Two CBS local television executives were put on administrative leave Monday, hours after the National Association of Black Journalists demanded his dismissal over a Los Angeles Times investigation into allegations of “cultivating a hostile work environment.”
The Los Angeles Times story, published Sunday, includes images of a Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission complaint filed by a former employee accusing an executive, CBS television station president Peter Dunn, of making “racist, sexist, homophopic and discriminatory comments”.
CBS said in a statement Monday night that Dunn and David Friend, senior vice president of News for TV stations, “have been put on administrative leave, pending the results of a third-party investigation into issues that include those raised in (the) recent Los Angeles Times report “.
“CBS is committed to a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace where all voices are heard, claims are investigated and appropriate action is taken when necessary,” the company said.
Among the allegations reported in Los Angeles history, two former employees at CBS Philadelphia station management sites said Dunn used the word “jive” on several occasions to describe the anchor and well-known Philadelphia journalist. Ukee Washington.
In another complaint, one of the employees said that when Dunn refused to extend the contract for a black anchor, he “raised” bizarre objections, such as saying, “I hate his face.”
That same employee claimed Dunn also questioned whether a job seeker for another anchorage position was “too gay for Philadelphia.”
Amiga is accused by the two former employees of misconduct in the workplace, including criticism of the accent of a new anchor and the cry that should close the [expletive] up “.
In a statement posted Monday on the website of the National Association of Black Journalists, the organization, which represents more than 4,000 journalists across the country, said it “has heard numerous CBS employees across the country and has been informed of multiple lawsuits and investigations “.
“Clearly, there is a massive problem between CBS-owned and operated stations, and in order for the company’s culture to transform, it has to start with the cessation of Dunn and Friend,” the organization said.
ViacomCBS told the Los Angeles Times in a statement that “in response to a CBS investigation in early 2019, senior management at the time addressed the situation with Dunn, and the company has not received any complaints about his conduct during the period since then. “
Friend told the newspaper that any comments he made about employees or candidates “were only based on performance or qualifications, not on anyone’s race or gender.”
“I believe that I, and our stations, have a solid track record in hiring, supporting, and placing women and BIPOC journalists in important roles such as anchors, journalists, and news directors,” Friend said in a statement, according to The Los Angeles Times.
ViacomCBS senior executives met Sunday evening with members of the National Association of Black Journalists to learn about their concerns. Executives included CBS Entertainment Group CEO George Cheeks and Marva Smalls, the company’s head of global inclusion. According to the NABJ statement, they agreed on the need for external investigation and “committed to working with NABJ on a path forward.”
Brien Kennedy, a former CEO of CBS’s Philadelphia station who filed the Pennsylvania human rights complaint, also alleged that he was fired in retaliation for cooperating with an internal review of Dunn’s conduct. CBS responded to the retaliation claim and said Kennedy “was fired for acting.”
In August 2018, the board of directors of CBS Corporation he hired two law firms investigate allegations of sexual misconduct against former CEO Les Moonves, as well as more general allegations about corporate culture.
In a December 17, 2018 statement, CBS board said Moonves was fired for “cause” and said “investigators learned of past incidents of misconduct and unprofessional conduct, and concluded that the policies , practices and historical structures of the company have not been reflected a high institutional priority to avoid harassment and retaliation. “
However, the statement also says the law firms “concluded that harassment and retaliation are not widespread on CBS.”
The board never publicly published the findings of the investigation.
Margaret Cronan, one of the employees who spoke to the Los Angeles Times about Dunn and Friend, wrote on her LinkedIn page Sunday that “keeping quiet was not an option.”
“I’ve always believed that when we see racism, discrimination and other offensive behaviors in the workplace, WE HAVE to talk. I wish I had done it before,” Cronan wrote.
The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday in a separate story that the two law firms were also told of an unusual advantage CBS received after acquiring WLNY, a small television network in Long Island, New York. York: Membership in an exclusive country club by exclusive invitation. with an initiation fee of $ 1 million. The membership was named after Dunn, according to the Times. The club is owned by the founder of WLNY, who sold the channel for $ 55 million.
In a statement, CBS said, “As part of the acquisition ten years ago, CBS was offered membership in Long Island’s Sebonack Golf Club. The membership was previously disclosed to management and legal counsel. Although listed in the name of an executive due to club rules, it is a corporate membership that is used to accommodate clients and business partners.C CBS pays annual dues and personal expenses incurred by executives are they pay out of pocket.