Approves

TFA:

Attorneys for Hoak Media have filed a response to the lawsuit in federal court, asserting that Huebner's own decisions led her down the path to her resignation.

...such as pursuing a career in television while being female.

Considering the only two skills a newscaster has are proper enunciation and physical attractiveness, I suppose losing one of them is a legitimate reason for termination. I wouldn't want a newscaster who stuttered, either.

Maybe now would be a good time for her to reflect on the older woman she replaced 20 years ago...

/And the toddler who will some day replace her replacement...

gwydion56: And, predictably, they say it has nothing to do with her age.

I guess the Tooth Fairy told them to do it.

She will win this lawsuit. if you are over 40, you are a protected class.

So... is it Melissa Theureau time yet?

The Plaintiff:



Madam, please state your case. I'll be in my bunk.

This text is now purple: Considering the only two skills a newscaster has are proper enunciation and physical attractiveness, I suppose losing one of them is a legitimate reason for termination. I wouldn't want a newscaster who stuttered, either.

Along the same lines how does this guy still have a gig?



//Happy Dew Year!

This text is now purple: Considering the only two skills a newscaster has are proper enunciation and physical attractiveness, I suppose losing one of them is a legitimate reason for termination. I wouldn't want a newscaster who stuttered, either.

Please tell us more about the world of television journalism, about which I imagine you have tremendous insight.

And who did she replace when she was 30 and possibly attractive? I bet it was an older guy.

/Veronica Corningstone approves

This is in Fargo?

A more attractive Fargoan?

/Not sure if that's the term.
//Either.

She's kinda funny looking. More than most people even.

*Insert Kramer pic*

Mmmm CAT FIGHT!

The career of a TV news anchor:

start as a reporter
promoted to jr. anchor
replace older co-anchor (who then sues for age discrimination)
grow old
get replaced by younger, more attractive jr. anchor
sue for age discrimination

It's not like they don't see this coming. I bet the lawsuit was premeditated for years.

The article says she resigned -- she wasn't fired. The station just put someone else in front of the camera rather than her.

I'll be the rest of the story is that they made her executive producer or something with the same pay, but she wanted the glory of being on camera. The didn't take away her employment, they just changed her job responsibilities.

Doesn't a TV station (or any business) generally have the right to write the job descriptions of employees?

mjbok: This text is now purple: Considering the only two skills a newscaster has are proper enunciation and physical attractiveness, I suppose losing one of them is a legitimate reason for termination. I wouldn't want a newscaster who stuttered, either.

Along the same lines how does this guy still have a gig?

[t3.gstatic.com image 144x192]

//Happy Dew Year!

The owner of Dick Clark Productions really really likes him for some crazy reason.

Looks like Stephanie Goetz is the replacement.

Too lazy to post her pic with the do not want caption.

mjbok: This text is now purple: Considering the only two skills a newscaster has are proper enunciation and physical attractiveness, I suppose losing one of them is a legitimate reason for termination. I wouldn't want a newscaster who stuttered, either.

Along the same lines how does this guy still have a gig?



//Happy Dew Year!

He produces the show. Easy way to keep your gig.

gwydion56: And, predictably, they say it has nothing to do with her age.

I guess the Tooth Fairy told them to do it.

No, it was the Sagging Tits Fairy.

At least she's not asking for like eleventy billion dollars. I bet the $75K she's asking for isn't even a year's salary. Hell, for $75K, the station should just pay up and let her go away, they're getting off light, considering the bad PR they're going to get, the angry viewers (there are undoubtedly some folks who like seeing this woman's head on their TV every night), and all the political fallout inside what is surely an already tension-filled environment full of primadonnas. It isn't that much money.

mjbok: This text is now purple: Considering the only two skills a newscaster has are proper enunciation and physical attractiveness, I suppose losing one of them is a legitimate reason for termination. I wouldn't want a newscaster who stuttered, either.

Along the same lines how does this guy still have a gig?



//Happy Dew Year!

Fire America's Oldest Teenager? That would be unpossible.

