because it sounds weird, she changes it because she wants it to be her writing.
She doesn’t give compliments or praise when deserved to any of the reporters, and when she does you can feel that it’s being forced from her.
When you pitch a story idea, she’ll make sure you feel ignorant for even saying it out loud.
She speaks to her employees as if they’re all in preschool when she’s trying to get her point across.
If you get something finished throughout the day on time or early it will NEVER be good enough, she’ll expect you to get more and demand things that just aren’t doable 45 minutes before shows.
SHE requires that you write not one but 2 different stories for the 5&6 news casts. SHE HAS to approve what your write for the 5, before you can voice and edit your package in time for it to air at 5, and then once you’re finished with that you HAVE to write the 6 and get it approved in time to also voice and edit before the 6 starts. And that’s if you’re lucky and aren’t elected to be top of 5 and 5:30.
She believes both packages must be different, but doesn’t care if that makes your job harder. You’re also required to post to social media three times a day at the minimum, begin your web story before shows, and if you don’t expect a passive aggressive text message from her.
She’s a very rude manager, and to be honest as long as she works there with power under her belt, there will never be a reporter that leaves there without running(unless you’re a favorite).
She doesn’t actually care about the reporters, photographers and staff at Channel 9. I watched a reporter that had worked under her for four years on their last day at channel 9 walk out the door and Latricia not even look at that reporters direction. It’s very sad.
The next manager there, previously a producer, now promoted to Assignment Manager, Shannen S.
Shes a rude person in general, but has her good days. She and the managing editor are close.
Personally when it’s just her in the newsroom, she’s a pleasant person to be around, but is influenced by Latricia.
Overall the newsroom only does stories on shootings, deaths, car wrecks, city scandals, and really anything negative.
They do not like happy stories.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The photographers, producers, HR, sales team, engineering and everyone else are all wonderful. Everyone else tries to work as a team and a lot of them love what they do. If you’re in sales you’ll like it there, everyone always seemed to be smiling across the hallway.
The other anchors are all very helpful and sweet.
Kim Chapman (anchor) is the kindest and sweetest person at Channel 9 and if you ever needed real help and guidance she’s the woman to ask!”
News Director: Bryan McGruder
Experience described as: “Good at first, soured later”
While working for WZTV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“1) There was some kind of Alt-Right/KKK rally. Told them I didn’t feel comfortable/safe going multiple times, but was forced to go.
2) Terrible Chief Photographer.
3) Little to no communication between staff.
4) Conservative station/management”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Darrel Lieze Adams
Experience described as: “Very frustrating”
While working for WBBH this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination
“The News director is gay and hires an inordinate amount of gay men. It is actually an open source of discussion in the community. A gay anchor was actually arrested for domestic violence and KEPT his job,…until he was arrested for a second time. You can look it up.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Management takes credit for all successes and blames all failures on employees. The company also runs the ABC affiliate. Both stations should be a dominant number #1 and 2 because of, by far, the largest staff in the market, and superior equipment. There are some good people and the news judgement is generally good. The station also suffers from a weak weather department which holds them back.”
News Director: Shauna Ziegler
Experience described as: “Very poor”
While working for KFOX14 & CBS4 this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Very toxic work environment.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Bryan Queen
Experience described as: “Literal hell. Toxic”
While working for WHP this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Do not come here. Go somewhere else. They’re all over the place. It’s an overall toxic work environment. Not worth working here.”
News Director: Bryan Queen
“Bryan is a nightmare of a person. He has no leadership skills, constantly puts his staff down, openly favors men, has no communication skills, only wants to cover national news and weather, and facilities an extremely negative and toxic work environment”
While working for WHP this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Over the course of Bryan Queen’s two years at the station more than 40 people left. Some left without another job lined up and some of those people had families to provide for which speaks volumes. Person after person went to our GM, HR, Corporate, and each time was told to suck it up or that they’re being too sensitive. Bryan is constantly putting his staff down, never gives positive feedback, doesn’t understand what a good news story is, is unable to make eye contact or hold a conversation… I would rather be homeless than ever work under his leadership at this station again.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“If you’re thinking about working here I would strongly encourage you to RUN, fast, in the opposite direction.”
News Director: Bryan Queen
Experience described as: “Toxic. Upsetting. Demeaning. Horrible work environment”
While working for WHP this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“It was an unfortunately terrible experience. No feedback, only harsh criticism. No manager stands up for what’s right. Complaints to higher management have gone unanswered. Little camaraderie, as the work load piles up and people look to get out of their contracts early. Little promotion within.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Stay away under this leadership”
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: Morgan Schaab
“Young and unable to make sound decisions that reflect her entire newsroom and community”
While working for WAND this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Oh my! Where do I even start? First, if you’re thinking about working here please run the other direction (and fast). You will not get a sense of comradely from the main anchors. You will not be supported by your news director and you will not do the job you think you’re coming there to do. I can’t even begin to describe how unorganized this newsroom is on top of the fact that most of the staff is straight out of college, the cameras and tripods are heavier then any I’ve experienced. I understand that this is a tough industry and we have to take what we can get sometimes but if you are not straight out of college, trust me – you can do better then this place. I’ll end this with saying the main female anchor at night is a bully who can barely get through the A block without stumbling all over herself. If you want this market, I’d do WCIA.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The control room folks have a history of being nasty. So, if you are an incoming anchor, that’s something to be aware of.”
News Director: Jeff Houston
“He is such a jerk. There is no way he should be in charge of a news room. He likes to bully people and tries to rule with fear tactics. I can’t wait to leave.”
While working for WBMA this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“You just can’t thrive in an environment that holds you back. I know I was meant for better things. This place puts a strangle hold on your abilities.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I’m so happy to be leaving this place. I can’t wait to really bloom in my next role.”
News Director: Jeff Houston
“I don’t want to bash him. However, he’s simply not a good person. That translates into awful mgr. very little empathy, and very much like a mean girl from high school. Gossipy and plays favorites. Get everything in writing – immediately! (Been known to say promotions, raises and schedule change discussions never happened)”
While working for WBMA this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Massive turnover- disrespectful managers – too focused on tiny things instead of overarching issues – regional ND is a former news director from a previous job. His unscrupulous morals and uncomfortable convos with women were always apparent when he was in town. The entire Sinclair executive board of suits would talk about leaving their wives to visit their girlfriends in Bham. Disgusting. That regional ND once had me do a studio fashion show for him before I could report on the morning show. He picked the outfits he wanted me to wear and how he wanted my hair. It made me feel gross.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“It wasn’t always like this the former ND, Garry, was fair and a hard worker. He’d work the desk in an ongoing breaking situation like snow. He’d fill in on a show if someone’s child got sick …. he’d listen and consider other ideas. He wasn’t perfect, but it set the tone for the entire operation. When he left, the newsroom fell a part. My friends who still work there confirm.. it hasn’t recovered. So many people get out of the biz, quit with no job lined up, and cry in the parking lot. It’s no way to live. I haven’t regretted getting out, once.”
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: 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: Eric Walters
“DO NOT WORK HERE – Terrible experience”
While working for WBTW this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“WBTW is NOT the station you want to be! Do not disregard the negative reviews from this station because you will find yourself in misery during the length of your contract. The management failed its employees several times, but was too prideful to admit it. You do not get paid enough to deal with the unorganized, toxic environment that calls itself News 13, and management does not put your safety first. You will be unnecessarily overworked and you won’t have a voice to speak up about the way things are being done. Don’t dare have new ideas or suggestions on how to improve the way news is covered, because you will be seen as a problem and management will make sure to make your job a living nightmare. This station does a terrible job of covering news fairly, so if you have any sort of ethics, this is also not the place you want to be. There are too many people who have never worked in other markets or who only worked in small markets, so they have a “that’s how it’s always been done” attitude.
You will not be treated with respect at WBTW – especially if you are a person of color; We’ve all witnessed the unfair treatment far too many times.
This station only has ONE photographer at the main location in Myrtle Beach, and ONE in the Florence bureau. They are not pushed to work hard, so they get away with making excuses to be lazy. In other words, don’t think you will ever work with them on a story or live shot.
Honestly, there aren’t enough words to describe just how terrible this station is, but please trust the negative reviews and save yourself the trouble.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“You may love the area, but you will be miserable getting out of bed every day going to such a terrible workplace. DO NOT come to WBTW! Everyone else in the market knows how terribly the staff is treated and it’s quite sad.
If you want to come to Myrtle Beach, apply to one of the other stations.”
News Director: Holly Gauntt
“Holly and her management team play favorites and create a toxic work environment.”
While working for KMGH this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Holly and her assistant news director play favorites. For how well respected Holly is in the television industry, she is oblivious to the toxic work environment in the newsroom, created by her management staff. Over the past three years, several top-notch reporters have departed due to this issue. Gerardo Lopez, the assistant news director, spends more time micromanaging the staff than actually working. I wouldn’t be surprised if more departures happened because of his poor management skills.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Holly Gauntt
Experience described as: “Negative, toxic, disorganized”
While working for KMGH this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The news director plays favorites with some and targets others. It was easily one of the worst work environments. The lack of focus was dizzying. Some of the older employees thankfully keep the newsroom grounded and encourage creativity and growth. They are great. The news director will tell you she does, but it’s often lip service. It’s a real shame who she identifies as a “true Journalist” and who she does not. Too many top-notch photographers, reporters and producers left because of that. Some even left the business, which is really disturbing.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“News director aside, many of the people working in the trenches are great people who work their butts off.”
News Director: Chuck Maulden
“Chuck is a good news director overall. Strong ethics. Unfortunately, he’s not able to run the newsroom because the VP of Content controls everything.”
While working for KOTV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Without giving too much identifying information, the station has gone extremely downhill in the last five years. The VP of Content brought in an extremely unqualified news director who was not only bad at his job, but has been described as “evil” and the “worst boss I’ve ever worked for” by people who have been in news for decades. The damage done during that ND’s time felt irreparable. Now, Chuck Maulden is a good news director, but is still not allowed to make the big decisions because the VP of Content controls everything. The VP of Content is massively disliked throughout the newsroom for how he treats to and talks to people. He is notorious for playing favorites, and giving promotions to people who absolutely do not deserve it, while deserving candidates fall by the wayside. He also hires “friends” from outside the company to fill positions when there are many qualified candidates already under his roof. The people you work with directly are, overall, wonderful, even the managers. But again, they all fall under the VP’s thumb. In the past year, all reporters have been forced to turn into MMJs, plus an extra show has been added and doubled everyone’s workload. It seems like no one cares about quality anymore. It’s sad to see what was once an amazing station, fall into ruin because of poor leadership.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“Neogiate outs in your contract.”
News Director: Barb Roethler
“She’s been fired from all the Detroit stations for a reason.”
While working for WILX this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“A lack of leadership and vision for the product results in daily “knee jerk” reactions by continually chasing the paper or the number one station in town.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“WILX also does the news for the FOX station in the market, however, the FOX product has its own set of anchors (but uses WILX reporters for all its content.) The GM is relatively new to her position so looks to guidance from the news director. It’s not a coincidence that more than 40 people have left since Barb took over several years ago, but despite being told, management/corporate refuses to do anything about it. The overall newsroom atmosphere is not a positive one. The pay is also extremely low at the station for reporters, producers, and photogs. If you’re promised anything in the interview process, get it in writing. Barb is notorious for not being truthful to new hires about actual job duties (promising things that can or will never happen.)”
News Director: Barb Roethler
“I learned alot. She has alot of previous experience so she was helpful”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“I really learned alot there. I was given a start with not alot of experience and I got a ton. All of the anchors that were experienced. the EP and News Director both work with new employees and teach them alot. I moved on to a bigger market from there..”
News Director: Barb Roethler
“Horrible. She doesnt care about her employees but she is an an okay ND– has good news judgement. She lied all the time. She hired her friends and didn’t work hard. She’s out the door early every day, and made empty promises.”
While working for WILX this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Do not work here. The people in the building are nice but they treated their employees poorly.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Randy Bain
“I like Randy. Nice guy. He’s just the messenger to the GM, who is a nightmare.”
While working for KTBS this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The station picks and chooses who gets help and who doesn’t.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Do not work here. Not one person in the newsroom is happy.”
News Director: Randy Bain
“Great guy. One of the best overall bosses I’ve ever had. Truly cares for his employees.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“Seemingly always understaffed, and a bit less structured than other stations due to private management. Anchors get treated very well. Not a terrible place to work but understaffing can put excessive stress on employees to pick up the slack.”
News Director: Jenna Huff
News Manager: Kerri Copello
“Disheartening, depressing, mentally draining, stressful, petty drama, unpleasant, unproductive, poor leadership”
While working for WFXL this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The News Director is Jenna Huff, who works out of the station hub in Macon. Employees see her roughly once per quarter and have conference calls with her roughly once per month, if not less. Jenna cared very little about the day-to-day operation and would direct any problems in the station to the News Manager, Kerri.
Staff in the “Albany bureau,” for lack of a better description, report to News Manager Kerri Copello. Kerri has little, if any, respect for her employees and the work they do. She has no experience as a leader and is incredibly unqualified to be in charge of a news operation or employees.
She is quick to point fingers at her employees openly in front of other employees, even when she is fully in the wrong, which usually stems from Kerri’s inability to communicate clearly or her lack of focus. She never takes responsibility for her own actions or her own mistakes. It’s always the news team’s fault.
When her employees do make mistakes (which everybody does every so often), she once again openly calls them out in front of other employees, which drives morale amongst the news team into the ground.
Kerri holds personal grudges against her subordinates and does not treat them fairly.
When viewers throw negative comments at reporters, Kerri does little to stand up for her employees. She takes pleasure in watching her employees fail and does nothing to support them.
Kerri’s passion is meteorology, so she has very little experience in a news setting. With MMJs coming straight out of college, she has very little to offer them in regard to bettering their news product to help them grow as journalists. It’s up to coworkers to critique, edit, train, and support each other. They are on their own.
If anybody has problems with editing in Avid, Kerri wouldn’t be able to help because she is the only person in the station allowed to continue using Edius, even after the station fully switched over to Avid. Coworkers were forced to train each other on the new editing software after Kerri returned from a full training session with no useable information to guide the MMJs.
Kerri was very rarely ever in the station during my time at WFXL, especially whenever she was needed. She would frequently disappear in the nicest news car and not be seen for hours at a time. This left MMJs wondering if their package scripts were approved or left them not knowing what stories they’d be covering for the day, let alone if breaking news happened when she was away.
Because of WFXL’s position as a distant second place in the market, Kerri would get 99% of breaking news stories from the top station in the market. This had reporters calling on crime scenes or going to house fires or robberies hours, if not days, after the top station broke the news. She once asked me to download the other station’s mobile app so I could see their breaking news push alerts and send an MMJ to the scene when she wasn’t in the office.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I was fortunate enough to have my position abruptly eliminated by Sinclair Broadcasting roughly halfway through my two-year contract, along with the newscast director, who had been there for decades. That left a total of 3 MMJs, the web director, and Kerri working in the bureau. I felt bad leaving my friends and coworkers behind in that environment and had a sense of survivor’s guilt.
Getting out of bed and going into work everyday was difficult and depressing. A passion for producing quality news was rarely found because of Kerri, making the employees just want to put their eight hours in and get out as fast as possible, counting down how many days are left in their contracts.
When problems do arise between Kerri or Jenna, the station/HR manager does not stand up for the employees. The GM, who is hubbed at WACH in South Carolina (5 hours away), is understanding and supports the staff better than anybody working in the Albany bureau. Whenever I had issues, I felt like the GM was the best person to talk to about things I saw in the station.
The staff was paid well compared to other stations in the market, but the higher pay wasn’t worth the mental exhaustion of working in that environment.”
News Director: Jenna Huff
News Manager: Kerri Copello
Experience with Jenna described as: “Indifferent- not seen much”
While working for Fox 31 this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The toxic work environment is brought on by the news manager, Kerri Copello who runs day to day operations for the station. She single handily made every reporter miserable.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The news manager, Kerri Copello is one to watch out for. She runs the day to day operations, not the news director. She will lie to you, be deceitful, and will be sure to throw you under the bus. She will tell one reporter one thing, then another person something different. When upper management cracks down on her, she covers herself with more lies. She takes the station cars out for 3 hour lunch breaks with her friends and doesn’t seem to care if another reporter actually needs the car for work or not. Kerri finds time to come in and see what you’ve done an hour before deadline and will change your entire day and force you to re-work your whole story last minute. She is a pro at coming in an hour late every single day and will make you wait for her to even start your day. She is the reason why the station is in a bad position. Kerri also does stories as favors for her friends in the community. If one of her friends is having an event that isn’t really news-worthy, Kerri will force a reporter to go cover it just because she’s friends with the person. She also does this to gain power and influence. Lastly, Kerri has zero news experience- she was a weather woman and they made her news manager. She has no idea what real news is and her judgement makes the station look silly in comparison to our competition. Kerri creates a terrible, toxic news environment and you can’t fully understand how terrible it is until you work for her. Not recommended.”
News Director: Jenna Huff
News Manager: Kerri Copello
“Jenna is very competitive and a great leader. She expects the best from everyone. As long as you give it your all, you’ll have her respect. Bring stories to the table that will lead the newscast.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“WFXL has always struggled going up against a legacy station, WALB. But that has gotten worse since it was bought by Sinclair and now it has become a satellite station. Many people were laid off in 2016 and now the only newscast (10 p.m. weekdays) is anchored from Macon at the studios of the Sinclair station there. The station has three or four reporters covering a large geographical area. I had a good amount of live shots but that was several years ago…now, you probably won’t get any or very little live shot experience. Also, years ago, it was great because nearly all reporters at least had a chance to fill-in anchor. Not a station I would recommend unless things change.”
News Director: Jenna Huff
News Manager: Kerri Copello
“Hardly work with her (Jenna) because she is the news director at another station, and is in Macon. The News Manager, Kerri, Copello is the go to person. Not the best work environment, especially for a first job when you’re trying to learn. Hardly get any direction.”
While working for WFXL this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“No weekend show, so you automatically get the weekends off. No photographers. Hardly go live in the field. Always live in the station. Satellite station as well.”
News Director: Jenna Huff
While working for WGXA this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“There was no open communication between reporters and management. If an assignment feel through reporters were told to figure it out but management got frustrated when the task wasn’t completed properly. There were safety concerns for reporters.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“An overall toxic and unorganized work environment.
Contracts “can not” be broken without them threatening you with thousands of dollars in damages.”
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: Allison Gibson
“Terrible. Zero social skills. Does not know how to talk to her own employees.”
While working for KWWL this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Attack culture style from management. You will get little to no feedback to improve as a reporter. There’s no appreciation for employees here.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“You are 100% better off working at the other two stations in the market and you’ll get paid better.”
News Director: Allison Gibson
Experience described as: “New”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“This station was a really good starter market for me. I really loved the Cedar Valley and I met a lot of people in the community who I felt valued me and the stories I told. I made some friends for life here. The anchors are wonderful. The evening anchor, Abby, really cares about this community. Management changed A LOT from 2018 to 2019. I did have to fight for some feature stories I wanted to tell. I was given opportunities to try anchoring here, but Quincy’s contracts are long, and ultimately I decided I want to focus on reporting/mmjing in a bigger city.”
News Director: Allison Gibson
Experience described as: “Terrible”
While working for KWWL this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“DO NOT WORK HERE. Yes, this is a great market to work in. You’re better off working at KCRG, the #1 station. Leadership at this station has gone down dramatically under the ND. If you want to sign a long contract and then count down miserably until you’re done.. work here.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
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: 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: Cathie Batbie-Loucks
“She can be very manic and fails to listen to reason. However she is fair and means well in her decision making.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Positive, Fun
News Director: Cathie Batbie-Loucks
“Enjoyed my time there. She’s worked in the market for years and knows what viewers want to see. It’s a laid back environment, but you need to be motivated to work. There’s great content in this market. It’s up to you how you want to put the story together.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Some are mad the station is hiring kids right out of college, but it’s not the exception, it’s become the rule. If you have a chance to work at this station straight out of school, it’s a great opportunity. Cathie can be tough, but she’s fair. Show up to work on time, be ready to work and drive far, and leave your personal drama at the door. Cathie is willing to take chances on people who probably don’t deserve them. It’s a relaxed environment and you can put together a great tape because there’s plenty of great content. Many work here if they want to get to Phoenix. Nice place to live, pretty inexpensive too. They did a newsroom remodel in recent years. Chief photographer is nowhere to be found and is known to bully people. GM is a great guy, very laid back but he’s all business. Bottom line, if you work hard, you’re creative and you’re positive, Cathie will love and help you. Remember it and never forget it.”
News Director: Cathie Batbie-Loucks
While working for KVOA this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Negative, Toxic
While working for WATE this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Reporter had relations with former news director and he was fired. Multiple complaints from multiple people on same reporter causing toxic work environment, nothing done by HR and she is still there. Very bad general manager Coby Cooper. Doesn’t listen to concerns. People feel unsafe working around toxic employee. Glad I left. Get out if you’re still there. For those considering, think again.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
News Director: Chris Best
Experience described as: “Horrendous”
While working for WKRG this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Took a job there because of market size and it being near the beach. While I learned some stuff, I did not nearly get the opportunities I was told I’d get. The new director has a very threatening management style that creates for an overall hostile work environment. Then once it gets to you, he blames you for being “negative” or says “maybe this isn’t for you.” You should take a job in a way lower market before ever signing with Chris best or WKRG.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Run! Do not sign here. Everyone is overworked and the newsroom is way understaffed. The only positive is the assistant news director, who the news director said he almost didn’t hire because he, “hadn’t been a manager before.” Meanwhile, the ND is a first time ND. All he cares about is click bait and video. No storytelling. Doesn’t have reporter’s backs when he makes them do accountability stories. It really is a toxic environment. So many people are leaving and have left the station, yet everyone who leaves is “the problem.””
News Director: Nic Moye
“The news director is a nice person and easy to talk with.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational
Additional comments:
“This station is not perfect, but no job is. I do not agree with the previous ratings that this is a toxic work environment. Your attitude at work plays a big role both here and in life. I enjoy my job and I’ve found if you show initiative, are a team player, ask for help when you need it and don’t expect to have everything handed to you on a silver platter, you can learn a lot here. The co-workers are very nice people. They lookout for each other and become friends and hang out, outside of work.”
While working for WCTV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The work environment is draining. Morale is low because of the transient nature of the market size. The anchors are great at what they do, but the way everyone is worked makes it tough to want to stay. Scheduling is awful and littered with mistakes. Not a place that has the best resources for you to grow. Number one in the market, but the lack of real competition forces panic to go overboard with story ideas. The people are great, but overworked & underpaid. Management needs to work on organization…”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Angela Green
Experience described as: “Horrible”
While working for WFXG this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“News director would curse out employees regularly, have mental breakdowns in front of the staff and send berating emails to staff. Had a lack of respect for employees and vice-versa.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Lorra Lynch Jones
“Lorra is definitely one of the best news directors in the south. There’s a reason people chose to stay at the station for a career and they bring in talents from good schools (i.e Columbia). They also send their employees to larger markets like Miami (Karli Barnett) and Hunter Williams (KVUE Austin). She recognizes hard work and it’s shows when talent jumps to higher markers after leaving. There’s a reason her employees are the best of the best and the station has a double digit ratings lead over the other 2 stations.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“If you want to work in Macon, you’ve got to work for 13WMAZ. The station has a double digit lead over the 2 other competitors. Lots of people jump ship from WGXA and WMGT and have nasty stories from the other stations. Lorra is creative and let’s her staff cover stories they choose. The slogan is “straight from the heart” and Lorra runs her newsroom by this.
