A South Florida television station has reminded newsroom employees about its long-standing social media guidelines after online vacation posts by one of its anchors drew attention and prompted renewed discussion about journalists’ online presence, as reported [1] by The New York Post.
WPLG Vice President of News Bill Pohovey circulated a memo to employees emphasizing that station staff should present themselves as journalists rather than social media influencers, according to a memo obtained by industry publication FTVLive.
The memo became public after WPLG anchor and reporter Jenise Fernandez shared vacation photos and videos from Fiji on her Instagram account.
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The posts included images of Fernandez aboard what appeared to be a resort boat and other vacation activities during her trip.
However, Pohovey disputed reports that the memo was issued in response to Fernandez’s social media posts.
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Speaking to the New York Post, Pohovey said the directive had been distributed months earlier.
He said the memo “was not a response to one individual post [but rather] just a reminder of long-standing guidelines.”
When asked to further explain the timing, Pohovey reiterated that point.
“This had nothing to do with a current employee. As I said, the memo was sent out many months ago and is not new.”
The internal memo nevertheless outlined management’s expectations for employees’ use of social media and urged staff members to avoid content that could diminish their professional credibility.
“I have emailed about this numerous times in the past, but we seem to be going in the wrong direction again,” Pohovey wrote.
He continued by criticizing the type of content he had observed on some employees’ accounts.
“Too many of our social media accounts are being used for foolish nonsense.”
The memo instructed newsroom employees to avoid producing content more commonly associated with online influencers.
“We don’t want dance videos with our staff. We don’t want fashion shows, outfits of the day, or other silly content that detracts from you as journalists.”
Pohovey also told employees that station facilities should never be used to create that type of material.
“We should never produce such content, and we should absolutely NEVER create such content inside the station, in our newsroom or studios, using our news set as the background,” he wrote.
The guidance extended beyond official station accounts.
“Your station social media accounts should be used to share news/weather/sports information and help to drive traffic to our newscasts and website,” Pohovey wrote.
“But I think these same guidelines apply to personal social media accounts. Whether you are working or not, you still represent the station and must always remember your role as a credible, trusted journalist, not a Kardashian.”
He also wrote:
“Some of what I see is cringeworthy.”
The memo concluded by expressing concern about public confidence in journalism.
“I’m exhausted to have to repeat this, but we are not influencers, we are journalists,” Pohovey wrote.
He referenced longtime WPLG personalities Dwight Lauderdale and Ann Bishop, asking employees to consider whether they would have approached social media in a similar fashion had those platforms existed during their broadcasting careers.
“I’ve been accused of being old and out of touch on this subject, but journalism and journalists are already under attack,” Pohovey wrote.
“People are losing trust in the news, and the nickname ‘fake news’ is beginning to stick. We’re seen as not serious, and this unprofessional behavior only adds fuel to that fire.”
He concluded the memo by writing:
“The likes and follows are not worth eroding your credibility and the credibility of this news organization.”
Fernandez, a Miami native, joined WPLG in 2014 after stops in television news in Louisiana and Pensacola. She currently anchors the station’s weekday 3 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts and is a six-time Emmy Award winner.
According to her station biography, she is also a former Miss Miami and finished as fourth runner-up in the Miss Florida pageant.
The New York Post reported that it contacted Fernandez for comment.