Einhorn is out after nearly three decades at News 12 Long Island, while Lukas is out after more than 15 years at the station. Local Mississippi breaking news and weather from CBS 12 News WJTV, your Jackson, MS news leader. I do think we have to revisit how we do things. In his story, Vesey first describes the scene at the rally and the protesters motivations for being there. Evans has worked in major markets at top broadcast stations around the country. A few have, but many have gone on to work at other news outlets. They worried that, like Vesey, they would also become public targets of vitriol and, potentially, violence. I take pride in what we did and what we accomplished. News 12 Long Island (TV Series 1986- ) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. You guys missed another one as usual. Wrote another: Stop the drama News 12 Long Island.. Sportscaster Jamie Stuart, reporter Christine Insinga . Ive known Bill OShaughnessy, the owner of this station, since the very beginning of my career, since I started working for Cablevision early on. 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.. This week in Made in Connecticut, News 12's Becky Surran takes you to Wilton for an inside look at one of the largest semiconductor companies in the world, ASML. Fourteen former and current employees from three additional News 12 markets tell TVNewsCheck the workplace culture in newsrooms throughout the company had become unbearably noxious under the problematic leadership of Natz, Assistant GM and VP of News Audrey Gruber and other managers hired by Altice. When News 12 Westchester announced in 2016 that it was moving the bulk of its production facilities from Yonkers to Long Island, several bastions of local news, including Emmy-winning anchor and political correspondent Janine Rose, found themselves displaced after many years on the job. 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. Singleton, hired from a Lexington TV station in 2015, had his disagreements with WCPO-TV management. They were focusing on New York City. A Los Angeles news anchor was fired after he slammed his own station on the air for how it handled his former co-anchor's abrupt departure from the airwaves, a report said. "It is unjust that Isis Romero was let go from KSAT especially in light of @saahj's report on the lack of Latinx anchors on San Antonio TV news stations," another said. But one source asks, Does it need to be multiple spots in every show or airing every hour?. We started taping the local Yonkers City Council meetings and started doing small news excerpts each week, and then we started doing daily new shows that just grew and grew. I dont see it as a dying profession at all? Sources say the whole affair was demoralizing for Dolan. We were the flagship, says one former Long Island newsroom employee, and they definitely wanted to make sure that we knew that we were no longer the flagship, that we were just another cog in the machine that was Altice.. ABOUT THE SHOW. Jon Steinberg and his golden parachute along with the four of five GMs of news in the last five years drove the final nail in that coffin. As former employees note, management clearly did not consult with weather forecasters on its branding because thunderbolts are not meteorological phenomena at all. Altice last October also announced plans to relocate News 12 Connecticut's anchor studio to its News 12 New Jersey facility in Edison, N.J., while keeping a crew of local reporters and video . 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. After investigating the allegations of employee mistreatment outlined in the article, Altice fired the station groups general manager, Jacques Natz. 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. She was also inducted into the Kappa Tau Alpha National Honor Society in journalism and mass communication. 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. By Kevin Eck on Jan. 12, 2022 - 9:36 AM. I have to give Chuck Dolan, who was the owner and CEO of Cablevision, who had that vision for niche programming, and he saw the importance of local news, and then Pat Dolan, his son, became president of the News 12 operations. The Syracuse native has called the island home for 35 years where she and her husband Tony raised their three children Matt, Greg, and Maggie. Well, Rose is back and smelling as sweet as ever, this time as the host of her own radio show WVOX. Direct payment worth up to $4,555 to be sent out in 12 . If you have that love, you have to pursue it. 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. The New Tax Bill: Pouring SALT in Our Wounds, or Not So Bad? Taylor Henry, Weekend Anchor/Reporter. During the incident, there was an exchange which many found offensive where Matt Pieper was relaying a message to reporter Amy Yensi and said, "David wants . They say News 12 has become a brand that consumers can no longer rely on for the community-focused coverage that was its hallmark for decades. In addition to the Vesey conflict, it reminded staffers of how dangerous their work can become, without warning and in an instant. (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.). 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. Here's my story: How you can help: -Pray for all those. I loved my job, I loved going to work every day, says another former newsroom staffer. Local news, weather, traffic, sports events and more from 12NEWS KPNX in Phoenix, Arizona Meteorologist (1986-) unknown episodes . He loved it, but we became a laughingstock.. They note that news does not pay workers at a high rate compared to other industries to begin with, and this approach by News 12 creates recruiting challenges for the small group. That creates its own problem: stress running through the entire organization.. "I am heartbroken beyond measure. Veteran anchor Jackie Lukas, sports anchor Jamie Stuart . Nikita Ramos is a multimedia journalist for News 12. Accompanying web copy and station tweets spotlighted the threat against Vesey, not the protest. The 10 p.m. anchor said the . Matt Pieper, who has since been fired from News 12 The . In her . After that, I stopped telling people