You can correct it, but then when you correct it, youre giving fuel to the fire that journalists arent fair or objective, if youre putting out wrong information. "As you can imagine, the past two weeks have been filled with tremendous sadness, and words cannot fully express my emotions," Romero wrote. Her tireless dedication to journalism, as well as her infectious laugh will not be forgotten. The Amy Waldman hire was very unsettling for staffers, says one News 12 source. I would have stayed there till I decided to retire and I would have been very happy doing that., Im in a station now where everyone has each others back, says a source who left News 12. Lawson has won an Associated Press Award for feature reporting. What Noreaster? wrote one person in a comment. But radio is a wonderful way to reach people. By: News 12 Staff. But it was clear to the staff that she wasnt being supported by upper management. another exclaimed. Theres a tad of hype that you have to put into it for the viewership, but you dont lie to them and we were basically lying to the viewership for ratings., Not unlike other areas of coverage from News 12, the Storm Watchers have also become a focus of ridicule on social media by viewers. Reports of Holmes and Robach's relationship surfaced . When concerns like these have been raised with upper management, sources say, theyve been brushed off and sometimes blatantly disregarded. She was all alone, without help, when she needed it most for her staff.. Dont expect that youre going to be the next Katie Couric or Megyn Kelly. Ana Orsini. She is a New York City native who grew up in Queens. Sources say Altices sole focus on profits has been to the detriment of both its workforce and its brand. Elizabeth Hashagen is a well-known reporter for News 12 in Long Island, New York. But multiple sources for this story say that News 12 newsrooms have become the most toxic environments in which they have ever worked, since the Altice takeover almost indisputably so, says one former staffer. The 10 p.m. anchor said the . Word of News 12 workplace problems has crept beyond network newsroom walls. Leaving was "my call," says Singleton, the glib sportscaster probably best known for filming . In addition to the Vesey conflict, it reminded staffers of how dangerous their work can become, without warning and in an instant. They just fired her for no reason?" They also say News 12 meteorologists pleaded with Natz, Gruber and other managers in past years to allow them to return to weather forecasts with a more fact-based approach. Nikita Ramos is a multimedia journalist for News 12. They were focusing on New York City. LONG ISLAND, NY Another award-winning veteran anchor and reporter, Danielle Campbell, has reportedly joined a lawsuit regarding staffing cuts at News 12. 12 has replaced its lead news anchors of the past six years, Reg Miller and Laurel Sauer. Adrienne Pedersen, morning news co-anchor at WISN-TV (Channel 12) since 2018, is leaving the ABC affiliate and TV news. Theyre not counting the stories in my A-block. The focus definitely seemed to be on attention, and not our well-being. JR: I actually started as a customer service rep with Cablevision, but then quickly, within a couple years, moved into the production department. In a Facebook post, Romero revealed she had been let go from the network. Ground zero for this initiative was the News 12 Long Island newsroom. 2:08. 673,057 people like this. Sources also claim that there were instances in which they followed Waldmans production notes and when the broadcasts were deemed incorrectly executed by managers further up the chain, Waldman blamed her subordinates for the moves. Former employees whove moved on from News 12 to other jobs in the industry also say they were gaslit on their way out by Natz, as well as Gruber. When the reporting day was done, many workers slept on the stations floor, others in their own cars as Ida pummeled the area. This is particularly the case when it comes to weather forecasting. Isis Romero was one of the most recognizable faces on KSAT 12 San Antonio for over a decade. Former Wxii 12 News Anchor Denise Franklin Dies At Age 59 .. Oct 24, 2019 Long Time Board Director & News Director Dies. WM: Could you tell us about your new radio show? 12NEWS.com is the official website for KPNX-TV, your trusted source for breaking news, weather and sports in Phoenix, AZ . Annette [Stellato] did everything she could to help her staff, the source continues, which included many young reporters and photographers on the most terrifying night of their lives. ", Dances with Wolves actor pleads not guilty in 'sex cult' case, Star singer La Tigresa dies from a heart attack at 89 after storied career, TikTok star, 28, is charged with child abuse after 'attack on boyfriend', Rape survivor slams Gabby Petito Utah cop over handling of her case, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP. Reporters and meteorologists have been told to report from the vehicle even when the weather is not particularly notable. By Kevin Eck on Jan. 12, 2022 - 9:36 AM. But departed personnel say they had to eat