Her talent often goes to top markets after a few years of hard work and TEGNA invests in their employees. The station also retains a lot of talent who decide to stay in Macon.
The community is always put first and the news is always accurate.
The other stations’ newscasts are almost unwatchable. Their sets are out of date and the reporters don’t have the talent and resources that the ones at WMAZ do.”
News Director: Jamie Justice
“Want a news director that stays in her office all day? You’ve found the right place.”
While working for WSYX this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Everyone is miserable. Turnover rate is terrible. The GM Is cheaper than cheap. HR is useless. Overworked and underpaid describes the overall environment.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Could be a great station with a management swap, and move the pay scales that should have been readjusted 5-10 years ago.”
News Director: Jamie Justice
“She’s nice but not super forthcoming. Plays favorites.”
While working for WSYX this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination
“Very few minorities at the station and most work weekends. Morning show is all White.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control
News Director: Jamie Justice
“She was Asst. ND while I was there. Played favorites, hardly ever came out of her office.”
While working for WSYX this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management criticism tended to be destructive, not constructive, and there was a lot of it! I once witnessed the News Ops Manager, Matt, openly mocking the way a photog had shot an interview, and telling other people “you have to see this.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Jamie Justice
Experience described as: “Good, she is fair”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“Overall WSYX/WTTE is a good place to work but the GM has a VERY tight grip on his wallet. Don’t expect to make the money you are supposed to be making. Work hard, payed little.”
News Director: Jamie Justice
Experience described as: “Awesome!”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Great station. It treats its employees well, listens to their concerns. Jamie Justice is a great news director. It IS possible to find a good news director in the business. She is fair, understanding and wants to succeed. I recommend taking a job at WSYX”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This station has some great people working there, starting with the anchors. But, management was the issue. Reporters are often sent alone to remote locations over an hour away with no cell phone service at ANY hour of the day/night. I worried about my own safety more than once while working here. Little empathy from management. Communication within the newsroom is not always great. Shift and scheduling priority is random(sometimes given to newer staff instead of those who have worked at the station longer). High turnover at this station. Most on air talent will leave right when their contract is up.”
News Director: Vicki Bradley
Experience described as: “The worst news director you’ll ever have”
While working for WTXL this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The news director and management here is the reason why I left. The station got bought by a new company (Scripps), fired the old news director and brought one ten times worse. Vicki plays clear favorites, doesn’t know how to lead a newsroom and talks to everyone like they’re below her. A couple people after me have left, too. Everyone there talks about wanting to leave but is scared to break their contract. News director is also inexperienced and has terrible news judgement.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“They had to hire an all-new staff to try to kick out the “toxic environment” but the workload and attitude toward reporters hasn’t changed (content over quality). It seems things will never change there.”
News Director: Geoff Roth
Experience described as: “Awkward. Doesn’t seem to care about employees health or safety.”
While working for KMTV this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Doesn’t take employees complaints seriously. Claims to be looking into it, but doesn’t do anything.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“If you want to cover actual news, don’t work here.”
News Director: Jay Quaintance
“Jay is the worst boss I’ve ever had. I’ve never met a bigger asshole who didn’t understand why most everyone hates him. On the rare chance he does speak to, he’ll look in every direction except at you. Just complete weirdo on top of treating most employees like garbage.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
News Director: Ernesto Romero
Experience described as: “Awful. Living hell. Resentful.”
While working for KYMA/KSWT/KECY this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management seriously couldn’t care any less about you. You’re constantly belittled and criticized. If you want to know what severe depression feels like, work here”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Management will turn down great stories because they don’t want to piss off the public agencies in town. The town knows this and feels like they have KYMA wrapped around their finger”
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: Megan Lewis
Experience described as: “Challenging, but positive”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Don’t get me wrong, working here is NOT easy. It’s a small market, and we’re behind in the ratings by far. But, most of the people who work there genuinely care about their job and the product. Megan Lewis can be a bit overwhelming with her demands, but is generally reasonable and cares about her employees.
The anchor team is young, with the main female anchor a “lifer.” She can be a perfectionist, but helps reporters/producers a lot whenever we need it.
Most of the newsroom drama comes from reporters who spend too much time together outside of work.
Cowles is a family-owned company, but sometimes it feels like they forget about their Montana stations. Communication is not always great, and it shows in our product.”
News Director: Megan Lewis
“Megan is a difficult, cross, unorganized manger who is constantly trying to prove herself for reasons unknown.”
While working for KFBB this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I was constantly pushed beyond the limits any human can possibly achieve. On my *first day*, I was told to turn a PKG and a VOSOT on a separate topic, in addition to MMJing a live shot. Mind you this was my first TV job, and I previously had no experience being live nor did I ever have to day-turn a PKG. I missed my live shot by roughly 30 seconds, as I was quite literally running to get to my live location. I’m in my second market now, and know it is generally not acceptable to miss slot, but this was my FIRST DAY. There are no photographers, so I was completely solo. My ND told me if I ever missed slot again, I would not be able to go live for the remainder of my two year contract. She added that “some people just can’t handle the pressure.” That was my first day, and it only got worse from there.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I was overworked and underpaid. That is *somewhat* understandable or expected in a first market, but this station limits your resources so severely, and hardly ever encourages its employees, that you always feel drained. One time, I told my ND that I did not feel safe going live at a certain location (there were a plethora of reason: it was on a busy road with no shoulder, we were not provided any vests- even after I asked for them-, and it was dark). My ND responded to my concerns with an “I don’t care.” That was the last straw for me. Also, management plays favorites. That becomes abundantly clear within the first 15 minutes you step into the newsroom. Their retention rate is terrible, but they aren’t willing to make changes to improve that score.
I will say that the people of Montana, and The Treasure State itself, are BEAUTIFUL. Although my experience with KFBB was negative, the people and place almost made up for it. I would highly recommend working at any of Cowles Montana Media’s competitors!”
News Director: Phillip Ohnemus
While working for KULR this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I was contacted for a newscast producer position. The news director, Mr. Phillip Ohnemus is also on Indeed.com regularly and was not happy that KULR did not win any Emmy awards this year. This news director has insulted entry-level candidates who really want to be a reporter / multi-media journalist (MMJ). Mr. Phillip Ohnemus recently contacted me for a job interview at KULR and said that he doesn’t want any “introverted, awkward, loner, shy, and wallflower people” in his newsroom and in the journalism industry. When I told Mr. Phillip Ohnemus that my true journalism endeavor is to be a multi-media journalist (MMJ), Mr. Phillip Ohnemus said that “newscast producers cannot be a multi-media journalist (MMJ) and will not be successful in this venture at his station.” Mr. Phillip Ohnemus also felt I was not vocal enough to contribute to anything his newsroom and at KULR-8, and that I am just an “awkward, loner, wallflower” person. It is known that it is an “image business,” but do not make entry-level candidates feel discourage that they are “unattractive,” “ugly,” and not “pretty enough.” Mr. Phillip Ohnemus does not truly understand or know how difficult is for any entry-level job candidate to find his or her first television news job at a small market station. KULR-8 and its sister affiliates across the state of Montana, KFBB, KWYB, KTMF, and Cowles Montana Media Company (Cowles Company), must give all entry-level candidates the opportunity to learn all roles in a newsroom regardless of any news positions the candidates is being hired for and to prove the news director (Mr. Phillip Ohnemus), entire news staff, and newsroom management personnel wrong. If an entry-level producer candidate really wants to be an MMJ in an entry-level starter-market station like yours, give them a chance and give them real, truthful and actual help. Do not discourage entry-level candidates telling them that they cannot do anything and cannot be successful in anything, especially in a starter-market station. Help them to be a news reporter / MMJ, especially if newscast producing is not what he or she wants to do for the rest of their entire TV news career. Give entry-level candidates from all walks of life, all backgrounds of life, including candidates with learning differences/learning disabilities, a real chance and a real opportunity to be a multi-media journalist (MMJ). Do not put them down. Help entry-level newscast producers who truly want to be MMJs, be MMJs. There are entry-level newscast producers out there that do not want be a producer for the rest of their life and have no desire for newsroom management. Show all entry-level candidates respect! Give everyone an equal, decent, fighting chance and an opportunity to be an MMJ.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Joe Inderhees
“I was not a fan. He belittled employees and was always the last to know in the newsroom. I was also not a fan off his yelling matches in the newsroom with management/anchors.”
While working for WTLV/WJXX this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Newsroom management was never on the same page, which caused mass confusion. Hostilities were constantly shown.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Unfortunately, the station seemingly has fallen off a cliff during the past couple of years. Last in broadcast and at the bottom-of-the-barrel for digital. The fact that more than a dozen staffers in the newsroom have left the station should tell you something.”
News Director: Robert Davidson
“Robert is an excellent ND to work for starting out in the TV business. He’s always available to talk and can be tough at times but wants what is best for his reporters and team.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This is in direct response to the review from March 10, 2020: please do not take what he said as truth. WCBI is a great place to work for starting out in the industry. The GM is actually a superb person and the experience this former employee describes is inaccurate. You have ample opportunity to learn from great people but also learn on your own. You’ll make mistakes and they accept that so it encourages an environment of experimentation and effort. Overall, WCBI is a great place to begin your career and it will further your future wherever you decide to go next.”
News Director: Kristen Shill
Experience described as: “Toxic and stressful”
While working for WQOW this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This station is toxic, the previous news director Dan Shillinger was worst. The management here is sub-par. The turn around is quick, and they blindly promote people without proper experience. Do yourself a favor and skip applying here.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“People either quit or get fired very quickly”
News Director: Jon Levy
“Levy lacks leadership and management skills. Too busy looking to be a “bro”‘instead of a “boss”, doesn’t care for anyone member of the newsroom unless they’re “ buddy buddy” with him, he’s very unprofessional”
While working for WCJB this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Very unhealthy and toxic newsroom, management is the worst by far. If you want to feel unappreciated, then be my guest and join the crew!”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This site is here for honesty. And it’s said that someone took it upon themselves to lie about the reality of the station. This place is very toxic!!!! Many of the reporters and producers experience terrible anxiety and stress on a daily basis. All Management do is complain instead of helping. The news directors is terrible and shows favoritism. It’s an awful place to work.”
News Director: Jon Levy
Experience described as: “Inconsiderate, not believable, has favorites”
While working for WCJB this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management has favorites, and if you aren’t one of the favorites or aren’t in the “clique” with their favorites, you will feel the burn. They will get everything they want and ask for, and you won’t, and that comes along with opportunities. The favorites will continuously get time off, be defended in arguments, represent the stations at events, while everyone else does not. It doesn’t matter whether you are a reporter, producer, director, or AP. You will not be treated fairly. You can try standing up for yourself and others, but it won’t work in your favor. You’ll be dubbed as “always having a problem” and “something to say” about how the place is ran. But, in my opinion, change never happens without someone standing up and saying something. Also, when it comes to your health and mental health, it is not a priority for management, because they don’t have enough employees to cover in your absence. They’ll ask you to work with pneumonia, the flu, even if you’re in the hospital, they’ll ask when the soonest you can come back is.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Everything is unorganized, and management does not have your interests at heart. If you do take a job here, make sure to negotiate for what you want. Don’t trust that they’ll honor your word, because the ND will switch up on you quick. Many are not happy here, and are leaving after only months to a year at the station. These aren’t “disgruntled” employees, but these are employees who deserve better and want to go somewhere where they can learn and are treated as equals. It is the number one station, but there are only 2 stations in the market, plus a college station we also compete with. You’ll learn in some ways, but you’ll also be alone. Paige Beck and David Snyder are the best, and will have your interests at heart. As the main anchors they will try to fight about things with management, teach you, and try to help you, but overall the majority of people are not happy at the station. I suggest if you have more questions, reach out to some of the former producers, photogs, and reporters on LinkedIN, Facebook, Twitter. They can give you more information on the place to help with your decision.”
While working for WFFT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This station has a reputation across the country, and it’s not good. While attending workshops, I’d introduce myself and my station. More than half of the responses are “oh, I’m sorry.” First impressions are everything, and this station can’t be bothered to get a welcome mat with a current logo. The web address on the welcome mat takes you to another station in the market. If you want to learn every job in the station, this is the place to work. There are no photographers on staff so reporters shoot all local stories. Reporters have even filled potions in the control room. Management doesn’t understand how much work is worth. People in smaller markets make more. Great place to learn, but note all on air staff was hired less than three years ago.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“You learn to be efficient, which will help in the future.”
News Director: Jay Horowitz
Experience described as: “High expectations, there is a lot to learn. Hands-off.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“News product published on Youtube, but our daily audience is larger than the circulation of the Washington Post and we only publish original reporting. All staff work from home. Not for someone who can’t self-motivate. I think there’s potential for huge growth, but I regularly have to deal with stigma against non-traditional media, which is very real and is something I didn’t expect when I accepted. We publish at www.youtube.com/realworldpolice“
News Director: Rubén Olague
Experience described as: “Horrible”
While working for EstrellaTV this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Host & Managing Editor: John Bachman
Experience described as: “Poor”
While working for Newsmax TV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
News Director: Alison Coe
“Alison is not a supportive news director. She is very unorganized and only makes contact with staff when they’ve done something not pleasing to her. She definitely picks her favorites, so if you’re not one of them, good luck.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Rod Peterson
Experience described as: “Overall positive”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Overall this is a great station to work for. While there are a lot of MMJs, you never do a live shot by yourself and if you absolutely need a photographer for any reason they usually do everything in their power to make it happen. Our newsroom has a lot less people than our competitor so sometimes it feels like we try to do just as much with less resources. However, management recognizes hard work and in the end if you tried your best to cover what you can that’s all they ask for. News Director Rod Peterson works hard to make corporate happy which can be frustrating sometimes, but more than that he has his employees happiness at heart. He always stresses making time for family, making sure your time off/weekends are spent unplugging, etc. If you are sick or have a family emergency he’s the first to have your back. Anchors are awesome people and are willing to work with you on stories, critique, etc. Great place to grow in your career or maybe even call a permanent home.”
News Director: Jaime Copley
Experience described as: “Horrible/ Toxic”
While working for KIMT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management at KIMT expect reporters to never take a sick, personal or vacation day. They pile up the workload and expect us to not get overtime.
The news director is extremely unprofessional. They will speak to everyone about you and how you’re a problem here without directly coming to you. There is no room for growth. This is a small market, meaning most people are straight out of college or in their first tv job. They use that to their advantage by making you feel like you will never be successful outside of KIMT.
The news director has only worked at KIMT for 20 + years. If you try to suggest doing something different of a new way to approach a story. She’ll try to embarrass you in front of everyone during the pitch meeting. The station is going through a change of shifting coverage from primarily Iowa to Rochester, Minnesota. Management (News director, news content manager, HR, etc) all live in Mason City Iowa. That means they don’t know what’s really going on across the border. They don’t understand how far some areas are from each other and expect reporters to be able to do two live hits about two different stories on two different sides of the state. They also heavily rely on reporters to become content managers and know EVERY event going on in the area. That means if a reporter calls in sick or is on vacation and we miss a story, they blame reporters and not their own lack of understanding.
Many reporters have cried, experienced anxiety attacks and even broke out into severe rashes because of how unorganized and toxic the newsroom is.
This is not a place where you can grow and be thankful for your experience. FOR THOSE LOOKING TO COME TO KIMT, YOU WILL REGRET YOUR DECISION WITHIN 3 MONTHS!!!!
If you try to get out of your contract they will come after you. This station is the absolute worst newsroom I’ve ever been in.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The management staff is horrible.”
News Director: Jaime Copley
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This station feels like another round of college. You’ll learn a lot, especially from George and corporate consultants. The KIMT team is a fun bunch. We hang out even when we’re off the clock. You know the phrase “the customer is always right?” If you treat management like the customer and can swallow your pride, you’ll do just fine.”
News Director: Jamie Copley
Experience described as: “Toxic, disaster, working to tear you down rather than build you up.”
While working for KIMT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“News Director Jamie Copley creates a very toxic work environment. You never knew which Jamie you were going to get each day. One day she’s out in the newsroom playing music and dancing, the next she’s throwing things across the room and screaming.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I would never wish the experience I had there on anyone. Right out of college, I believed this was the way all newsrooms worked and seriously considered changing my career. Luckily I had one mentor there who was awesome, looked out for me, helped me grow and honestly saved me. News Director Jamie Copley and General Manager Steve Martinson are absolutely terrible to work for. They don’t care about their employees mental or physical health at all. You’ll work crazy overtime, expected to do more work than feasible in an 8 hour work day, but get in trouble for actually clocking in those overtime hours. They abuse their salary employees. For example, they were short staffed in the weather department and made meteorologists work 6 days a week for months with promise of “getting that time back” only to never see it. Not to mention when the meteorologist started to complain about being over worked they actually had anchors with no weather experience do the weather! It was honestly embarrassing. They also feel local sports are not important once so ever. Copley has anger management issues and it’s clear she brings her home life into the workplace and takes it out on her employees. Her best friend is one of the anchors and she lets her get away with doing absolutely nothing while pushing the work onto other employees. No newsroom is perfect, but I honestly believe this is one of the worst.”
Director of Content: Adam Miller
Experience described as: “Undervalued, unwanted and disposable”
While working for WKYC this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Working at WKYC is only favorable if you’re a favorite, aka if you have celebrity status. Those are the only people that matter to the news director. He plays favorites and only cares to get to know you if you’re on-air talent and if you suck up to him. Most of his time is spent behind a closed door or in meetings where management talks negatively about the employees. If you want feedback you’ll only receive it if it is negative and it comes in the form of a passive aggressive email. Those working off-camera or behind the camera aren’t prioritized or valued. The standards aren’t uniform for all employees. Raises aren’t more than 2% to 3% but management claims there is no budget for them, yet they add new hires who are mostly anchors at an alarming rate. You might like WKYC if you are a well known anchor. Otherwise you won’t matter.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
News Director: Joe Inderhees
“He’s bipolar. He’s moods determine what kind of day you’ll have. He lies to get people to sign contracts. Make sure everything you ask for is in writing in your contract.”
While working for WTLV/WJXX this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Newsroom is very toxic due to management. They are never on the same page and that causes confusion and frustration.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Don’t expect a raise when negotiating. They only give the anchors and seasoned employees good pay raises. Everyone else don’t matter.”
News Director: Megan Harris
“Megan is fair but takes time to warm up to people. Once she’s comfortable with you, she’s great. However, if she’s not comfortable with you, she can make you feel awkward.”
While working for WTLV/WJXX this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“My negative experiences were with co-workers who seemed to be determined to drag the morale of the station down. It was like a “good old boys” club. I noticed certain people are not readily welcomed as others. Things have changed significantly in last year or so with new management including Megan.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“The newsroom was toxic but new mgmt has changed that.
The morale here is improving daily. I really enjoy coming work now.
We can be unorganized sometimes and the workload not evenly distributed.
Severe weather is our forte. It’s like we come alive for it. Mgmt seems too “come alive” as well.
Training opportunities through the year.
ND has an open door and always willing to critique your work. I love that about MH.
Our newsroom is pretty fun. We have a ping pong table and other games IN THE NEWSROOM! Lol it does help relieve the stress of the day to get a game in.
This station LOVES creativity. The motto is basically “go for it”. No idea is too crazy.
We do need more staff. Especially photogs. We are usually outnumbered on stories and sometimes miss opportunities because we have one crew or just an MMJ at a scene when the competition has two crews (none MMJ) or more at a scene.
This station is heavily MMJ when the competition rarely uses MMJ’s. so, the playing field is NOT even in the field.
You will find yourself running like a chicken with your head cut off trying to keep up with the competition.
If I had one piece of advice to management/corporate it would be to adequately staff your stations!
Overall, I would recommend this station. If you’re a loner or anti-social, this is NOT the newsroom for you. Mgmt loves creativity, passion, and personality.
We’re in a transition but headed in the right direction.”
News Director: Robert Davidson
“Robert is a great news director. He knows the news business. He really wants to seee his reporters grow, and his door is always open. You can approach him about anything and he’s understandable.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Sometimes things can get a bit unorganized which causes a lack of communication, but overall this is a really good news room. Great producers, and great writers. This is a great market and TV station for starters who are just getting into the business and looking to perfect their craft and go to the next market.”
News Director: Robert Davidson
Experience described as: “Horrible and mismanaged, the General Manager is too”
While working for WCBI this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The good-ole boys will quash any positive progression towards a better future, and if you raise your voice about something they will push you out the door.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The General Manager is a bully and a tyrant, and unsupportive of staff. When an employee told him that they were getting flown out for a new job, the GM told that employee “I hope you don’t get it.” He has a temper and micromanages the place. It is not a great place to start out.”
News Director: Greg Scheiferstein
Experience described as: “A real nightmare”
While working for KRNV this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Inexperienced employees will most likely get raises and promotions. Communication sucks and ambitious women are often passed over.
You will not get promoted if you aren’t from the Midwest or at least Ohio in the News Director’s terms. Only hires people he feels comfortable with.
This is a dead-end station with a lot of favoritism. Most unprofessional work environment I’ve ever worked in. Culture is worse than high school.
You don’t matter, your career doesn’t matter, nothing matters here unless you get lucky.
You will be encouraged to apply for a position but then passed over. He refuses to hire within unless you show sexual interest in him.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“That’s nice all the young kids get big wig titles but they’ll crash and burn later thanks to this guy.”
News Director: April Samp
Experience described as: “Driven, formulates a plan effectively.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“Great place to learn from seasoned, award winning storytellers.
Advancement opportunities are given to those who want to try new challenges.
Major improvements have been made to the station in the past 5 years.”
News Director: April Samp
Experience described as: “Inconsistent, vengeful”
While working for WOI-TV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Samp fails to unite the team, looks out for herself and fails to follow-up on promises. Her personal life is a disaster and each day is dependent upon her tinder date from the night before.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“The station has been purchased and sold several times now, there have been several GMs in last few years and total lack of oversight to hold April accountable.”
News Director: April Samp
While working for WOI-TV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“As long as April Samp is ND WOI-TV, DON’T WORK THERE! She will promise you many things during the interviewing process but it’s all a SCAM. Reporters who were promised photogs for live shots were sent to breaking news and other normal live shots (ALONE).
The station is so bad … reporters, photogs and editors have decided to leave ahead of time.
There are many unorganized newsrooms but this is one of the worst.
The ND cannot run an efficient editorial meeting, she will lash out at you when you least expect it. Even when the ND is there her mind is barely present – she has her EP pick up all her slack (which is why her EP is miserable).
The station is last in the market which is why the newsroom is so toxic. People in the community and from the competion do not take WOI reporter, photogs – serious.
BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT APPLYING OR TAKING A CALL FROM THE ND – She may seem nice but once she locks you in , you are screwed.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: April Samp
“She goes all in on big things, but hard to judge her mood.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“There are some great, talented people who work here. Great pit stop for anyone starting a career.”
News Director: John Walton
Experience described as: “Amazing, Thoughtful, Personable, Down-to-earth, Understanding”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“It’s a great place for a mid-size or starter market. Has it’s ups and downs but I appreciated the people here. It’s a family. Everyone there wants to see you do better. For what you lack in viewers, resources at times, the people make up for it with bright personalities.”
