KSFY

Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

The place merged with the #3 station, KDLT, a few years ago under the guise they'd provide more news coverage and programming. Well the programming went up but they don't have the staff for it. True story-they opened a bureau in Pierre (capital city about 5 hours away) which was the first of it's kind in which a reporter was supposed to live in the city to cover the capital and politics. Few years later their current "capital reporter" lives in Sioux Falls and commutes their only for a few significant moments. They used to have a bureau in Aberdeen (northern city about 3.5 hours away) with a reporter but they cheaped out on paying anybody there too. They've been cheaping out on staff and either seeing their best people leave or letting them go (not that they were paying much anyway) for several years and are basically hiring kids straight out of college now. There are still a few really good people there but they're all getting taxed and probably won't be there for long (at least for there sake I hope so, everyone who leaves is better off for it). Berman will drag the young kids and talk shit about almost everyone while saying glowing things to their face. His quarterly meetings/holiday party is often just his excuse to hear himself talk and and make you listen to the company's annual training programs as read by him. Oh and Gray is terrible as a company. Benefits are mediocre and they CONSTANTLY make you do ridiculous training modules that have nothing to do with your work (and you will be bitched at if you don't do them). Pay is abysmal. Getting time off is impossible if you aren't one of the main anchors who've been there forever and you're bound to be working extra (and don't even THINK about racking up overtime despite this). And I've heard worse for women who work there or people with mental health issues. They will be ignored.

Sioux Falls is a nice, growing city. And it seems like they're basically becoming an entry level station for even prime time anchors. There are a few people on the ground level (I think) still there who will help you. But in general, just ignore anything Berman says because he's a boob, don't count on any help from whoever the news director is, build up your reel and get out of there after your first or second contract max

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.

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!

An Overall Toxic Work Environment

This place is a complete dumpster fire. There were several people making the work environment poor who recently left, but it starts with management.

Do not work for this station. You might enticed by the number of open positions, but that’s because people are jumping ship.

The news director, GM and assistant news director all play favorites and if you’re not their favorite, don’t expect to be treated fairly. When people in the newsroom who are their favorites feel threatened by you, you can expect to pay the price.

This newsroom is incredibly disorganized and understaffed. Don’t be fooled by a brand new shiny building and new gear, the managers don’t care about you or your safety.

If you voice concerns or suggestions, they act like you’re being dramatic. You will rarely work with a photographer since there are only four for the entire station and you can expect to shoot your own liveshots.

Jim Berman and Kevin King will bill this place as a great place to work and live, and that they’ll help you grow and learn as a reporter, but unless you’re embarrassing them on air, they stop giving you feedback after about six months — unless you’re gossiping in the newsroom, call out sick a few times or you’re a couple minutes late to work. Then you’ll hear about it. Favorites in the newsroom can get away with murder — showing up late, speaking badly about others, taking hours-long dinner breaks because they feel they’re “owed” that by the company — and will never be reprimanded —but you will.

If you suffer any sort of mental health issue whatsoever, depression, anxiety, ADHD, etc. don’t work here because they will not care or respect your needs at all.

Also, they pay peanuts and will hound you for overtime, even during sweeps and football season. If you want to do something special that requires travel, you better hope they’re feeling generous, because they will always send salaried employees first.

Sexual Discrimination, Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

Nobody is happy but the main anchors. The GM is a know it all who rips you apart in weekly meetings. If something goes wrong, the news director will side with the main anchors before anyone else so be prepared to take the fall multiple times.