Hartford reporter sues

[adam & doctor drew]

here's the link (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/hc-sindlandcomplaint0709jul09,0,2077898.story)

[Mom]

I'll betcha most of our female posters here can share story after story that would mirror the complaints listed in this lawsuit. I point this out, not to diminish this individual lawsuit, but to assert my belief that this type of behavior is not only commonplace but accepted or at least ignored in many workplaces. That's why I'm sure there was surprise that somone would file a lawsuit over something that many would consider trivial. If her allegations prove to be true, good luck to her!

My current workplace is completely absent of that kind of behavior (thank God) and what a difference that makes in working relationships. In my last newsroom that was not the case. Here are a few examples of what was said to or about women there ...

Right before our attractive female sports reporter began her new job. the news director said to a half dozen guys sitting around the newsroom, "Wait til our viewers get a load of her. They'll cum in their shorts."

The news director and managing editor would sometimes start their news meeting each morning with comments to each other about which reporter was wearing the lowest cut shirt that day and who had the perkiest "tits."
(this was not said in front of any reporter and was told to me by a male producer who had to sit in on those meetings)

A female reporter was once told by the managing editor "we encourage our female reporters and anchors to NOT wear a bra" followed by a lecherous "heh, heh, heh."

One newsroom manager, who assumed one of our reporters was a lesbian (she was not), asked her about girl on girl sex."

One of our greener anchor/reporters went to the ND for advice on how to improve her work. He told her his number one piece of advice was to unbutton another button on her shirt.

When our lead female anchor was pregnant with twins the GM complained that she looked "puffy," fat" and "tired" on the air and told the ND to inform her that she had to look better or she'd be taken off. The GM made these comments in a roomful of people at a manager's meeting at which I was present. After she had the babies and returned to work, and after she'd lost the baby weight, she was told by the ND that she'd lost some of her allure as an anchor because now she was a mother and everyone knew it. She was told to "sex up" her appearance.

I have no doubt that if someone filed a complaint or a lawsuit citing any of the examples I just listed, there would be shock and surprise from any of the managers mentioned along with plenty of sputtering, "But that's not what I meant." "It was a joke." "My comments were taken out of context." "It was a perfectly innocent comment," etc.

This is 2009 and way past the time when women should expect to be able to work in a professional, fair environment.

[Jane Craig]

I'll betcha most of our female posters here can share story after story that would mirror the complaints listed in this lawsuit. I point this out, not to diminish this individual lawsuit, but to assert my belief that this type of behavior is not only commonplace but accepted or at least ignored in many workplaces.

Amen, Mom. Your examples ring true as well. My sense is that, if anything, the pendulum has swung back toward more of this nonsense than there was a few years ago. It makes me both sad and angry.

[adam & doctor drew]

it does seem to be 2 different issues here though:
is she suing because douchebag male managers said stupid sexist things, or because she got a bad review and a pay cut?

and is she really surprised that TV news, especially these days, tends to value the younger, prettier people?

[jrat33]

God, I hope she wins.

Then maybe we'll start seeing decent journalism again on local newscasts.

[ISTHISTHINGON?]

I don't get how some managers think it's okay to make those comments.
The way it is portrayed right now....it seems she'd win some kind of lawsuit.
Sexism seems stronger than the descrimination/age/pay complaints....and I only say that because it's a cruel industry when it comes to looks.
I think it's behavior that is tolerated/look the other way ordeal.

[east coast producer]

Just out of curiosity, Drew, why did you decided you needed to qualify the headline by saying it is a reporter from Hartford who is suing instead of saying just "Reporter Sues"? Is there some distinction about the reporter being from Hartford that leads the scenario to be more interesting?

[News Is Broken]

Just out of curiosity, Drew, why did you decided you needed to qualify the headline by saying it is a reporter from Hartford who is suing instead of saying just "Reporter Sues"? Is there some distinction about the reporter being from Hartford that leads the scenario to be more interesting?

Actually yeah - This is the same Hartford where that old man got run over numerous times and people just went on about their business like nothing happened. Link (http://www.topix.com/forum/city/hartford-ct/T0R3HDPOR2IF1FS7E)

That place is effed up. We should sell it to Canada.

[east coast producer]

Oh, well, that resolves my inquiry and to my satisfaction.

[SamG]

From what I remember when they taught us how to sexually harass coworkers, the "victim" needs to complain to someone in authority. It can be your manager, another manager, the HR person, corporate, etc. Otherwise, the offenders can use the "it's a joke, out of context, not what I meant, etc." excuse.

This is not to excuse those who make those comments.

[adam & doctor drew]

Just out of curiosity, Drew, why did you decided you needed to qualify the headline by saying it is a reporter from Hartford who is suing instead of saying just "Reporter Sues"? Is there some distinction about the reporter being from Hartford that leads the scenario to be more interesting?

no the Hartford part meant nothing.
it could just as easily be a reporter from anywhere... no difference (at least in my mind).

[east coast producer]

Thanks. I was merely curious, and you satisfied my inquiry.

[Consider This]

God, I hope she wins.

Then maybe we'll start seeing decent journalism again on local newscasts.

No, we won't.

All we might see is a-holes like these get better at censoring themselves.

It's not going to change a thing about hiring practices in this business.

[Roy Hobbs]

I can't relate to this...I'm just as young and pretty as I was 20 years ago...still Mom, I am AMAZED at the comments you relate. Sounds more like 1979 than 2009.

The Bore-a saurus era.

[Diplomat]

no the Hartford part meant nothing.
it could just as easily be a reporter from anywhere... no difference (at least in my mind).

A Hartford reporter is probably different from a Georgia reporter.

[adam & doctor drew]

A Hartford reporter is probably different from a Georgia reporter.
:worship:

[The Mockingbird]

When you use your looks to get yourself jobs, you shouldn't be surprised when you lose work at the same rate you lose your looks.

[writer2]

What Mom and Jane said.

[sportzchick]

Part of the reason I am not in "the biz" anymore.

What were some of the things i heard? How about my SD's nickname for me... "tits". Yes, he said this to my face and in front of other sports staff.
If I dropped something and went to pick it up he'd say "while you're down there".

Classy guy. Good thing is he was let go not long after I was "let go" from the station (after asking him to stop with the comments).

Karma is a beyotch.

[adam & doctor drew]

chick, what's your view of older women losing jobs to (in theory) younger, prettier ones?

[sportzchick]

Well i had a whole thingy typed up and thought I posted it...and blam it was gone.

So to keep it short and simple. I think it is unfortunate that it happens and wish that there was more loyalty in the business when it comes to things like this. However I know that if I were still on the air and I didn't take preventative mesaures to hold back the clock and my salary kept climbing... i know I would have a target on my back eventually.
Part of the bussiness sadly. We all know that it is a visual medium for the most part, I just think it is sad that some of the people in that original post have been so brazen and crass.

[MyracleMan]

Mom, you don't ahve to be a female reporter to share stories like yours... I can't count the number of times someone in our newsroom has made comments like those you listed. If anyone took those comments to our GM, a woman, nothing would be done because of the simple fact the people who work in the newsroom are her golden children. They can do no wrong, while those of us who keep the station afloat, production and engineering, can do no right.

What you;ve described is S.O.P. for news organizations around the country... yet another reason why local television news is headed straight down the $h!tter.

EDIT TO ADD:

Yet another reason, on top of the horrendous hours and low pay, I'm glad to be getting out of this industry.