WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids fires 4 employees over Pride month coverage memo
Grand Rapids-based television station WOOD-TV fired four employees after an internal memo from station directors said producers and reporters need to stop covering LGBTQ+-related topics during Pride month.
The two people responsible for creating and distributing the memo, news director Stanton Lang and assistant news director Amy Fox, were terminated from their positions, according to Crain's Grand Rapids Business.
Two producers who openly spoke out against the memo on social media were also fired from their positions.
Producers Madeline Odle and Luke Steir publicly criticized the message on Twitter on June 15, saying it didn’t represent the beliefs of the entirety of the newsroom. On Friday, Steir announced via Twitter that both he and Odle were fired and looking for new positions.
“After twenty combined years in one of the best newsrooms in America, we are waking up reading the news instead of writing it,” the post said. “We are heartbroken to not be with our team today continuing the incredible legacy we have fought so hard for.”
The two anticipate “unexpected career changes” due to a non-compete clause currently in effect.
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The WOOD memo asked employees to evaluate the newsworthiness of Pride events due to their conservative viewership.
"We know that West Michigan is a conservative area in many ways," the memo said. "We need to recognize that some stories related to LGBTQ issues are going to be controversial and polarizing in our community."
When news of the memo first broke, Steir posted a Tweet saying there was immediate pushback from many employees.
"The guidance is not being followed," the post said. "The only two people involved in its creation have been removed from any discussions surrounding @WOODTV Pride coverage as our corporation conducts a thorough investigation."
“Our team immediately pushed back and called it to the attention of upper management. This memo does not reflect our views. It has not and will not change how we cover members of our community,” Odle tweeted at the time.
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Days after the memo broke, the station apologized.
“WOOD-TV is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to covering and reporting the news of the day in an expansive and inclusive fashion, consistent with these values,” WOOD-TV general manager Julie Brinks said, adding that the station's parent company, Nexstar, will “take appropriate action as necessary to address this situation, and we apologize for offending members of the LGBTQ community and WOOD-TV’s viewers.”
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids fires 4 after memo on Pride month coverage
