Jennifer Howe let go as weekend anchor at WTSP-Ch. 10

Jennifer Howe was just a few hours into her shift Sunday, preparing to anchor WTSP-Ch. 10's 5 p.m. Webcast, when the news director asked her to come to his office.

Before long, Howe's concern about seeing the station's top news manager in the building on a weekend were realized: She was informed the station was exercising its option to end her contact early, terminating her employment then.

Howe says she was told to turn in the employee ID and work-related materials and asked to leave the building. Anchor Heather Van Nest anchored WTSP's late night newscast; Howe says she was never told why the station chose to let her go.

"(News director Darren Richards) said they chose to do it on a Sunday because there were fewer people around," said Howe, 42, who worked at WTSP for more than 12 years.

WTSP general manager Sam Rosenwasser said he could not comment on the specifics of Howe's termination and wasn't sure who would replace her in the long term. Peter Nikiel, WTSP's director of marketing and promotion, said such transitions sometimes happen in the TV news industry.

In the past few weeks, WTSP has let go weather forecasters Anna Allen and Randy Rauch and traffic reporter Meredyth Censullo. But Nikiel said the trickle of departures hasn't affected morale at the station.

"It's TV -- people come and go for a lot of different reasons," said Nikiel, who could not say who would replace Howe on the station's weekend newscasts in the short or long term. "We will continue on, like we always have."

Howe came to WTSP in as a morning anchor in 1996, moving to the weekends in 1997. She was married to former WTSP anchor Pat Minarcin, who won nearly $300,000 in 2002 after filing an age discrimination lawsuit against the station. He was replaced by current evening anchor Reginald Roundtree in 1998.

But Howe said her departure likely had nothing to do with that lawsuit. Her marriage to Minarcin ended in 2006; they have a daughter, 7-year-old McKenna Katrina Minarcin.

A native of St. Petersburg, Howe hopes to develop work voicing commercials and stay in the Tampa Bay area. "A lot of media outlets are suffering economic difficulties and having to make tough decisions," said Howe. "I just wished I'd had a chance to say goodbye last night."

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Comments

[L. M.]

Good luck, Jen!
I'm a transplant from the Detroit, Michigan area and remember you from WJBK-TV there. You were classy then and you are classy now. I'm sure you will land on your feet after the disgraceful way you were let go. I'm pulling for you!!

[Doris Osburn]

I so much miss Jennifer Howe .... poof, gone. Jen was smart, warm, friendly, winsome (with a great smile) and always welcome into our living room via TV at news time. No disrespect intended for the newly hired, but it seems that unless you are a long-haired blonde, there isn't a place on staff for you. Hope Jennifer resurfaces .... big mistake to let her go ......

[Bill1963]

Jen and Randy will be greatly missed. Channel 10 made a foolish mistake. It is ridiculous that 2 experienced and trusted anchors were let go. Doesn't management realize that viewers watch the people they trust?
To Jen and Randy, much luck in your future endeavers. You will both be missed!

Bill H.

[Leslie G.]

Well, better late than never. I just realized Randy Rauch is missing. In looking up that one I discovered that he got the axe along with Jen Howe. The whole spirit of this goes along with what is happening in America. No morals, no truth, honor, kindness or integrity. I won't watch Chan. 10 any more...much luck to Sherry Ray who will need it. She's the best and Fletch will turn over in his grave if she's fired. Also, he would be very upset over the crap that's happening to a workplace he held in such high esteem. You people are the pits. During the week I'll plug into Chan. 11. I've been watching CBS since 1991. No more thanks. Good luck Jen and Randy. I love you guys.

Leslie G.

[pete]

I really like Jen Howe sorry to see her go

i switched to channel 8

[kathy faye]

I live in Citrus County and use rabbit ears for TV reception. Channel 10 comes in clear and channel 8 is okay on most days.

The news format has changed and is so inane, like the entire viewing audience cares where a child's bus stop in Hillsborough County is located.

For years I trusted Fletch. When he died, I felt like Anna and Randy were his legacies. Now they're gone and so am I. So long channel 10 and good luck with your ratings. As for Jennifer, I am sure she will do better. Cream rises.

[Don]

She was a class act - this is the main reason I watch FOX 13.

[Jeff From Hillsborough County]

I forgot to put my name on the previous post. A thousand apologies.

After doing some further research, all of the firings at WTSP are probably not all of the management staff's decisions. It seems that there were some internal Gannett documents released in the past few months concerning Gannetts new purging policy.

Gannett will eliminate accounting and other jobs as part of the creation of two national shared service centers in Springfield, Mo., and Indianapolis, according to internal documents. The plan calls for a combined 11 papers and TV stations to be used as pilot sites starting last month (August), the documents show, with completion of the entire project expected by March 2009. About 55 jobs will be created at each of the two new centers -- for a net job loss of 167 positions, the documents show. Gannett now employs about 46,000 in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Gannett plans to get tax abatements and government training grant monies for the Indy Service Center also.

