WINK

Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

They chose Caucasian employees to be Chief Photographer over me after being just as qualified.

Rich has a history of flirting and possibly hooking up with Reporters.

Racial Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

Extremely racist, no Black or Brown anchors, managers, only two black producers for hours of news, and they don't think diversity is an issue that needs addressing (mentioned in a focus group meeting). Black reporters have broken equipment (tripod, computer, cords, have to request basic gear, etc.) that takes forever (one Black reporter had a malfunctioning computer for two years) to replace. I was told to constantly write up work tickets and talk to management which I did, but that caused me to look high maintenance and painted a target on me. I was finally given a computer from the outside shed that was not updated with the software needed to complete my work. It took a while to get it updated including having to CC the Assistant News Director. That made my work harder and more stressful which is unfair. The new incoming male hispanic reporter was given a brand new computer. Mostly all of the gear is refurbished and was never brand new. The broke, refurbished, malfunctioning gear is a big problem especially when there are so many shows and deadlines. Black journalists with high standards are ostracized, treated unfairly, and aren't given the opportunities they worked hard for and deserve no matter how many times they prove it to management and the public. Opportunities are passed to white journalists who have less experience, credentials, passion, etc. Black and brown communities and stories are rarely covered and then its covered in a token manner. A Black night side photographer told me "WINK only raises the fist twice a year, MLK Day and Black history month barely." He also told me WINK has gotten Black residents evicted from their homes for speaking to them for a news story, but did not do a follow up story, or even try to help the resident who was an elderly woman. I was told this happened a few times so that is why certain communities will not speak to WINK News reporters. It was hard to get sound because of WINKS reputation within the county. The station upholds white privilege and supremacy and proudly by letting me a journalist of color know that "you know this is Lee County right." The assistant news director kept reiterating to me, "you're okay with being in Lee County? You know this is Lee County, Lee as in..." Robert E. Lee County (Confederate army general). The white staff will also speak to the few Black employees with ebonic colloquialisms, for example: White equipment manager to the only black assignment desk editor, "Waddup gurl!" See's the black photog, "305! what it do my brotha." sees a white reporter, "Hello (insert name)." They also brag that they are diverse with their Notcias staff, but as done with Black reporters, Noticias has bad gear and lack of resources meaning they can't go live during their newscasts limiting their newsgathering and information/visuals for the audience. They also treat men better than women and will only listen to what the men say as fact even if you can prove otherwise. Very racist, misogynistic, low quality standards (doesn't care about quality video, only if you are live), terrible equipment, lack of opportunities and advancement (especially Black anchors. They will only let you fill-in even if you have proved that you deserve an anchor seat), and even worse pay. Most of the reporters live in housing across the street from the station in a "luxury apartment" where there are several continuous housing complaints, i.e. broken elevators, plumbing issues, lack of garbage pick up, no parking, bad maintenance, etc.

It's very cliquey and elitest.

Sexual Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

Most of the issues are with the Assistant News director, Rich Garcia. He makes some female reporters his 'girls'. If you're not one of his chosen you get overlooked for promotion no matter how hard you work. Only hired one male reporter in the time I was there. He's hard to talk to because he is argumentative and loud. Between him and Doerr there is no direction at WINK.

It's a family owned station and makes up rules as it goes. Newsroom is cliche groups...you fit in or you don't.

An Overall Toxic Work Environment

Sexual Discrimination, An Overall Toxic Work Environment

An Overall Toxic Work Environment

Long story short.... I had to go to therapy for the constant trauma after being forced to work well past my shift to stare at dead bodies just so the producer can have " eyes on scene" even after all info was reported and they wanted confirmation that the scene was clear. They would kill a great story for something as little as a car accident. The only station I've been too where 21 year old producers have more power than the ND's themselves. All with their minds set on Blood and Destruction over covering actual news.

After we would have editorial meetings in which all positive story ideas were shot down for "Vulture news" going door knocking in Gang neighborhoods to ask if they knew who shot up the house next door. The producers constantly thought of themselves as Detectives instead of reporters of the facts. If you were asked to come in early or on your day off and said no, you were berated into giving an excuse as to why not. One word describes this station....Hell