KOKI

As with most stations, the people there are great. Easy to get along with, funny, supportive, etc. Things can get chaotic at times, people may butt heads, but by the end it all works out and a great show is put together.
The biggest problem that takes away from all that is the News Director, Rudy Murrieta.
At first, the change in News Directors was much appreciated, and brought a breath of fresh air to the place, but it was obvious the stress from the job and his personal life was heavily impacting his treatment of his staff.
Harmless mistakes became us being "insubordinate".
Not doing everything on his long intricate list of tasks was us "going rogue".
Once he labelled you as such, that was how he saw you no matter how hard you tried to clear things up, and he would work to make sure your time there was as miserable as he is.

Overall the photography team itself was pretty good. Heads of the department were helpful. Sometimes we were understaffed or under equipped, but that always felt like it stemmed from the company using the photog department as an easy area to cut costs/milk a little extra labor value out of. (especially after the transfer of ownership when new management always tries to put as good a first few quarters on the books as possible.)

Biggest problem for me was management double talk regarding field crews.

Rarely does anyone in management TELL you to go put yourself in precarious situations for shots, but the pressure from the news room in the moment and the environment of the workplace in general pushed not only you individually, but the entire field staff to do it "of their own volition" hoping to prove themselves valuable. It's hard to stick to your concerns over the safety of a field situation when not going into the situation would mean abandoning the reporter who's DESPERATE to earn brownie points with the bosses. And that sort of mentality was definitely cultivated in the field staff.

Nobody ever TELLS you to speed to get to the breaking news, and in fact they tell you not to. But they sure make it seem like it's a problem YOU'RE responsible for if you don't get on scene before the other stations.

Overtime on a shift is the rule rather than the exception. I worked on all the shifts for all the news teams and there were rarely shifts that didn't call for overtime except on Sunday night side. If you want extra cash it's a good thing, but it can sure get grating, especially when management keeps trying to convince you that it should just be a given because "The news never sleeps" so shut up about it.

Another big personal issue that you readers may not be concerned as much about; it always bugged me how much the station focused on crime, drug panic, and tragic death stuff. On the one hand it makes sense from a business perspective, the easiest thing to find and get coverage of that attracts eyeballs is stuff that makes people afraid.
On the other hand it doesn't make you feel particularly good to constantly be putting together packages you know only serve to make everyone watching them feel MORE isolated, afraid, judgmental, and hostile toward the people around them. Especially when story ideas that are more optimistic or supportive of communal involvement tend to get shot down/minimized because the station doesn't want to look like they're advocating for any sort of social message, as if spending hours fishing for more reactionary or critical sound from people who weren't even on the scene or involved in the events because it plays better isn't itself a social message.

In the sense of creativity encouraged in the work, there's some of that, at least verbally, but so often there is little actual time to put creativity into the work as you try to beat the submission deadline for the 10th fear of crime story you've put together this week. I can count on one hand the number of shifts where I was given the time and the story that let me feel really satisfied with and proud of the work I'd done that day.

On a positive note, I did enjoy the days when I was assigned solo breaking news photog. The desk staff were usually pretty good about letting me alone if they didn't need anything, so long as I answered quick when they did and got them all the coverage they asked for. Although I'm pretty sure management was always trying to crack down on them for it. God bless chill assignment desk staffers.


Overall I'd say that what KOKI FOX23 does best is normalize and incentivize "voluntary" behavior that would broadly be seen as exploitative/abusive if it came in the form of ORDERS from the top management, while passive aggressively (and when it comes from bosses it can't actually be passive) shaming staff who don't meet those same "totally not requirements".

I suppose in the relative sense that's not as big of a deal as being aggressively, openly toxic or abusive, but really only aesthetically. I guess it's all pretty standard corporate America.

Also, I didn't experience it personally so didn't check the boxes in the above questions, but there were definitely staff who were treated hostilely if they didn't meet the unspoken expectations of management.

PS - I don't know how MMJs managed to do their job at all. It was usually a close enough call for to get both packages in and be up for "active" Lives when reporters were assigned efficient photogs, so I always marveled at how MMJs got the same amount of work done and STILL regularly caught shit for not providing good enough content.

KOKI overall has been a wonderful place for me to work. I am very happy. My last shop was horrible, under staffed, no resources and mean people. I left the industry all together and KOKI bought me back. FOX 23 doesn't have drama. If someone doesn't like somebody they leave it at the door. Now there are always negative parts to a newsroom, and the small but growing nags at the station are keeping them from ever being completely first. KOTV, is very strong but we've chipped at the lead they have. They beat us on slightly more staff and longer tenured talent.

I was going to hold off on my review but I saw a review that was slightly inaccurate and wanted to share my own experience as a producer and a little bit about the reporter experience too.

It is very true that reporters work hard at FOX 23, sometimes too hard. Dayside, Nightside and Weekend Evening reporters, (with exceptions) have to turn two separate PKG''s within the late 90 (9pm to 10:30pm) or Early 90 (5pm to 6:30pm) on weekdays. Weekends two different PKG's at 5 and 9 or Saturday or at 5 and 9 or 10 on Sundays. Most reporters have to do some MMJ work, most are trained on it. If you need a photog, management is good about getting you one, if you work mornings you'll get one almost always. Reporters are also allowed to do live shots at safe locations as well.

I saw this quote in a review of FOX 23, "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."