News Director: John Walton
“Amazing man. Wanting to do the best for others in the community. Won’t throw you in a bad spot.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Positive, Fun
News Director: Carrie Hofmann
“I have enjoyed my time much more at the station once she took over in January.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This station is currently going through a lot of changes but in my eyes, they all have been positive. The group of people who work in the newsroom now are all positive and are excited to see the station continue to improve. We just released a new app and brand new website, as well as just hit 1 million monthly views for the first time. There are lots of great, new things going on here and I am excited to see where it goes.”
News Director: John Haferkamp
“He was good, made some offensive jokes at times but overall seems to care about his employees. Never had a problem getting time off or anything.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This is a great first station to work for, and I think everyone should disregard the negative review by the reporter.
That negative review makes some good points but is mostly false. WSBT has a lack of on air diversity, but then again it’s Indiana. We do have a very diverse group of people working behind the scenes, but I doubt (they)*** ever cared to meet any of them. (The person who wrote the negative review) was fired because (they) kept sharing confidential details about our daily news operations on (their) public social media and openly criticizing us in detail on those platforms if we didn’t like (their) ideas that day. (They) also refused to take criticism and would get offended when changes were made to (their) scripts. I even saw (them) refuse those corrections and voice (their) pkg with (their) original script on several occasions. (They) would constantly miss the point of stories or force an angle that just wasn’t there. (This person) was once sent to cover a town hall on gun violence and came back with a cutesy story about a child asking the mayor his favorite food. (Their) firing had nothing to do with (their) race, (this person) was just a bad employee and delusional. (This person) was even given multiple warnings and chances to improve, and management spent extra time and resources working with (them). Still, (this person) always thought everyone was out to get (them). Our news director was not shady at all or discreet with (this person’s) performance issues with (them). I would consider him one of the better bosses in this industry.
The station also does not hate Joshua Short or WNDU. We just dislike his famous black friday live shot because he made a mistake being on the wrong side of the mall. He also continues to ride that gimmick for going on 3 years now. Most people are friends with him and he regularly goes out for drinks with WSBT staff.”
***The pronouns were changed to hide the previous reviewer’s identity.
News Director: John Haferkamp
“Excellent, he is a great boss and really cares about his employees. I miss working for him. But he’s trying to get into Sinclair corporate and losing some of his positive tendencies.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This is a great first station to work at. I personally believe their product is much better than many of the top 20 markets. They go above and beyond to train you and work with you to get you ready for a big market job. Executive Producer Jim Pinkerton is the best EP I have ever worked for. He sits down with every producer and reporter for hour long personal training sessions 3 times per year. He sets goals for you to work towards and really mentors you. I now realize everything he ever taught me was correct, and I have not seen any other EP’s in my career with the knowledge that he has.
This station would be almost perfect except for it’s owned by Sinclair. As a reporter this will not effect you, but as a Producer or Anchor this is completely soul crushing and ethically repugnant. They purchased the station in 2017 I believe. I started working there not too long after, and I saw almost every experienced journalist quit as soon as their contract was up. This station went from a 2nd or 3rd job to a starter market in the span of a year. Sinclair also has low pay so the people replacing these tenured journalists were kids directly out of college (the only ones willing to accept the pay and contract.)
This ultimately led to me quitting. I wanted to work and learn from experienced journalists. You’re also forced to air their beyond right wing “must runs”. Many of them genuinely have false or incredibly misleading information. These aren’t even conservative pieces, they actively promote harmful conspiracy theories. I would always advise reporters to actually watch the rest of the shows they are in, so that they knew what they are representing. I would do my best to write intros for these stories that mitigated their damage. Many of the must run reporters are “journalists” fired from fox news for sexual harassment. As an anchor you will be forced to read the intros or worse, forced to star in the “P.O.W” style promos against fake news.
Every news employee (reporter, producer, management) is required to sign a contract. I have a family friend who is a corporate contract attorney and his direct words about my contract were, “this is worse than slavery.” Basically the contract is poorly written and forces you to sign away all your rights while giving the company more rights. Currently all contracts have a clause against speaking negatively about the company, but I was one of the last few to not have that. The contract also waives your right to sue in court, and instead mandates a mediation process. You are not allowed to choose the mediator or the location. If you lose the mediation you are forced to pay all of Sinclair’s legal costs. If you win Sinclair is not obliged to pay yours. You also are not allowed to quit but they can fire you at any time.
At the end of the day this is a good place to learn and start out, but not anywhere you will want to hang around too long. I loved my time working there and miss everyone. It’s a great stepping stone to a larger market that does not have must runs or force you to sign a poorly written one sided contract.”
News Director: Tom Lewis
Experience described as: “Hell on earth”
While working for WWMB this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This station will make you a worse journalist and you will struggle to survive.
News Director Tom Lewis was voted 2nd worst person in TV news on FTV live in 2019 and has the nickname “Tom Lucifer” for a reason. He told me he didn’t understand social media so he didn’t believe in it. He hired his friend’s kid to be the evening producer and gave her special treatment. He also won’t hire you if you are a man or if you aren’t white. There was literally no oversight, feedback or training and if I made a tiny mistake Tom Lewis would scream at me. Market 156 (or whatever it is) is where you go to learn and make mistakes. You should be helped and taught the entire time. Lewis doesn’t watch a single newscast.
Panama City is also a terrible place to live, and after the hurricane rent doubled while the salary stayed the same. It’s almost impossible to work for WMBB and afford rent.
I also never knew how we were doing in ratings, I felt I was lied to. All the equipment is super old and constantly breaking down. The computers could barely run ENPS. The turnover rate here is literally worse than a fast food restaurant.
Luckily Tom Lewis has no clue about contracts and would easily let you out of yours if you are a female or read it and realize all the errors and loopholes. As a producer I found I was signed to a contract for a reporter, making it invalid. When I quit Tom Lewis threatened me, and then bad mouthed me to every single person in the newsroom. They believed him and it created a very toxic work environment for my last two weeks. He also told me he would put me on a blacklist so that I could never work at Nexstar again. THIS IS ILLEGAL and also let’s be real, If I’m good enough and applying for a job at a Nexstar station in a top 20 market they will not care what Tom Lewis thinks.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Will not hire male reporters, very little diversity. There are literally no positions for anyone to get promoted into. Walmart pays a much higher salary. Reporters make 23 or less.”
News Director: Tim Maestas
“He is hands off, let’s you do your job. Overall I really appreciate Tim.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“KOB is a fantastic place to get your feet wet in a top 50 market. It offers decent-ish pay depending on your role and is in by far one of the best markets for spot/breaking news in the country. From a blooming film industry to a heinous crime problem, you won’t struggle with story pitches in Albuquerque. You’ll work long hours, have enough breaking news on your reel in a month to sustain you a lifetime and also probably be in a movie at some point (hey, breaking bad). Overall, it’s a good place to be.”
News Director: RHONDA LAVELLE
“Worst Experience, micromanaging. toxic, childish”
While working for WXYZ this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Rhonda yells at people all of the time. She talks down to everyone, acts like they are stupid. She can’t think for herself, only copies off of the competition. She thinks she is the only one that knows anything. When she started, just about every manager, producer and on air person quit. Now, after a few years, her own people are all quitting. The station used to be number 1 , now it’s a far number 3”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“It’s an unhappy newsroom and the General Manager Mike Murri is just as useless and does what he can to protect Rhonda because they have been sued .
Rhonda was bad hire but Mike knows he has to stand by her. Ask anyone.”
News Director: Kent Harrell
Experience described as: “Liar, gossips”
While working for WDJT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“When the ratings are bad, they try to discredit reputations. They retaliate against employees who demand respect t.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“Absentee landlords. Chicago owned and don’t care about the community. GM and former news director Tracy Davis like about others to make themselves look good and deflect blame.”
News Director: Alex De Leon
Experience described as: “Unprofessional and toxic environment.”
While working for WTVO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“It was terrible. This is, by far, the most unprofessional and toxic environment I’ve ever worked in. One of the reviews on here explains why. There was very poor management, unprofessional employees, and inappropriate comments made in the workplace on a daily basis. People at the station did not take their jobs or the industry seriously.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This station desperately needs new management. The current staff lacks journalistic integrity. More than 12 employees that worked in the newsroom left within a one year timeframe. This was the most toxic environment I’ve ever experienced. Management fires their best employees that work hard, go above and beyond, and always do the right thing, while keeping the trouble makers that cause nothing but problems.”
News Director: Rhonda LaVelle
“The most evil person I have ever worked with. I worked with five news directors there. She screamed, yelled, demeaned people. Everyone leaves”
While working for WXYZ this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“News Director terrible. Only cared about copying off competition. General manager Mike Murri just as bad. He only likes his boys club and. His hires.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“It’s sad to see what was once a great station be dug into the ground by those two. Don’t work here. Reach out to previous employees first”
News Director: Mandi Mendoza
Experience described as: “Smart, open, but does promise a bit too much”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Hires young, so constantly training.”
News Director: Liz Grey-Godbout
“A lot of people on this site claim their news directors are the worst. I’d put money on Liz claiming that title. This woman is the queen of double standards, which only incites anger throughout the newsroom. Her decisions when it comes to news judgement are rarely well-thought-out, and she’s quick to disrespect even the most experienced and hard-working employees. My most enjoyable days working for her were those that I knew I wouldn’t see her or when she wasn’t around.”
While working for WTIC this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“You know that meme with the dog sitting in a room where everything is on fire? It’s kind of like that.
From overt favoritism to disrespect across the board, the management group has created an environment that very few people want to continue to work in. It’s no surprise that there’s been an immense amount of turnover for what’s considered a top market. There’s probably been upwards of 50 anchors, reporters, and producers alone that have left since the current management group took over (closing in on three years), with a fair amount of them finding work at stations in the same market just to get away.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I’ve actually been working elsewhere in the tv industry for over a year now, and wanted to give myself time away from WTIC so I could rate the station with a level head. Yet every interaction with former coworkers/those that still work there always leads to them saying one of two things: “It’s good you got out of here” or “I can’t wait to leave this place”.
Don’t get it twisted: there are some truly wonderful people that still work there and who, despite it all, grind day in and day out to deliver the best news possible. Those that are in charge, however, have turned it into anything but a dream destination.”
News Director: Jack Acosta
Experience described as: “Terrible”
While working for KENS this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Just a bad boss to work for. Doesn’t know how to positively deal with people and is threatening to employees, especially women.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I agree with other reviews. My time at the station was very awful. The ND has a terrible personality and knows nothing about how to get the best from the people under him and almost no one re-signs after their first contract. HR nightmare waiting to happen because of how he treats people, but Tegna won’t do anything until someone actually has the guts to sue. I understand that the longtime Operations manager recently “retired” mainly due to the ND and I’ve heard that another longtime manager may do the same soon for the same reason.
Avoid the place because even though the news director will make it seem like the newsroom is a happy family, he’ll turn on you behind close doors, especially when your contract is up.”
News Director: Kendra Martinez
Experience described as: “toxic, awful”
While working for KSBY this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The newsroom employees are dedicated, driven, and hardworking people but management creates a toxic environment. Reporters and photographers are often sent on wild goose chases and rarely get the opportunity to pursue a story that matters to them. Producers are left in the dark and constantly lose stories without any heads up from the news director. The only time employees receive feedback from the news director is when they are told they did a poor job.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Communication is lacking. Some employees are favored and others are made miserable. Time off requests go unanswered for weeks/months and schedules are always changing without notice or communication. Pay is barely a living wage for long-time reporters/producers and those starting out here make less than a grocery bagger. High turnover here.”
News Director: Bryan McGruder
“Nice guy, his story selections are hard to understand”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“The people there are good people, but the story selection and petty rules are a constant grind. Wears the reporters out even as the place operates under the guise of a “storytelling” shop. Lots of little frustrations.”
News Director: Sheryl Barnhouse
“Super nice to work with and is very open to new ideas, as well as making sure everyone has the resources they need. One of the best news directors I have worked under.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“WTVR is an amazing station to work at. I have only been here 7 months and I have learned more about reporting, writing, shooting than I have anywhere else. If you want to grow into a great storyteller, MMJ and overall reporter, come here!”
News Director: Jay Webb
“It was pleasant working with him.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational
Additional comments:
“WHSV is a good starter market station and a great place to build contacts, learn the ropes of being an MMJ and totally independent. The station does have its ups and downs like any other station but that is to come.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “Highs & lows”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“Unorganized doesn’t begin to descibe it. The biggest issue is not so much Greg, but the managers he allows to destroy this place. This ongoing joke when we’re in the field is, don’t call Melissa Williams the Assistant ND after 5:10 because she has left the building, She does. not.care. She pretends to but just lies and takes hours to approve our scripts, then we get in trouble for missing slot. The station has added so many newscasts and not enough qualified people and noone cares what goes on TV, “just fill the time.”
The past year has been the worst at this once decent place to work. No longer and no indication it’s gonna get better. Managers just lie to cover their own hide and the newsroom is left to clean it up and get blamed for things that should never be happening. Hearst doesn’t care. People just keep burning out and leaving. Miserable place to work if you actually care about real journalism.
Oh and their big solution to the hiring fiasco is to hire people who have no actual producer experience. Place is a mess. Stay away for now.”
News Director: Kevin Daniels
“He is great, assistant news director is the problem one”
While working for WGHP this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I’m only writing this now because someone I know is looking at the station, and I wanted put this out there.
WGHP has an incredible news product. Viewers love the station. They are constantly the first with the story, because of the hard working staff and the resources available (drones, photographers, lots of live equipment). But when Lori Denberg became the Assistant News Director a couple of years ago, replacing Eric Olsen (who was a great manager), this station’s morale went downhill. It used to be the best place to work. Everyone worked together. People were happy and had no problem working the long hours because everyone believed in it. Now, Lori has changed that. She yells at everyone, is manipulative, sends out nasty emails to reporters and photographers for the entire station to see, takes pride in making people cry, and micromanages everything. In the past year or two, they have had about 10 people leave because of her. One talented reporter had a breakdown and left because she couldn’t take Lori’s incessant bullying.
Kevin is great to work for. He takes the time to coach you and work with you to make you the best. I don’t understand though how he lets someone like Lori beat down some of the most talented people in the business. Several of the people who have left recently, left the business entirely because their mental health and motivation had been ruined by her.
Everyone is miserable. Producers cry. Reporters cry. Photographers are ready to walk out the door. It doesn’t have to do with Nexstar’s recent purchase, but everything to do with how Lori operates the newsroom.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“You’ll learn a lot if you can deal with the assistant news director. It’ll be a good learning experience and you’ll become a better reporter if you can withstand her toxicity.”
News Director: Alex de Leon
“Very good work environment. Only bad review is from a diva anchor who was fired after a short tenure, which happened at other stations she had worked at in the past. She was not liked by her peers in the newsroom, and often threw temper tantrums and cussed out the news director and general manager, then complained of a toxic work environment and unprofessionalism which must have been what she saw in a mirror, because that’s not what the rest of the newsroom experiences.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“A very good station to start your career, plenty of opportunities for growth. there is a powerhouse of experience among the evening team, best in the business. this isn’t a newsroom for those who are more interested in “being famous” or wearing obsessive amounts of orange.”
News Director: Ernesto Romero
Experience described as: “Abhorrent and unprofessional”
While working for KYMA/KSWT/KECY this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Ernesto is a nice person, but only as a person. For him, there’s no boundaries. Texts and emails early in the morning and late at night. Often times he is missing in action in the newsroom. You are frequently wrong, but he never is. Absolutely unable to make quick decisions and more times than not, plays favorites. Upper management even turns a blind eye to his horrible behavior – but ratings and web views always does well, so he gets credit. (Someone in management)** made a move on me outside of work and it was majorly uncomfortable ever since. Worst two years of my life.
Don’t even think about asking for your equipment to be fixed (when it often breaks) or you’ll get all the blame. Very unorganized. If you’re strong-willed, independent, and pay no mind to the drama he creates, then you’ll succeed. Otherwise, this newsroom is absolutely toxic.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Can’t really say anything positive about this newsroom except the tight relationships made with other people in the newsroom. But, there are some with major egos – they are fueled even more by the News Director. Everyone says it’s not a competition, but you’ll find yourself all competing and fighting to get the top stories and coverage. Usually agendas/plans for news coverage for big events (President’s visit, Press Conferences) is last-minute. The station has NBC, CBS, ABC, Telemundo, and FOX all under the same roof… but all the company’s resources goes into the NBC’s 5 & 6pm shows. If you’re not on those shows, then don’t expect to be a priority. Not worth it for the amount of time you’ll bust your butt to work.”
**The person’s job title was removed due to claims of libel from the accused.
News Director: Ernesto Romero
“Abhorrent. One of the worst experiences I’ve ever had with boss – in and out of the news business. Dreaded going to work and my skin would crawl when he walked through the door.”
While working for KYMA/KSWT/KECY this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I was on the receiving end of sexual harassment by (someone in management)**. It wasn’t during work hours, but it seemed to affect me during work hours (would be ignited, not considered for stories, etc). He would scold, curse at you also for the smallest things. Also, you had to be on call seemingly 24/7. He would text you constantly about anything and everything — when it could’ve been sent in an email. Mostly laid back, but a little too laid back where you’ll receive no guidance or leadership. Takes tremendous amounts of time off and delegates tasks to everyone else. Massive egos in this newsroom and reporters’ egos get bigger because he picks favorites. Even if you believe you work harder than others, you’ll miss out on big stories because you’re not his favorite. Very toxic and demeaning newsroom.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Avoid this station if you’re trying to break into the business. The newsroom is home to ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, and Telemundo all under one roof with one news director. The quality or the newscasts are mediocre and money is rarely spent on new equipment. The ND has only worked at KYMA (NBC) so expect all company resources to be put into that show (5&6). Do not expect constructive feedback on your work. Also, upper management doesn’t take your concerns seriously. Avoid like the plague. You will become unhappy.”
**The person’s job title was removed due to claims of libel from the accused.
News Director: Shawnda Adams
While working for KOCO this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Former news director “resigned” after someone filed a complaint to corporate HR.
Certain people are favored over others.
Double standard vacation policy during sweeps.
Surprised station didn’t get sued for racial discrimination.
Toxic culture in sales department too.
It all starts at the top.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“New news director is trying to change the culture.
We’ll see if the GM lets her run the newsroom the way she wants it.
GM plays dumb about not knowing about things that go on there.
But it all starts at the top.”
News Director: Currently none
“In typical fashion, the lifespan of news directors here is a maximum of 2 years. Last one, Scott Fitzgerald didn’t even let a whole year. The one before that, Warren Stewart, lasted a year and a half (should’ve been sooner because he was delusional)”
While working for KJRH this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Let me be clear, the overall individual effort by so many of my peers is admirable. Everyone who leaves this station as a reporter, anchor, producer, director, photog., etc will go one to do bigger and better things. These people truly pull their own and then some.
Managers on the other hand are going to run this place to the ground. It’s hard to tell how much of the harrowing morale is corporate’s fault, but the station, in my humble opinion, will continue to be a horrible work environment as long as GM Amy Calvert continues to serve as the boss. Anybody else find it strange how much face time she gets on TV? Seems like she’s featured in either a VOSOT or PKG every week or so. I’ve never seen a GM put her face on TV, let alone as often as she does. I’ve heard from producers these Amy-featured-segments are “must-run”.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I hope before you accept a job offer from this station you get a chance to read this review. You will likely get buyer’s remorse. Everybody I know that’s escaped this unholy infrastructure have told me “it’s like a weight has been lifted” from their shoulders. Every department is short-staffed by AT LEAST 2 people, so if you like being overworked for the least livable wage possible, this job is for you.
But hey, at least the ratings are good….oh wait…..my mistake….they’re dead last every day. As in it’s been a good day if the mornings post a 0.2. Occasionally, as a fluke, one of the evening shows will finish 2nd or even 1st. Then we’ll all get an email from Amy the next day congratulating everybody on their hard work and that this is the start of a promising ratings trend…..only for the station to promptly fall back in last place as per usual.
Last I heard (since I don’t work there anymore) there’s 1 producer writing and boothing the entire 2 and a half morning show. I believe the 10pm producer is usually a producer that’s already done one of the earlier shows as well. That’s absolutely outrageous.
You might think, “we’ll at least you get good overtime, right?”
Well, yes and no. Mostly no. They’ll tell you overtime is an option, but managers will bend over backwards to keep from approving it.
A few years back when Warren Stewart was our station manager, we had tons of overtime since he inexplicably fired the production manager at the same time another newscast director quit. But then Warren absolutely botched a studio renovation. He mustered some budget out of nowhere since corporate didn’t send any money for said renovation, maxed out EVERY credit card every manager had, and then out of the blue, our overtime was cut. Weird, right? The amazing thing is after the reno, our ratings jumped from from last place to…..last place. Wah-wah.
The other thing you’ll probably find is that if you stay there long enough, eventually you’ll make slightly more money through yearly raises, etc, right? That’s pretty normal. But as soon as the bosses notice you’re making considerably more money than some of your less experienced peers, they’ll railroad you out of there in a bogus way to make room for the budget. I’ve seen this happen.
The ONE person apparently impervious to managerial criticism and budgetary constraints is the Chief Meteorologist. I don’t know how true this is, but I hear he’s got a friend (if not several) on the corporate level at Scripps. That wouldn’t bother me so much if he didn’t have the worst work ethic of anyone I’ve ever worked with.
He’s the one person at the station I’ve directly worked with whom I’ve had consistent problems. He’s screwed over producers and directors alike during shows all the time. Sometimes I’d stop myself and think, “Hey, I think it’s been a whole week since our Chief Met hasn’t done anything to aggravate me.” Like clockwork, though, as soon as I think that, he does something stupid on the air. He’ll say “ummm” a bunch and put a turkey graphic over Wednesday before Thanksgiving instead of Thursday on the extended forecast graphic. At least once a day he’s not ready for his first wx hit even though we’ve printed him a rundown AND told him point blank when he’s coming up. Stuff like that. Yet somehow, he’s untouchable – completely free of chastisement. Better meteorologists than him at the station have quit from the sheer injustice of having that buffoon as the face of the wx department.
Long story short, you’ll probably make some decent friends along the way, but you won’t make money and you’ll be miserable. Don’t work here.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “Nightmare”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“There are constant verbal and physical altercations between staff at KOAT. There’s a director known for slamming his fists on desks when someone in production makes a mistake during a live show. This guy got so upset about two months ago and unleashed on staff. The public altercation gave another staffer a panic attack. Last week, I walked in on the only two assignment desk editors going at each other. There’s also been an ongoing problem with photographers loosing their cool while covering stories—throwing keys at reporters, throwing gear, violently slamming doors. It’s a known thing at KOAT that if you report ANY workplace abuse, management retaliates against the victim.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“There aren’t enough people working here for the amount of shows we have. So far management has fired two high paying staffers to make space for cheaper, newly hired staff. There are rumors that they’re preparing to give an anchor spot to a morning show reporter who they hired straight out of college because they know they can take advantage of her—which means several more qualified employees are being cheated. It’s another big problem here at KOAT. Please, send help, but not Hearst corporate because they’ll do nothing!”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
“No newsroom is perfect and this one is not without it’s problems. But reading through these reviews, most people who actually work here can easily recognize the voice of one particular “reviewer” who seems to like writing reviews more than he likes writing new content for shows.
Again, this newsroom is not perfect. But there are a handful of bad apples that like to bring the whole place down. And write reviews in forums like this one and trash blogs like FTV Live and then complain we don’t have enough employees. Maybe if they quit writing crappy reviews and discouraging people from applying – we could actually get a full staff so people didn’t have to work to the bone.