where I worked and stopped wearing my News 12 gear in public.. She began her career as a production assistant and progressed through the ranks to become a writer, producer, sports anchor, and reporter. The Amy Waldman hire was very unsettling for staffers, says one News 12 source. Ana Orsini. I'm not going to lie, I was a little shocked when I heard that the kake news anchor had been fired. A news anchor at WJTV in Jackson, Mississippi said she was fired because of her choice to wear her natural hair instead of straightening it. Robert Hadlock, Weekday Evening Anchor/Reporter. She has been a weekend morning anchor for News 12 Long Island since 2006. Oops! New hires were not provided sufficient training, sources say, which forced more experienced staffers to pick up the slack. Even minor chances of rain have fallen under the purview of the channels Storm Watchers, network weather forecasts whose branding on air and across digital channels include what sources say are hyperbolic graphics and animations intended to flag severe weather even when there is none. Halfway through the segment, Vesey fixes his camera on himself as unmasked protesters invade his personal space and shout at him a scenario familiar to many journalists. She went on to thank her audience for supporting her work with KSAT. . She announced her termination from the station on July 27, 2021. 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?. Thank you so much. That day, reporter Kevin Vesey covered a Long Island protest of state-issued mask mandates during the initial spread of COVID-19. Matt Pieper's apology and statement on Twitter which appeared earlier today. 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. Four senior News 12 Long Island anchors and reporters exited the channel Friday in a newsroom reorganization, owner Altice has confirmed. The days of news coverage of local stories, studio interviews of politicians and celebrities on morning show couches are long dead. Those whod received high marks for decades, threes, fours and fives on a five-point scale, suddenly earned scores of one and two. In a Facebook post, Romero revealed she had been let go from the network. WM: Could you describe that rise and some advice for younger journalists, especially in the contemporary environment? A Fox anchor in Michigan was fired after going into an off-air tirade against his co-anchor. 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. "Mornings with News 12" is the only place to get the local news that matters to your community. He remained a senior network advisor for some months afterward, but was forced to move out of his office in the Long Island newsroom into a tiny corner space located in an administrative wing of the grounds. Other employees detail events that felt like personal attacks on co-workers considering a departure from News 12. Isis Romero was one of the most recognizable faces on KSAT 12 San Antonio for over a decade. And so what I think is, Altice made changes based on economics, but beyond that, I couldnt comment. WM: Let me expand on that question. Altice says it has also invested in News 12 digital platforms, including its website and mobile apps, as well as the News 12 New York streaming channel, which launched in 2020. (KTLA) KTLA-TV Channel 5 fired news anchor Mark Mester Thursday afternoon, days after he was suspended following an off-script segment in which he criticized the station's handling of his co-anchor Lynette Romero's abrupt departure . When the reporting day was done, many workers slept on the stations floor, others in their own cars as Ida pummeled the area. I will be forever grateful.". Airing those segments has meant less time for the kind of impactful, individual market-focused stories that they replaced. Its a wonderful opportunity for me. Anchors and reporters were going to get let go, that wasn't a secret. Radio was my first love in college; I wont deny that. So Cablevision saw the opportunity to reach out into the suburbs and provide the local news that everyone wanted. However, they claim Natz who many say is not a newsman made a habit of calling people out on their shortcomings with public shows of frustration that ascended to levels of open disrespect. However, the email also told personnel to share our News 12 links covering the situation Kevin [Vesey] endured to show facts and what actually happened.. They dont exist, and sources say this fact underscores the station groups forced efforts to air branded content and overhype weather events. I have spoken to several people who have left or have been forced out of the organization so Altice can hire less-experienced, lower-compensated future employees, the recruiter says. Ryan Cody has left 12 News in Phoenix, announcing his exit in a tweet that mentions "professional toxicity" and mental healing. And once they moved on to that other career or other field of work, theyve been just as happy, if not happier. 6 min read. The furore at KTLA-TV began last week when the . I learned everything I needed in the News 12 newsroom.. One particular piece of sponsored content from 2019 that staffers found in poor taste revolved around Jon Steinberg, CEO of Cheddar, a News 12 sister news brand, delivering Dunkin Donuts to a News 12 set. 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. You might want to be a news producer, you might want to be a cameraman. Local News and Information for Phoenix, Arizona and surrounding areas. All of these changes eroded morale throughout the companys newsrooms, sources say. That story was spread internationally so we could capitalize on it.. Very bad move KSAT. 24/7 Hyper-local breaking news, weather, traffic, politics, investigative and more. In addition to the notes about ratings increases and a boost in distribution channels, the spokesperson says Altice has invested millions in the News 12 brand, with an updated logo, modern graphics, as well as studio and set upgrades. The ouster came 13 years after an accuser . (News Director Pauline Chiou had taken a leave of absence a week or so earlier. And history repeats itself. "I want to thank those of you who have supported me with your viewership these past 11 years, and for the incredible love and kindness you have shown me. Though it was a weather event that had been anticipated days in advance, News 12 upper management did not book hotel rooms for its personnel. JR: Ill be honest with you, I think they have a larger responsibility, because there are so many facts and figures coming in every day that they have to sift through, and I also think there is its unfair, but so many deadlines are imposed on people, and theres this belief that you have to be the first one to report something, and I think journalists have gotten into trouble rushing to get a story to air or rushing to get a story on their website or rushing to get on Facebook. 