I wanted to call out that quote. That isn't completely true. Mornings and Weekends, we really care about reporters and photogs, we want them to be safe and comfortable. Same for the weekday noon and 10pm Producers too. The 5pm, 6pm and 9pm weekday producers are that way though, they are cold, strange and only care about themselves. They've never been a problem for me, but the rare times I see them, they ignore me. Some producers have only worked at FOX 23 so they don't know how bad other places can be. We did pick up staff from the competition that calls FOX 23 the best newsroom in Tulsa to work for.

We do love crime at FOX 23, and it's a little grating, but we also have a fluff problem. Sometimes too much of either. We skip stories that are more important sometimes and it frustrates me.

Photogs at FOX 23 are so kind, they do their job and are very positive. Reporters vary, I'm close with one who likes the station, some as you see in other reviews are jaded. We don't hire a ton of experience anymore but it's a problem at ALL Tulsa stations. Some of the newer people fly and others aren't ready but survive. Morning reporters do nine live hits of the same story (unless sent to breaking news) each day and turn a different story for noon. Weekend Morning reporter does less hits but turns a PKG for later on.

Clay Loney (main anchor) (been there since 2004, we launched in 2002) is so kind, helpful, funny and knows the market, I never get to work with him but see him and talk.

Shae Rozzi (main anchor), (been there since 2013) a sweetheart, she cares about the station. Very positive and a delight to be around.

Both Clay and Shae write scripts as needed and they really care about the product.

Lynn (Weekend Evenings) also sweet. Tiffany (noon anchor), loud and crazy with a heart of gold. Naomi (weekend morning anchor) cool and calm.

As for the morning anchors; Ron Terrell is a market veteran and a nice guy. Great sense of humor, but doesn't write scripts, and checks his scripts way too late into the show. Sometimes causes confusion.

Ah, Michelle Linn, she's something. She really cares about the newscast each day and has a lot of experience. But she's exhausting. Wants what she wants added in as soon as she says it. Lots of fluffy pet projects and enjoys making herself the story. Can be mean to reporters and producers if she doesn't like something. I'm used to her at this point but not the biggest fan. On the bright side she will do rewrites if needed and they are strong. Great writer she is.

I'll get to the biggest problem in a second but I really like Tulsa. It's one of the best underrated news markets in the country. Tons of news here, pretty city and good weather. Great market to cover weather stories after storms.

Now as for turnover, we did have a couple of layoffs from COX after Coronavirus hit but we are staffed pretty well except for mornings. Five hours and we go down to one producer and EP only sometimes. We do a wheel format in the mornings and update when needed. Monday, and Tuesday, 2 producers, and AP and EP. Wednesday, and Thursday, 3 Producers and AP and EP. Fri 3 Producers and an EP. When fully staffed we are fine but we struggle on days without someone and it is tiring. As for the rest, we have a noon producer, a 5pm producer, 6pm producer, 9pm producer and 10pm producer. Two AP's and four producers who fill-in. One of them is attached to mornings three days a week (and weekend mornings), other three do weekend evenings.

The sports team is kind, I came to FOX 23 on the advice of one them who had gone through a similar experience to mine.

Weather team is great, James, Michael, Laura and Mike are all delights and so kind.

Some have said that FOX 23 has bad turnover, and we do have some, but every station in Tulsa does, few people make their career here. Ours isn't particularly worse than others. Other stations in Tulsa have it far worse than we do.

COX (even after the sale to Apollo) is one of the better companies. Better benefits than a lot of shops, especially compared to Sinclair. Lots of editorial freedom to cover what we want.

Now for the part that will keep us at second place, the managers. Frank is still so new and gets so many ideas from Magid (which COX loves), some are decent. He has the experience, just has a hard time getting them in place. Some ideas are confusing. Tina the old ND was very hands off and Frank is the complete opposite.

Greg is Managing Editor (in normal terms Assistant ND), he has been nice to me but not everybody is a fan. Lots of experience and still makes a lot of decisions in house.

Leslie (nightside EP) hired me and gave me a shot and I am always going to be grateful. Not always the best news judgment and makes us confused often. She means well.

Marti (morning EP), she is very kind and supportive, she is willing to listen. She is underprepared for her role sometimes. She can be late and missing when we need her. She gives good feedback but gets carried away over the smallest things and is afraid of Michelle. Changes scripts but forgets to tell anchors.

Communication is a struggle at FOX 23. Some don't communicate at all, some too much and with others missing information. There has been confusion over who is anchoring on a day or who is reporting at times.

I feel I am a tiny bit underpaid for the market size but I came to the station for a decent pay bump.

Overall I am very happy at FOX 23, I know others aren't but some have never worked anywhere else or in a toxic newsroom like I have. KOKI has toxic people and parts to it. But most people are kind and helpful and want you to do well.

This overall is a good station that is hopefully on the way to even better. Not an overly toxic newsroom by any means, just be careful around some.

I recommend coming to FOX 23 to start or continue your career.

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 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.

The overall morale at this station is great. I love working here.

Sexual Discrimination

As a producer I was fine, but over in the production side, even though I had been at the station a year, as well as being more qualified for a position, was passed over. After that, everyone kept asking me why I didn't get the job because everyone knew I wanted it. They said the current production manager at the time, only seemed to have an all male staff.

Overall it was a very pleasant environment. People were nice, even when crap hit the fan, it was not toxic. I didn't work full time but all the drama seemed pretty tame and everyone seemed pretty happy. It was an honor to work there and I would love to go back, but as a full time employee.