There are more amazing people here than not. But there are a few people that continue to bring the whole place down.
How could things could better? Get rid of those bad apples.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Negative/Toxic because of those few jerks mentioned above.”
News Director: John Ehrhart
“John is new to the area and has big-market expectations as far as the quality of work is concerned, but realized the challenges of working in a small market. His criticisms are tough but largely fair and well-intended, even if they come off in the wrong way occasionally. He cares about video and how the product looks more than anything, along with good writing.”
While working for WDTV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management excuse in appropriate behavior and doesn’t know how to identify good talent. Fireable actions are brushed aside and employees’ concerns aren’t take seriously. There has been a mass exodus of good employees because of the toxic work environment created by management’s favorites. Nothing has changed or ever will change.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The good employees are genuinely nice people. It’s a young newsroom. But management doesn’t know how to squash toxic attitudes and allows the best employees to walk out the door. Nothing will change until management stops ignoring their largest problems that are making people dread coming to work and driving good people away from the industry.”
News Director: John Ehrhart
“News director has no sense of management or people skills. He never stands up for his employees, is passive aggressive, and has unrealistic expectations of how news cycles in NCWV work.”
While working for WDTV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Good employees are beaten down and taken advantage of while others are praised for doing something completely wrong and toxic to the work environment. Disheartening and not a good place to be. Mental health is not a priority here. Apply elsewhere if you want a successful place to learn and grow.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Shawn Venhaus
“Classic “yes man”, feel like he doesn’t think before giving assignments, hear he makes reporters feel uncomfortable, just an overall below average news director.”
While working for KFDA this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management really turns the other cheek to situations that happen in that news. My boss who oversees me and the rest of the people at my position I feel is completely oblivious to what goes on and more importantly what our goals are. The talent, more specifically our primetime female anchor has gotten burned out multiple times and as a result takes all her frustrations out on the production staff. She needs more help, but clearly isn’t getting it. Certain reporters and others have been passed up for other positions because they want to stay “in house” and are just lazy at times. Have I learned a lot since I’ve been here? Yes. Do I enjoy going to work here everyday? No. The only days I enjoy are when I photog which is rare. I used to do it way more on my old schedule, now I barely do it. I want to do it more and reporters want me to but because this station has cut many positions and forces everyone to do millions of things, the quality of work I feel has taken a hit. Don’t stay here too long cause I don’t plan to.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Adam Henning
“Adam is an awful manager. He doesn’t know how to treat people or speak to people. He makes poor decisions when it comes to his news judgement. It’s his way or the highway. He wants no input from anyone. General manager Michelle Harper lets him get away with murder. There are no checks and balances.”
While working for WHBQ this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The environment is completely TOXIC!!! Everyone hates their jobs. People hate coming to work. Majority of people are underpaid, overworked and treated poorly.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Terrible place to work”
While working for WDAY this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Current station management is extremely toxic. Do not let the family owned and number 1 station fool you!
Yes, there are some hard working and caring people who work here, but many of those people are beneath the radar of the management’s eyes.
If you are a guy you better suck up to managment hard core or else you will just be a place holder until the end of your contract.
If you are a female get ready to show some legs to the bosses! Current station managment prides itself on “TV female prostitution” promotes and gives females what they want if and ONLY if they look the part in managment’s Eyes!
Seriously if you want to sell yourself as “a prostitute” without being one then work here. If you pride yourself as a person of integrity without looks then please look the other way and do not waste your time here.
They need to do a full sweep of station management and start fresh again in order to move forward. And again, if your a guy or a somewhat attractive female you just are along for the ride. Only women that are victory secret qualified get the advancements and it shows to the public eye and reputation of the station.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Needs an extreme managment and ethical overhaul.”
News Director: Jennifer Dale
Experience described as: “Horrific. She is manipulative, petty, and is the reason that the entire newsroom wants to leave. I’ve never encountered anyone more emotionally abusive than that woman.”
While working for WCSC this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The ND talks over people, calls them out in front of coworkers for things only she considered problems, trash talks her employees to their peers, and so much more. My former coworkers are some of the best people in the world and the station itself was a good one to work for but the toxicity she puts into the work environment causes so much anxiety and fear. Being called stupid on a daily basis is never how anyone should live.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Maggie H.
“Maggie was decent but definitely plays favorites and panics.”
While working for WIFR this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“ND treated me okay, but it will only take you a day to notice she has her favorites. She also panics a lot for minor events. The rest of the staff all think they’re better than the other person. Zero unity.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“Not worth it… anchors will never leave so impossible to move up.”
News Director: Andy Pederson
Experience described as: “Absolutely awful – Worst Job”
While working for KTVE/KARD this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I was sexually and verbally harassed by (someone in management)** during my time there. It was my first job out of college and I thought it was normal to have an older white male constantly stare at my ass, constantly comment on tight dresses I wore, and even would pass by me to ‘casually’ touch my butt. He has a very specific type. After he hired me, he hired skinny and brunette females as if he had a type. He is married with a son and was constantly preying on me. I had to go to Corporate to report him, because my HR rep at the time would not have done anything about it. Corporate brushed it under the rug despite the fact that I had about 4-5 instances as proof. When he wasn’t sexually preying on me, he was verbally harassing me making fun of what I said and constantly bringing me down. If you go to myarklamiss.com, you’ll notice there are only 4 males that work at the station and the rest are females…”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I did eventually transfer to another station and never want to look back again, but do not work there if you are a female. You will run into the risk of working with a sexual predator and will have little control of your situation.”
**The person’s job title was removed due to claims of libel from the accused.
News Director: Scott Pickey
“Pickey has his favorites. Simple as this he is a major HR problem. You are always wrong no matter what happened. No feedback ever given. Like I said if you are on his good side no problem at all.”
While working for KOSA this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“KOSA is a starter market and they advertise as such. But the way Pickey treats you makes it not worth working there.
GM Don Davis is worse. All about the bottom line and only cares about the product, not the person. He is the reason there are HR problems at the station.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Positive, Fun, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The people you work with are great, management has issues.”
News Director: Tai Takahashi
“Tai is a nice person, however very passive.”
While working for WJTV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The station is dead last in the market and there are obvious reasons why. Ranked distant third out of three stations. There’s a monotonous mindset of refusing to change. Staff is overworked,underpaid and unappreciated. Still a good place to get experience and grow. Just don’t expect to have fun doing it.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Extremely lazy, old-fashioned main anchors that have been there forever. Outdated presentation, young producers lacking concern passion or drive. The station is run by an assignment manager who has a bad attitude and very toxic management skills. Passive leadership that doesn’t take control. Overall unhappy newsroom, but good opportunity to learn. The market itself will teach you. Not the station. Its what you make of it.”
News Director: Ernesto Romero
While working for KYMA/KSWT/KECY this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“A very toxic environment to work in. ND plays favorites, employees are uninclusive, have huge egos/do not respect each other. The turnover rate is very high, FOX/ABC/CBS/NBC/Telemundo affiliates are all under one roof..extremely weird. Management is unorganized and does not deal with issues fairly. It’s a shame because it is a great community with a lot of story potential.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Liz Haltiwanger
“Speaks negatively to people, is completely absent and impossible to get ahold of.”
While working for KKTV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Most of my problems come from the news department and upper management. GM/ND has been completely absent and nothing is able to get done around the station. We were recently told anyone who mentions the absence will be fired, which was the final straw for me. The GM once told someone they were a stupid idiot who did not deserve their job. Anchors and EPs speak about people as if they are not human.
I’ve heard lots of sexist and racist comments from both news anchors and engineers but I’ve never felt targeted.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The pay is less than other stations in the market and the benefits are horrible, basically useless. There is a cultural rift between longtime employees and the younger generation. Long-time employees seem blind to issues like benefits and continuously ridicule anyone who leaves to better their career/life. Most of the reporters and younger producers are genuinly understanding and supportive. There are double standards based on whether important people (anchors/EPs) like you.
The biggest positive is the creative flexibility we are given.
Overall their are better places to work in the market.”
News Director: Andrea Stahlman
Experience described as: “Terrible. She’s never there and when she is she doesn’t do anything.”
While working for WLKY this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Everyone there is trying to leave. They don’t believe in mental health and threaten lawsuits all the time. It’s very hostile and clicky. You almost feel like you’re in high school again.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
News Director: Jerry Howard
“Jerry is a great leader that truly treats his employees as though they matter.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This station used to be the most toxic work environment I have ever worked in. That was before our new news director, Jerry took over. Jerry has been a God-send for this station. The previous news director, Ashley Hall, ran the station into the ground. She was degrading, manipulative, toxic and was not a leader in any capacity. While she was news director people were consistently breaking contract in order to get out and save their sanity. Those that stayed through their contract were very honest about their intentions to leave but in her last 6 months at the station she didn’t make one single new hire—that left our station 8 people short. All in on-air positions.
Jerry is now working hard to rebuild the station, essentially from the ground up. Jerry has been a life-saver. He is kind, considerate, a leader and very knowledgeable. He has tough road ahead of him but he is doing everything he can to rebuild the station and the people that were completely degraded by Ashley. Jerry’s motto is “care so much it shows” and it does show. He brings a positive attitude to the newsroom every day and is encouraging and uplifting. Under Jerry’s leadership this newsroom is transforming into a place that supports their employees and understands the pressures this job brings.
I worked under Ashley for two years and was ready to leave but because she announced she was leaving I decided to stay and give Jerry a chance — I’m so glad I did. I absolutely love working under Jerry. He is a breath of fresh air for a newsroom that has been gasping.”
News Director: Phillip Hickman
“Personally cares about his employees. Sometimes to the point that they aren’t disciplined as they should be.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Overall can be unorganized, but a wonderful place to start. Lots of people who will be friends for life. Pay is rough, but it’s more the business than this station.”
News Director: Eric Walters
Experience described as: “TOXIC”
While working for WBTW this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I wouldn’t suggest the station to my worst enemy. If you are considering a job here, prepare for the worst. It’s very chaotic, and management doesn’t know how to communicate and treat their employees. Prepare to work on days when you aren’t scheduled, prepare to have your stories changed just to accommodate management’s favorite employees.. If you ask for a day off, the assistant news director (Donald) will try his best to ruin your plans.. Their agenda is way more important to them than your health.. There’s also no constructive feedback. The news director is supposed to talk to you every six months about your progress, but that never happened.. If you don’t get a story before the competing station (who has employees that have been there over +20 years) they will talk down on you..You will also sent to dangerous areas where shootings/murders have occurred in the middle of the night even if police are no longer there. Your safety is not a concern to this station…
The only positive thing I have to say is the community they cover is great. I built wonderful relationships with people who were very welcoming.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Please don’t make the same mistake I did. Before taking the job, I read the negative reviews on RateMyStation, but I still made the decision to move anyway.. Worst mistake I could’ve made in my life. Everything that previous reporters wrote was true, and I found out the hard way.. You don’t want to take a job and find yourself paying a buyout fee months later.. They will also try their hardest to make your next job search difficult. If you do take the job, make sure you keep your reel updated often for when you too decide to leave.. Good luck”
News Director: Cj Hoyt
Experience described as: “Not great”
While working for WHTM this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Come to WHTM if you want to never do anything creative. We have one arrogant photographer who thinks he’s the shit because he has some emmys and hits on interns (you really have to see it to believe it). MMJ university.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Bunch of lifers work here. Everyone is back stabbing, shit talking, and never going anywhere else. Harrisburg is a terrible city to work in overall anyway.”
News Director: Maggie Hradecky
Experience described as: “Miserable”
While working for WIFR this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management is a joke here.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Every place has pros and cons, but the other stations in town don’t leave to come here for a reason. The ND is controlling, plays favorites, and alters between her moods all day long victimizing others just trying to work. You can learn a lot here if you work with and next to the right people. But the pay is pathetic yet they spent billions to buy another company. If you are truly passionate for news, do your time here and move on. They need to re-evaluate the news director and find someone who can make it less like working in a tornado that never stops spinning.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “Troubled newsroom because of his assistant ND”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I recently left after so many others in 2019. Some great hard working people there and EVERYONE is miserable. The ND lets his best friend and assistant news director treat people like dirt and she is CLUELESS. The running joke in the newsroom is how Melissa Williams will KNOW there are problems and she leaves early every day. What manager walks out at 4:30 or 5:15 during a newscast? How about helping a producer who had to recently produce 3 dhows in one day? Nope. She does her bare minumum and Greg doesn’t care. They will tell you how much you suck at your job. Not quite sure they’re employed, especially Melissa.
The new GM tells employees she’s making changes which actually seems really unprofessional on her part but she’s a joke too. More people have left under her watch than in the other 2 years i was here.
They added more newscasts, won’t hire people with any experience . Everyone is looking to get out and fight contracts if they have to do to it. STAY AWAY until Hearst comes in and brings in a competent GM and people to run the news department.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Hearst corporate Human Resources visited the station and interviewed most employees a few months ago, including me before I left. She asked A LOT – why a new experienced EP hire quit after 3 weeks on the job and why I though the station rarely brings in job candidates even though so many people have applied. Also asked about the overall perception of the new GM , who has allowed the newsroom to suffer all year and as a result, has lost many good people. She added a newscast without any care of how staff was going to put on decent shows all day as more and more people continue to leave. 2020 gonna be worse if they don’t get their acts together and start treating the people who actually get the news on the air like they’re appreciated.
Pay attention HEARST.”
News Director: Greg Sheppard
Experience described as: “So-so”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Greg’s not the major issue as much as his highly incompetent Asst. N.D. When she actually decides to show up for work for a full day she makes horrible decisions and sets the station up for lawsuits constantly. She takes forever to approve a script then when she changes something that is completely factually incorrect which is almost daily, she won’t admit it and blames the reporter or another manager. They don’t care when viewers call about these huge mistakes that are gonna get the station sued.
Reporters and producers have no idea what she does on a daily basis. She sits in her office with the door shut. Greg will never admit she’s such a huge liability because they are personal friends.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“And does @hearst care that this station for OVER A MONTH HAS had NO lights around the station for the 3am crew or the night crew? Parking lot is pitch black. Employees are left to walk in and out scared. Dozens of employees have voiced concern to managers. They just say they’re working on it. This station has had so many calls to the cops about drunks, and people with weapons just walking onto the property and they think it’s ok not to put lights on or find some other solution temporarily. This places is a craphole, used to be a great place. The last 6 months are just awful.”
News Director: Mark Kraham
“Had my ups and downs. He can come off as a nice person, but does have his moments. Sometimes his demands and expectations are unrealistic and unreasonable”
While working for WDVM this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The newsroom overall is very toxic. If you were to take a survey of the station, most people would say they don’t like working at WDVM. The news department is very focused on story quota, which sometimes doesn’t always work or make sense. They’ll have you drive an hour for a big story, but will still expect you to turn a vosot on a separate story. You have to find and pitch your own stories. If you have trouble meeting quota, they’ll write you up for missing quota. However, the job is largely contingent of people willing to be interviewed on camera. That’s never taken into consideration when they write you up for missing quota. Also, the assignment editor and executive producer are bullies. They yell at people and don’t give people encouragement. The assignment editor has anger management issues and has crossed the line numerous times talking to employees. The news director never properly addressed the issue. The station will overwork people at times, which is very unethical. For instance, they’ll have the 4 a.m. reporter cover late stories and go live. That same reporter is also required to turn a pkg, making them stay hours beyond their shift. They don’t take into consideration that the morning reporter has been in since 4 a.m. Overall, it’s a very stressful job with low pay. The management at the station makes things even more stressful. Working at the station will make you want to go into PR.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“It’s a starter station near the D.C region. A lot of people who work at the station leave and go to work in the Harrisburg market. If you get hired to work at WDVM, stay for 1 year and try to get out. It’s not a good job unless your a full-time anchor.”
News Director: Diana Castillo
Experience described as: “Amazing mentor”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This was by far the best starter market ever. Within 1 month of living here, Sioux City felt like home. The whole staff gets along. Everyone can help you out in some capacity if you ever have a question. Diana sits down with you and reviews anything you ever want to go over. She loves when you come up with creative ideas that are impactful on our viewers. If you second guessed your live shot? Just do better the next day. Make a mistake? It’s not the end of the world. Did you impact someone’s life today? Yes. This is a feature driven market and people love a good, positive story. Breaking news doesn’t happen often, so when it does give it all you’ve got. This is a station you can shine, grow, learn, and move up. A family-feel newsroom.”
News Director: Alex de Leon
“Alex genuinely cares for his employees. During my interview, he promised to get me ready for my next job. One year later, I landed a job in a Top 40 market.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Positive, Fun
News Director: Rick Moll
Experience described as: “Nice Guy, TERRIBLE MANAGER”
While working for WSLS this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Loyalty is not valued. If for any reason, the News director Doesn’t Like you, you will be demoted for people he likes.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Producers are right out of college and have no field experience, yet they control the newsroom. Reporters and Anchor who have been in the business 5+ years are not respected, and their story pitches are thrown out because the 23 year old producers don’t like them. There is no Team here, If the producers don’t get what they want, crews are often berated and belittled by the news director.
Loyalty and Hard Work is not rewarded. New employees are given prime and coveted shifts. FAVORITISM RUNS RAMPANT. No Matter how hard anyone works, or how long they have been there, they will be demoted in favor of managements favorite people, and then its justified by saying “too bad” and excused that no other employee has heard of.
There is ZERO Chance for advancement in the news room, you may apply for jobs, but management will not acknowledge your application, and will keep you in your same position. Most of the Hires are young women (age 22-28) White and blonde. Corrective punishments are distributed unfairly, certain employers will be written up for the smallest infraction, while others display problem behavior (Showing up late, poor attitude, cussing other employees) are not even addressed the issue. We have had employees who had been hear for years asking to get off weekends, and to be replace by new employees, but management will not move anyone, because they want to keep the new hires happy.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
Experience described as: “So-so”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The biggest issues are the managers, expecially the assistant ND who is a mix of clueless and just doesn’t care. She’s either rarely there or leaves during our afternoon news as producers need help and reporters are begging for script approval or assignments. She says one thing then throws you under the bus if her boss wants it a different way. The station in the last 6 months doesn’t care at all about facts. Managers are all going in different directons.
And forget SAFETY. Does @hearst care that their employees have been walking in at 3am and out at 11pm in complete darkness because noone cares that the entire parking lot lighting has been broken for a month. The station has had dozens of problems with crazy people on the property. Cops take hours to arrive. And they feel it’s ok to not light the area. It’s a TV station with no security, Managers say it will get fixed eventually.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
News Director: Tom Lewis
“Tom Lewis is tough when he needs to be, but also the best boss I’ve ever had. He actually cares about his staff as people and helps them with their jump to the next market.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“WMBB is a fantastic starter market with surprisingly, a decent amount of breaking news to cover. You learn a lot at this station and with the remodel post-hurricane Michael, the environment of the newsroom has improved. The staff are friendly and only want you to succeed. This station destroys the competition in breaking news and follow-ups on major stories. It’s a clear number 1. Tom Lewis is a great boss to work for. While some have negative comments about his leadership, I had a positive experience and learned so much from him. I highly recommend working at this station, especially if you’re just starting out.”
News Director: Eric Walters
Experience described as: “TOXIC”
While working for WBTW this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“negative environment to work for”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“if you you want to fail; wbtw is the place to be. management won’t
help you succeed.
give you proper training.
give you heads up on days you will be working for someone else.
give you feedback.
they act like the last station in this DMA. be prepared to do extra work other than mmj. people hate this station. contact former and current employees and do your homework before signing to this awful station”
News Director: Roger Gray
Experience described as: “The worst supervisor I’ve ever had”
While working for KVII this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Roger Gray has no business being in charge of any news department. His behavior towards his employees is inappropriate, unprofessional, and completely transformed the newsroom’s moral. We went from winning in the market – to barely being able to keep our heads above water because of an overall lack of leadership. He has a knack of accidentally “replying all” to emails, insulting employees in front of their coworkers. He sleeps in his office. Constantly attempts to anchor even though he has no business behind the desk. And treats women like second-class citizens.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“By hiring Roger Gray, Guyanne Taylor (GM) single handedly plummeted all momentum this station had gained as a market leader. I legitimately loved working here when I was first employed. The previous ND encouraged creativity, pushed us to win, and held us to a high standard. Guyanne pushed her out the door, and this is what she gets. A newsroom with staple Amarillo talent calling it quits because Roger Gray has turned the news department into an environment I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. Thankful I am gone.”
News Director: Doris Lewis
Experience described as: “Not a nice lady. Short conversations and dumb, lacks ethics and understanding”
While working for KTNV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“No one is happy, bringing in people not experienced and poor corporate decisions that will keep station in last place”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“No one in their right mind would work there. Unless you want to treated like a robot and let go for no reasons what so ever.”
News Director: Rick Erbach
Experience described as: “Toxic, Micromanaging, Plays favorites, Depressing”
While working for WGNO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“You know that saying, “Do what you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life?” I went into the TV business to do just that. I lost that passion at WGNO. The managers turned my passion into a job where I was very depressed working there. I have since left to a station that has more competent managers that truly care about your growth and development. I have that passion back.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I would avoid this station until ND Rick Erbach and GM John Cruse are gone. Most days the morning show gets a 0.0 rating and hash marks. You know its bad if the managers celebrate with a cake if one show beats a station one time coming in 3rd. It may take several years to undo the damage Rick and John did for the station just to get to #3. But, Nexstar just took over so maybe there is hope.”
News Director: Geoffrey Roth
Experience described as: “Not helpful or trustworthy. Trying to make everyone mmj with their cellphone.”
While working for KMTV this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“Lots of turnover. People quit and even more are fired. Gotten significantly worse in the last year or so.”
News Director: Sally Ramirez
“Sally Ramirez is absolutely the best news director in this business. She believes in her team, and opens every opportunity to create better journalist and people”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“KHOU is a unique place. The newsroom is enjoyable to be in. People LOVE working here.”
News Director: Rick Erbach
Experience described as: “Approachable but lackadaisical”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Most people who work here actually hate working here and would rather be at another New Orleans station that actually has competent managers and resources. There’s a lack of vision and that leads to a power vacuum (i.e., the AM EP sleeps and the AM technical director leads editorial meetings). Most employees are really excited for Nexstar to take over and finally install competent managers.”
News Director: Brad Ginsberg
Experience described as: “Horrible”
While working for KNOE this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Brad kept his newsroom extremely understaffed to save a buck to look good in the eyes of corporate. The meteorologists were extremely overworked, as were the rest of the staff. But during the peak of severe weather there were only 2 mets on staff and we were working 6-7 day weeks on very little sleep. He would constantly promise things to separate individuals, but then turn around and recant the statement. He was clearly intimidated by women and would rarely look them in the eye.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Brad Ginsberg and Laura Long, the station manager are struggling to keep the station afloat. Over 25 people have left due to their poor management. They severely underpay their employees and due to being short staffed constantly, all their employees are extremely overworked. I was hired as a weekend met but was doing the work of both the weekend and the morning met, but was not receiving that pay of such. When I asked for just a slight pay raise I was essentially laughed out of the room. On my last day there I was told that I was not experienced enough, nor good enough to be a morning meteorologist. Yet they were clearly in no rush to find what they deemed an experienced met.
The chief meteorologist, who had been with the station for many years, was essentially forced out because he had maxed out his PTO and Comp days and they refused to pay him for the days he worked.