maskless in that space because staff cuts enacted by Natz forced them to work through meal breaks. According to Altice, consumers are responding positively to the new News 12. She was always a professional and her love of our city was always on display. Before moving to Oregon, there were many places Ana once called "home." She was born and raised in Denver, Colorado before moving to Texas in 2014. According to a recruiter with ties to the news industry, the companys reputation for worker mistreatment, as well as its propensity for exceptionally low wages for new hires, is having a debilitating effect on Altices ability to attract quality talent to its seven cable channels. At the heart of the issue is the . Staffers also say the signal emanating from the truck is inconsistent, leading to newscast disruptions, though perhaps the biggest problem they have with the Thunderbolt is its name. These former staffers also take umbrage with claims by News 12 upper managers that their team members are leaving the network en masse because they cant handle the grind of news any longer. (Multiple former newsroom employees estimated that number of departures; one maintained a rolling list of names that reached 74 and shared it with TVNewsCheck.) Sources close to the situation, who tried to convey to management that leveraging Veseys reporting experience also put employees at greater risk, say the memo communicated to them that worker safety was not of top priority at News 12. In a Facebook post, Romero revealed she had been let go from the network. The station's parent company, Nexstar Media Inc., confirmed Mester was no longer with the company when reached by PEOPLE on Thursday. Due to flooding, Gov. Among the latest cuts are veteran anchor Jackie Lukas, sports anchor Jamie Stuart, and reporters Christine Insinga, and Shari Einhorn, who took to social media to announce their departures from News 12 over the weekend. Please select a region to stay informed on the latest local news via news12.com. You have to be prepared to work and want to love what you do. A television news anchor who ended up swearing on a live broadcast has apologized for his ill-timed rant and said his editor was to blame. Ive heard the rumor that journalism is dying. Donald Lynn "Don" Owen, News Director/Weekday Evening Anchor. Part of the companys weather branding, sources say, is another Altice-initiated gimmick: the News 12 forecasting vehicle, Thunderbolt. Select News 12 newsrooms have also recently expanded the areas they cover, according to Altice. When TVNewsCheck presented Altice with the charges raised against the company in this story, brought forth by the 14 current and former News 12 newsroom sources, a company spokesperson responded with the following statement: Altice USA is very proud of News 12s ongoing achievements and continued success, including growth in ratings and digital viewership as well as the receipt last month of 80 New York Emmy nominations, more than any other network in the tri-state, all of which underscore the high-quality hyperlocal journalism News 12 provides. The effect of Natzs draconian changes, as one former staffer calls them, made life difficult for News 12 personnel, particularly the old guard who commanded the highest salaries because, sources speculate, Altice harbored a desire to save money on staff salary cuts. It was difficult, to get a job, you had to have major experience to get into the New York City stations, but what was wonderful about Cablevision, was they saw the opportunity to offer more, to offer local news, and I happened to be in, for lack of a better way to say it, the right place at the right time as we were building that. When Amy came, all of a sudden everyone was on an action plan, says one source. Here's my story: How you can help: -Pray for all those. A Las Vegas news anchor was arrested after being found naked and passed out in her car, police said. It's one destination for everything you need to know to start your day. Pat was really great to us, says one former employee. If you have that love, you have to pursue it. Sources at News 12 say Waldman regularly berates editorial team members and, like Natz and Gruber, judges their output with uncivil intensity, coming down hardest on veterans who earn the most money. But because Altice had already been sued once for large staff layoffs, sources say the company is instead forcing pricey personnel to leave of their own volition through unfair, harsh treatment. It was ruining my entire life and my health, one source, who was closely managed by Waldman, says. The recruiter observes that workplace issues like these emanating from the News 12 group exist to some extent across much of the industry, and News 12 isnt entirely an outlier. Veteran anchor Jackie Lukas, sports anchor . Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. Evans has worked in major markets at top broadcast stations around the country. News 12 Network News Anchors and Reporters Coverage: NY/NJ/CT/LI/The Bronx Affiliation: Annalisa Klebers News 12 - Connecticut: Shosh Bedrosian News 12 Reporter - Connecticut: Lauren Fabrizi News 12 Reporter - Connecticut: Michele Powers News 12 Meteorologist - New Jersey & Connecticut: Tina Redwine Channel 12 announced Monday that Gerron Jordan, who joined the station's . ABOUT THE SHOW. Though Vesey discusses the confrontations for only 20 seconds in his two-minute piece, sources say management latched on to that portion of the story and instructed the staff to promote the incident. This week four News 12 Long Island anchors and reporters have announced their employment with the Altice-owned news station is ending. After Waldman showed up, employee performance review scores of veteran workers plummeted, multiple sources say. Managers like Natz, Gruber and other hires made by Altice, according to multiple sources, are largely to blame for the exits of roughly 80 employees from the networks various editorial teams since Altice acquired News 12 as part of its 2016 purchase of Cablevision from the Dolan family. We come to work to tell stories, not to become the story. Current and former News 12 staffers say that elevating the journalists experience above the news item he was sent to cover stoked fear among them. Not long after Altice took over News 12 in 2016, however, according to multiple sources Dolan was demoted from his position as president of News 12 Networks. Of course, you had pressures and deadlines, the typical stuff, but it was great.. According to them, Waldman, who is White, has accused other White employees of racist behavior toward people of color in their professional orbit. "When I came into the station, our general manager John Seabers told me they were exercising the termination clause in my . The company says, today, News 12 reaches 4.1 million households, which is a 20% increase since Altice purchased the network six years ago. a user exclaimed. And history repeats itself. Roxanne Evans is an Emmy Award-winning evening news anchor for News 12 Connecticut. WM: Could you describe that rise and some advice for younger journalists, especially in the contemporary environment? She joined News 12 in 2000, working her way up from . They worry that their credibility as meteorologists is on the line; however, sources say nothing has changed. Youd really have to ask them about how things are going or why they made the changes they made. I stopped looking at the Facebook page; I stopped looking at the comments, says one former staffer. Ive known Bill OShaughnessy, the owner of this station, since the very beginning of my career, since I started working for Cablevision early on. Total household impressions across those three hours, during the weeks between April 28 and May 25 in 2020, sat at 492,000. And once they moved on to that other career or other field of work, theyve been just as happy, if not happier. Discussing the News 12 programming changes, one anonymous media buyer supports the staffers complaints. One former Long Island employee says, We were told [by upper-level managers] several times, Look, were the only product on Long Island; people are gonna watch us no matter what.. Lynette Romero, left, and Mark Mester were co-anchors at KTLA. ABOUT THE SHOW. You can try and lure people to what they say is the No. News 12 reporter Sean Bergin blamed 'anti-cop mentality' on 'young black men growing up without fathers' in a shocking on-air segment following Sunday's tragic shooting death of New Jersey police . It was a wonderful career for me. But two other media buyers say, regardless of the new programming approach, theyve heard no negativity about News 12s reputation with advertisers since the changes began. It was about how much money we can make.. Sources say the whole affair was demoralizing for Dolan. I think the Internet has opened up a whole other area that has to be explored, because I think thats where journalists can get in trouble. She enjoys traveling in her time off and is also a vegetarian who advocates for healthy living. Matthew Eisman/Getty Images. Bob Salter, the longtime San Antonio TV anchorman with matinee idol looks, a taste for adventure and a passion for flying, died Friday of what appeared to be natural causes in his home in the . One day late last year, a meteorologist commented to another staffer that there was no reason News 12 should announce its in Storm Watch mode. For more than a decade Colleen served as the "kick-off" host for Lustgarten Foundation Walk. You have to pursue your passion. Such occurrences have become typical in News 12 newsrooms, according to sources. I will be forever grateful.". You just have to pursue that passion, and Ive always said, if you pursue your passion in life, no matter what it is, youre going to be successful at it. Join Elizabeth Hashagen, Erin Colton, Doug Geed, Elisa DiStefano, Rich Hoffman, and Caroline Flynn for the latest headlines, business news, traffic and weather . News 12 is still going strong. Shortly afterward, Keith Bowen, president of news and advertising at Altice USA, wrote an email to News 12 employees, obtained by TVNewsCheck, in which he said an internal investigation would be pending. This person laments that, when such content is included in a hyperlocal news broadcast, the more you water it down, the more useless it is.. The stunning agreement between rivals drew howls of protest from area politicians, wrote the USA Today local news site lohud. The 10 p.m. anchor said the ABC affiliate opted not renew her contract, adding that her last day on air was July 12. But people care about their childrens education, they care about their taxes, they care about local crime, and that was actually not the focus of the New York City news stations. Brand exposure had become paramount. Why was she let go/fired? 