"The termination dates for employees losing their positions are determined by the implementation timetable,'' one of the documents shows. "As a site begins migrating their activities to the national shared service centers, employees begin losing their positions.''

The documents say the first 11 pilot sites are the papers at Asheville, N.C.; Greenville, S.C.; Springfield, Mo.; Mountain Home, Ark.; Jackson, Miss., and Hattiesburg, Miss. The TV stations are WGRZ in Buffalo, N.Y.; WUSA in Washington, D.C.; WTSP in Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla.; WBIR in Knoxville, Tenn., and KTHV in Little Rock.

Considering the fact that in January of 2005 Gannett stock was selling for $81.20 a share and closed yesterday at just above $17.00 a share it's easy to see how their CEO who earned almost 8 million dollars last year would institute this program.

[Mary]

Just more proof that FL is NOT a "right to hire" state - It is a "right to FIRE" state. How low-class to not even give her a reason...

The wrong girl was fired!!! Should have been Ginger Gadsen.

[Lillysuez]

I've seen it before, bad management getting rid of good and professional people and hire for looks only, not intelligence and personality (with the viewers in this case). What they sew they will reap. Good people ALWAYS WIN over egotistic evil people. The damage they caused by eliminatng Jenn,
Randy and the others will come back to haunt them in many ways that we may never see. So, now...

Let's sit back and watch as WTSP management's fate come back and bite them in the butt

[caitlyn]

For the past ten years Channel 10 has had the reputation of treating its employees with total disrespect. Jenne Howe and Randy Rausch were both class acts. Jennifer was lovely, professional, and, I hope in the long run, on to a much better position than at Channel 10. I've read in the past that the station management had an obsession with young,attractive blond women.(The new head meteorologist is supposed to fit the description.) What a cheap, dishonorable way to treat a nice lady. God Bless, Jenne, and may Mr. Rosenwasser finally get what his type deserves: ignomy.He should be fired without notice. I'll just watch Channel 8 or 13 from now on.

[CBTV]

Jen, I was so sad to hear that they had let you go. You were such a constant professional, and always a joy to work with. You were by far the best anchor at 10. No one was better when it came to staffing shortages, rolling with the punches and staying up beat, then you. You were the only anchor I knew that could keep rolling no matter what happened, or how little staff was on the floor. And not once do I remember you ever getting upset no matter how bad it got, instead you would always just smile and encourage everyone to do their best and tell them it was ok. I wish you that best of luck! As I do Randy, Anna, Meredith, and Mario. When I think back of my time in the TV industry, I feel privileged that I had the chance to work with someone as great as you!

WTSP management and Gannett corporate.... as I stated once before in a post about Anna, I held on... out of loyalty as long as I could for years watching your station and convincing all my co-workers to do the same, but once you started stabbing good people in the back (people I would like to think of as friends and extended family) the way you have the last few months I could no longer hold out hope and continue my loyal support and have now found myself turning to your competitors for my news (channel- 28) and weather (channels- 13 and BN9) and convincing others to do so as well. You have just gone too far at this point and I see no chance of a recovery. As the good proverb says, you must give respect and loyalty to receive it. It is sad to watch you run such a Tampa Bay staple into the ground as WTSP's name and rep. You deserve whatever comes your way in the coming months, I can only hope your ratings drop so far in the hash marks that you feel the impact of your horrendously stupid decisions. I feel for my former colleagues and wish them the best of luck, as I know their loyalty and hard work is but in vein, as you are treating them the same way as the on air talent, yet no one pubically knows it. To all the departments, and good people you let go with almost no notice: Commercial production (whole department), Master Control (whole department), Art (whole department), Studio Production (various positions), Engineering (various positions), Anchors/ Reporters/ Traffic (various positions), Photographers (various positions- replaced by viewers with no degrees that were given a free camera and a few bucks to put together packages), and the list goes on... Best of luck, you really deserved better! And to all my former colleagues still working at 10, I will keep you in my prayers as you are going to need it.

A broadcast media company makes its buck by making stars out of its on air talent. Newspapers rely more on the quality of their product to carry them, as opposed to local TV which does news only as an advertising vehicle and usually discourage tough journalism, and radio which barely offers news at all.

Yet when broadcast management makes a series of decisions that anger the audience, no one is accountable. Some invisible General Manager hides behind the "I can't comment on a personnel move" legal line. Why can they hide? They run a company that uses a government license to beam their content into a home. They use public airwaves for profit, and for that they should be held accountable.

What's wrong with publishing a home number for the GM of a broadcast TV station? Marketers like them are constantly trying to create databases filled with our home numbers so they can reach us and maybe sell us stuff.

