Station's Ratings
News Dirctors
MMJ (OMB) Job details
Yearly salary
Contract2 years
Paired with a photogN/A
Station market rank#2
Greg Baldwin
He is very two faced. He said multiple great things to me, complimented my work, my appearance. Gave me only positives in my employee evaluation and said we could work out a contract extension. Then two weeks later, said they wouldn’t renew me because I “talked too fast” (even though that wasn’t given in the eval). Also didn’t acknowledge me on my last day. He’s making a lot of questionable decisions, pushing out good talent and I’m thankful they blindsided me so I could get out of there.
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
My mental health was never respected. I would work 70 hour weeks because I had no other choice based on what I was assigned, then told I need “better time management.” The managers refused to say goodbye to me on my last day. They lied to my face repeatedly. I wasn’t respected for the work I put in. If you’re not a skinny, pretty pageant girl, you will not succeed there and that’s unfortunate that’s how it’s run now.
I would not recommend in its current state.
Producer Job details
Yearly salary
Contract4 years
Paired with a photogN/A
Station market rank#1
N/A - they're searching for one as of this writing
Denise Vickers - put WHNT on the map for so many good reasons; Paul Caron - presided over the station's decline into what it became by the time I left
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
Under Denise Vickers, this was one of the best stations to work for. She ran a tight ship, had very high standards, and hired managers accordingly. Since she and her protégés left, though - this place has turned into a shithole. Management doesn't have your back unless you're their favorite/let them steamroll and overwork you. The moment you realize how much this place is taking advantage of you, management will find every way to make you miserable, depressed, and borderline suicidal in some cases. And with what Nexstar/DeathStar's paying, you'll likely have to work two jobs just to survive, let alone have ANY quality of life in Huntsville. Let me repeat that - *you'll likely have to work two jobs to just SURVIVE.* If you want to have any career prospects in PR in Huntsville, start networking from day one and be ready to write clickbait all day long...otherwise doing journalism the way it should be done will make your best job prospects are building cars at Mazda Toyota or cleaning the bathrooms at Buc-ee's (both of which pay better than Nexstar/DeathStar). If you're on-air - you'll love it. I saw talent get away with so many things that should've been nipped in the bud. If you're behind the scenes, though - RUN! A previous ND and some previous managers would often SCREAM at behind the scenes staff for the smallest screw ups and berate them openly in front of their fellow newsroom staffers - not really a team environment if you ask me. It honestly looked like middle/high school all over again...and for barely enough to scrape by on, it wasn't worth it anymore. I miss journalism, but I don't think I'm going back in if I'm going to have to deal with this again...and then head to a second job to get berated/degraded by management and the public all over again.
If Nexstar reads this (they won't) and you want this station to be the envy it was under Denise, get a manager in place to clean house and get a management team that actually wants to do journalism rather than the clickbait model you're pushing now.
If you end up working here, read your borderline predatory Nexstar contract CAREFULLY (mine had the aforementioned 60-day opt out from my side as well as the standard buyout...yet basically said DeathStar could fire me at any time for any reason). Also, be VERY careful who you trust. Certain employees still there will turn on you like that and cost you professional and personal opportunities.
Photographer Job details
Yearly salary
ContractNo
Paired with a photogN/A
Station market rank#1
Rick Boone
Rick is a good ND, but can be timid or too neutral at times. Has a lot of gusto but it can be inadvertently misplaced, given the day of the week and whether or not his health is bad.
Sexual Harassment
Definitely an awesome place to work, have been here for almost a decade and have never been turned away from any training opportunities! Finding the right people to befriend and the right (seasoned) folks offers a very family-like atmosphere.
Producer Job details
Yearly salary
Contract4 & 1/2 years
Paired with a photogN/A
Station market rankbetween 1-2
Denise Vickers
Loved working for Denise. She was tough, but also warm & real. I learned so much.
Haven't heard great things about the new (2017) AND.
The buy could change things.
MMJ (OMB) Job details
Yearly salary
Contract2012-2015
Paired with a photogN/A
Station market rank
Denise Vickers
The best boss I have ever had. Dedicated to the station and committed to her staff and their growth in the industry.
finding a middle market station that offers you so much room for growth and creative adventure is rare. I am not sure how the NEXTSTAR possible buy will impact the newsroom, I hope it does not- but my experience was nothing but positive and we made really great television. I was proud to tell folks what station I worked for.