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.. The document goes on to say that there is credible evidence that Waldman pressured the networks head of human resources to use a coworkers false statements as a precedent to fire Evseroff. Reporters were hit especially hard. The anchor worked at CNN for many years before moving to Fox News, where he . Ken Evseroff, the White photographer plaintiff, said in his suit that he was fired over false accusations from colleagues of racist behavior directed at a colleague, who is Muslim and a Bangladeshi-American. When Amy came, all of a sudden everyone was on an action plan, says one source. Select News 12 newsrooms have also recently expanded the areas they cover, according to Altice. So stupid," one viewer said. 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. According to them, Waldman, who is White, has accused other White employees of racist behavior toward people of color in their professional orbit. Many viewers in Long Island and other News 12 markets have soured on the channels, sources say. Sources say reporters were taken off their beats and relegated to latenight traffic accident coverage. It's one destination for everything you need to know to start your day. Join Carissa Lawson, Kristina Behr, James Gregorio, and Don Smith for the latest headlines, breaking news from overnight, traffic and weather information for all . This past year, the number hit 470,000. News 12 is still going strong. WM caught up with Rose recently, to see how shes settling into her new gig. 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. Employees discussed their safety concerns with management and asked for additional security measures to be put in place for their protection. 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. What Noreaster? wrote one person in a comment. So I think you just have to pursue your passion, whatever it is. I kind of act as the catalyst, asking questions and getting feedback. WM: Your guest, Vince, called in and said, Change is not always good. So far, has this worked out for you? It wasnt about us, one former News 12 newsroom employee says. The recruiter, who spoke anonymously so as not to disrupt prospective career opportunities, says theyve heard about the News 12 hostile work environment and the short tempers, raised voices and banging fists on the table from upper management. This is particularly the case when it comes to weather forecasting. 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. Please select a region to stay informed on the latest local news via news12.com. Exiting workers were told that they were beloved, and the company wanted to invest in them if they chose to stick around. 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. Then, a week after the hurricane, management told employees that she was no longer with the company.) 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 . She is a New York City native who grew up in Queens. They surmise that Altice wishes to see such workers leave the company permanently so they can be replaced by inexperienced, inexpensive personnel. Over the years she's shared the desk with Melba Tolliver, Bill Zimmerman, Lea Tyrrell and Stone Grissom. Conspicuous ads were increasingly embedded into newscasts. as we experienced ourselves here at News 12. JR: Thank you. Then, one weekend in 2018, sources say Dolan and his secretary cleaned out his office of personal belongings, fearing Altice would soon permanently lock him out of the Long Island headquarters. The company also points out that it recently partnered with Charter to offer News 12 to Spectrum customers and with Verizon to bring News 12 to Fios customers. People at home dont give a shit how long my cold open is, says one former newsroom staffer. A year later that half-hour newscast morphed into the nation's first 24-hour local news channel, News 12 Long Island. "What even is KSAT without Isis Romero?!?" Cody has worked as an anchor on the NBC affiliate's morning show . Of course, sponsored content has become a commonplace for local TV news in the past decade. Kristin Malaspina was hired by Steinberg as the marketing director and instituted the majority of changes that plague news 12 to this day. Ground zero for this initiative was the News 12 Long Island newsroom. 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 We have to know how to tell people stories that mean something to them. In a Facebook post, Romero revealed she had been let go from the network. In 1995 they decided to take what we were doing on a daily basis, one show, two shows a day, and put it into a 24-hour news format that could really serve the neighborhoods with news thats important to most people. A graduate of the State University of New York College at Cortland, she also attended the University of North London and got her first job at WLNY TV-55 where she covered a wide range of news assignments. Altice was the reason I left News 12, says another. The employee discussed issues with the companys direction and its treatment of staff. For more than a decade Colleen served as the "kick-off" host for Lustgarten Foundation Walk. Current KSAT Vice President and General ManagerPhil Lane thanked Romerofor her service to the station in an email. Westchester Magazine: How are you settling into the new radio show? Josh Elliot was abruptly fired by CBS News on Monday and escorted out of the building by security. Initially, some in the company retained an open mind toward Natzs ideas, observing that anytime theres management turnover, change is a certainty. Colleen was the original . 