He or she has no problem trying to get into our homes on a regular basis with their local news and TV shows and of course, commercials. Why shouldn't the audience be entitled to contact he or she at their house when the audience wants to complain?

Old School Media Thought: "We are in charge of telling the audience what information we want them to hear or see. We are the gate keepers."

New Media Reality: "The audience (end user)/consumer of programming and content decides what they will and will not see or hear, not some gate keeper."

While I have no problem with Eric Deggans deciding the content on his blog and choosing to censor that which he decides is inappropriate and/or possibly creating a liability, media reality is that even this sort of gatekeeping has limited long-term potential. In the end, the audience will determine how things work going forward because they no longer need to pay to buy a newspaper or even put up with broadcast commercials in order to view or hear their desired content.

And of course, if any of us find Eric Deggans' blog comments, actions and policies unacceptable, there is always another blog nearby to post to.

I come to this one for the entertainment value and to take a look at an unscientific example of the thinking of a very small segment in the Tampa area. On those fronts, this blog is just fine.

If you're looking for some high-level journalists' site, I'd hit Google and look further.

[beltwaybandit]

Jeff,

I certainly understand your point and your intent.

I guess what I was trying to say was that "censorship" of information by newspapers is pretty routine for a variety of reasons. I don't necessarily support all of the reasons but they exist regardless.

Eric Deggans has stated on this blog that he is not paid to be an objective journalist...he is a columnist. He also has stated that this is his blog and he polices it as he sees fit. So I think it is important to make the distinction that the SP Times is not responsible for content of this blog. Eric is.

[Had to switch to Channel 11]

Apparently, Class is not what Channel 10 values. We moved from WTSP weekday reports because of the way talent has been treated/dismissed. I watch only when a single story catches my eye. However, I enjoyed Jennifer's professional, confident presentation of the weekend reports. Her continued presence created a sense of stability and, therefore, trust - in an otherwise unworthy station. Jennifer, May your future be blessed with Peace and Abundance.

[Eric Deggans]

Just to be clear: My decision to keep protest information off my blog was mine alone, made in consultation with no one.

No one from Gannett or WTSP asked me to remove the information and frankly, that wouldn't have amde any difference to me if they had.

i'm uncomfortable with someone else turning my blog into a rallying point for a crusade to direct a bunch of negative comments at a specific Gannett employee or executive. If you're reading my blog, you have access to Google and can easily suss out who the people are and email them yourself.

I would much rather my blog be a repository for news stories and commentary about what the station is doing. And I will admit that my sensitivities to this issue were raised when someone posted the home phone number of WTSP's general manager on a previous blog comment thread.

I acted to remove that comment on my own before I heard from anyone at WTSP. I just think that's crossing the line, and I would rather those who want to organize a protest do so on their own, outside of my blog.

I'm sorry if Jeff views that as censorship -- but he can easily start his own blog and put the information there, if he chooses.

[Jeff from Hillsboro County]

I have been in contact with the person I mentioned at least four or five times. I supplied her with links of posts I have made. It is part of her job to listen to concerns from viewers and in my case a concerned stockholder of the company named. If an editor wishes to avoid a conflict from a possible friend in the business then he or she isn't very objective in presenting any and all information available regarding the subject to the reader. As far as legal action goes I committed no slander and compared to some of the name calling in some of the posts here I included none, only a piece of information that is readily available on the net who knows how to use the search function. I fully understand that this is Eric Deegans blog and he is able to police it as he sees fit. My only objective was to support Jenn, Anna, Meredyth, Angie, Alexandria and Randy in a way to bring as much light on their plight as possible and bring it to the attention of the executives at G****** as they are also involved in the decisions being made at WTSP according to the email I recieved this morning. It is quite obvious that many Bay area viewers are quite upset about the employee turnover there. I might be a little more concerned as I am a stockholder at G****** and have watched my shares drop from a purchase price of $81.00 in 2005 to yesterdays closing price of $17.00. So I guess the bottom line here beltwaybandit is the employees that many believe have been treated unfairly aren't really that important as they already have been fired so they really don't need any support from viewers, what really counts is that G******* isn't bothered by complaints or concerns from viewers who in the end pay the freight and their salaries. Perhaps part of the reason why G******'s stock is where it is is because of management decisions like the ones being made at WTSP. Censorship today, book burning tomorrow.

[beltwaybandit]

Jeff...

Newspapers routinely make decisions to not publish certain information for a variety of reasons. Those reasons include, but are not limited to:

* possibility of legal action if information is published.

* editorial disagreement with an opinion or policy contained within the information.

* if publishing certain information would make an advertiser look bad, and management fears losing that advertiser.

* if an editor wishes to avoid offense to a friend in the business... perhaps Gannett calls their friends at the SP Times and says "what's up with all this complaintmail I'm getting off ne of your blogs? Take it down!"