Her replacement....

You Tube (new window)

This is who replaced her?
/Whole lotta ugly in Fargo

Abe Vigoda's Ghost: He produces the show. Easy way to keep your gig.

I understand that, and it's really more Seacreast's gig now, but it's just uncomfortable watching him. It's more a car crash rubber-necking type thing watching him now. If you don't have the ability to communicate clearly, you probably should find another host for your show, even if it is YOUR show.

mccallcl: Please tell us more about the world of television journalism, about which I imagine you have tremendous insight.

This wasn't directed to me, but they kind of did have a point. I worked in the industry for several years and there were a mix of people (as there would be in all jobs) with some of them being brilliant and some of them being mind numbingly stupid. Turn off the prompter and they can't form a sentence type stupid. However, across the board, not a single on air person (at my station) was unattractive (from a physical standpoint). Some of them were nice people, but the asshole to nice person ratio did not favor the nice people at all.

This sort of lawsuit happens quite frequently. Usually the anchor is shocked to find out their contract is not being renewed. Usually the lawsuit is settled out of court because usually the plaintiff wins. Usually.

cgraves67: The career of a TV news anchor:

start as a reporter
promoted to jr. anchor
replace older co-anchor (who then sues for age discrimination)
grow old
get replaced by younger, more attractive jr. anchor
sue for age discrimination

It's not like they don't see this coming. I bet the lawsuit was premeditated for years.

The next step in the career path is to go to work in "Marketing" for a non-profit.

Honest Bender: Maybe now would be a good time for her to reflect on the older woman she replaced 20 years ago...

/And the toddler who will some day replace her replacement...

After a quick look it seems She replaced Teresa Joy:
Youtube: KXJB (Fargo, North Dakota) News Open - Early 1990s (new window)

GrymRpr: Honest Bender: Maybe now would be a good time for her to reflect on the older woman she replaced 20 years ago...

/And the toddler who will some day replace her replacement...

After a quick look it seems She replaced Teresa Joy:
Youtube: KXJB (Fargo, North Dakota) News Open - Early 1990s (new window)

The purple, puffy, pirate shirt. My eyes!

theorellior: If you want to be a journalist, be a reporter. (Maybe.)

Christiane Amanpour has a pretty good gig going. And she's a proper journalist.

JerkStore: At least she's not asking for like eleventy billion dollars. I bet the $75K she's asking for isn't even a year's salary. Hell, for $75K, the station should just pay up and let her go away, they're getting off light, considering the bad PR they're going to get, the angry viewers (there are undoubtedly some folks who like seeing this woman's head on their TV every night), and all the political fallout inside what is surely an already tension-filled environment full of primadonnas. It isn't that much money.

This is market 117. $75K most likely would not be much less (if it's not more) than her annual salary. The figures I knew were for market 34, and would have been much higher, and also were nearly 20 years ago, but in a market that small even the anchors aren't millionaires. I would be shocked if an anchor in any market higher than 100 (100+) is even making six figures.

special20: My hair looks like a WWII kraut helmet, but I can still read a teleprompter.
[www.mediabistro.com image 460x508]
SO WTF?

No way. WWI nails it.

Nancy Gribble unavailable for comment.

love_alice: The article says she resigned -- she wasn't fired. The station just put someone else in front of the camera rather than her.

I'll be the rest of the story is that they made her executive producer or something with the same pay, but she wanted the glory of being on camera. The didn't take away her employment, they just changed her job responsibilities.

Doesn't a TV station (or any business) generally have the right to write the job descriptions of employees?

The station is counting on her resigning when she is taken off the air. It happens all the time. If she doesn't resign, they will try to negotiate her next contract for much less money because she isn't on the air any more. Usually, the contract negotiations fall apart.

I've been around this stuff almost 30 years myself and I've seen this a lot. The anchor tries to settle, the station says no, the lawsuit gets filed and makes news, a settlement quietly happens for an undisclosed sum. And neither party will be allowed to discuss the settlement amount.