WPLG's chief media officer, Bill Pohovey, blasts employees with social media posts
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The director of a Miami news station ordered employees in a memo to stop posting “stupid nonsense” on their social media accounts, which came to light as a bikini-clad anchor's post sparked debate over whether they were violating policy.
WPLG Vice President of News Bill Pohovey criticized his staff in an internal memo about influencer-like content that interfered with their journalism, according to a report by FTVLive.
“I've emailed about this several times in the past, but it seems we're going in the wrong direction again,” Pohovey reportedly wrote.
The memo was released as a series of Instagram posts by WPLG anchor and reporter Jenise Fernandez on her verified personal account, where she shared photos of her recent trip to Fiji to her approximately 28,000 followers, the report said. However, the memo was sent weeks ago, before the new photos.
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Jenise Fernandez, anchor and reporter for WPLG in Miami ABC, reportedly shared photos on her social media account showing her in a bikini while on vacation in Fiji. This post was censored after reports about an internal memo about employees' use of social media. (Stock)
The photos appeared to show Fernandez in a bright red bikini while boarding a yacht, with the caption, “Now I know what it's like to be in @cloud9_fiji.”
According to Fernandez's station biography, he has worked at the station since 2014 and was previously assigned Miami. She also placed fourth runner-up in the Miss Florida Pageant.
Another set of photos reportedly showed Fernandez in a matching bikini as she leaned on a float at the resort – with additional text showing her raising a glass for a toast with two friends.
While some reports indicate that the memo written by Pohovey was circulated after it was posted on Fernandez's account, Pohovey denied that in a statement to the New York Post.
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WPLG Studio Building in Miami, Florida. (Stock)
Pohovey told the outlet that the memo “is not a response to individual posts [but rather] it's just a reminder of the guidelines that have been around for a long time.”
In a follow-up statement, Pohovey added, “This had nothing to do with the current job. As I said, the memo was sent many months ago and is not new.”
He also told the New York Post that the photos did not violate his order.
“The memo did not tell employees that they could not post vacation photos or other daily life items on their social media pages,” he said in an email to the Post. “We live in Florida and people wear bikinis to the beach. These pictures were tasteful and absolutely beautiful.”
It is reported that this memo attacked the staff present at the station, reminding them that their personalities should not interfere with their work as local journalists.
“Too many of our social media accounts are being used for nonsense,” Pohovey wrote, according to FTVLive.
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WPLG Vice President of News Bill Pohovey reportedly reminded newsroom staff in an internal memo that reporters should maintain professional social media accounts. (Stock)
“We don't want dance videos with our staff. We don't want fashion shows, clothes of the day, or any other nonsense that undermines you as journalists,” he added.
Pohovey reportedly told staff that they are not allowed to record social media content inside the newsroom – a practice that has become commonplace at news stations across the country.
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“We should never produce such content, and we should NEVER create such content within the channel, in our newsrooms or studios, using our stories as a backdrop,” Pohovey wrote.
The vice president reportedly said that employees should consider applying the same rules to their social media accounts, adding, “Some of what I'm seeing is strange.”
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“People are losing faith in the news, and the nickname 'fake news' is starting to stick. We are being taken seriously and this inappropriate behavior is adding fuel to that fire,” he added later. “Likes and follows are not worth losing your trust and credibility with this news organization.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Fernandez and Pohovey for comment.
