Station's Ratings
News Directors
Producer Job details
Yearly salary$33,000
Contract2 years if they feel like it
Station market rank#4
Joseph Radske
Should not be leading a newsroom, I'm surprised he put "teacher" on his resume. He does not set you up for success. He has zero leadership qualities or skills, picks favorites, poor communication, does not know a news story if it hit him. Does not listen to your side of a story if there are issues in the newsroom. Does not handle any issues in the newsroom to begin with. Takes zero accountability for anything. Allegedly former producer but does not teach or guide anyone. Shows zero empathy or sympathy if someone is struggling.
This station does not report hard/real news, and when they do it's just a recycling of press releases and official statements. Story pitches are tossed aside because they're "too much work" so no journalistic strategies are used.
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
Some of the most unprofessional individuals I've ever met. Photogs are lazy and not assigned to reporters, 1 full time editor because Producers are paid $16 to write, edit and get zero feedback on shows unless you do something wrong/make a mistake. I was told by veteran news anchors that none of the producers were taught correctly and we don't actually know how to produce. Unless you've been at WFRV for 10+ years, you're still not making much. There is 1 editor and she deserves $20 an hour, but we all know NexStar doesn't pay their employees anyway. And if you're an award winning anchor, then I'm sure you'll get six figures. The poor excuse for an "HR person" does not know how to do her job and would much rather judge you based on looks, she's very rude and should retire. Anyone else in a management position is too weak/cowardly to stand up for their colleagues, even themselves. There is no teamwork, zero communication, no prep for upcoming events unless it's a sponsored parade. Favoritism is visible during interactions during meetings.
Do not work here if you're fresh out of college - multiple younger adults in their early 20s told me this station "killed local news" for them and do not want to return to the industry. If you're someone older with years of experience and a masters degree (like myself) they will low ball you and sneak the contract under your nose, or Joseph will decide to just not give you one if he personally hires you. So some producers have contracts and some don't. The computers are out dated, monitors always crashing, studio mics always dropping out. People are miserable and you can tell as soon as you walk into the newsroom because there's zero motivation to work on stories and produce actual journalism.
Read MoreProducer Job details
Yearly salary30,000
Contract2, but only if Joe Radske feels like it.
Paired with a photogOnly When Necessary
Station market rankbetween #4-5
Joseph Radske
Zero leadership from Joseph Radske the so called news director. Kathy their “HR” does not know how to do her job, is very rude, and should retire. Anyone else in a management position is too weak or scared to stand up for their co-workers let alone themselves. There is no teamwork, zero communication, zero initiative. Favoritism is visible during interactions in the newsroom from Radske. He does not know news.
This is not a real news station. All they do is regurgitate press releases. If a real story is worth doing, they’re told it’s “too much work.” Pay is $16 an hour to produce, edit, and get zero feedback on literally anything unless you do something wrong - then you’re never trusted ever again. Everything about this place is toxic. Do not work here if you are fresh out of college. They will not guide you. And if you’re someone with a masters and years of experience (like me) they don’t care, they will low ball you and sneak a contract under your nose. Producers were told they did not know how to produce from anchors and then never taught anything to improve. Their technology is out dated, the studio always has issues because they refuse to spend money on fixing anything. WFRV is a circus. Do not work here.
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
Zero leadership from Joseph Radske the so called news director. Kathy their “HR” does not know how to do her job, is very rude, and should retire. Anyone else in a management position is too weak or scared to stand up for their co-workers let alone themselves. There is no teamwork, zero communication, zero initiative. Favoritism is visible during interactions in the newsroom from Radske. He does not know news. This is not a real news station. All they do is regurgitate press releases. If a real story is worth doing, they’re told it’s “too much work.” Pay is $16 an hour to produce, edit, and get zero feedback on literally anything unless you do something wrong - then you’re never trusted ever again. Everything about this place is toxic. Do not work here if you are fresh out of college. They will not guide you. And if you’re someone with a masters and years of experience (like me) they don’t care, they will low ball you and sneak a contract under your nose. Producers were told they did not know how to produce from anchors and then never taught anything to improve. Their technology is out dated, the studio always has issues because they refuse to spend money on fixing anything. WFRV is a circus. Do not work here.