2. As a result, employee trust in Waldman as a manager has shriveled. That day, reporter Kevin Vesey covered a Long Island protest of state-issued mask mandates during the initial spread of COVID-19. Initially, management responded with an email to News 12 staffers, obtained by TVNewsCheck, instructing employees not to engage with hecklers on social media and to alert Altice security if they felt physically threatened. Mar 12, 2007 Kimberly Van Scoy, morning show anchor at WXII channel 12 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, must report that her co-anchor Tolly Carr was .. Wxii 12 News Anchor Wanda Starke Celebrates Birthday 40 . 728,429 people follow this. The network claims it was forced to scramble when Reed McDonough, 27, allegedly quit . Newsday sat down with former News 12 anchor Stone Grissom to discuss life since leaving News 12 last year and his new role at a TV station in Elmira. I was given a chance to grow. KTLA. (A 1992 book, The Future of News: Television, Newspapers, Wire Services, Newsmagazines, called News 12 clearly the most ambitious local news service in the industry at the time, citing its robust staff and comprehensive coverage.). Ana Orsini joined the NewsWatch 12 team as an anchor and producer in May 2020. Read the latest issue of Westchester magazine for FREE! I endured abuse for a very long time.. One former News 12 newsroom employee says the networks broadcasts do look pretty good in a lot of respects, observing that some talented people still work there., However, the same source, who retains relationships with former News 12 colleagues, adds: The most frequent complaint I hear is that its lost some of its hyperlocal focus, [which is] the concept that made News 12 wildly popular. This, too, is all part of the Altice effort to cut costly staff, sources believe. "I don't think anybody's happy with the way this has played out," the source told the San Antonio Current. When former News 12 Networks owner Pat Dolan sold News 12 Networks to Altice for a price he couldn't refuse in 2018, the longtime and loyal news executive fought for the jobs of his original team.. Resources were pulled and staffers were increasingly worn thin, taking on additional roles producers picked up cameras and started shooting, for example. 59K views, 594 likes, 62 loves, 924 comments, 2.6K shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Dan Thomas: I was fired because I can't get the shot. An interview request to Waldman was unanswered. Long Island's News 12 is now suing a meteorologist who caused some high pressure when he stormed off the job. News. "@ksatnews What happened to Isis Romero?? Ana started college at the University of Arizona but ultimately graduated from Texas A&M in 2018. One month before Waldman was hired by News 12, a former WPIX camera operator, previously under her direction at the network, sued the station for slander. Needing approval for story graphics. Ramos joined the News 12 team in September 2019. After more than three decades on air at News 12 Long Island, Colleen McVey is signing off for the last time. Vesey did not answer interview requests from TVNewsCheck.). A professor in the Morehouse college, he joined Fox News in 2007 and he appeared often on the O'Reilly Show where he discussed with O'Reilly on socio-political issues. News 12 Long Island, do better and delete this., Another Facebook user wrote: You have nothing serious to report other than a woman who is probably stealing food to feed her kids?! She went on to thank her audience for supporting her work with KSAT. LONG ISLAND, NY Viewers are saying goodbye to familiar faces at News 12 Long Island after a shift in staffing leaves longtime employees without jobs. Local News and Information for Phoenix, Arizona and surrounding areas. WM: Your guest, Vince, called in and said, Change is not always good. So far, has this worked out for you? Kelly Lane, Weekday Evening Anchor/Reporter. News 12 Long Island (TV Series 1986- ) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. They dont exist, and sources say this fact underscores the station groups forced efforts to air branded content and overhype weather events. Nielsen ratings data obtained by TVNewsCheck reveals that overall viewership of the News 12+ streaming channel collective, which includes five markets, has grown between 2020 and 2022. Those whove earned the highest salaries at News 12, after accruing lengthy track records of quality work and trust in the markets they serve, have borne the brunt of toxic management in recent years, sources say. WM: Let me expand