Dave -- I appreciate your perspective. But, having worked with some of the managers involved, I support Sonya. I'd be happy to share my reasons with you privately.
For now, please remember that not all news managers are as kind, fair, thoughtful or decent as you are.
I lived in San Francisco, California for almost 20 years, and continued to follow local news there after moving back to the Midwest. We valued and kept our long time news anchors there, both male and female. In that area, news anchors are viewed as important and reliable sources of information and we knew them for years and felt almost like they were family. Still do. We went through many things together as they reported on news like Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk being shot at city hall, the San Francisco 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake and the Oakland hills fires. I think it's a shame, that WHO in Des Moines caved to pressure and did not stand up for their excellent employee who had given her work career to them for almost 20 years. Note that they offered her a lower paying job to stay, talk about adding insult to injury. I think they should have done better and good for her for calling them on it, even if she didn't win in the end, at least she called them out.
Dave provided valuable insight. During financial belt tightening, did WHO explain its financial situation ahead of the firings? Did WHO ask employees for ideas? I once ran a state agency where I inherited a financial problem (discovered after 3 weeks on the job). I explained to my agency that all non -union staff were going to need to be furloughed one day a week for several months. As finances improved, I brought all back to full time. I also ran a nonprofit when I similarly took a job with a stressed agency. I had to call an all staff meeting with about 40 staff and tell them there were be no raises for anyone and the option would have been layoffs. Did WHO do this? By letting staff go, WHO took the easy corporate way out.
Sonya Heitshusen was one of my excellent journalism students when I was teaching at Iowa State University. I have enjoyed following her career over the decades. This is tough as Dave writes. And I will reserve any further comments for offline.
Years ago I was demoted and my pay cut in half because I rebuffed a TV News Director's sexual advances. I have a hard time appreciating the management's side of this decision to fire Sonya. I went to see a lawyer about a lawsuit..but in the early 80s those law suits were unheard of..and it was a case of me against the station owner...one of the richest men in the state. I was advised there was no case. I am gratified to see Ms. Heitshusen took the case to trial. I do think the tearful testimony of one of the bosses was contrived to sway the jury.
I was hoping for a different outcome in the trial. As a 50-something woman, I am grateful every day that no corporate executive or station owner will ever be able to pull the plug on my career.
Experience is that difficult cases are tried because neither side can truly evaluate the potential outcome. This was a very difficult case. Neither side won, although the jury returned a verdict for WHO-TV. Both sides had to air their dirty laundry in public. Each side had information that they would have rather not been revealed. A trial to a jury of eight persons who do not have an interest in the outcome is still the best way we have to resolve contested and difficult issues. Another jury and another trial, the result might have been different.
Dave all your columns are terrific. Keep them coming. Reading your reports is like the two of us are in your office talking. Be well my friend cheers
Dave -- I appreciate your perspective. But, having worked with some of the managers involved, I support Sonya. I'd be happy to share my reasons with you privately.
For now, please remember that not all news managers are as kind, fair, thoughtful or decent as you are.
I lived in San Francisco, California for almost 20 years, and continued to follow local news there after moving back to the Midwest. We valued and kept our long time news anchors there, both male and female. In that area, news anchors are viewed as important and reliable sources of information and we knew them for years and felt almost like they were family. Still do. We went through many things together as they reported on news like Mayor Moscone and Harvey Milk being shot at city hall, the San Francisco 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake and the Oakland hills fires. I think it's a shame, that WHO in Des Moines caved to pressure and did not stand up for their excellent employee who had given her work career to them for almost 20 years. Note that they offered her a lower paying job to stay, talk about adding insult to injury. I think they should have done better and good for her for calling them on it, even if she didn't win in the end, at least she called them out.
Dave provided valuable insight. During financial belt tightening, did WHO explain its financial situation ahead of the firings? Did WHO ask employees for ideas? I once ran a state agency where I inherited a financial problem (discovered after 3 weeks on the job). I explained to my agency that all non -union staff were going to need to be furloughed one day a week for several months. As finances improved, I brought all back to full time. I also ran a nonprofit when I similarly took a job with a stressed agency. I had to call an all staff meeting with about 40 staff and tell them there were be no raises for anyone and the option would have been layoffs. Did WHO do this? By letting staff go, WHO took the easy corporate way out.
Thanks for your thoughtful comments. Glad to reconnect with you.
Sonya Heitshusen was one of my excellent journalism students when I was teaching at Iowa State University. I have enjoyed following her career over the decades. This is tough as Dave writes. And I will reserve any further comments for offline.
Years ago I was demoted and my pay cut in half because I rebuffed a TV News Director's sexual advances. I have a hard time appreciating the management's side of this decision to fire Sonya. I went to see a lawyer about a lawsuit..but in the early 80s those law suits were unheard of..and it was a case of me against the station owner...one of the richest men in the state. I was advised there was no case. I am gratified to see Ms. Heitshusen took the case to trial. I do think the tearful testimony of one of the bosses was contrived to sway the jury.
I was hoping for a different outcome in the trial. As a 50-something woman, I am grateful every day that no corporate executive or station owner will ever be able to pull the plug on my career.
Experience is that difficult cases are tried because neither side can truly evaluate the potential outcome. This was a very difficult case. Neither side won, although the jury returned a verdict for WHO-TV. Both sides had to air their dirty laundry in public. Each side had information that they would have rather not been revealed. A trial to a jury of eight persons who do not have an interest in the outcome is still the best way we have to resolve contested and difficult issues. Another jury and another trial, the result might have been different.