Zero leadership from Joseph Radske the so called news director. Kathy their “HR” does not know how to do her job, is very rude, and should retire. Anyone else in a management position is too weak or scared to stand up for their co-workers let alone themselves. There is no teamwork, zero communication, zero initiative. Favoritism is visible during interactions in the newsroom from Radske. He does not know news.
This is not a real news station. All they do is regurgitate press releases. If a real story is worth doing, they’re told it’s “too much work.” Pay is $16 an hour to produce, edit, and get zero feedback on literally anything unless you do something wrong - then you’re never trusted ever again. Everything about this place is toxic. Do not work here if you are fresh out of college. They will not guide you. And if you’re someone with a masters and years of experience (like me) they don’t care, they will low ball you and sneak a contract under your nose. Producers were told they did not know how to produce from anchors and then never taught anything to improve. Their technology is out dated, the studio always has issues because they refuse to spend money on fixing anything. WFRV is a circus. Do not work here.
MMJ (OMB) Job details
Yearly salary
Contract2 years
Paired with a photogN/A
Station market rank#3
John Laughrin
I worked under a variety of management and the station greatly improved when the old news director left. John is far from perfect but an improvement on the hell that was David Lee.
Read MoreAn Overall Toxic Work Environment
In general it’s a fine place to get your start but that’s about it. They will work you like a dog, never say thank you, pay you shit because it is Nexstar and make you produce as a reporter despite that not being in your contract.
MMJ (OMB) Job details
Yearly salary
Contract2 years
Paired with a photogN/A
Station market rank
I’m not sure. There’s a lot of turn over.
Complete disregard for safety, employee respect, a news room fueled with Degrading comments towards women
Read MoreSexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
Male Reporters were treated differently by station management. Derogatory comments towards women at the station were acceptable by management. Female MMJs were held to ridiculous standards compared to their male counterparts. Female MMJs were also paid substantially less than their male counterparts.
MMJ (OMB) Job details
Yearly salary
Contract2 YEARS
Paired with a photogN/A
Station market rank
M. DAVID LEE
ADVERSARIAL AND HORRENDOUS
Read MoreSexual Discrimination, Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
In the year M. David Lee has taken over, more than 13 employees have quit.. to include our Chief Photographer with 25 years of experience
DO NOT TAKE THIS JOB BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE A JOB!!! WAIT IT OUT,YOU'LL GET SOMETHING BETER. ALL MMJ'S HAVE TO PRODUCE.. YOU CAN'T PUT TOGETHER A REEL IF YOU HAVE TO PRODUCE THE SAME DAY YOU REPORT!!!! GOT TO WBAY, FOX11, WKOW OR ANY STATION IN MADISON.. PICKING UP DECAYING DEAD DEER IN THE SUMMER ALONG THE INTERSTATE IS BETTER THAN WORKING AT WFRV.
Read MoreDavid Lee
Verbally abusive, put me down, mocked me, degraded me bullied me, drove Good people out. Any pushback meant he didn’t like you and he wasn’t going to make your time there easy, disrespectful, didn’t know what he was talking about half the time when it came to stacking and producing shows, clearly targeted me and certain employees while purposely trying to clean house. It was a nightmare to be working for him. Had anxiety during shows waiting for an email he was going to send to talk down to me about. A lot more to say but you get the jist of it. He’s a horrible “leader” which is not what he deserves to be called at all. Did I mention the 30 plus jobs he’s had? Yup.
Read MoreSexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
Look at the paragraph above about my boss.
Don’t work here. Underpaid people as well. They run on a skeleton crew to save a quick buck. People have three different position titles and don’t get paid extra.
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