WEVV

Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

You can tell there was favoritism here.

I left years ago, but as I'm reflecting on a lot of things in my life, this has been one of the most triggering things I had to re-visit for therapy. I wanted nothing more in life than to be a TV Personality. Growing up, my teachers said that I had to get into news first. I did, and It was nothing like I hoped it would be, and working at this station only made it worse. The pay is low, the management is toxic, you can tell there is favoritism here. I basically spent money on a degree for a career that was falsely advertised to me. Because of how I was treated here, I no longer had the heart or desire to continue a TV Career. I had to start my life over from scratch and now I'm in Medical School. So, thanks???? Thank you for being so toxic that I'm now in Medical School?

Sexual Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

The new GM, Dan Batchelor has been creepy to multiple women at the station, specifically the younger looking reporters. Inappropriate touching, inappropriate comments, specifically saying "I would pay money to see a picture of her in highschool" etc. The work environment is overall so toxic. Management tried to push people they dont like out on a daily basis. They will belittle you until you cant fight back anymore. There's such a high turnover rate here for a reason, no one wants to stay here! this place is the worst place to work for in the market! You cant trust anyone in management, not Elizabeth, not Julie, not Hazel, no one. They're all fake, DONT TRUST ANYONE !

The amount of harassment I have received since working here is ridiculous. I feel as though I have done so much for this station, working countless 12 hour shifts because we're so understaffed, giving this place my all and the only feedback I EVER have gotten from management is negative! NO ONE should have to go through what I, and so many people have gone through. Warren Stewart is the cause of almost all of the problems that this station has. If he were gone, I can almost guarantee that WEVV, 44news would be so much less toxic. I used to cry every day before going into work. This place has given me so much mental anguish, that its not worth it anymore. Warren and his lackeys have driven me to the point of contemplating suicide on MULTIPLE occasions, including today.


So Warren, if you're reading this, which im sure you are because you're a drama hungry psychopath, I QUIT!!!

DONT WORK HERE. YOU WILL REGRET IT!

Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

Warren Steward is the worst ND to work for. He has a motive for everything and his news judgement is absolutely terrible. From anchors to production, no one is truly happy there. If some could cut the contract and still do what they love, they would leave in a heartbeat. If you decide to interview with them ask them about their retention rate? Ask them why people don’t renew their contracts, why are employees going to therapy and getting on medication. The main CEO needs to investigate what goes on behind closed doors at that station. He would clean house if he knew. The assignment desk lead (assistant news director) sends reporters to wrong locations, gives them wrong information on stories. Some reporters are have been stuck in the middle of nowhere. Producers - do not have an important role at the decision, they are heavily micromanaged. Anchors - tend to have the least responsibility, get to make decisions over producers even if it’s bad news judgement. The only anchors that have chemistry is in the mornings. Production/photographers /editors- overworked, miserable and not guided properly on how to do there jobs. Show directors - constantly in trouble for others wrong doing. Reporters: they try but management does try to teach how to properly report. Also they aren’t held accountable any of mistakes.

I would advise anyone even if you are down on your luck with finding a job in journalism JUST WAIT. This station is absolutely TERRIBLE. From the overall environment, to upper management. If you want to actually learn and love what you do find a team that will push you in a positive way don’t go there.
So many people develop mental health issues while being employed there. Plus so many people have left since Warren /Eric and now Dan have been leaders.

I have seen good people get torn into pieces while working there.

The skills you will learn at the station won’t take you far. The writing from producers, anchors, digital web, are very mediocre. You will not learn the proper way how to write for newscast or digital to help you move forward.

The main male evening news anchor gets high before he comes into work, and on his break after doing 5/6 pm newscast. Then he does 9pm newscast totally high. Various employees have smelled weed on this anchor countless of times.

If you decide to join 44news make sure you document everything in one on on meetings with the news director, he will twist your words if he gets caught in a lie.

There main hr/business manager doesn’t know anything about the news so save your breathe when coming to her about issues.

An Overall Toxic Work Environment

The end seems to be near. The attitudes in the newsroom are just out of control everyday, in all positions. And management/corporate doesn't seem to be able to control it. Plus they've made it clear that spending money to get proper working equipment purchased or repaired is just not a priority. There have been quiet conversations about just shutting down the news department (again) to save money. Don't come here, there are better choices out there for you.

An Overall Toxic Work Environment

For the most part, the news crew are decent and enjoyable people. A handful of the full time people are allowed to gossip and create toxic work conditions.

The GM has admitted he knows nothing about news. The station held onto a reporter after she verbally assaulted several employees, was caught leaving for hours during her anchor shift on a regular basis, and after physically assaulted a producer. The station held onto a weather man for months after it was found out he was sexually harassing women for feet pictures and foot fetish activities. Other's have been fired for minor offences or for situations they were forced into. The pay is low. You will not get a reasonable raise. If you show you are able to work multiple full time jobs (producer, director, photographer, editor, web producer) you will be expected to complete multiple positions in the same shift for the pay of one. The equipment is often mishandled by inexperienced workers, which causes them to break. This is not the station to work if you enjoy working in news, because it will beat it out of you and you will not have benefitted in any way aside from experience.

Sexual Discrimination, Racial Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

The organization is ran by three people who have no idea what they are doing. The lack of leadership is among the managers is actually quite funny when you look at it. Warren sexually harasses and discriminates against employees daily, and is so involved in station drama and gossip, it’s no wonder that the station has such terrible ratings. The assignment editor/ “Assistant News Director” send reporters to the wrong stories on the wrong day daily, the GM has no idea what is going on, and that is because he (the GM) believes the ND knows what he is doing. I’ve never been a part of such a drama infested environment, that is all led by the ND. The station has had multiple talks about how gossip must stop, including emails sent by the GM to stop the drama, however it continues because the ND constantly spews it. If you are called into Warren’s office, he is going to ask you what everyone is talking about and for the latest details of drama in the station. It all stems from him, but he is untouchable. He never gets in trouble for his inappropriate actions because the GM writes it off as “fake”. It’s sad, but it’s true. The normal employees are great people, but seeing the life sucked out of employees is so sad. Over 50 people have left in under 2 years, which J’s a crazy amount of turnover when you compare it to the other two stations. In those 50+ people, some of them have even left to go to a competitor for LOWER PAY. If that doesn’t describe how much of a mess that place is, I don’t know what else to tell you.

DO NOT WORK HERE.

I cannot say this enough. If you are fresh out of college and think you are successful because you landed a market 102 job, think again. Go to market 160 instead. This place is the absolute worst place to start, because you may never want to continue your career after this toxic wasteland. Bottom line, if Warren Stewart is the news director, DO NOT take the job.