KFDA

Sexual Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

There is a lot of tension between production staff and reporters. Gray Television underpays their employeess, while Nexstar pays their employees a living wage. Reporters have gotten fired for no reason. The news director name calls and discriminates against LGBTQ employees. If your're not in the "in crowd" then you are just a pawn in a chess game.

if you are a current employee, quit and escape . If you have applied to work here, cancel your application. This station is only going to get worse.

An Overall Toxic Work Environment

When making a report about situations happening in the news room, our HR would then go to my news director that I was having issues with. Then I would be called into his office to be "spoken with" which was him shaming me as an employee.

The GM, News Director and HR person grew up together and have a close personal relationship. You will always be wrong if something comes up.

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.

Sexual Discrimination, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, 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.

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.

Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

The News Director would give embarrassing attention to new, pretty reporters - often making them feel uncomfortable. Management would often allow newsroom disagreements fester into an overall toxic environment.

Management aside, I was able to learn a ton about broadcast news. The long-time anchors were critical of all writing, and forced me to become a much better writer and producer. Management and work environment were huge issues, but I'm a better journalist for having worked here.