WYMT

An Overall Toxic Work Environment

She has no TV or editing experience as she comes from a newspaper background and was put in a position she has zero business being in.

As mentioned, the News Director has zero business being in that position. I have seen her yell at our senior meteorologist for merely suggesting an idea for winter coverage, calling it a "dumb idea" and "what person would think of that?" in front of the entire newsroom. The morning anchor is currently looking at leaving, so is the executive producer who has been there for 10 years. 2 reporters abruptly left to seek other opportunities because of her poor attitude.

An Overall Toxic Work Environment

The ND is pleasant to work with. Everyone who works in the newsroom feels horrible for her because of our General Manager.

I worked here for two years, and Neil Middleton needs to have a trophy for the worst General Manager in this industry. Here are my reasons;

He refuses to hire people for their specialty jobs in which they majored in, and multiple people wear many hats (If you're weather, you have to focus on clipping anchors/reporters packages, write web stories, clip during a show, somehow manage to booth produce all while in the middle of a show. If you're a director, you also run Master Control and are also an engineer.)

He harasses via email employees constantly over petty stuff that amounts to nothing and will always compare every single thing we do with WKYT in Lexington. You will hear at least 4 times a week "Well if you look at WKYT, they do this, or WKYT does that, or WKYT did this this way..." Yet if you bring up WKYT allowing their reporters to wear jeans on air, or they allow their reporters to work in casual clothes while off the clock," then he says well, we aren't WKYT.

Always know nothing you do will ever be good enough. He will always find something wrong and compare you to other people. Especially if you work in the weather department. He will always compare you to a former weather person who has not been there in over 10 years, and will openly tell you that you or no one will ever be as good as said weather person and will make you constantly watch that weather persons videos to compare you with him.

This brings me back to the News Director. She is geuninely a sweet person, and she is for the News Team. Without a doubt, one of the best I have ever worked with. Neil lives vicariously through her and will not confront you face to face about issues making her look like the bad person. You can tell she's just trying to get him off of her back.

Neil also says rules "come from corporate" when in reality (see WKYT example) they are his BS rules, like if you're in the building even on your day off or even if you're just grabbing something real quick, you have to be in shirt and tie. You are to be on air ready 24/7. Even producers. Women aren't allowed to wear their hair up, and men can't have their hair down if it's long. They have to wear WYMT T-Shirts and ONLY WYMT T-Shirts. No polos, nothing.

Also, don't ever call the newscast (a show). He will throw a fit over that.

This place is a literal mind game and will have you second guessing every decision made during that time. The only saving grace is that anyone else who is not management is wonderful to work with, and treats you like family.

He won't hire anyone but yet he has money for these big projects. I have a friend who still works there tell me that he recently painted the walls, added new carpet and, expanded his office and overhauled the newsroom because WKYT did the same thing.

Do not work here under any circumstance if you value your sanity.