WAAY

Sexual Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, 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 has been accused of sexual harassment by previous female employees who have since left the station; plus he was accused at his previous station. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Visit the station before signing a contract. The station only does 3 year contracts for MMJ's. This is terrible because no one should want to stay in a starter market for 3 years.

A friend just told me about this site and the last rating. Almost all of us hang out after work or on weekends. We have fun and nobody does any backstabbing. It's not my fault the producer can't spell and I don't want to get in trouble for something I didn't do. We also have a bunch of people on second and third contracts. I've had bad bosses in TV and the managers here aren't bad. If you get to know them, they can even be fun.

An Overall Toxic Work Environment

A very toxic work environment with poor leadership. Managers offer little feedback at all, so you're forced to guess on how to make improvement. Even if you request more feedback they won't take the time. Matt Stein picks favorites not even based on performance, but more about who he can joke around with.

Only work here if you're desperate to get your foot in the door. The station has a bunch of backstabbing people that you should avoid. After working here, a lot of people either end their contract early or get out of the business because they feel like all stations will be just as bad. The few that stay do move up to better markets because the station is like a unorganized and stressful military boot camp.

Station has recently made a lot of improvements, added a bunch of people, and seems to really want to do well. Past owners and news directors had kind o run it into the ground.