More Takes on Spectrum News
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After we posted this story about Spectrum News, and this follow up, we heard from a couple of others who worked for Spectrum outlets outside of Milwaukee.
There seems to be a pattern here.
Email:
I read your Patreon article about the guy who responded to your Wisconsin DNC and RNC post. He is spot on.
I worked at a Florida Spectrum station that was way more diverse than the Wisconsin Spectrum shop. They put black and latin/hispanic on the air. But they were rarely every promoted or given anchor opportunities. They had a black morning anchor and a Hispanic evening anchor, both of whom left for greener pastures. Whenever those anchors were out or on vacation, white women filled in for them. And they were both replaced by white women.
The newsroom was overly conservative. Photographers and talent (including the one the reader mentioned in your email) would openly make pro-Trump remarks in the newsroom and no one said anything. One photog has MAGA merch all over his desk and even posted Pro-Trump remarks online. Never got in trouble for any of it.
Spectrum is a joke.
Email:
Hello!
Regarding your post today on Spectrum News, I’d like to add to the story.
Please take a look at what is happening at Spectrum’s statewide cable news operation in North Carolina. We have seen an abrupt change in diversity, and it is being blamed on “budget cuts.” Since November (the week of the election), we have lost two award-winning African American female anchors. One was a former morning anchor based in Charlotte and had been moved to Spectrum’s national streaming team to cover breaking news and fill-in anchor. She was one of few people of color on the team. The other was a weekend morning anchor and reporter based in Raleigh.
To my knowledge, they were the only two impacted in this so-called budget cut.
The team’s only Black female meteorologist was also taken off of the NC team and moved to Spectrum’s streaming team, meaning she is no longer seen on-air here in NC.
In addition, the only Black female morning reporter has been removed from the mornings and replaced with a White female reporter.
The entire morning team is now White.
The only consistent Black representation throughout the state currently is one female weekend evening anchor, one male weekday evening anchor, and one male meteorologist.
There are a few Black and Latino reporters, but since it is a statewide broadcast, they are not featured everyday.
Spectrum NC (and the company overall) claims to be “relentless” in connecting with and sharing stories of the community. However, it is increasingly difficult when its on-air talent doesn’t actually reflect the community it claims to serve.