Brad is now forcing anyone he hires to sign a contract before they arrive at the station because no one wants to stay once they arrive.
Until the current management is ousted, stay away from this station.”
News Director: Diana Castillo
“Diana is a phenomenal ND! She is very involved in the newsroom and with her staff. We are the smallest staff wise in the market and Diana also anchors an evening newscast. Easily the best ND in the market.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“KMEG is the CBS affiliate in Sioux City, Iowa and is part of a duopoly with KPTH FOX 44, collectively known as Siouxland News. As one of the smallest-staffed newsrooms in Sioux City, KMEG is consistently rising in the ratings and is closely behind the No.2 station in the market. The News Director is Diana Castillo and she also acts as the 5 p.m. anchor. She is highly involved in the day-to-day activities in the newsroom and works to give everyone on the staff creative control and the chance to branch out beyond their written job description if that person so chooses. Morale at the station is for the most part positive and the staff are all friends outside the newsroom as well! One complaint about this station is that they are consistently understaffed. This isn’t necessarily the fault of the management, but of the company, Sinclair Broadcast Group, as Sioux City is one of their smaller markets. They tend to put hiring freezes on management, leading to everyone working long hours. Overall though, this is a great station for any recent graduates to get their feet wet. Plenty of opportunities for liveshots and creativity! Plus, when you are ready to move up, Diana will do anything she can to help you get to your next market. Highly recommend this station!”
News Director: Brian Neal
Experience described as: “Below average”
While working for WLEX this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This station is under new management and has undergone a lot of changes, not necessarily for the better. First time news director doesn’t know how to manage people, bad behavior gets rewarded while hardworking employees can’t catch any breaks. ND not an authority figure, no consequences given when issues arise. First time assistant news director is a nice person, butnalso can’t manage people and doesn’t like confrontation. Lots of complaining, people trashing management, talking behind other employees’ backs, green reporters, producers and photographers hired but nothing is done to help them learn, “sink or swim” environment. There is a mass exodus of people leaving. Some of the story selection has improved due to the station being bought by Scripps, and there are a lot of photographers here for a station of this size. Also there are a lot of shows and the potential to go live. Those are the main positives.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“If you’re new to the business and looking to learn, don’t come here. If you’re somewhere in between looking to climb the ladder, come in, get your reel and leave.”
News Director: Jacque Harms
Experience described as: “Amazing”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This station is truly a diamond in the rough. Our station manager is caring and always has your best interest at heart.”
News Director: Paul Alexander
“Is a dinosaur. A weak man who cannot make eye contact He lies and cannot be trusted.”
While working for KRIS this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I have always known Scripps being a solid company with great stations, but, the recently acquired KRIS TV is nothing more than a “Hooterville” station in a backwoods, backwater’s town of the Gulf of Mexico in Texas, where the newly grands getting their first job meet the nearly dead’s on their last job.
First day on the job I get my camera and it is broken. They just got it back being refurbished and they never checked it out before I started my job. Major red flag. Handed off a cheap handheld camera that had many settings changed that the chief photographer had a hard time figuring out. Given a tripod with broken locked down handle and a plate that did not lock the camera. Given a stick mic that the cube fell off constantly. A lav mic that was with a permanently made XLR cable attached. Constant issues with the camera the chief photographer who was an unmotivated bad photographer who still shoots like market 1,029 not market 129 with 17 years in the business, felt threaten by me (And the only one who did not clapped when my name was announced among the new hires in the company meeting) blamed me as user error and would not fix it when it was the previous user’s error and negligence of equipment.
I never worked with a reporter and sent out to shoot rollovers and vo’s of stupid uneventful stuff that I asked if I can turn into an anchor pack and turned down. The desk would send me stuff with wrong address all the time to a bunch of little cow-towns. It was really boring.
After watching many company videos included all forms of harassment, I reported the Chief Engineer, the chief photographer who unwanted intimidating glares to corporate H.R. since the station’s H.R. manager is in Tucson at KGUN TV was never accessible by phone or email and only reached out to me the day after I left.
Most of the cars that I had to drive will fail a safety inspection with bad breaks, badly crack windshields, flat tires, check engine lights on and one’s catalytic converter was out. When I brought this up to a couple people I was asked, Did you tell (chief photographer) Mike? I said yea, he walked away from me. The response was, he is lazy he doesn’t do anything. What can I say, every station has a Fredo.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Got an email from news director Paul Alexander to call chief photographer Mike Salazar ASAP. They are ready to move on the job. When I spoke to Mike I asked, “What’s the shift?” He told me it was either coming in at 2PM or at 4AM Monday through Friday. He asked was there any shift I cannot work? I said, I won’t work the 4AM shift. The next day, I drove four hours for the interview. When I walked into the interview, I was immediately hired on the spot. Paul did not make eye contact with me and that is a sign of weakness and someone you cannot trust. In the interview they never gave me a job description. I told them I want to help elevate the product and mentor younger journalist. Paul asked, “What shift work for you?” I said, I don’t do the early morning shift coming in at 4AM and I am not going to work nights and weekends. I will only work dayside Monday through Friday and this was a deal breaker for me and I need a quality of life to meet people and have a girlfriend. I would come in early, stay late for breaking news.
After passing the background check, I emailed Paul needing to know about the shift before I report work on Monday. I have had some bad experiences that I showed up for a job not knowing the shift and get a shift I am not happy with or promise a shift and not get it in writing and not have that shift when I walked into the door. He would not answer the question and offered me a job without telling my shift. I made it clear what shift I will only work.
My job offer letter did not have the shift and I called and emailed. H.R Business Partner Katie Ford who works at KGUN in Tucson who was never accessible, responsible and lacks diligence. When I finally spoke to her on my first day, she told me we assigned people base on our business needs. I told her nothing has been assigned and reiterated what I told Paul and Mike on the phone and on my interview this was a deal breaker for me. This insensitive H.C.chic says, then you have to make a real hard decision when they assigned your shift if you want to stay or not. I said, I never got the shift in writing and if I don’t work dayside, I’ll quit.
Two weeks later, after 4 PM Mike called me and said, Paul put out the schedule and your scheduled changed. I asked what the shift was and he would not tell me. When I got back from my Vosot, after 5:10PM, I went into Paul’s office recording the conversation. I said, I need to talk to you about my schedule. He laughs says, “I don’t know. I don’t know how to answer that question.” That is your schedule. I said, what is’ I don’t know the schedule?” Paul says, “Okay Good. If will be coming out later.” Just caught him in a lie. Mike comes back at 6:20PM and I recorded the conversation saying, the schedule Paul put out, it’s going to be the morning shift. 4AM to one o’clock. If you get an hour break, it’s one. Again, caught Paul in a lie.
I immediately quit without notice with no intentions coming back and drove four hours back home. Called E.W. Scripps the next day report my issues and I was told to call in sick. The worthless, unprofessional, H.R. girl Katie Ford who did nothing contacts me about my issues from days before and was clueless I left. I called or emailed sick using my 3 company sick days I had I accrued to get paid for the week. Gave written two week notice and never had to go back.
Any new hire do not take a job if you don’t have what you need in writing like your shift and if you go work there, be smart like me and record your conversations.”
News Director: Alex de Leon
“I can’t say enough. Knows what he’s doing and genuinely wants to help new employees. My writing skills improved with his help.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“There is so much room for growth. There is a laid back vibe throughout the newsroom but when it’s down to business — everyone is in the zone. Been here for a few years now, I know I should be leaving soon but it’s hard to leave such a great team.”
News Director: Steve Cohen
Experience described as: “Negative”
While working for KUSI this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“No communication whatsoever, biased, close-minded, old fashioned, unwilling to try something new.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Matt McConico
Experience described as: “Horrible, he’s a bully who doesn’t have any newsense.”
While working for WPMT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The GM bullies, intimidates, and basically threatens employees to do things. He forces people to put their jobs before their lives, scheduling mandatory “retreats” that are out of our job descriptions , and even if we have other plans we’re forced to cancel or our jobs are threatened. The ND is no better, he acts like he knows what he’s doing but doesn’t. He’ll make up fake excuses as to “why we do this” even if it doesn’t work and fails horribly.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Do not work here. Apply elsewhere. It really isn’t worth it. If you don’t want to be miserable, don’t work here.”
News Director: Brad Ginsberg
Experience described as: “Horrific”
While working for KNOE this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“He is clearly turned on by attractive white women and holds them on a pedestal in the news room. As a cis white man when he refers to black employees as “my brotha or my sista” the entire news room cringes.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Brad Ginsberg is one of the most toxic news directors I have ever known. A micro manager to the hilt. He will tell you one thing and do another. Promise you someone’s job who still works there, even if they’re not leaving. His favorite game is to pit employees against one another. He’ll pull you into private meetings and give you a little information about another employee that puts them in a negative light, and then he does the same thing with that employee. If he’s mad at you, he takes out revenge with story selection and schedule shifting. He’s an absolute monster about time, don’t think about asking for comp time even if your working 6 days a week. In the past year 25 people have left this station, because of Brad Ginsberg. Until he’s gone stay far away.”
News Director: Lon Lucas
“He is fine…others, not so much.”
While working for WEEK this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The company and some managers are okay…keywords SOME. Many managers though are honestly less skilled at their jobs than college graduates. You are sometimes blamed for their never-ending mistakes and poor decision-making. There is no standard of how things are done…especially disciplinary actions, varying from employee to employee. It is also a “do as I say, not as I do” station for sure.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“HR plays favorites and if you’re not one, won’t even listen to your side. If you stand-up for yourself, it is “disrespectful”. They have also asked females about their cycles, which I’m surprised didn’t end in a lawsuit. Also, if you don’t clock out on break, you’re a criminal.”
News Director: Stephanie Hedrick
Experience described as: “Toxic, micromanages, unorganized, blind to problems”
While working for KWQC this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The station tries to build on a positive workplace culture, but instead, it fosters negativity and management pits members of the team against each other. The moral of the newsroom is very low.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The station lacks leadership in the news director, who rarely is involved in the day to day operations. She spends much of her time in the GM’s office or out of the building. Everything she says is built on lies. She will tell people one thing and do the opposite, never following through. Main talent has been there a long time but the turn over is extremely high. Management will try and spin turn over to be that it was the result of a personal or family reason, when it is really the toxic and low moral.”
News Director: Matt Waggoner
Experience described as: “Okay.”
While working for WXIN this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Management marched us all out one after another in a mass firing event… at least two dozen fired in eight hours. Watch out for this newsroom… in fact, avoid Nexstar newsrooms altogether.”
News Director: Jon Levy
“truly cares about employees.. and tries his best to understand each personal situation.”
While working for WCJB this person experienced:
“The negative reviews are disgruntled employees the station has worked to weed out. The station is a good place for a first job experience. Yeah, pay is not always great but you have so much room to grow and learn. So if you got a good attitude and like to take advantage of all the opportunities that come your way this is a great place.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“Great stepping stone to larger markets. Management will drop what they’re doing to help you with personal things. Working alongside 3 separate large markets in the state.”
News Director: Tina Commodore
“She is awesome to work with, very hands off and let’s you do your job”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“The overall morale at this station is great. I love working here.”
News Director: Jay Quaintance
Experience described as: “Worst boss I’ve ever had”
While working for WJHL this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Jay and his new assistant News Director, Britt Stack, are a joke. If you are wondering if you should come here, don’t.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I hated everyday. Management is a joke, they are so understaffed yet they refuse to hire anyone except for digital only reporters…”
News Director: Sean McNamara
“He is brand new, no judgment. Literally just hired by GM”
While working for WDAF this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“People gossip and complain non stop. People randomly get fired. People get pushed out with performance improvement plans.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Management is mixed. There are some good managers and there are the spawns of Satan.”
News Director: Phil Buehler
“Allows his far right politics to affect coverage. Believes he is the smartest man in the room. Bad temper. Has tipped over a chair and kicked boxes in the newsroom while cussing up a storm”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Stress is handled terribly by management other than the assistant news director.
Calling in for whatever reason and you will be guilted over it.”
News Director: Mark Kraham
Experience described as: “Terrible”
While working for WDVM this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The comments are right. The assignment editor is a horrible human being that is rude to everyone and is a snake. He pretends he is on your corner then goes behind your back to talk crap. The ND is a scatterbrain and also delusional. The GM actually isn’t too bad from my experience. This is really a terrible, cheap budget station. Barely any live shots (NOT READING THE PROMPTER I MEAN, REAL LIVE SHOTS) only one digital person, no real assignment desk, no police scanners, only one Executive Producer who is also the Assistant News Director. No room for creative growth, they are stuck in doing things in ancient times (haven’t won an Emmy in years). The ND is kind of weird and suspicious of everything even when there isn’t a need also people are spiteful. Oh and the shots from the studios look like a college kid project. The directors are incompetent at actually focusing anything. They are embarrassing but for some reason this station believes that they are part of the DC media market when they really aren’t. If you DO decide to do this def pick a bureau bc Hagerstown is a joke. Looking like a market 125 or worse. Good luck!”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Nope….i just say if you are going to take this you have BEEN forewarned….get in and get out. ASAP”
News Director: Tom Yazwinski
Experience described as: “Tyrant Tom – The worst human being I’ve ever met.”
While working for KEPR this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Want to know what it’s like to go to hell? Welcome to KEPR. The most negative, degrading, unhealthy news environment you’ll ever experience. Every other station in the market gets paid way more than every reporter at KEPR. If you accidentally leave a phone charger in the car, the ND will rip your head off, call you an idiot and cuss you out. I’ve experienced many newsroom environments that were all positive and know this is a bad one. It’s such a joke.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“DO NOT WORK HERE. Stay away from Tom the Tyrant. Take a job at McDonalds. It’s not worth it.”
News Director: Crysty Vaughan
While working for WOLO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Managers do show favoritism in who does what. There have been times where a story could have been covered, but nope … let’s sit on our butts and let the other stations beat us like they always do. Even if you are going above and beyond, it won’t be appreciated. But you’ll definitely get called out for what you don’t do even if it’s once.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Please do not expect to make decent livable wages…the company is cheap and have no shame in it. Crysty has no desire to be the news director, she lacks management skills. She’ll much rather let the “assistant news director” call the shots. God forbid you pitch a good story, their ‘news judgement’ will say that’s not a story. YET, you’ll see that same story you pitched on the competitor stations. I think WOLO enjoys being #3, they follow behind everyone else and don’t take any ownership of those true enterprise stories. Please don’t expect to be critiqued in the good work you do either. Employees are super amazing, most have raw talent and great ideas, but are at the wrong station to express it. If company brings in new management then it would have potential, but as of now …. NOPE! Look elsewhere.”
News Director: Sara Howard
Experience described as: “Sara’s ok. The GM sucks.”
While working for WTVQ this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“If there ever was a place where inmates ran the asylum, this is it. Serial harassers are left unchecked. The News Director is left powerless due to a cheap General Manager who has only succeeded to get rid of talented News Directors and promising talent. If there is anyone who keeps this place together, it is the long-term producers or long-time main anchor. If you have a choice between taking a job at a #1 station in market 130 and here, take the job in market 130 or pursue a graduate degree.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This station has potential. But the long-timers who’ve made a life in Lexington deserve better. They love the station. It shows. They’re the only ones who keep the ship from hitting the Titanic.”
News Director: Sarah Gray
Experience described as: “Decent. She promises a lot and delivers little.”
While working for WSAW this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“WSAW suffers from bloated egos. Mainstays in the newsroom do not pull their weight (looking at you evening anchors) and the GM is a joke. It was fun to see bright eyed young reporters come in and a year later be seriously considering if they’ve made the right career path simply because the expectations are extraordinarily high yet no support to reach them is provided by the team.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Boiling it down WSAW is dysfunctional. It gives opportunities to those who seek them out but does not have what it takes to be a place that someone seeks to ‘end up at’. The GM only treats the Sales team well, as that is his background, and either cannot understand or blatantly ignores the rest of the building’s needs. In fact, the building they are occupying is literally crumbling, but who cares since sales is doing well? News is over worked and understaffed, and Promotions//Creative Services is always last in line. In fact, there was a bomb threat at the station, and no one told those in Creative Services to come back when it was safe to do so. No one apparently thought to let an entire department know.
The GM often gets accolades from corporate for being the cheapest run station. THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES AND YOU NEED TO REALIZE THIS. It is ill-advised to expect your employees to give you their best work but not provide the tools to allow them to do so. I am not saying you need new cameras, new cars, or new computers (which is what you have). You need to provide your employees livable wages and support them on projects to allow them to grow and feel that the work that they are doing is appreciated. How do you do this? Hire people who care. Replace the GM who can only see cash cows walking around instead of people and acknowledge the fact that the negative attitudes from main stays and new talent is actually affecting everyone in the building. If someone cannot and will not do what their job requires them to do, then they need to be let go. Yes, it is hard to find people to come out to middle of no where Wisconsin, but if you treat your employees well, then more people would want to work for you instead of scrapping the bottom of the barrel. Stop the ship from sinking and fix what is broken.
For positives: for those who work hard and learn from their mistakes, WSAW can provide stepping stones for well-rounded News individuals. You work hard, you learn a lot, and you must be careful not to feel burned out. If you can look past all the crap floating around, you will find that working this hard at an entry level station will provide you the tools to succeed. But the negatives things cannot be overlooked any more.”
News Director: John Haferkamp
Experience described as: “Shady, Liar”
While working for WSBT this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I thought the W in WSBT stood for WHITE” – often said by South Bend viewers who are black. With the demographics of the city, you would think that the news room would reflect that, but they do everything to travel hours away ( i.e. to Michigan) to tell stories that don’t affect people of color, as opposed to talking to people in their own backyard.
The team HATES competitor WNDU anchor, Joshua Short who is a black man that went viral in 2017 for his Black Friday clip. They’re only upset because they’re barely #1 anymore since WNDU is more relatable with their diverse team, coverage and personalities on air. Editorial meetings are often spent bashing the competitors to drill into reporters heads to not enage with them even outside of work on their down time.
John Haferkamp is a shady liar who doesn’t care about the success or well-being of his reporters. When asked questions upfront about performance, he will tell them they are doing okay while planning their termination behind the scenes. He forces his team to create made up scenarios with no evidence to rid himself of talent who stand up to him. Very rarely are there people of color on the team, but when there are every few years, they’re all treated horribly.
He prides himself on operating a teaching station in a mid-market for students fresh out of college, but only allows mentorship for his favorite kids. Management follows his lead in joking about immigration and “ghetto” people. Their only audience is older white conservatives. It’s Indiana so it makes sense, but in the future, their #1 rank is definitely going to be taken.
They’re opposed to any new talent being better than their favorite talents. Never open to creative control. Never given any opportunities at the anchor desk unless you’re a favorite. This station is perfect if you’re a young white reporter whose only ambitions are to jump to the Indianapolis market.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Honestly, go to WNDU. If you want a positive fun environment where you’re not constantly put up against your coworkers by management, don’t go to WSBT. The only good thing about that station is the look of the product on air and the cute dogs that come in on the morning show, but even they’ve barked at the team cause animals know evil.”
News Director: Kevin King
“Kevin King is an easy-going News Director. If you do what you have to do and turn good stories he’ll be on your good side. Rarely gets upset with people, but wants to see hard news all the time. Easy to talk when you’re having a hard time, but be prepared to see nothing changed if you have a problem. The GM basically runs everything because he goes through him.”
While working for KSFY this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This place is currently merging with the #3 station in the market and it’s been an unorganized mess since starting.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“If you’re not a favorite in the newsroom don’t expect to get any help on anything. You’re basically on your own the whole time you’re working. Need help shooting something you’ll rarely have access to the THREE photogs they have.
The only time you’ll get guidance is if they think something should be done differently. Every script has to be checked before editing. If they don’t like it expect them to change it to their own words. No creative control at all. Favorites are picked in the newsroom so expect MANAGEMENT to talk bad about you behind your back. If you’re doing well they’ll make you feel like you’re not. You’ll drive as far as three hours away for a story by yourself and back.
Everyone has one-on-ones each week so expect to be DRAGGED by the GM. He’s never put together a story or stepped in front of the camera but thinks he knows what makes a good reporter. The newsroom may have all positions filled here and there, but it is severely understaffed.
If you’re interviewing they will build this place up because it’s a brand new building with decent technology. You get paid pennies to work here so don’t expect to be financially stable. Overtime isn’t allowed here and you’ll be asked to change your schedule and still turn a story with less time. If you have mental health problems this place will make it worse.
Overall, Sioux Falls is a cool place if you like having nothing to do and like living small. They’ll say it’s an upcoming city which it is but won’t change for sometime. Person of color? Expect to feel out of place. The people who work there aren’t bad at all, but management makes life so difficult. Start somewhere else!”
News Director: Mark Kraham
“Mark Kraham is a news director who I believe genuinely wants to support young journalists. However, that mentality is out of step with the GM, Andy Wyatt, who sees WDVM as being capable of competing with the true DC stations.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The newsroom itself is chaotic, with high employee turnover, a general lack of direction and not enough attention or resources are given to the multiple localized bureaus, despite the instance that Nexstar is a local first news company. The split between the ND and the GM in terms of what the station should be is frustrating to say the least. Unfortunately, the GM is so out of touch with what is going on in the newsroom—not knowing who reporters are, not knowing the coverage area—that it makes it hard to imagine things will straighten out until either the GM or the ND caves to the other—a reality that ultimately hurts both the staff and the viewers. I will say, the ND does make an effort to get reporters live experience, as well producing and anchoring experience as he realizes these are critical for people to move onward and upward. On the other hand, some former reporters say he tried to sabotage their efforts to land jobs at other stations in efforts to get them to re-sign.”
News Director: Matt Waggoner
“Doesn’t follow through with promises. Clearly overwhelmed.”
While working for WXIN this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Micromanaging constantly slows down work. People hate one another and being there. Repercussions for calling out sick. I’ve directly witnessed women being treated differently than men.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Duopoly with wttv.”
News Director: Jack Acosta
Experience described as: “Clueless, directionless”
While working for KENS this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“When you meet with the news director one on one he stares at you hard in a very creepy way. Very uncomfortable and I hated having to go in his office alone. Tegna HR is useless because they still have another department boss who kept his job after a huge investigation.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The ND rules by chaos which is fun sometimes but makes the reporters crazy and unhappy. No consistency to the news coverage because what he likes changes from day to day. No philosophy or “vision” at all. I’m not sure why Tegna keeps him there. He really has them fooled. He brags about how much of a “tight wad” he is and it shows by how many reporters don’t stay past first contract. He will lie to your face and then totally deny it. Turnover is all the time at KENS so beware and ask around before signing with that guy. Glad I moved on.”
News Director: Jeff Harris
Experience described as: “Thoughtful, inquisitive. Good guy. Pushes you to be your best in an encouraging way”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This place was horrible under the last news director, but times are different here. The photographers are incredible and there’s a lot of value placed on storytelling. This place is amazing under Jeff Harris. He treats his employees fairly and also values investigative journalism over gimmicks for ratings. We may not be #1, but I often see #1 and #2 following up on the stories we break the next day. We have the best content and news environment in the market hands down.”
News Director: Matt Stein
Experience described as: “He’s sort of odd.”
