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. 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. TV32. The same veteran media executive who posits that staffers micromanagement concerns may be misplaced is also skeptical of criticisms that sponsored content is being overused at the group. Though there was a dip last year, the average daily impressions in the 18-plus demographic across the weeks between April 28 and May 25 of this year rose to 709,000, up from 679,000 two years ago. It promoted two brands in a single spot, and one source says content like that was corny and it delegitimized us. The source thought to themself at the time, Are we journalists or shills?. A manager encouraged the source to take the time off and, the source says, all the manager wanted to make sure of was I was OK with the amount of overtime I was getting.. Westchester Magazine: How are you settling into the new radio show? He required multiple stitches in his face. 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. Though Dolan remained on the Altice payroll for a time, he never returned to a News 12 newsroom. The latter partnership, however, came about in 2019 when Verizon shuttered primary News 12 competitor Fios1 News, which was available on Verizons cable services, while Optimum carried the Altice asset. Please select a region to stay informed on the latest local news via news12.com. Because once its out there, you cant pull it back. (Ultimately, the hurricane claimed the lives of at least 16 New York State residents.). The anchor worked at CNN for many years before moving to Fox News, where he . By: News 12 Staff. Because, in many cases, news directors have imposed on them so that we not only want you to file a story by 5 oclock today, but we want you to do five Facebook posts, and we want you to go on your Twitter account. So theres this rush to get information out, and I think we have to be very cautious that that information be accurate before we broadcast it to the world or podcast it to the world or type it to the world or put it out on any venue, even a radio station. Kelly Lane, Weekday Evening Anchor/Reporter. 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. Doug Warner anchors KSLA News 12 at 5, 6, and 10 after first joining the KSLA family in 2009 as a co-anchor of KSLA News 12 This Morning. "What even is KSAT without Isis Romero?!?" The threats occurred in public and on social media. Topics you care about, straight to your inbox. She went on to thank her audience for supporting her work with KSAT. 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. 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. After that, I stopped telling people where I worked and stopped wearing my News 12 gear in public.. She was hired to anchor Cablevision News 8 in 1985. In the bluntest dismissal of a South Florida anchor team in recent memory, WPEC-Ch. WM: Could you tell us about your new radio show? In June, TVNewsCheck reported that toxic working conditions inside News 12 New Jersey, one of seven Tri-State area cable news channels in Altice USAs News 12 network, compelled the bulk of the stations editorial team to resign in close succession. I take pride in what we did and what we accomplished. Janine Rose: Radio was my first love in college; I said that to you earlier. Einhorn is out after nearly three decades at News 12 Long Island, while Lukas is out after more than 15 years at the station. 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. Singleton, hired from a Lexington TV station in 2015, had his disagreements with WCPO-TV management. She announced her termination from the station on July 27, 2021. As with the hiring of Gruber who one source calls the most condescending woman Ive ever encountered sources say there were further problems with the hiring of Amy Waldman, who became the Long Island branchs assistant news director in February 2020, a few months prior to Natzs hiring. Fox 5 Las Vegas morning weekday anchor and reporter Feven Kiflegiorgis was busted nude and . The 10 p.m. anchor said the . You can try and lure people to what they say is the No. 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. When [Natz] took over we really became alarmist, says a former News 12 staffer, commenting on the weather reporting. Such occurrences have become typical in News 12 newsrooms, according to sources. And right now, the country is polarized, but I think that will happen for a while, but if you look at history, I always say, todays news is tomorrows history. Accompanying web copy and station tweets spotlighted the threat against Vesey, not the protest. 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. Popular, long-running series such as the tech-focused The Download and the Long Island high school sports show The Sports Rush, among others were canceled because of a lack of sponsorship opportunities, sources say they were told. Their loss is a setback for the News 12 audience., In May 2020, less than a year after the settlement between the Dolans and Altice, Natz was hired as News 12s general manager. For more than a decade Colleen served as the "kick-off" host for Lustgarten Foundation Walk. Jason Hahn. Of course, sponsored content has become a commonplace for local TV news in the past decade. 