Station's Ratings
News Dirctors
Mike Schram
But great. He is t really involved in day to day operation. Doesn’t give clear guidance. I worked under the previous News Director Barb Roethler too and wow what a difference. Barb was a great mentor and really talked to people with respect. Reading some of these reviews is ridiculous because I was told that a fired anchor and web producer faked those reviews which is why they all sound the same. I would love to have Barb back. I felt she was way more knowledgeable about Jews.
It’s a typical newsroom but not a lot of string leadership
MMJ (OMB) Job details
Yearly salary
Contract2 years
Paired with a photogN/A
Station market rank#1
Mike Schram
A great and supportive news director
Typical small market tv station. The station has recently undergone some changes in management which has made it a better place to work and grow. The News Director and new Content Manager are demanding but supportive. Lots of feedback. The GM and HR Director really focus on making a fun work environment. This was my first journalism job. We were understaffed and pay could be better, but WILX has the best morale now in the Lansing market. Very different from the previous news director and EP. A great starter station where you will learn lots and quickly get new opportunities.
None
None
Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
This news room is in shambles. The general manager hired Kayla Smith. A 19 year old with no experience who cries everytime you tell her what she is doing wrong. This kid needs to grow up or get out. On top of that, she mistakenly thinks she earned her right to be here. Little does she know, she’s a default selection because nobody wants to come here. As a producer, in always having to train new talent only for them to quit on me and go to the radio station downtown. I haven’t had a raise in years and upper management doesn’t respect any of us.
As evidenced above, they hire inexperienced teens who lack emotional control and can’t handle being told when there work is incorrect.
Mike Schram
Not great
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
If you like yelling matches, this is the place for you. The EP doesn’t have any other tone except yelling. He literally hates every newcomer for the first six months to a year regardless of experience. The news director and station manager just pretend it doesn’t happen, even with all of the complaints. The ND plays nice until he lets his frustrations bottle up inside a then goes on a tirade with anyone that stands in his way. The combination of the EP, ND, and the ignorance of the SM make this place insufferable. They can’t keep anyone. Tons of people break their contracts to leave because they can’t handle it. I have no idea how I was able to make it through?
If you’re choosing between WILX and literally anywhere else, even if it’s a tiny market that pays $5 an hour, go there. And if you end up signing with this station, be sure to have a good lawyer who can weasel your way out of a contract because you’ll need it after the first six months.
MMJ (OMB) Job details
Yearly salary
Contract4 months
Paired with a photogN/A
Station market rank
Barb Rothler
Barb was the news director at the time, I feel that she knew the newsroom was filled with toxic behavior from management and she did nothing about it. She was very passive aggressive, but seeing as though she's gotten out of the industry, I'd like to focus my review on the EP and the Assignment Editor. The two of them together were never on one accord, you'd get an assignment from the editor and then get yelled at by the EP for doing it. They were both manipulative, conniving and it seemed as though they did everything they could to intimidate their staff and back them into a corner. I am very happy to no longer be working in this place, it was more harmful to my career than helpful. My advice is to not make a stop here if you don't have to, getting the experience is not worth the hell you're put through.
Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment
There was an obvious limit of diversity among staff in this newsroom. There was also a constant deny of pitches that represented the Black community, along with an apparent difference in treatment when it came to work criticism.
While diversity was an issue at this station, it was just one of many. I had several coworkers outside of the Black and Brown race who also felt that the work environment was extremely toxic, I wouldn't advise anyone to work here under the current management.
Barb Roethler
Barb Roethler is the worst person in news, if not the entire media business. This woman does not care about a single person who works for her. I don't work here anymore but stumbled on the site and had to give my informed opinion. She is so insufferable to work for that the weather guy of 30+ years left and so did the morning anchor. Did I mention that there is only one person of color on the air @NABJ?
An Overall Toxic Work Environment
The quality on the website is bad now. So glad I'm not there. Multiple typos or mistakes in every article. She either gets no applicants because of low pay or is blind to good applicants. The people in the newsroom are very nice. They just have to stay quiet all day because she's in her office. Apparently Roethler went on a 2 week vacation on election day.