While working for WAAY this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“A station that is dead last in the market with barely any resources. Management expects so much with very little resources to provide to reporters. Of course, everyone pitches but it would be nice if reporters are ever assigned stories. Reporters (MMJ’s) are expected to pitch and turn two packages a day which is a LOT. Especially without a photog or given a story. I’ve worked at other stations that have assigned stories to reporters that are expected to turn two packages a day. The assignment manager favors one reporter that gets all of the leads on stories. Also, there are no photogs at this station. I still work here but PLAN TO LEAVE SOON.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
News Director: Mitch Jacob
“He knows exactly what we need in order to succeed. Sometimes hard to read and standoffish, but overall supportive of his team.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“The station is on the rebound after several years of bad management and bad decisions. New management at the station is breathing new life into the stale product including doing more community events, more investigative consumer action stories, and making cosmetic changes like a new set and graphics. The station struggles with being first to breaking news and struggles with overall organization. While ratings have improved with new management and better decision making, the market is extremely competitive and no one station is doing better than the other in the demographics. There seems to be more chiefs than Indians and different ideas on how things should be. Overall, the station is a decent place to work and the newsroom is a nice albeit dysfunctional family. They need to get better organized in managing news assignments and expectations, and replace a few bad or lazy eggs to totally get back on track to greatness, however.”
News Director: Estelle Parsley
“She was an evil, vindictive, vile woman who made all who worked under her work in fear.”
While working for WRDW/WAGT this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The news director picked favorites and was well known for being biased towards females over males in the newsroom. She destroyed careers of those who tried to break their contracts to get away from her. Her demeanor was always cold, unfriendly, and unsupportive. How she has maintained being the news director for three decades is beyond me, since the newsroom itself is notorious for high turnover and low morale.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The station is a dumpster fire and they are known to sucker young talent out of college into contracts they can’t get out of. The atmosphere is catty and cliquey, and the morale is lower than ever. Avoid at all costs.”
News Director: Ed Reams
Experience described as: “Rough”
While working for WKOW this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Plan on it being a two year stop”
News Director: Matt Stein
“He offers male MMJ’s a higher salary than female MMJ’s.”
While working for WAAY this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This station lacks a lot of resources. Be warned that this station has no photogs because Heartland Media does not believe in having photogs. Everyone is an MMJ with the exception of 4 anchors. It’s very obvious that this station is struggling financially because all the other stations in Huntsville have several photogs, yet this station has none. If this is your first station out of college, there is very little room for growth because you will be an MMJ for 3 years before you are ever considered to anchor. Also, this station only does 3-year contracts for MMJ’s which is a huge red flag. No one wants to stay in a starter market for 3 years. There is also a lack of diversity in management. The saying of “Black people don’t last long at this station,” is relevant. All of the black reporters and anchors within the last 5 years at this station never stayed for their full contract. If you are considering this station, you need to VISIT it first before you sign a contract to make sure it is a good fit for you and the company.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Visit the station before signing a contract.”
News Director: Greg Shepperd
“Greg Shepperd is the conniving control freak who has no news judgement. He’s a hypocritical micromanager with no actual skills.”
While working for KOAT this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“KOAT is the most toxic work place I’ve ever encountered. They do not take your concerns seriously. Employees with allergies are consistently questioned and belittled there, regarding the severity of them. Even though there has been an attempt to alleviate the situation by throwing away a microwave and refrigerator, employees have had to leave the station because of allergic reactions and management have had to step in and complete entire newscasts. The white men in the newsroom are constantly targeted and our concerns go ignored often. Management hasn’t taken proper steps to ensure the wellbeing of their employees who suffer from medical conditions.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The issue has gotten so bad, several times, people have walked out mid-shift, leaving the rest of us with more work. It’s a problem for months, and the new general manager isn’t helping the issue. Save yourself the heartache and drama, and avoid at all costs.”
News Director: Roger Gray
While working for KVII this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Women aren’t allowed to have a mind of their own in Sinclair. If you do, you are considered a threat. Either that, or you are considered bossy or ignorant. The typical way women get treated by companies like that. I’m mainly talking about corporate and Guyanne Taylor, but don’t even get me started on that guy Cory Bayle. Too chicken to talk to anyone other then other men.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Guyanne doesn’t look out for anyone but herself. I know a lot of people have left this station because of her. She’s acts understanding and supportive, but when it comes to what she tells corporate, it’s a whole new narrative. The newsroom is being led by someone who doesn’t know how to run a newsroom. Glad I’m no longer there.”
News Director: Darrel Lieze-Adams
“Outstanding Journalist. Best connected news director I have everworked with.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
News Director: Matt Templman
Experience described as: “Extremely toxic, run FAST”
While working for KEZI this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management is terrible! You DO NOT want to work here!”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Kay Norred
“Kay Norred is the absolute worst person I’ve ever known.”
While working for WFXR this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I’m going to start this with a few very simple words: DO NOT WORK AT THIS STATION! NEVER WORK WITH OR FOR KAY NORRED! NEVER WORK WITH OR FOR ARIKA ZINK! It’s really that plain and simple. Now for details. Imagine your worst day at work ever, and multiply that infinitely…you’ll only come close to what it’s like to work for this place day in and day out. My best day at this station was my last day when I walked out of the gates of hell. Kay Norred is a walking definition of a psychopath and narcissist. She acts all nice and sweet as can be on the surface, and will stab you directly in the back as soon as you turn around. She has no consideration for your life or time outside of work. She expects you to function like a brainwashed robot. If she says jump you better ask how high or else you’ll be off her “A team” as fast as you can blink. You call out sick and she’ll guilt trip you on the call. Then she’ll make sure everyone in the building knows how unreliable you are because you used a sick day. This is only the beginning of a very long rap sheet of problems that nearly everyone at that station has had with her. I honestly don’t even want to waste too much time talking about the dumpster fire that the GM is. The only logical string of words you’ll hear come out of her mouth is “from that viewpoint” and “for that matter.” Most of the time she doesn’t even use that properly! She knows about all of the problems that people have with the ND and does nothing about it. She’s swept so many HR complaints under the rug that she could easily be sued so hard that Nexstar would go broke. Oh and I should add a little tidbit about the feud between the Chief Met John Carroll and the Morning Met. It’s been going on for 3 years. The chief hates the morning guy with a burning passion, and trust me, you WILL hear him openly talk about it ALL THE TIME. He has already had two great meteorologists leave the station because they couldn’t stand to work for him anymore. If you’re a meteorologist looking for work, you would be better off forecasting for little league soccer tournaments than working for John and the station. I’ll close with these words again: DO NOT WORK AT THIS STATION!”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I know it’s easy to think someone may exaggerate their experience. I’m begging you, for the sake of your career, don’t work here. You will regret it. Do some simple research. It won’t take long for you to understand that WFXR is not the place you want to be.”
News Director: Dan Fabrizio
“ND is petty and uninspiring, takes any slight indifference to his ideas as personal challenges to his reputation and the station in his short tenure in position”
While working for WAVE this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“MMJs not encouraged to do anything beyond following the ND’s line of what quality reporting is, regardless of how realistic or safe those ideas are. Any opinions beyond those are unwelcome and staff regularly feel uncomfortable speaking up.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational
Additional comments:
“I learned a lot during the time I was there. The production crew was wonderful to work with, they helped prepare me for the work force.”
News Director: Brooke Rothenberg
Experience described as: “Very difficult in a way its like you have to kiss up to them to get what you want.”
While working for News 12 this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The workplace overall needs a lot of work to do. Many of the managers do not know how to speak to their employees. They sometimes treat them as they are better than them and should feel lucky to work at this station”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Working there as a freelancer sucks because you aren’t called in as often. Additionally, very small space to grow if you want be a reporter or anchor. Easy for you to be an assignment editor or producer but you have to watch your back. They are always watching to make sure you make no mistakes. They will ridicule you behind your back to other employees. Very disheartening. The assistant news director Brooke isn’t as approachable as she claims to seem. Shuts you down often when you inquire for things or would like to try something new. Also, some of the colleagues are rude and feel because they have been there longer that they can speak to you anyhow… totally unacceptable. Good place if you are looking to gain experience but don’t stay there for long. Some of the anchors there need to be replaced. Don’t represent the network or community well.”
News Director: Mike Mickle
“The General Manager and News Director show very poor leadership. News Director is hardly ever in his newsroom and spends more time on outside obligations than his newscasts.”
While working for WHBF this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This is an especially toxic work environment for women. Men are promoted and favored over women even if they aren’t qualified and despite seniority.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This is a very toxic work environment. There are very few resources, the reporters are overworked and extremely under paid. Reporters aren’t trained and there’s no feedback, so there’s little to no opportunity to grow. There is little to no leadership in this newsroom and those in charge don’t take the best interests of their team, or the future of the station to heart. Avoid this station entirely.”
News Director: Victoria Spechko
“Victoria is one of the most amazing bosses you will ever work with. She is the leader of the team and has built an incredible newsroom environment. She will offer tough, but fair encouragement and really use you to your strengths while developing your weaknesses. If you’re being hired in the Florence bureau, Tonya is equally as amazing to work for.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This is likely one of the best stations to start your career at if you’re given the chance, or make the jump to a bigger market if you’re coming from a small station. The culture is incredible, the team is friendly. Everyone tries their hardest to produce the best newscasts possible and when they do move on, it’s to very large markets. Oh, and you can’t beat the beach!”
News Director: Lauren Weppler and Anthony Knopps
“Anthony was a nice enough guy, but was somewhat lazy in dealing with issues, and would often pass duties on to Lauren”
While working for WTOL this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Newsroom is filled with gossip, backbiting, and selfishness. Extremely rude, aggressive, and crass producers—one particular producer refuses to ever be wrong or admit to it, and was often known to complain or send management emails about people she felt “wronged” her, even though she did most of the provoking. Very “clique-oriented” newsroom. EP would often chase breaking news with questionable judgment (vacant house fires, single-car crashes, grab-and-go gas station thefts). Snotty female anchor with ego issues, who loved shaming people over group emails.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Not a good market in general. Toledo is gloomy, dangerous, and cold. You’ll be greeted to an even icier newsroom if you choose to work here.”
News Director: Kelly Dickens
Experience described as: “horrible, not feeling worthy, not feeling like a reporter, no real help to become better. Just overrall not a great place to work.”
While working for WBND this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“It doesn’t matter if you are not from the area or the region, they expect you to pitch turning pitches that are hard news only. No fluff, no soft stories, not even for a major holiday. Feeling anxious when writing packages or VOSOTs. Raggedy gear and you will be blame if anything is wrong with it even if its already raggedy. Just a very stressful environment all around.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I didn’t listen to the previous comment. They were right, it doesn’t have to be this hard. I should have went with my other options but I chased the little bit of money and regret it. Now I am scared to apply for other stations or even second guessing being a reporter. JUST DON’T GO!! Go to WNDU. They are great people, decent management and haven’t met anybody from there who is UNHAPPY!! Protect your mental and your happiness!!”
News Director: Scott Lawrence
“Scott is a nice man for the most part, but completely unfit as a news director. He’s bound by his need to stick his fingers in the prime time newscast. All he does is write, edit, and research for the 6pm show. The other shows don’t matter, and if you work for the 6, expect to want to strangle him for dictating to you exactly what you have to put in the newscast. If you work for another show, expect no help and zero fucks given about how your live shots go or anything else. My show went to black because of master control one day, and he told me “great show! Best one yet.” He didn’t even watch. He’s too busy with everything about the 6, he doesn’t stand up to the toxicity in the newsroom. He’s scared of the anchors, so now they are divas in a small market with a big market mentality and run the newsroom. They made working there hell, and he allowed it.”
While working for KFDM this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I was bullied for being knowledgeable. An anchor disagreed with me simply because the EP liked me, and they had a bad professional relationship. I was screamed at once for noting quietly to another producer that I didn’t care about the Kardashians and wanted to focus on real news going in my newscast.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Fuck ‘em. My HR manager told me I was smart to leave. They were in transition when I started, so I didn’t sign a contract. She said thank god I didn’t and was happy I had the guts to leave. She apologized and said she was trying to fix the negative, toxic environment.”
News Director: Jon Levy
While working for WCJB this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“toxic newsroom with a pathetic excuse for management”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The stories are all true. You do not want to work here!!”
News Director: Morgan Schabb
Experience described as: “Hardworking, micromanager, unpredictable”
While working for WAND this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“You can tell everyone is burnt out and tired of being micromanaged.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The ND will tell you moral is high, but I saw the complete opposite during my time there. You could tell without them saying anything reporters, photographers and producers were discouraged all the time. One went as for to say, “what’s the point, it’s going to be wrong no matter what” – yikes. If someone called in sick or used vacation the station wasn’t prepared. I saw reporters and photogs fill in as producers. It made me reevaluate my career path, but luckily I interned at another station and that made me feel better about the industry.”
News Director: Kelley Dickens
Experience described as: “awful”
While working for WBND this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Unsafe, cruel and deplorable working conditions, questionable journalistic ethics, no respect for employees, unpaid overtime, no flexibility, inconsistent schedule, poor benefits, poor working relationships within market, horrible reputation within market, many employees develop mental health concerns and sustain injuries…on the bright side, you’ll learn a lot and make some friends”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Don’t be fooled by the market size. Start off at a a station that values journalism and its employees.”
News Director: Maggie Hradecky
“I have a good relationship with her, but overall she is very chaotic and unorganized”
While working for WIFR this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“There is a panic culture within the newsroom, clear favorites and lots of false promises. Management is unorganized, lazy and has no clear direction for the future of the station. Multiple reporters and photographers have left due to poor management and management bending over backwards for people who have poor performance. While MMJ’s are encouraged to be creative and enterprise stories, that rarely happens due to ND. She is a control freak and does not trust a majority of the reporting team, so most pitched ideas are not considered and she hands MMJ’s a story she likes instead. Content quality is average, but very little is original/not from a press release.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The market gives MMJ’s starting out great experience at covering breaking news, crime and learning all the aspects of a newsroom. Other stations in town have similar issues, but have better content, less turn over and more opportunities for reporters. This station has an anchor staff of multiple 15+ year veterans who are not leaving/retiring anytime soon, so moving up is not an option here.”
News Director: Jenelle Shriner
“When I came to KPLC, I thought I was done with news. But Jenelle brought me back in, gave me every opportunity and helped me to excel.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This is a great station for a journalist to start out in. You’ll never feel uncomfortable or be put in a bad situation, you’re given a lot of creative freedom with your stories, and the ND is very hands on in helping you be the best you can be.”
News Director: Jenelle Shriner
“Fantastic boss! She is very nice, upbeat, energetic, and makes the newsroom a friendly environment.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Couldn’t have picked a better starting point for my career. There is no other station there so it allows you to be more creative and try new things. Jenelle wants you to grow as a journalist and helps you reach the next goal in your career. There’s a lot of turnover, so you’ll meet a lot of people while there. Local community and authorities are great and typically easy to work with. No station is perfect, but I’m super happy I started in Lake Charles.”
News Director: Marybeth Jacoby
Experience described as: “Toxic, awful”
While working for WVLT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“WVLT went about 4 months without a ND after the last one got fired because they wanted to make sure the next one was perfect. Well, they picked the worst ND and person to fill this role by choosing Marybeth Jacoby. I’ve never felt more beaten down working for someone. You could give your all to this job or be lazy, and you’ll still be treated the same. It’s really sad because this station has some great reporters and anchors, and the market is great, but management is so terrible. Too many people have left their contracts early while I was there and management didn’t/ doesn’t care. They don’t see the problem, which is part of the problem. Management is all about egos too. When it comes to scheduling, it’s doesn’t make sense. It seems like they say “how can we make everyone’s life worse including our own” and they choose that. This place is a sinking ship that you should do everything to avoid. I promise you, your happiness means more than this job.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Jack Acosta/Deborah Knapp
Experience described as: “Toxic, Discrimination”
While working for KENS this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“KENS is not a good place for POC.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Bruce Moore
Experience described as: “Passive-aggressive. Fake.”
While working for WREG this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Creativity and strong personalities not welcome. Fall into line. As he has told employees, “I control your destiny.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Ratings are an illusion. Now that Nexstar has taken over, just wait”
News Director: Becky Gardner, just recently left
“Never around, over the last few months a series of horrible hires and severely brought down the moral of the newsroom. Even if you do go to her absolutely nothing changes”
While working for KGAN/KFXA this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Like many newsrooms they are very short staffed but many of the better staff are doing the work that should be done by others. There is also no accountability. If an anchor changes a script and makes the script wrong it’s always someone else’s fault.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“While there have been many bad hires over the past few months there is also many extremely talented people that deserves more credit. Luckily the news director is not there right now”
News Director: Anthony Knopps and Lauren Weppler
Experience described as: “Negative. Issues never handled. Toxic work environment”
While working for WTOL this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management constantly doesn’t handle serious issues. Some issues happening are illegal. Told to take comp days instead of giving overtime which is also illegal. You are in management’s good graces if you don’t standup for yourself and allow yourself to get walked over.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Under pay reporters. Reporters who have been there three years are paid less than several just out of college. The newsroom is crawling with drama, gossip, back stabbing, and lying.”
News Director: Dave Ciliberti
“Worst experience in my entire career. Narcissistic, spineless, corporate kids ass. Not qualified to manage a lemonade stand.”
While working for WCMH this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Toxic fits.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“You get what you pay for.
Too many inexperienced people that should not be working in a Top 40 market. Nexstar cares about profit and political posturing.
The Big J here is a Big Joke.”
News Director: Darrel Adams
“Lots of feedback. Good reporters get photographers everyday and lots of live experience.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Our Chief photographer is an NPPA god and holds regular workshops. We get regular coaching in the building plus the station sends employees to NPPA, NABJ, IRE and special weather and producer training regularly.”
News Director: Tim Ryan
Experience described as: “Horrible”
While working for KVUE this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management doesn’t get it. Low pay. Favoritism. News Director really has no business being in Management”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Iain Munro
“Leads by intimidation when he feels like he’s lost control. Praise and confidence boosting is extremely rare and feels disingenuous”
While working for KRQE this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The air in this newsroom is so thick with gossip, nastiness and negativity that it could be cut with a knife. Employees who *should* be newsroom leaders, i.e. long-time, experienced talent and producers/managers, are the culprits. The ND does nothing to curb their inappropriate behavior (and has even joined in on it, FYI). Valid concerns from MMJs about how they’re being treated are ignored. No wonder so many up-and-coming MMJs dip out of their contracts early! Sad.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The editorial meetings give MMJs anxiety. You never know what kind of mood managers/producers/anchors will be in — each day is different. MMJs are often told to leave the meeting and ‘go look around’ for a story because pitches are harshly criticized. MMJs then end up doing nothing until managers find a story THEY like and assign it, often at the 11th hour. Many times you don’t know what show you’re in until just an hour or two before deadline. There is no encouragement to be creative, coupled with an absurd obsession from management to get MOS for every story. #Unorganized.
Sure, it’s not ALL bad. You can definitely grow here. You’ll develop good critical thinking skills and learn how to dig for information. Because if you don’t, you’ll surely become one of the MMJs that the ‘newsroom leaders’ openly speak poorly of.”
News Director: Josh White
Experience described as: “Mixed”
While working for KAIT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“My time here was mixed. Worked in production and newsroom. Should have already quit multiple times but I’m working towards leaving.
Place has fallen over the years. Lost two prominent anchors in less than a year. While most of the newsroom treats each other like family, there is some favoritism/gossip among co-workers. Very high-school like. ND micromanages and never unplugs, so be ready for that. Thinks a former employer who runs a blog is MAJOR competition despite that blogger plagiarizing our work multiple times. He also made me cut a reporter’s last story on her last day, then promptly fired her behind closed doors but the whole newsroom witnessed it. Because of this, I’ve turned down multiple full-time offers from him and have kept him at arms length while I change careers.
MASSIVE turnover in 2018. Yes, turnover happens everywhere, but we lost every reporter and had to start from scratch. Terrible hires who couldn’t do their job. New reporters who were hired after them had to learn on the fly. Lost both sports anchors so we had no sports on-air for two weeks. Forgot to mention that.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“If you’re looking to get your jump-start, don’t do it here. Most new hires catch on to the bosses personalities and then start counting down the days until their contract expires. If you don’t get fired on your last day or get mistreated, consider it a win.
This place used to be fun but has fallen hard in the past 12-18 months in terms of personnel. Many don’t want to deal with the ND’s bi-polar, depressed, up and down personality (which he’s confessed to battling). I used to empathize with it, but I don’t anymore. I hope it recovers but I likely won’t be around for it.”
News Director: Shawn Venhaus
“Shawn is the news director simply because he is a yes man to the GM. He has no actual qualifications for the position. His news judgement is OK but his ability to act as a manager is nonexistent. He’s spineless, clueless, and unable to handle any kind of difficult situation in an appropriate manner. Once he realizes he’s wrong, he’ll just raise his voice or make false accusations at whoever has put him on the spot. I am not sure if there is one person in that newsroom that doesn’t have a stack of HR complaints against him, or respects him at all.”
While working for KFDA this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Shawn hires only female reporters because he thinks he can walk all over them, and honestly just likes to look at them. He is backed by incompetent, “good ol boy” management from top to bottom that turn a blind eye to the ridiculous behavior that goes on in the newsroom. There was an incident of one employee sexually harassing and even stalking another employee- they called it “hearsay” and brushed it under the rug and acted like it didn’t matter, even when law enforcement got involved. This is just one example of the dangerous, inappropriate conduct they allow to go on in that building.
In terms of actual news coverage- you will get the minimum in terms of resources. When I say minimum, I mean you’re having a great day if the equipment guy hasn’t gone through your bag for no apparent reason and screwed up all of your camera settings. Other stations in the market will send 2 reporters and 2 photogs for huge breaking news events, KFDA will send a one man band and wonder why they got beat. This will usually result in Shawn aimlessly yelling and telling hardworking, talented people that they are terrible at their jobs.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The redeeming quality of that newsroom is the ability to learn from Walt Howard, their longtime anchor that looks out for the young reporters to the best of his ability. Still, Walt’s presence and help can only do so much.
Amarillo is a pretty good place to work and live, just don’t do it here”
News Director: Rich Kurz
Experience described as: “The literal worst”
While working for KOIN this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Zero professionalism. No personal accountability. Doesn’t inspire a healthy team environment. Depends on gratification of his “yes man” co-managers. Misogynistic (either out of ignorance or just actually being a horrible human being). Criticisms aren’t constructive, and also doesn’t take any critiques of his own work well at all. Laugh will haunt your nightmares.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Aside from management, people you work with in the station are awesome and some of the most professional journalists in the biz.”
News Director: Warren Stewart
“He is toxic. Changes his own rules to suit him. Creates drama.”
While working for WEVV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The station overall gets along well together. We work together fantastically. But Warren likes to stir up drama because there is none otherwise. People have left because he runs people off with his attitude and intimidation tactics. The stress level in the news room is at a high level when he’s there and a more productive level when he is not. He is trying to destroy the station from within. Apparently he has done this at previous stations. Our ratings are good but if he keeps on they will fall. Your opinion on news or what is news must be his or you are in the wrong. Constantly changing run downs, some times at the last minute. Criticizing choices of subject matter because it wasn’t his idea nor giving someone a chance to defend their choices and if he does your choice will still be wrong. Causing people to fail at positions just so he can be right.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Positive, Fun, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“There is no chance for creative control. When ND is in, the environment is toxic and negative and unhealthy stress in the atmosphere. Nobody cares for him except general manager.
When ND is gone, the environment is much more positive, fun and things run more smoothly and there is much less stress in the atmosphere.
If this ND were to leave or be fired it would be the best thing for the station. Because it was the best station to be a part of prior to his arrival. I hope new owners see this and make the right decision so we can be the best station to work at again and keep our ratings soaring.”