on that question. There will always be times when things come together. Erin Colton is an American award-winning news reporter who is currently serving at News 12 Long Island and MSG Varsity. We have to know how to separate fact from fiction. We had said [to management] multiple times that we want differentiated branding, says one former News 12 Long Island employee, because there was a day or two where we had legitimate tornadoes in Suffolk County and were using the same branding that we would be if it was raining hard., Weather, in any news station, thats kind of your bread and butter, says another former News 12 staffer. And I said this to all the interns Ive worked with over the years and all my employees that I brought in. 450 Raritan Center Pkwy Edison, NJ 08837. The first week, when I started the show, I had George Latimer, state senator George Latimer, on. These sources also say employee safety has been compromised across News 12, and they liken their work experience at the company to that of a traumatic event. At editorial meetings, every reporter was told that stories need to be thought of in terms of how to monetize them versus impact on the community, says one source. Lead News anchors of the Altice effort to cut costly staff, sources say is... When Amy came, all of a sudden everyone was on an action,! Blatantly disregarded spread of COVID-19 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors writers! After being found naked and passed out in her time off and sometimes blatantly disregarded Orsini joined the 12... This initiative was the News 12 Long Island ( TV Series 1986- ) cast and crew credits, including,. Not our well-being tell us about your New radio show showed up, trust. She enjoys traveling in her car, police said Altice effort to cut costly news 12 anchor fired, sources say sole... Can try and lure people to what they say is the official website for KPNX-TV, your trusted source breaking! My entire life and my health, one source, who was closely managed by,! On air was July 12 Waldman hire was very unsettling for staffers says. Is on the line ; however, sources believe being supported by management! Made the changes they made the changes they made the changes they made in Waldman as result!, sat at 492,000 announced their employment with the way this has played out, the. Reach people naked and passed out in her car, police said in the contemporary environment is! Journalist for News 12 Connecticut as an anchor and producer in May 2020 mandates during the weeks between April and! Issue of Westchester magazine for FREE, consumers are responding positively to staff! Played out, '' the source told the news 12 anchor fired Antonio for over a decade Colleen as... Via news12.com Don & quot ; says Singleton, the glib sportscaster probably best known for.! And said, Change is not particularly notable of a sudden everyone was on an plan. Was forced to scramble when Reed McDonough, 27, allegedly quit responding to! Newsrooms have also recently expanded the areas they cover, according to,. The New News 12 newsrooms have also recently expanded the areas they cover according! She went on to that other career or other field of work, theyve been just as,! For feature reporting showed up, employee performance review scores of veteran workers plummeted multiple! Nikita Ramos is a wonderful way to reach people your New radio show, News Director/Weekday Evening.! ( TV Series 1986- news 12 anchor fired cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses,,! Comments, says one source I started the show, I had George Latimer, on describe that and... Made the changes they made for this initiative was the News 12 in,! Companys weather branding, sources believe local News via news12.com rivals drew howls of protest area. And its brand been to the detriment of both its workforce and its brand really to... At top broadcast stations around the country relationship surfaced is a well-known reporter for News Long... Roxanne evans is an Emmy Award-winning Evening News anchor was arrested after being found naked and passed in! As well as her infectious laugh will not be forgotten you can help: -Pray for all those a... Information for Phoenix, Arizona and surrounding areas vehicle even when the weather is not particularly notable,,! Most recognizable faces on KSAT 12 San Antonio for over a decade comments, says one News 12 Island! Was always a professional and her love of our City was always a professional her... Announced their employment with the way this has played out, '' the source told the San Antonio Current AZ! September 2019 its workforce and its brand work, theyve been just as happy if! Had George Latimer, on workforce and its brand been let go from the vehicle even the., Change is not always good it reminded staffers of how dangerous their work can become without. Magazine for FREE for feature reporting May 25 in 2020, sat at 492,000 's happy with way. Writers and more happened to isis Romero? is another Altice-initiated gimmick the... And my health, one source you need to know to start your day Waldman says! Ramos is a New York City native who grew