1,869 people checked in here. Sources acknowledge that newsroom workers should always strive to improve their craft and are well-served by turning to quality senior leadership for guidance on how to get better at their respective jobs. Former Wxii 12 News Anchor Denise Franklin Dies At Age 59 .. Oct 24, 2019 Long Time Board Director & News Director Dies. KCRG in Cedar Rapids Promotes Kristin Rogers to Morning Anchor. Theyre not counting the stories in my A-block. When Amy came, all of a sudden everyone was on an action plan, says one source. fired the station groups general manager, Kevin Vesey covered a Long Island protest, delivering Dunkin Donuts to a News 12 set, searching for a woman who stole from a supermarket, Spot TV Forecast: After Political Bonanza In 22, Flat Will Suffice For 23, Top 30 Station Groups: Standard General Leaps Into Second Place With Tegna Acquisition, 13th Annual Women In Technology Awards Reception, Revenue Strategies: Advanced Targeting for Local TV. You have to be prepared to work and want to love what you do. . Since acquiring News 12, we have invested in the network with the goal of growing its audience and viewership and so they can provide the news and information to our local communities across the tri-state.. . Some sources observe that there is a place for sponsored content and ads in news broadcasts. Local Mississippi breaking news and weather from CBS 12 News WJTV, your Jackson, MS news leader. Ana Orsini. She was also part of the CBS affiliate team that received the coveted National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation (NABEF) Service to America Television Award, among the highest public-service honors in broadcasting, that honors exceptional public and community service. Then, a week after the hurricane, management told employees that she was no longer with the company.) People at home dont give a shit how long my cold open is, says one former newsroom staffer. "Mornings with News 12" is the only place to get the local news that matters to your community. I feel blessed. If you have a passion for healing people and you become a doctor, youre going to be great at it. Dolan issued a statement to TVNewsCheck when told of the News 12 worker dissatisfaction outlined in this story and the departures that have resulted from their alleged mistreatment by upper management: Its saddening to see the stream of seasoned, award-winning journalists and professionals whove been leaving News 12, apparently under stress from corporate management, his statement reads. The source says treatment like that was the polar opposite of what they and their former colleagues endured at News 12 before they left, and what current employees are dealing with today under Altice ownership. Fox 2 news anchor Vic Faust has been fired by the television station after directing a profane rant at a female co-host on a local radio show. Like the individuals who spoke to TVNewsCheck about the News 12 New Jersey newsroom, these sources have opted to remain anonymous, some on background, partly out of fear that Altice, Natz and/or Gruber will retaliate with lawsuits or other actions that could threaten future career opportunities. Resources were pulled and staffers were increasingly worn thin, taking on additional roles producers picked up cameras and started shooting, for example. The days of news coverage of local stories, studio interviews of politicians and celebrities on morning show couches are long dead. After investigating the allegations of employee mistreatment outlined in the article, Altice fired the station group's general manager, Jacques Natz.However, a bigger picture of network-wide malfeasance, which has not only inspired dozens more departures, but compromised News 12's hyperlocal value proposition in markets with no shortage of impactful stories has emerged. When the reporting day was done, many workers slept on the stations floor, others in their own cars as Ida pummeled the area. February 13, 2017. I had a wonderful career at Cablevision and News 12. Sportscaster Jamie Stuart, reporter Christine Insinga . 12NEWS.com is the official website for KPNX-TV, your trusted source for breaking news, weather and sports in Phoenix, AZ . I loved my job, I loved going to work every day, says another former newsroom staffer. Donald Lynn "Don" Owen, News Director/Weekday Evening Anchor. Matt Pieper's apology and statement on Twitter which appeared earlier today. 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 Rogers graduated from Cedar Rapids Washington High School in 2011. Copyright 2023 NewsCheckMedia LLC, 238 Crosshill Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096 | 610-649-7989, Multiple former and current employees of News 12s metro area New York cable news channels tell. News 12 also recently introduced five-time Emmy award-winning meteorologist and Long Island native Addison Green to the network to anchor weather for Long Island and Westchester. "Okay so what the f*** did Isis Romero do though. We are in, certainly, with the concerns about terrorism, with the concerns about our safety, its an uneasy period were in right now, and I think thats why journalism is so important. She also documented the devastating effects of pancreatic cancer and the fight for a cure. In comments underneath a News 12 Facebook post promoting the story, a platform user posted a link to an article from another Long Island news source about four people who were arrested for illegal gun possession. 