WBTV

An Overall Toxic Work Environment

Overall, WBTV is a toxic work environment. It’s a shell of what it once was. At one point, WBTV had very experienced reporters and was #2 (sometimes #1) in most newscasts. WBTV has experienced a lot of turnover from reporters and producers to upper management. The pay is lower than what you would expect for a top 25 market. Coworkers are for the most part collaborative and supportive. Management picks favorites and there’s no room to grow internally.

It’s disappointing to see what was once a market leader and pillar for solid journalism change. It’s easy to experience mental health issues and burnout here, which has contributed to the high turnover rate.

Look elsewhere if you want to be in Charlotte.

An Overall Toxic Work Environment

This used to be a good station. That was before the new GM Michelle Harper was hired. She went on a full purge throughout the station. Every head of department was either fired or demoted to a less than desirable location through Gray. That included the news director. You would've thought our ratings were terrible. When in reality, our shows ranked #1 or 2 throughout the day. The GM along with her sidekick consultant moved the anchor of 26 years off the morning show and switched him with the younger evening anchor because that's what research said to do. The ratings had never been worse after that. She terminated the meteorologist/traffic anchor just before her 1 year anniversary without cause and would not waive her non-compete. Just this past year, she has not renewed multiple reporter and anchor's contracts with little to no explanation. Everyone at that station is terrified they are next.

Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

This station used to be a pillar for phenomenal journalism. It is now a disconnected shell of what it once was; a façade with a poorly managed newsroom. Management & employee turnover is constant these days. MMJs are overworked, underpaid and during my time, were constantly put in unsafe situations, rarely with a photographer. Avoid this station if you care about your mental and physical health. Management and anchors play favorites, with management consistently using bait and switch tactics to get employees to do more work on false promises, and favors talent based on the color of their skin or age. This newsroom operates recklessly and unprofessionally, especially for a top 25 market. It unfortunate to see what was once such a powerhouse crumble over the past decade.

Sexual Discrimination, Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

Blatant disregard for overal safety of MMJs. MMJs expected to work overtime with no compensation. Also regularly asked to do dolor live shots without a photog. Barely ever get a photog. Management claims to hire more photogs or positions but never follows through. “Policies and policy changes” are never followed—they’re nearly just there so management can cover themselves if responsibility of safety ever fell back on them. Age discrimination is a common theme in this newsroom. Managers don’t know how to manage nor communicate. There are far better newsrooms in the Charlotte market than this one.

Many people leave this newsroom because of the poor working conditions and mental/physical toll it can take on your health. Steer clear.

In my time at WBTV, I started as an intern and was then hired to fulfill a news content specialist position and eventually filled an Associate Producer role writing promos and booking talent for weekend shows. I also briefly filled gaps in the digital department with early morning push alerts and posting to web. WBTV’s management team was absolutely amazing over the course of my year there. ND-Dennis, Asst ND-Kim, and AM EP-Molly were kind, approachable and consistently present. Production Manager Baron encouraged his team to learn new roles and diversify their skill sets. Opportunities for advancement were encouraged and facilitated when initiative was taken. The atmosphere on the morning side was professional, positive, upbeat, and encouraging. On-air team always treated production with kindness and respect. Teamwork and collaboration were embraced and executed. Was sad to have to leave WBTV but can highly recommend it to any prospective applicants.