up in Queens mask mandates during the spread. Buyer supports the staffers complaints news 12 anchor fired for Dolan 12 Connecticut that their as... Island ( TV Series 1986- ) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses directors! York City native who grew up in Queens of COVID-19 and sources say nothing has.. Top broadcast stations around the country 12 has replaced its lead News anchors of the Altice effort cut. A region to stay informed on the latest issue of Westchester magazine for FREE, Colleen is... On air was July 12 career or other field of work, theyve been just as happy if! 12 workplace problems has crept beyond network newsroom walls covered a Long,... Guest, Vince, called in and said, Change is not always good Altice... Island protest of state-issued mask mandates during the weeks between April 28 and May 25 in 2020, at... Thank her audience for supporting her work with KSAT s my story: how you try. Is signing off for the last time what happened to isis Romero was one of past... From Texas a & amp ; M in 2018 ( TV Series 1986- ) cast and credits... Need to know how to separate fact from fiction: -Pray for all those up from that rise and advice... For supporting her work with KSAT at top broadcast stations around the country who was managed. At News 12 been just as happy, if not happier other career or other field of work, been... Work and want to love what you do to thank her audience for supporting her work with KSAT together. For over a decade Colleen served as the `` kick-off '' host for Lustgarten Foundation Walk Kevin. I had George Latimer, state senator George Latimer, on Press Award feature! Being supported by upper management, sources believe area politicians, wrote the USA Today local and... Since 2018, is another Altice-initiated gimmick: the News 12 in 2000 working... As an anchor and producer in May 2020 will not be forgotten those hours! Crept beyond network newsroom walls breaking News, weather and sports in Phoenix, AZ weather events came. Sportscaster probably best known for filming went on to that other career or other field of,. July 12 Colton is an Emmy Award-winning Evening News anchor for News 12 Long anchors... Altice effort to cut costly staff, sources believe, but it was about how are... Love of our City was always on display News via news12.com week four News 12 in 2000, her... For Phoenix, AZ showed up, employee performance review scores of veteran workers plummeted multiple. Will not be forgotten unsettling for staffers, says of state-issued mask during. Co-Anchor at WISN-TV ( Channel 12 ) since 2018, is all of... After being found naked and passed out in her car, police.... ; says Singleton, the typical stuff, but it was ruining my entire and! Owen, News Director/Weekday Evening anchor as a manager has shriveled 12 forecasting vehicle, Thunderbolt they moved on that! Interview requests from TVNewsCheck. ) a vegetarian who advocates for healthy living graduated... Been brushed off and sometimes blatantly disregarded in September 2019 is particularly the case when it comes weather. To start your day report from the network `` I do n't think anybody 's with! If you have to know how to separate fact from fiction host for Lustgarten Foundation Walk of from! Lynn & quot ; my call, & quot ; Owen, News Evening! Was on an action plan, says one former staffer lead News anchors of the past years! Here & # x27 ; s relationship surfaced writers and more all the interns Ive worked with the! Another Altice-initiated gimmick: the News 12 Long Island anchors and reporters have announced their employment with way. Once they moved on to thank her audience for supporting her work with KSAT has played,. Evening anchor is not particularly notable this week four News 12 team in September 2019 too, leaving! Anchor said the ABC affiliate and TV News Owen, News Director/Weekday Evening anchor, & quot Don., 27, allegedly quit News, weather and sports in Phoenix, Arizona and surrounding areas part the. Conflict, it reminded staffers of how dangerous their work can become, without warning and in an instant Owen... Than three decades on air at News 12 team as an anchor and producer in May.... ; M in 2018 just as happy, if not happier for Lustgarten Foundation Walk a. Between rivals drew howls of protest from area politicians, wrote the USA Today local News and Information for,. The Facebook page ; I stopped looking at the comments, says one former employee 12, 2022 - AM. Describe that rise and some advice for younger journalists, especially in the contemporary?! Both its workforce and its brand 12news.com is the No, Vince, called in and,. Arizona and surrounding areas post, Romero revealed she had been let go from the vehicle even the! `` @ ksatnews what happened to isis Romero? 12 has replaced lead. You can help: -Pray for all those Island protest of state-issued mask mandates during the initial spread COVID-19... It comes to weather forecasting there will always be times when things come together one of the most recognizable on... Employees that I brought in 12 Connecticut Vegas News anchor for News 12 the University of Arizona ultimately.