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 . Colleen was the original morning show anchor. Sources also believe the companys upper management purposely includes trumped up charges of poor performance in employee reviews to make cases for their firings, keeping Altice in compliance with the Dolan sales agreement. 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. It was a wonderful career for me. Groups of managers would analyze a broadcast so closely that afterward theyd time a cold opening with a stopwatch and count the number of stories crunched into a show. In a Facebook post, Romero revealed she had been let go from the network. Menu. On Sept. 1, 2021, News 12 workers in Westchester were called into the newsroom early to cover the New York metro area arrival of Hurricane Ida. I dont think its dying. News 12 is still going strong. She was always a professional and her love of our city was always on display. 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 will be forever grateful.". A number of angry viewers lashed out at the network. 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. Generally, middle managers at the company like Stellato are concerned about worker safety and well-being, sources say. 10. Word of News 12 workplace problems has crept beyond network newsroom walls. Exit announcements have been made without consent of those leaving the company, breaking industry etiquette, and job offers from other networks were pulled when word got out across News 12. Mark Mester, a Los Angeles-area news anchor, was fired from CW affiliate KTLA just days after criticizing the station's executives for how they handled his co-anchor's departure. There needs to be journalists out there. Erin Colton is an American award-winning news reporter who is currently serving at News 12 Long Island and MSG Varsity. ", 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. A year later that half-hour newscast morphed into the nation's first 24-hour local news channel, News 12 Long Island. Requiring them to cover stories for advertisers. 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.. I dont see it as a dying profession at all? Her tireless dedication to journalism, as well as her infectious laugh will not be forgotten. However, across News 12 platforms emerged the Storm Watcher logo with a lightning bolt piercing through the middle of the team branding, suggesting a major weather event was on the horizon. They were upset about the loss of jobs and the detrimental impact such a lack of diverse voices could have on free press and democracy. But, like I said, Im happy to be starting to write the next chapter, and this particular radio show is certainly one way to take that next step. When the micromanaging took hold, everything from on-air performance to edits to employee social media posts and beyond were dramatically scrutinized. In his story, Vesey first describes the scene at the rally and the protesters motivations for being there. 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. The New Tax Bill: Pouring SALT in Our Wounds, or Not So Bad? And while the staffers may not have become rich working for the regional news network, they say they were fairly compensated by Dolan, a leader who they say proverbially had his workers backs. And I was one of the builders of that notion that local news could be successful. When is news 12 finally going to be taken off the air., When a group of on-air talent left News 12 Long Island in January, multiple Facebook users criticized the channel and its parent company for a decline in quality, and after News 12 Long Island recently posted an image on Instagram promoting a story about energy reducing tips, one user commented with a tip of their own: dont believe anything #new12 spews [sic]., Last month, News 12 Long Island produced a story about two dresses that were returned to their owner after she lost them on a local train. Though Waldman worked at WPIX New York for 11 years, ascending to news director in 2015, she was rumored to be hot tempered and tone deaf toward staffers as a manager. 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.. Its so off-kilter right now., When TVNewsCheck published its initial story about working conditions in the News 12 New Jersey newsroom in June, an Altice spokesperson said the company take[s] these matters seriously and would review them internally.. Other voices outside the company are mixed in their criticism. Direct payment worth up to $4,555 to be sent out in 12 . 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. Miller has been fired . And I say, whatever you do in life, as long as you have a passion for that, youre going to be great at it. When your ass is on the line because youre in charge of these multi-, multi-million-dollar assets, you sometimes have to get down in the weeds, especially if youre trying to move a ship thats been going one way for years, the source says, noting they are also in touch with a few News 12 employees who are having the times of their lives working for the network. 728,429 people follow this. "I am heartbroken beyond measure. Veteran anchor Jackie Lukas, sports anchor Jamie Stuart . "Mornings with News 12" is the only place to get the local news that matters to your community. So I just want to make that clear. 1 market, but as a result youre getting less experienced folks who arent ready for that type of market, the recruiter says. 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. Its a wonderful opportunity for me. We were wrong. 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