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. Jeff is an award winning anchor and reporter who joined the News 12 team in 2023. It was about how much money we can make.. 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. Having to do a minimum mandated amount of approved social media postings a day. And Ive known people whove been in this business a long time, but Ive also known people who come into this business because perhaps, professors said, oh, pursue this, or their parents might have said, oh, go into media. But they really had a love for something else. "Vic Faust no longer works for Fox 2 . Altice also says that News 12 remains home to a number of long-time anchors and reporters who are mainstays of our local communities while also bringing in new talent who are quickly becoming familiar faces to viewers. Around 40% of News 12s full-time employees have been with the network for more than 10 years, the company adds. Employees pulled lengthy shifts and reporting crews braved what multiple sources say were unpredictable, violent and horrifying weather conditions. The number of News 12 distribution channels and brand exposure may have broadened of late, but the integrity of the organizations reported content has been called into question by current and former employees. "Mornings with News 12" is the only place to get the local news that matters to your community. In the bluntest dismissal of a South Florida anchor team in recent memory, WPEC-Ch. Channel 12 announced Monday that Gerron Jordan, who joined the station's . Pat was really great to us, says one former employee. TV, News, Fox News, Celebrities, Media. The Emmy-award winning journalist was there for some of Long Island's most historic and memorable events including the crash of Avianca Flight 52 in Cove Neck, the LIRR shooting massacre, the TWA Flight 800 tragedy, the September 11th terror attacks and Superstorm Sandy. Download our app or go to news12.com for more. They worry that their credibility as meteorologists is on the line; however, sources say nothing has changed. I enjoyed anchoring San Antonio's #1 newscast for the past decade, and I especially took pride in representing my culture and community as the city's most tenured Latina news anchor currently on English-language TV.". 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. It was ruining my entire life and my health, one source, who was closely managed by Waldman, says. Fired News 12 The Bronx anchor Matt Pieper tried to save face a week after he dropped the f-bomb and bashed government assistance on a live mic by pointing the finger at a behind-the-scenes boss. Less than three weeks after the Vesey incident, freelance reporter Darius Radzius, who sometimes worked for News 12, said he was attacked in Brooklyn while covering protests that erupted after the death of George Floyd. Generally, middle managers at the company like Stellato are concerned about worker safety and well-being, sources say. 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. Responsible for developing leads, conducting interviews, completing thorough research, and . But some weeks, its more locally focused. 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. Its part of how companies pay employee salaries. This week four News 12 Long Island anchors and reporters have announced their employment with the Altice-owned news station is ending. Multiple sources express dismay over leaderships insistence that meteorologists play up weather events to sound overtly threatening when they are not. Yearly raises and employee bonuses dependent upon these review scores were not dispensed to those who, according to sources, unjustifiably scored ones and twos. To read TVNewsChecks earlier News 12 stories click here and here. Now we have it on record, its on record. Today, journalism is a lot harder to get into, as you said. But the micromanaging and constant criticism directed toward these workers said otherwise, they assert. We need to tell the stories that people need for information, for education, in some cases, for entertainment as well. 2. After the takeover we couldnt imagine it get worse. As a result, the news product suffers and it just skews everything. Roxanne Evans is an Emmy Award-winning evening news anchor for News 12 Connecticut. Part of the reason, sources say, is the attached Ford branding. A number of angry viewers lashed out at the network. Cherny Amhara, who has anchored the weekend morning newscasts at WISN-TV (Channel 12) since January 2019, said on social media Friday that she's leaving the Milwaukee ABC affiliate. Jackie Lukas is a television journalist, anchor, and reporter from the United States. The business is small is a constant refrain from sources. 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. And you heard today, you heard the show. She enjoys every opportunity she can get to help others understand the lifesaving importance of leading a healthier lifestyle. She told the HR head to do so, even while those statements had already been investigated and completely discredited. (Per one source, supported by his social media accounts, Evseroff has since been hired back by WPIX.). She also documented the devastating effects of pancreatic cancer and the fight for a cure. If youre going to be a journalist, dont expect to be a millionaire. "This is a cornerstone of our culture and will continue to be so.". Network veterans paint a far more idyllic picture of work life at News 12 under the leadership of Patrick Dolan, who co-founded News 12 and served as its president for 30 years. 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. WOAI-TV's chief anchorwoman Evy Ramos said she was abruptly fired today. 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. While sources say many stations have similar weather forecasting tools, and that they understand such a vehicle can be useful in certain weather events, the Thunderbolt has become a must-see in weather stories, often without justification.