News Director: Todd Reed
Experience described as: “Visionary, Experienced, a Leader”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Nexstar prevents this station from reaching its full potential. However the station was very creative at getting the job done. Great people power and
the most diverse station in the market.”
News Director: Ernesto Romero
Experience described as: “Abhorrent”
While working for KYMA/KSWT/KECY this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Unorganized newsroom led by a ND who lacks news judgment, lots of newsroom egos, no guidance and lack of journalistic integrity. Clicks and website views drive this newsroom – not the quality of content.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“There are great stories in this market (close to the border, lettuce capital of the world, crime, great features) but there’s often fights over who gets to cover the big story of the day. The ND usually plays favorites. If you’re not on KYMA (all the stations are under one roof) then don’t expect any resources or priority. KYMA evening shows are the ND’s pride and joy.”
News Director: Allison Coe
“Never got to, I worked for the previous news director”
While working for WATE this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I was subjected to News-All emails from management embarrassing me, instead of just talking to me face-to-face about my mistakes. Going to HR about those emails was a joke because the guy isn’t trained for HR-related issues, he does the finances.
I had a co-worker post insulting things about me on his Facebook, and I found out because his privacy settings weren’t so great.
And have you ever walked into a newsroom and you know the staff is talking about you? That happened a lot.
Plus, I got constantly overlooked for other opportunities.
What ultimately made me leave is (after working there for 2 years) when I learned my father got diagnosed with a serious, debilitating disease and I told the then-news director, he only gave me a 1-800 number to call. No, “I’m sorry” no compassion, no thanks.
How do you expect to retain employees when you can’t be sympathetic when devastating personal news strikes their families?
I realized I deserved better, so I left.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Apply to the NBC-Affiliate. Don’t go here.”
News Director: Galean Stewart
“Produced newscasts”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Love this station”
News Director: Rick Gall
Experience described as: “Overall positive”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“WRAL exudes and demands professionalism, expects creativity, is open to ideas during editorial meetings, and has some of the best technology in the world. Yet, it allows people to have a life work balance (but don’t get me wrong it can be very demanding) and is like a family. Anchors and reporters move down from the top 10 markets to work here. During major events, you may expected to travel across the USA, overseas, and work 12 hour shifts during hurricanes or ice storms. Everyone is on board no matter what they do. You have a call back to WRAL you can consider yourself achieved.”
News Director: “It changes every few months”
While working for KDLT this person experienced:
“mostly nice + hardworking people to work with, but management is perfectly happy being in last place”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“people warned me to not come to this station. i didn’t listen….don’t make the same mistake. turnover is high and pay is low for a reason.”
News Director: No one. Was Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “The worst ever”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Good riddance is all I have to say. Former News Director Mike Rausch was fired as well as former Assistant News Director Cindy Dixon after the station hired a number of sexual predators.
Michael Troy was recently let go after it turned out that he was arrested previously for failing to register as a sex offender. Moreover, the current Executive Producer was fired from WKGN for showing pornography to his employees at his previous job.
The bad apples are finally leaving but their time here at KRDO has left a tremendous stain. We have become a laughing stock of epic proportions. Thanks, Mike.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Hopefully it gets better with the new ND”
News Director: Sarah Truitt
Experience described as: “Terrible”
While working for WMDT this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Very toxic, ran like a high school lunch room.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Patience Hettrick
Experience described as: “HORRIBLE. She is very condescending and picks favorites. She is catty”
While working for Western Mass News this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The news director will constantly cut you down, belittle you and talk down to you. She is catty and pits reporters against each other. No one supports you and your ideas. They care about quantity over quality of stories. It’s very unorganized too.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I would stay away. The news director will never leave because she’s close friends with the regional manager but she is toxic.”
News Director: David Williams
“He was not the news director when I was there”
While working for KCBD this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Was very politically biased (extra conservative).”
News Director: Ed Trauschke
Experience described as: “Horrible. He treats his employees like dirt, is extremely unapproachable and misogynistic.”
While working for WNCN this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I was sexually harassed by a photographer and the station forced me to work with him after they had knowledge of the situation. After I filed a complaint I was told I couldn’t wear certain dresses other reporters and anchors wore. I’ve been disrespected, talked down to, and lied to. This is by far the most toxic place I’ve ever worked. I wouldn’t recommend this station to my worst enemy.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Monika Diaz
Experience described as: “Terrible, stressful, demeaning, unwilling to compromise, not understanding, rude, took advantage of employee’s willingness and nice demeanor”
While working for KTXL this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This was the worst job I’ve ever had. The overall work environment was toxic and hostile. Employees in the newsroom were incredibly cliquey, rude, belittling, unhappy and demanding. The station is poorly run — and upper management does not handle employee complaints and concerns well. I was treated with complete disrespect by the news director and others. The newsroom is incredibly toxic — producers vs. everyone else. It was an absolutely terrible place to work and if you’re thinking about working there — I’d run the other way. As a young, eager journalist, I was walked all over and threatened when I wanted to quit. It was a soul-crushing experience and nearly ruined my perception of television news. Terrible management and a lot of terrible employees. Management has no clue of the environment in the newsroom — and fails to change the hostility and toxicity. Would not recommend.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Avoid at all costs”
News Director: Tom Henderson
“He comes off as a very nice guy, but will ask you to do something that could kill your career without blinking. Do NOT let him talk you into doing that on any story.”
While working for WTVC this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“ND Tom Henderson is as emotionally stable as someone with bi-polar disorder, meaning you never know what you’re going to get. Ass. ND Shannon Millsaps is often at a loss for what is happening, as well as when and why, which is frustrating because she also works the assignment desk. Managing Editor Latricia Thomas is the most knowledgeable news person there, but she knows it and is not afraid to rub it in your face everyday. Together those three kill morale, confidence and creativity.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“Chattanooga is such a great city, but as long as those three are running things, steer clear of WTVC NewsChannel 9.”
News Director: Jeff Nelson
“Up and down. He was a good leader when it came to calling the shots and making sure everyone understood what was expected of them, but there was a severe lack of transparency, and a recurring theme of playing favorites.”
While working for WDAY this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The station is pretty strict about the employees’ appearances, especially pertaining to the women. Whether on air or off air, it was not uncommon for people in power to make comments about people’s clothing in front of large groups of people without pulling them aside.
It often felt like voicing concerns and opinions would not result in any change, which was pretty frustrating. There was not a lot of grace for mistakes, there was almost zero learning curve. More than once, employees were fired without much indication that anything was wrong in the first place…people were let go without being given any notice or proper training to improve.
I was usually treated pretty well, but I noticed some other employees being picked on or given far less credit than they deserved. I can recall quite a few moments where reporters would pitch great ideas, only to have their pitches passed on to other reporters who seemed to receive more opportunities without working hard or keeping their egos in check. This contributed to some competition between employees, and didn’t make for a great team-oriented environment.
Some employees were given ample opportunity for training, promos, and perks, while others were often ignored or required to work during training sessions/meetings with consultants.
The largest problem, however, was a lack of transparency. A lot of lies were spread, and it left a lot of employees feeling anxious and uncertain about their future with the station. There was never a solid stream of feedback, and a lot of ideas were shot down when they could have moved the station forward.
Many employees would attribute the toxic environment to Forum Communications’ owner and GM rather than the news director–it was obvious that the news director was not able to answer some of the questions and concerns voiced by employees.
Overall, the higher-ups in the company would not respond to concerns, shut down employee suggestions, and made drastic decisions with minimal explanation.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“If you’re a woman, expect to be told how to wear your hair, makeup, etc (although this seems pretty standard with a lot of stations). Be prepared to stand up for yourself when it comes to overtime.
The coverage is very saturated in specific portions of the viewing area that upsets viewers and does not serve them the content they deserve.
There are some VERY good, kind, loyal, hard-working people who work at this station, but the environment can often pit employees against each other and put workers in a tough spot.
Every station has its ups and downs, but I would NOT recommend it to any of my friends working in TV.”
News Director: Greg Retsinas
Experience described as: “Jury’s out”
While working for KGW this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“We are waiting to see what Greg does with this team. He’s very sharp. Most of us are breathing a sigh of relief the AND was passed over. He’s all about himself and constantly throws people under the bus to advance himself.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“It was once great. We are hoping Greg can make KGW great again”
News Director: Sarah Zak
“Sarah has a good news mind and is open to new ideas. However, my biggest issue with her is a lack of honesty and directness. She is also incapable of making a decision and sticking with it. I never knew where I stood with her, and as an employee it was very frustrating.”
While working for WFTX this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The GM is a micro manager, ND and Assistant ND are his puppets. Burnout is a major, major factor. Whenever employees bring these concerns to management, the GM and news director become defensive.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I was a bureau reporter there for three and a half years. Gradually, they kept sending me out of my county to cover stories. When I asked them if I could just move up to the main station, the news director never gave me a straight answer.
Whether you are dayside or nightstide, you’ll be expected to shoot two separate look lives, write your web story, an extra vo/sot for the morning show (pointless) and leave an extensive note for the assignment editor about how your story turned out.
My biggest beef was the lack of honesty and transparency from management. Both the news director and assistant news director operate in a very passive aggressive manner.
Whether it’s your first, second or third job – I warn you use extreme caution while considering this station.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
News Director: Keith Weiss
Experience described as: “Very nice man, but very unorganized”
While working for WCYB this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment
“The “media manager” Joe Gragg is a creep. Women should STAY AWAY from him. He will make inappropriate comments on your looks and outfits. He will also tell stories that he thinks are “funny” from the “old days” but are obviously degrading to women and minorities.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized
Additional comments:
“The ND, Keith Weiss, is very kind but also manipulative which you won’t see coming because he tries to act like your best friend. He will overwork you until you say something, and if you don’t say anything he will run you ragged. He’s very disorganized and doesn’t act like the boss. He gets pushed around by his Assignment Editor who comes from newspaper and treats TV like the paper. The station is a legacy station and is #1 in the market but is barely holding on. The #2 station, WJHL, will probably take the #1 spot in the next year. MMJ’s rarely get to go LIVE. When one person leaves the station it can take up to two years for the ND to replace them because he drags his feet when hiring. This means the station is always short-staffed and resources are strained. You will get little to no feedback from management. I recommend shadowing the anchors, they are a wealth of knowledge. This is market 102, but WCYB acts like market 152. WJHL has a better shop but has a tougher ND. This is a starter market, and these problems come along with markets this size. You just have to seize every opportunity you get to make the most of a crapy station.”
News Director: Dan Wilson
“Awkward individual, hides in his office and only spends time talking to his favorites”
While working for KPHO/KTVK this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“For those who want to work in Phoenix, I highly recommend not coming to the stations. I find it funny that both of the stations’ brandings are “Arizona’s Family,” which is far from the truth. The newsroom is extremely understaffed. In the last year alone, we lost almost the entire sports department, 3 veteran reporters, a ton of photogs and producers that I lost count. The newsroom is very toxic. The managers love to pick their favorites and give them either a promotion or the best stories. If you are not a favorite, the managers will make your life a living hell. In the last year, we also replaced veteran journalists for young, cheaper talent. Some of the hired talent only worked in one market prior to the Phoenix move. Many of the newer talent have little to no Arizona connection and it shows.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Since this current management has taken over the newsroom, 3TV has lost its spark it used to have before the merger with CBS 5. Many of our newscasts are so unwatchable now. There isn’t a lot of station get togethers like they were in the past. Our ND Dan Wilson loves to leave many staffers in the dark when it comes to station news/issues (if a staff member was fired, openings, new newscasts, etc)”
News Director: Matt Griffin
“He is a good leader who knows the community well but you need to ask him for feedback often if you want it”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“You will learn more at KXII than most places. The anchors will absolutely tear apart your scripts and ask a lot of questions, but you learn very quickly how to be a good reporter and tell a thorough story. It’s also a great community with a growing population (which brings a lot of stories), only 50 minutes from Dallas, and mostly kind, funny and understanding people in the newsroom (with the exception of one or two personalities). Ask for feedback, learn everything you can, and be respectful, and you will learn more than you thought possible for a first job. I would recommend working for KXII and it is also a great start to jump higher!!”
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “Painful”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Mike Rausch is getting fired. Praise Jesus. The more I worked with him, the more I realized how mentally unstable and petty the man really is.
When he was the News Director of KATU, he filed a police report because a satirical website made a parody of one of his reporters. Furthermore, he even filed a hate crime report to the FBI.
Over. A. Joke.
And that is what Rausch has been throughout his career — a joke. Let’s see. Ratings are down, morale is down, he forced our beloved Executive Producer Natalie to quit and replaced her with a known sexual predator. There is no way Rausch couldn’t have known that unless he is very incompetent…oh wait…yes he is.
Mike and his yes men minions are finally getting booted out of KRDO.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Working here really damaged my love for the news industry.”
News Director: Mike Rausch
Experience described as: “The Sinking Tower of Pisa”
While working for KRDO this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“From false accusations to belittling employees and violating laws, Mike Rausch has left an incredible stench here at KRDO.
The good news is that he was forced to resign relatively recently. Cindy Dixon, once our extremely useless Assistant News Director, was also canned.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Next step is to remove Matthew Zelkind…”
News Director: No news director
While working for WBNS this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The meteorologist, Ashlee Baracy, is verbally abusive to employees.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational
While working for WFMY this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“In the corporate hub the manager is the absolute worst. He let’s his “friends” do whatever they want including doing nothing. If you weren’t hus “friend” you had to pick up the work they didn’t do.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized
News Director: Linda Miele
While working for WHDH this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“WHDH has no interest in doing anything other than what it’s always done. That is, if it’s flashy, it goes on the air. Of course, most WHDH stories get on the air after WBZ and WCVB got to them first, but then news director Linda Miele has the station beat the story into the ground until it feels like WHDH has the exclusive. Seriously, all they care about is flashy and glitzy content. WHDH clings so heavily to tabloid fodder that at first it seems like it’s a joke. There are no new ideas, Robert Kraft is a hero, and god forbid you make a suggestion to do something differently or criticize the crummy coverage and/or news practices. This is a company full of lazy yes-men (and women) who are so comfortable they’d rather peddle crud than be uncomfortable. They push out talented people and promote the dregs. Just the worst.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Sean Mahon
“He does not know how to manage people and really doesn’t ever know what’s going on. He can be nice and has good news judgement when he’s participating. He gets over-involved a lot.”
While working for WWTV this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Everyone complains constantly. People will talk about each other behind their back every day. No one has a positive attitude. It’s not a team atmosphere. Everyone is out to get each other and cover their own butts. People will tear you down and talk about you.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The station is privately owned, which is nice and there are fantastic perks and benefits to work here, like vacation days and overtime. There are some kind people here but the general environment is dog eat dog and depressing.”
News Director: Ernesto Romero
Experience described as: “Abhorrent.”
While working for KYMA/KSWT/KECY this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Ernesto is a nice person, but only as a person. As a “boss,” he will drive you completely insane. It’s really terrible when you’re more professional than your own boss but that’s how it works with Ernesto. He delegates and never really contributes to the newsroom (unless you count attitude, scolding, and ONLY critiques and never constructive feedback as contributing to a newsroom). Definitely plays favorites: if you party with him on the weekends, he’ll pretty much give you the better stories for coverage. If you’re strong-willed, independent, and pay no mind to the drama he creates, then you’ll succeed. Otherwise, this newsroom will drive you absolutely insane.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Can’t really say anything positive about this newsroom except I’ve made some great life-long friends. The newsroom is full of egotistical reporters right and it’s just fueled even more by the News Director. Everyone says it’s not a competition, but you’ll find yourself all competing and fighting to get the top stories and coverage. The News Director isn’t new to the business but his decisions make me question that. Usually agendas/plans for news coverage for big events (President’s visit, Press Conferences) is last-minute. Very unorganized. The station has NBC, CBS, ABC, Telemundo, and FOX all under the same roof… but all the company’s resources goes into the NBC’s 5 & 6pm shows. If you’re not on those shows, then don’t expect to be a priority.”
News Director: Curtis Jackson
“Clueless, Inept, No nose for news, Unable to hire people in a timely fashion, no leadership or writing skills”
While working for KIFI/KIDK this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“The things I have witnessed would shock and horrify anyone who was watching from the outside. Morning meetings are toxic and unorganized. News Director (Curtis) allows Assignment Manager (Dave) to yell at reporters who pitch a story they think is better than the lame ideas the “leadership” team comes up with (If we don’t get a news release on it, then reporters are shot down after they have to explain why its a story). I’ve witnessed multiple people in tears who quit before their contracts end. I’ve witnessed female anchors/reporters get treated unfairly (talked down to, concerns ignored, etc). Employees complain of items being stolen out of camera bags and even desk drawers. When you bring up concerns, management pretends to listen, but does nothing to address the issues. Upper management has worked together for decades and since they are all friends and go to the same church, they vigorously defend each other.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I’d highly recommend staying away from this station. They don’t pay well, the newsroom is always understaffed (which means if you’re a hard worker, they’ll take advantage of you and make you do more while allowing others to miss deadlines, or not turn stories), the building itself is a disaster (it loses power frequently, insect issues, roof leaks onto computers in the newsroom, ceiling in studio is open and occasionally small insulation fibers fall onto anchors), the communication is poor, there is no feedback, no quality training or mentoring to help you improve, and the morale is not good.”
News Director: Shannon Isbell
“Shannon is great but was never really involved in the newsroom.”
While working for WBRC this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Alan Baker
“I was a production assistant. Made minimum wage and no benefits of any kind.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Anne Pappe
“She is an incredible boss. Always looking for ways to improve our reporting, newscasts, and more. She regularly brings in people to help train us and is always looking for improvements. She is hands down the best boss I’ve ever had.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Working here has been such a great learning experience– from the hands on teaching from our seasoned anchors to the enthusiasm from management. I love coming to work each and every day.”
News Director: Adam Bradshaw
“I worked at the station when Gwyn Bevel was the Assistant News Director and she made for a terrible experience. She was not only controlling and overbearing, she played favorites and would let you know if she disapproved of anything you did. She seemed to get around her terrible management by blaming others for any failures in the newsroom.”
While working for KFDX this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Management is very stuck in its ways and clueless about what’s going on under their noses. Managers, especially Gwyn, weren’t privy to the fact that the station is a starter market, as they expect you to go in already with experience.”
News Director: Anna Velasquez
“Anna is hands down the worst manager I’ve ever had. She does everything she can to bring you out to Lewiston only to bully you on a level I’ve never experienced before. Her actions were directly linked to my deteriorating well-being.”
While working for KLEW this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Very toxic work environment. Not only is the news director terrible at her job, she acts like everyone else is the problem and treats them as such. The newsroom is one of the smallest in the country; news team was comprised of 4 people total which contributed to the negative environment as you couldn’t really escape it.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Like the other review mentioned, this is not market 73!! It is lumped with the Spokane market because Spokane is the nearest market. The town is very small, not designed for people from bigger cities. I was the unhappiest during my time in town, which didn’t help with the negative situation at work.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“Great management! Although the environment in the newsroom was toxic at times, it was an overall positive learning experience for me and the managers really prepared me for a larger market.”
News Director: Migdalia Figueroa
“If you’re not in her clique you won’t get promoted even if you’re talented. Surrounds herself with yes-wo/men. Prides herself on “being a bitch.” While she has good news judgement, the newsroom atmosphere is more of a party (for her and her friends) than a professional newsroom where you feel like you are working for and with smart people.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“WTVJ has a long history in our community and it was the first station in Florida. It went from being highly respected and producing quality journalism to hiring young & cheap and getting rid of the majority of the veterans. The clique atmosphere the last several years has run out a lot of talent from the newsroom – there are very few people left who are highly respected.”
News Director: Marybeth Jacoby
“Nice when she wants to be but overall has weird news judgement and doesn’t interact with employees well”
While working for WVLT this person experienced:
Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Suggestions to management fall on deaf ears. The news director and general manager are either oblivious to a lot of the problems there or unwilling to fix them. The ND’s news judgement and allocation of resources don’t make sense, and about 17 people left in the span of a year since she took over. The GM had a real chance to get someone good after the previous ND was fired for sexual harassment (a whole other can of worms I won’t get into since it’s in the past at this point), but she went with the one that seemed like an ill fit from the get go. The assistant ND has zero business managing a newsroom and micromanaging is really bad. Nobody takes responsibility when things fall through the cracks. In fact, they’re more accusatory toward the people it fell on and gaslight them into thinking it was their fault. I often felt like I was being put in my place while working there and was stifled creatively every single day.
Work is shoveled on competent employees, making their lives miserable while incompetent people just coast through. I was lied to and very misled when I signed my contract. The newsroom is perpetually short-staffed, so I often had to do two or three jobs at the same time, making the quality of all of them suffer. The station cars are death traps and it’s incredible the stuff that happened in 2018 involving them didn’t lead to lawsuits. Everyone is severely underpaid and overworked. Scheduling is an ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE, I once requested a single day off about four months in advance and was told I couldn’t have it two weeks beforehand. So I called out sick for two days instead because I didn’t care about my job anymore at that point. You don’t get much time off and it’s a combined PTO/sick bank, so everyone comes into work sick and gets everyone else sick. The health/dental insurance was expensive and not very good.
The positives: If you have zero experience, you can go there and learn because literally anybody can get a job there. The 401K is actually pretty good, it’s a 3 percent match. You could probably get management experience there fairly quickly if you want it, because turnover is very high.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Every newsroom has its issues, but this was hands down the worst job I’ve ever had in my life. I’d go back to any of the previous newsrooms I’ve worked in, or even go back to serving tables before staying at this place. If you’re reading reviews about this station like I was before I was hired and are thinking “surely it’s not that bad,” I promise you it is, RUN THE OTHER DIRECTION. Management needs to at least make an effort to listen to complaints and try to fix them. Really the GM should just remove the entire newsroom management team and start fresh.”
News Director: Scott Fitzgerald
Experience described as: “great”
While working for KJRH this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“If you follow FTV youll know all about the bad run this station has had. It used to be the #2 in the market and was handed off to an incompetent ND with no business being a boss. It was Toxic and there was actually a sign in the newsroom for Number of Days since someone quit (think of the number of days since an accident signs).
After that horrible run, we got a bit of a good move going for us with a new ND, but corp wants results and they want them now. Just as the tide was turning and the mood finally a happy one the new ND was out and in comes the most dramatic, nutjob to ever grace a newsroom. This guy treated people like playthings, belittled, badgered and harrassed reporters and staff. Turned photogs into personal slaves and bypassed a thousand OSHA regs. He was so notoriously inappropriate and such a backstabber that everyone in the newsroom recorded every conversation on their phones just to protect themselves.
Now however, the station is being lead in a better direction. The mood is improving but the bare bones staff is tired. producers and reporters have been through the nightmare and are burnt out. the toxic rep from years of bad management makes it difficult to get new reporters and producers.
The tide has turned – but a brave few are going to have to take the leap and trust that things are going to be ok in Tulsa.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Its a fun place to work – honestly once you get past the bare bones staffing we have fun at work. You get away with being far more relaxed and goofy at this place than any other station youll find. news staff are a close family of friends and are constantly hanging out outside of work. It’s a good place with a bad rep from the past.”
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: Susan D’Astoli
Experience described as: “Kind, respectful and holds employees accountable.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“At News 13, we have 24 hours to spend on important, local stories that other stations don’t prioritize over the crime and national news of the day. If you’re trying to learn how to be part of the future of where local news is headed, this is a great place to work.”
