Its really true. At least four anchors and reporters are out at Altice owned News 12 Long Island after a reorganization. ISIS Romero is a news anchor who had been with KSAT 12 San Antonio for more than a decade. When the reporting day was done, many workers slept on the stations floor, others in their own cars as Ida pummeled the area. Hill had a reputation for defending controversial figures and was fired by Fox. A number of angry viewers lashed out at the network. 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?. Vesey did not answer interview requests from TVNewsCheck.). Whether its sponsored or not, its supposed to be generic enough that it can air network-wide, a source says. Read the latest issue of Westchester magazine for FREE! 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. 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. Many viewers in Long Island and other News 12 markets have soured on the channels, sources say. At the heart of the issue is the . 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. By Verne Gay verne . Events like these have made personnel looking to leave the organization with any grace or at least intact bridges fearful of a prospective exit from the company. Karin Adams,Weekday Evening Anchor/Reporter. 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. Elizabeth Hashagen is a well-known reporter for News 12 in Long Island, New York. The insider also says, from their perspective, the News 12 brand does not appear to have fallen out of favor in the industry or with viewers. 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. That day, reporter Kevin Vesey covered a Long Island protest of state-issued mask mandates during the initial spread of COVID-19. They surmise that Altice wishes to see such workers leave the company permanently so they can be replaced by inexperienced, inexpensive personnel. 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. It was just people tearing [us] apart.. Trouble for the News 12 New Jersey team began in May 2020 with the hiring of Jacques Natz as GM, sources say. 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. 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. 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. I do think we have to revisit how we do things. But you dont care.. A Fox anchor in Michigan was fired after going into an off-air tirade against his co-anchor. However, News 12+ consumption strictly between 8 and 11 p.m. have dipped in the past two years. Kathy Hochul had closed many state thruways that News 12 Westchester workers relied on to get home. We come to work to tell stories, not to become the story. Of course, you had pressures and deadlines, the typical stuff, but it was great.. The Amy Waldman hire was very unsettling for staffers, says one News 12 source. Jackie Lukas has left the News 12, as her 16-year long journey came to an end on January 2022. The focus definitely seemed to be on attention, and not our well-being. 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. It's one destination for everything you need to know to start your day. 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. "I am heartbroken beyond measure. It was about how much money we can make.. The network claims it was forced to scramble when Reed McDonough, 27, allegedly quit . Then, a week after the hurricane, management told employees that she was no longer with the company.) A Westchester Assemblyman, Tom Abinanti, even drew up legislation requiring cable providers to each produce hyperlocal coverage as part of its licensing agreement with New York State. But it was clear to the staff that she wasnt being supported by upper management. 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. It's one destination for everything you need to know to start your day. 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 . 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.. The Bronx Brooklyn Connecticut Hudson Valley Long Island New Jersey Westchester. 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. Colleen was the original morning show anchor. Discussing the News 12 programming changes, one anonymous media buyer supports the staffers complaints. Brenda Teele is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, news-anchor, host, and media coach, who officially joined the . Today, journalism is a lot harder to get into, as you said. In addition to the Vesey conflict, it reminded staffers of how dangerous their work can become, without warning and in an instant. Carissa Lawson is the morning news anchor at News 12 New Jersey. And reporters spending more time practicing dance moves on social media than covering stores. But after a few months, employees began to see what they call the writing on the wall.. She went on to thank her audience for supporting her work with KSAT. Multiple sources say that comments like these are rampant on social media and have been for the past few years since the Altice takeover. So I think you just have to pursue your passion, whatever it is. Now we have it on record, its on record. "When I came into the station, our general manager John Seabers told me they were exercising the termination clause in my . 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. Select News 12 newsrooms have also recently expanded the areas they cover, according to Altice. Robach joined ABC News in 2012, and also joined GMA3 in 2020. In his story, Vesey first describes the scene at the rally and the protesters motivations for being there. You have to be prepared to work and want to love what you do. Dont you guys have more serious crimes to report than humiliating this woman? read one comment. 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. "What even is KSAT without Isis Romero?!?" And this is basically just more of the same. . Nikita Ramos is a multimedia journalist for News 12. To read TVNewsChecks earlier News 12 stories click here and here. But one source asks, Does it need to be multiple spots in every show or airing every hour?. Veteran anchor Jackie Lukas, sports anchor . 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.. However, more than one source speaks positively of Waldman, saying they had no issues with her and in some cases that she was kind, generous and supportive of them. 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. 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. But security costs had been slashed in prior budgets, according to sources, and it required multiple requests from some employees before guards were assigned to field crews. 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?! News 12 Long Island (TV Series 1986- ) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. JR: I was blessed, and it certainly was different back then. 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