While working for WSET this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“This station is the reason I, and so many others, got out of the news business. It was an overall toxic environment. When I tried to report it to the appropriate persons, nothing was ever done to correct or solve the issue. The leadership lies and their only concern is getting the story. The morale is low and the assignments are oftentimes unrealistic. My advice is to avoid this station at all costs. It is not worth it.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: Jay Quaintance
Experience described as: “Good”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Open to Creative Control
Additional comments:
“High turnover”
News Director: Chad Hypes
“It was a really positive experience. He was really open to different ideas from the team.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This was my favorite job I ever had. You’re expected to put in a lot of work but the news director, gm, and ep when I was there did a great job of creating a positive, supportive environment that I’ll always remember fondly”
News Director: Esteban Creste
“There to repeat what his bosses tell him”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“We need better ratings, what can we do?? A new set, new graphics, maybe new news cars,reporters on radio stations (that also dont do well in the ratings), new ads on the subway. And did you see our new ticker, thanks to our GM and corporate finance. I know ratings will increase from that. Anyone have any ideas that won’t cost money that I can tell my boss?? Anyone?? Please email them to me.”
News Director: Sarah Zak
“Sarah has a good news mind and is open to new ideas. However, my biggest issue with her is a lack of honesty and directness. She is also incapable of making a decision and sticking with it. I never knew where I stood with her, and as an employee it was very frustrating.”
While working for WFTX this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“WFTX, Fox 4 needs an organizational enema, in my nearly 4 years at the station, Fox 4 was on its third general manager when I left. (Not including the interim GM) And while that seems normal in some shops, I found the issues or burnout, low morale and lack of direction persisted throughout my time there.
When I arrived in 2015, as the nightside reporter we had 4 photogs – one for every reporter. I worked in the Collier County bureau, there were days I would turn away a photog because I set up my interviews so quickly. We would average 3 live shots a week, when I left in April of 2019, we were lucky to get 3 live shots a month – there were no photogs left, none of the ones who left were rehired.
Even more maddening, In my last year and a half at the station, management kept pulling me out of the bureau to cover other stories. When I asked if I could just be based out of the main station, they balked.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“If you join the ranks of the hard working MMJs at Fox 4, you are going to be required to shoot two look lives for the 5 and 6 or 10 and 11, do your web write up, Cut a new vo/sot for the morning show and send an email at the end of the night to the newsroom updating the status of your story. When I started in 2015, the only thing I we were required to do was a package and web story, like most normal stations. When I confronted management about this workload, I was told “most stations require their MMJs to do this much”, my response was “most stations also allow their reporters to do more than one live shot a month.”
While the workload was tough, it wasn’t the reason why I left. I left because the News Director and Assistant News Director seemed unwilling or incapable of helping me grow and develop as a reporter.
They seemed more interested in calling me into their office to write me up about petty matters. I’m no saint, but I worked my tail off there for almost 4 years. All I wanted in the end was more opportunity and honesty from managers.”
News Director: Angela Robbins
Experience described as: “Terrible experience.”
While working for WCCB this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Pettiness everywhere. Management constantly changing work hours, and schedule. Pompous management not willing to listen to the consensus of the newsroom.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“When I asked for a raise, they offered me 10 cents extra per hour.”
News Director: Mark Colavecchio
“He’s nice, radio guy turned ND. But no real experince. He just doesn’t know what he doesn’t know.”
While working for KTBY this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Very unorganized, no structure, no training, job get threatened on a regular basis from the ND and GM. They love writing people up. Too many things to list.
It’s a station where you get in and get out.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“IF this is your ONLY way to move to Alaska… then take the opportunity… if not find another way.”
News Director: Christopher Swope
“The news director was never an issue for me personally. We got along well and had a good relationship. I was given several promotions under him and given chances to do what I wanted.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“I would have stayed at the station if there was more of an opportunity to advance into a full time weather position. My chief has been at the station for about 15 years and the morning met has been there for 6 and neither plan on leaving. Having said that the weather team is awesome to work with and will gladly cover each others shift. The chief will handle your schedule so it makes it easy when it comes to doing more weather. The news director was good at managing the day to day flow of the newsroom. The assistant ND had been a reporter at the station for several years and takes time to help out new reporters but can be pretty tough on them. Assignment editors were very good with helping with story ideas and the newsroom as a whole is very connected to everything going on in the community. The photographers are all solid and easy to work with. The day side producers are also solid and will work with reporters to get creative with stories for their shows. The morning team is extremely solid when it comes to working as a unit. The night side producers are very easy going. The main anchors have all been at the station for several years and have a firm grasp on the news of the day. There are some big egos with a few of the older reporters but it’s easy to ignore the newsroom drama. If you are willing to work with the producers and news directors on your stories than you will have an easy time. Being the number two station we pushed hard to overtake the legacy and that meant thinking outside the box. The news director loves new ideas and will give anything a shot if you pitch it well enough. If you want to cover crime stories this is the station for you. The assistant news director puts a heavy priority on crime stories and the Charleston PD is fantastic when it comes to giving out info and getting perp walks. Overall I would rate my experience at WCHS as very positive.”
News Director: Adam Pursch
“Worst person I’ve ever worked for.”
While working for KOKH this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Negative environment blamed on staff managers never took ownership for the part they played.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
News Director: John Stone
Experience described as: “Awful”
While working for KXAS this person experienced:
Sexual Harassment, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Toxic environment, news director is not educated, condescending and verbally abusive managers”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“There are some great and talented people working here… unfortunately news director and managers are awful.”
Managing Editor: Marcus Foster
Experience described as: “Excellent”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“The station is not bad but the management is not great. We have some great people but some are very sneaky.”
News Director: Sarah Zak
“No communication, unreliable, no leadership skills, doesn’t know what she’s doing. First time news director.”
While working for WFTX this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Low morale. Everyone wants to either quit or get a new job because of management. It’s the WORST managed station in the business. Awful decision making. VERY short staffed. They make people work a ton of overtime. There’s no confidence in any of the leaders, including the assistant news director and assignment desk. They are clueless. We are last to every breaking news scene. There’s no feedback, guidance or training. Everyone is on their own. They give no direction when you do a story. No live shots, mainly looklives. No opportunity to grow. Technical issues happen daily, to the point we can’t air the newscast.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“All managers are fairly new in their leadership roles and don’t work well with the entire staff. The station has had very few people stay after they’ve been hired. Some have even quit in the middle of a shift.”
News Director: Mike Tomko
“I was actually the Assistant News Director. He was a terrible mentor.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This station is seven miles from corporate Sinclair HQ, and is heavily controlled by those at corporate. It is a testing ground for group-wide projects which can be nice, but there are too many cooks in the kitchen — and no one who will stand up to corporate and voice an objection if something isn’t working and is detrimental to the local product. The News Director is completely spineless and spends most of his time in the GM’s office, where there is very little transparency and an uneasy feeling emanates. When I was there, a certain reporter had a horrible clique and — if she didn’t like you — you were either a) always in the “dog house” and/or b) forced out. Honestly, I left because she made it impossible for me to come to work. Her husband worked at corporate and she is best friends with the corporate head of the news division. I could have stuck it out, but the nail in the coffin was when I was strongly encouraged to give to the corporate PAC. I found that reprehensible.”
News Director: Tracey Watkowski
“She is a good person but maintains a careless and toxic work environment like most newsrooms”
While working for KGO this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“While I worked there I had a plethora of toxic experiences but one in particular involving the managing editor they hired from Utah, Marci Young. I was working a shift with a reporter who’s story I was adapting for the web. The story was about a push by the NAACP to ban the star spangled banner due to its racist second verse. Young took it upon herself to comment to everyone in the newsroom that “why do they care, none of them were ever slaves” and looked right at me. I was the only African American female to work in the newsroom for the entire time that I was employed with KGO. For a news station in this century to have zero black women working on any day parts is atrocious but even worse to tolerate such behavior. I reported the incident but nothing was done about it. I only found out recently that Marci Young is back in Utah, teaching journalism at a local JuCo. I hope she doesn’t put any students through what I endured. Also it should be noted that my direct manager was a black man, but he unfortunately was more concerned about keeping his job, then doing what is right and protecting another black woman who endured racism at the hands of a white manager. Such is the sad sad reality of many newsrooms.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
News Director: Michael Goldrick
“He’s careless about anything other than money. He doesn’t care about diversity, employee growth or retention, or the health of the newsroom overall.”
While working for NBC 4 this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Like most newsrooms in America, this one is full of hierarchy, abusive hours, abusive managers, loose tongues and very little diversity outside of talent.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
News Director: Kelly Boan
“Passive aggressive leader who is a workaholic, fosters a negative environment through poor leadership from the top down”
While working for WHNS this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Where do I begin. There’s a reason in the last 7 months our two female anchors (morning and night), 2 anchor/reporters, 2 MMJ’s and a sports anchor all left the station. It should also be noted several of them left mid contract. This place is a breeding ground for toxicity.
The problem starts from the top down. The news director has a “her way or the highway” attitude. She believes comparing talent to each other breeds success when it actually breeds anxiety and a lack of confidence. She doesn’t address inherent problems within the newsroom like the bully she’s assigned to run it. I’m referring to the assistant ND who disrespects everyone in the newsroom with her outbursts and her demeaning remarks. People are treated like numbers and not people. They say safety is a priority in the field yet they make reporters knock on doors of criminals after they’ve been released on bond by themselves. They hire inexperienced journalists, throw them to the wolves and the berate them when they’ve messed up. The ND doesn’t care about people’s family, time or well-being. God forbid you take a sick day, when you return you’ll get the silent treatment.
If you bring a problem or concern to the news director or AND, don’t expect a solution. They will continue to say “that’s the way it is” and bury it.
It also should be noted the station is all about “click bait” when it comes to story choices for the newscasts. There’s very little enterprise or investigative journalism going on and don’t even ask about politics. The poor MMJ’s and reporters who end up having to cover a big political story never have the sources to do so because the station management barely listens to story pitches that have anything to do with what actually impacts people. Also, it should be noted the only reporters who EVER get a photographer are the morning reporters. The MMJ’s nightside run their own live shots.
There is no feedback whatsoever, positive or negative. So if you’re looking to grow, it won’t happen here.
Just felt the need to write this after reading the “glowing review” someone wrote on this website. Ask most people who work there or have worked there and they’ll tell you first hand there’s valid reasons FOX Carolina is in the middle of a mass exodus right now.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Negative, Toxic
News Director: Matt Templeman
Experience described as: “Extremely Toxic”
While working for KEZI this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“Management is absolutely terrible. Verbal Abuse, racial discrimination, burner emails to bash reporters, email newsroom about reporters, compare you to other reporters, threaten to fire you, and an overall extremely toxic environment. You will regret signing a contract. If you’re experiencing any of those things I mentioned, management WILL NOT have your back. They will paint a negative picture about you to the newsroom, and harass you. A terrible station to work.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“You’ve been warned.”
News Director: Kay Norred
Experience described as: “Truly terrible”
While working for WFXR this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“There is no pride, managers thrive on politics and playing games, very disorganized.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“This is what you need to know about the actual station without getting into the managers yet: The station is 4th place and very new (only a few years old) and is literally considered a joke by the other stations in the market. Other managers within Nexstar joke that WFXR is a tax write-off for the company. Viewers and even government agencies within the market have never heard of WFXR and that will make your life harder as an employee there.
The fourth place mentality keeps employees and managers alike from wanting to win. Morale is low because of the feeling of absolute defeat, even before you add in what toxic management does to the place.
Also, real talk: the station only has a two-hour morning news show and a one-hour news show at 10 p.m. No mid-morning, mid-day, 4p, 5p, or 6p. They have a little digital show they just launched in the evening, but if you are wanting to get real-life news experience of what it is like to turn content for multiple newscasts a day … you won’t get it at WFXR. The other stations are equipped with SEVERAL shows and run circles around WFXR.
Morning reporters will have the closest real-life news experience with multiple live hits. Dayside reporters, forget about it. You won’t have ANY deadlines or opportunities to be live unless you are turning something for the digital “show” (not real life newsroom experience compared to other reporters turning stuff and going live for 4p,5p,6p shows). Nightside reporters will have the opportunity to go live at 10 p.m.
Here is something else major you need to know: the viewing area is EXPANSIVE. There are five major areas that make up the market: New River Valley (Blacksburg and everything west of it), Roanoke area, Lynchburg area, Danville area, and Lexington area. All of the other stations have invested heavily to make sure there is a bureau in each area to cut down on drive times/exhaustion and increase response time. However, WFXR has not fully invested in this idea. What this means for you: if you are a reporter, you will be driving A LOT, you will get burned out from having to drive so much. From a producer perspective: if breaking news happens in any city that isn’t Roanoke, you will be 100% beat by the competition because it will take your reporter an hour or more to get there whereas the other stations have bureaus a few minutes away. WFXR managers keep talking about getting a Lynchburg bureau and have hired an NRV bureau (he mostly does sports though) … but the other stations are lightyears ahead.
Okay on to management:
First off, if you ever are contemplating working at a station where Kay Norred will be your boss: Run, don’t walk away. However, if that isn’t an option for you, the following is what you can expect…
She will not be direct with you, passive aggressiveness is her specialty. If there is something she doesn’t like about you or thinks you need to improve, she won’t tell you right away. Instead, she will make fun of you or spend her time making passive aggressive comments about you. As soon as you leave a room, she will talk about you to others. There isn’t a single person at the station that I didn’t see her smack talk. She is CONSTANTLY rolling her eyes and bad mouthing her employees and will let anyone who will listen know how much she doesn’t trust her team.
She may appear sweet and genuine to your face but never trust her. She will find a way to use what you say against you, whether professionally or personally. Literally, nothing that comes out of her mouth is honest or genuine (think Regina George from Mean Girls). A co-worker witnessed her telling a reporter that she did a great job on her package, then turned around and told someone else she actually didn’t like it much at all. So if you are someone who craves honest feedback, you won’t get it from her. You will never know whether to believe what she is saying to you.
HUGE NOTE: She is a stickler about being on time. If you have to work for her…remember be early, not late. If you are even 1 minute late or even on time (not early), she will make fun of you publicly and talk about you.
She doesn’t have a life outside of work (no pets/kids/husband/family/hobbies, etc) and it shows because she has zero perspective on what life outside of work is like. She works long hours, never uses sick days, comes in on the weekends, and rarely takes a vacation — which is fine because it’s her life EXCEPT she will expect the same of you. She LOVES to boast about the long hours she puts in. She thinks of herself as a martyr in that way. Kay works so much… so she must stay on top of everything, right? Nope. She works 12 hour days but is somehow always still behind. She rolls her eyes when people ask to talk to her during the day and is constantly complaining that people are stealing her time. She blames others for not getting her work done. So when elections, special events, really anything rolls up…all plans are incredibly last minute and thrown together.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT NOTE: She is VERY forgetful. So if you tell her something, make sure she writes it down in her notebook, otherwise, it will be like the conversation never happened.
Also, if you are looking for a news director who is willing to jump in the trenches with their team, Kay is not that. Most newsrooms have several managers to help with day-to-day but at WFXR the ND and maybe assignments manager is all you have. But if you dare ask Kay to do something that she believes is beneath her ND duties, she will tell you a little story about how pilots don’t have to land planes to get a passenger a sprite.
She LOVES playing games with people’s lives and plays politics in the newsroom. She has an “A-TEAM” made up of a few of her favorites. She even held a secret meeting with these employees and told them “they were chosen not hired.” But don’t be fooled, if you make it on this A-Team, she will still talk bad about you behind your back. But as an A-Team member you will be expected to never talk bad about her and emulate her by working long hours and never complaining. All of her new hires are her “friends” aka loyalists from other stations. It’s less like working for a news director and more so working for a cult leader. For those that don’t like pretending like they are in cult just to survive, she is pushing them out the door by making their lives miserable or demoting them. She likes to say the following all of the time: You are either with her or against her.
Kay is also extremely religious and will shove God and the bible down your throat any chance she can get. She must mention prayer, God, and the Bible 1,000 times a day. If she knows you are religious, she will use it against you. Kay told one employee she thought she was a “God-fearing” woman and “someone like that” shouldn’t be concerned with officially having a job title (having it publicly announced), even though that person was already promised the job.
She is also very terrible with communication. New hires will show up out of nowhere without an email from Kay, others will disappear with no word from Kay. An evening anchor team and morning team was swapped, with no words/explanations from Kay. The lack of communication creates rumors and stirs distrust.
The chief meteorologist John Carroll is the other decision maker in the newsroom. He is also a snake in the grass. He is constantly rolling his eyes behind the news directors back about decisions and griping about adding extra shows for severe weather, really he will gripe about any decision that isn’t made by him. He rules his weather team with an iron fist (micromanager, much?) and talks bad about his weather people to anyone who will listen. The worst is how much he hates the morning meteorologist and how uncomfortable that makes everybody else. He will openly talk bad about him in the middle of the newsroom and do everything in his power to make the morning meteorologist mad. He openly talks about wanting the morning weather guy fired to anyone who will listen.
John is very similar to Kay in that he has no life outside of work (no spouse, kids, hobbies, nothing) and will work long hours and work on the weekend. But you better believe he is going to tell everyone about how long he worked, even though it is voluntary and it’s because he has nothing to go to at home. He expects his weather team to be the same. Every time anybody on his team requested vacation days or called out sick, he would complain to anybody who would listen and would always remind people that he never takes vacation days. He would also imply his employees that took sick days were faking an illness. In conclusion, if you are going to take a spot on the weather team, be prepared! You have been warned.
The GM Arika Zink makes zero sense with her decisions. She is a nice lady, but incredibly incompetent. She keeps toxic and/or lazy managers around in and outside of the newsroom who are hurting the station and its employees. Arika not only keeps them around, but she also PROTECTS them. The HR violations that happen at WFXR are horrendous.
The station needs managers who are going to clear the air, be true leaders and leave the politics and games at home. The station needs someone who will want to win and will constantly encourage their employees to be better. They need a leader who believes and trusts them. Truly, Nexstar needs to replace the GM, ND, and every other department head that is there right now with new energy and proven leadership. Until that happens, stay far away from WFXR.”
General Manager: Aaron Ramey
Experience described as: “Terrible. Draining. Exhausting. Depressing. Frustrating. Detrimental to my mental health and the relationships around me.”
While working for WBND this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“You are not a person. You are a machine. They don’t care about you, your mental health, your physical safety and forget about ever getting help or advice to further your career or performance.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Do not work here. South Bend is a great college town and fine place to land as your middle market but I strongly advise going to ANY of the other stations instead.”
News Director: Kay Norred
“Kay Norred is the closest I’ll come to working with a real life version of Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter. It’s hilarious but the truth.”
While working for WFXR this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I’m going to start this with a few very simple words: DO NOT WORK AT THIS STATION! NEVER WORK WITH OR FOR KAY NORRED (ND)! NEVER WORK WITH OR FOR ARIKA ZINK (GM)! It’s really that plain and simple. Now for details. Imagine your worst day at work ever, and multiply that infinitely…you’ll only come close to what it’s like to work for this place day in and day out. My best day at this station was my last day when I walked out of the gates of hell. Kay Norred is a walking definition of a psychopath and narcissist. She acts all nice and sweet as can be on the surface, and will stab you directly in the back as soon as you turn around. She has no consideration for your life or time outside of work. She expects you to function like a brainwashed robot. If she says jump you better ask how high or else you’ll be off her “A team” as fast as you can blink. You call out sick and she’ll guilt trip you on the call. Then she’ll make sure everyone in the building knows how unreliable you are because you used a sick day. This is only the beginning of a very long rap sheet of problems that nearly everyone at that station has had with her. I honestly don’t even want to waste too much time talking about the dumpster fire that the GM is. The only logical string of words you’ll hear come out of her mouth is “from that viewpoint” and “for that matter.” Most of the time she doesn’t even use that properly! She knows about all of the problems that people have with the ND and does nothing about it. She’s swept so many HR complaints under the rug that she could easily be sued so hard that Nexstar would go broke. Oh and I should add a little tidbit about the feud between the Chief Met John Carroll and the Morning Met. It’s been going on for 3 years. The chief hates the morning guy with a burning passion, and trust me, you WILL hear him openly talk about it ALL THE TIME. He has already had two great meteorologists leave the station because they couldn’t stand to work for him anymore. If you’re a meteorologist looking for work, you would be better off forecasting for little league soccer tournaments than working for John and the station. I’ll close with these words again: DO NOT WORK AT THIS STATION!”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“I know it’s easy to think someone may be overreacting about their experience at a station. I’m begging you, for the sake of your career, do not work here. If you don’t trust this review then you should just reach out to any contacts you have that have worked there. They will tell you the same thing…”
News Director: Jay Webb
“Jay is one of the best bosses I’ve ever had. He’s fair, he treats everyone with kindness, and he puts people first. The newsroom is a healthy atmosphere and he genuinely cares about his employees. He know we’re a small market and helps us grow.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“A great starter station! Very hands on. Lots of opportunities to go live for MMJ’s. If they need help running a live shot, they can usually get it.”
News Director: Galean Stewart
“She is fair and firm. She turned the newsroom and department around since taking the leadership job in 2017.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“Reporters are challenged to come with enterprise story ideas. They turn at least two stories a day. Veteran journalists are well respected in the community and are a home brand for viewers. The station is located far from the city; otherwise, great station to work for!”
News Director: Kathryn Bonfield
“It was good and bad. She is definitely focused on staying #1 and making sure the station is on top at all times. But at the same time she doesn’t care how she treats people in the process. If you are not one of her favorites she lets you know.”
While working for WJXT this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I literally hated going to work every single day. I left the news industry after working here because I felt so defeated. I eventually got back in because I realized things need to change and I can’t do that from the outside.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Overall working at this station does teach you how to push yourself and be competitive but at the cost of your happiness and sometimes mental health”
News Director: Shauna Ziegler
While working for KFOX this person experienced:
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I have never worked in a more toxic enviorment, it was like being back in high school all over again. Some fellow coworkers were nasty and rude and would talk behind your back. Everyday someone would be in tears because of someone else. I was in a constant state of anxiety and treated horribly by a male executive producer.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“If you’re looking to work at a TV station please do not work here. They will break you and make you cry and if you don’t fit into the mold they have you, your life will be terrible there.”
News Director: Adam Pursch
“Micro manages, belittles employees and has thrown things in the newsroom.”
While working for KOKH this person experienced:
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
“I’ve seen him talk over a black producer as if she wasn’t there. He micro manages WAY too much. A toxic work environment doesn’t even describe this newsroom.”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Unorganized, Negative, Toxic
Additional comments:
“Behind the scenes is unorganized. I know commutation is less than non at some stations, but the fact that the producer and assignment editor barely talk and they sit right across from each other says a lot. I wouldn’t recommend anyone to apply at this station unless there’s a change in management.”
News Director: Darrel Lieze-Adams
“He is fair, honest, has great new judgement and will fight for his employees”
This person describes the overall newsroom environment as:
Organized, Educational, Open to Creative Control, Positive, Fun
Additional comments:
“This station is one of the few I know left that do not make you anchor/produce or wear multiple hats. If you are a reporter, you are a reporter. If you are an anchor, you are an anchor.
The station does have the most newscasts in Southwest Florida. You will be getting plenty of experience going live. You have to be prepared to hit the ground running. If you aren’t prepared or up for a challenge you will not have a pleasant experience. Management is more than willing to work with you, if you are willing to work with them.”