There are many more reasons. And having overseen a newspaper group during my career, this stuff happens virtually every day.

Need another example? The NY Times and Washington Post reportedly had information about John Edwards last year and decided they would notpublish it because their reporters could not verify theinfo.

Yet the National Enquirer did publish multiple stories and in the end were validated...Edwards had to admit he lied previously and the story was true.

Does thatmean the NY Times and Wash Post have worse reporters than the Enquirer?

Well, either that or editorial staff decided they did not want to publish th story, period.

I bet on the latter being accurate...or the NY Times and Wash Post may as well fold the tent.

[Also a former Tampa resident]

Former Tampanian- you nailed it! I was laughing to myself as I read all of these comments thinking, "As if other stations treat their employees any better!"

In some ways, this was much nicer than the stunts I've witnessed at other stations when they've attempted to 'push' someone out.

Sorry for what they did to you Jennifer. It stinks but I sincerely hope you move on to better things.

[Jeff from Hillsboro County]

Removing my comments listing a place where people can voice their dismay to WTSP's parent company I think is a mistake Eric. I find it rather amusing that a newspaper would do any form of information censorship.

Ch 10 may be going the "foxy" news strategy, lol:

http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2008/09/incoming-channe.html

[Steve]

I am sorry to see both Jennifer and Randy go but that is the way of the economy. There going lowers the standards of good informative viewing at Channel 10. They will be missed.

[Eric Deggans]

Much as i appreciate all the discussion here on the blog -- and I'm sure Jenn appreciates all the good wishes here -- I don't really want the blog to become a rallying point for protests. So i'm taking off comments which have email addresses and phone numbers for gannett people. I hope you understand and respect my wishes by not posting the info anymore in this forum.

Thanks...

[Katie and Lauren]

Miss Jenn is the best next door neighbor. Who could tell her that she is not allowed to do the news anymore. She was the only reason we watched the news. I feel sorry for her and I am really sad that she isn't a newswoman anymore. Those men Sam and Darren are crazy.

[Lauren and Katie]

I will tell all of my 300 schoolmates to tell their Mom's not to watch Channel 10 news Anymore. Miss Jenn is the best friend and the best news woman in the universe. Who would take away her job like they did.

I love you Miss Jenn. Youre the best!

[Dottie]

No more channel 10 in this household! Jenn Howe and Randy Rauch were the only reasons worth watching WTSP.

Howe and Rauch were classy individuals who brought class to WTSP. Guess they prefer the sleaze.

[Tana]

10 is doing all this promotions about how they want viewers to be part of the newscast. They want viewers to contribute on what's should go on air. They supposedly listens to what viewers wants, well, doesn't look like they are listening to the viewers now, letting all those talented people go.

[David Dubin]

Channel 10 has been our news and weather station for many, many years. We mourned the loss of Dick Fletcher as if he were a personal friend. We are saddened by the termination of both Jennifer Howe and Randy Rauch even though we understand it was a business decision. Jennifer and Randy on the weekends kept us tuned to Channel 10 for the news and weather. Without them, and the excellent rapport they had together and with us -the viewers- my family will probably turn to another channel.

[Marie]

Jenn was the anchor I worked with when I was an intern @10. I learned from her among the other people behind the scenes. She was a professional even if the prompter was scrolling the wrong way. Even after my internship, I stop by the station from time to time to visit and she remembers me and again welcome me back even though I was just visiting.

[Here's an Idea]

Why don't they get rid of those fools Richards & Rosenwasser?!

I wonder who's next on the chopping block? Marty? If they fire her that will be the LAST straw.

[Jim]

Channel 10 is the same station that fired anchor Sheryl Browne in 1992 and Pat Minarcin in 1998.

[Jeanne]

Ah, actually no. I was working for X life insurance company, as a financial planner in training, about ready to go live, had all my licenses, including my federal 6 & 63, when they rolled out a new product. A hybrid "life insurance policy" with an "investment component." I couldn't understand how the thing worked, to me, it looked like the entire value of the thing, including the life insurance, could be lost. Top X company officials couldn't explain to me how customers wouldn't lose every penny. I, and every other company X employee was under strict orders to not deviate from the wording of the sales pitch or the canned rebuttals. Having discovered that company officials had lied about an earlier insurance problem in which agents told teachers that an insurance policy was an investment instrument, then fired scape-goats they didn't like, while retaining the people who had cooked up the scheme, I was uncomfortable. My federal licenses put me at risk of going to jail if this product wasn't what it was being represented to be. I finally told my manager that I wasn't totally comfortable selling the product yet alone and would prefer to go out with my senior agent partner and only co-sign on selling this product and split the commission. The next day, they my boss called me into his office, reminded me that I had a 2-year non-compete agreement and a confidentiality clause, threatened me and told me to submit my resignation immediately and leave. I offered my resignation letter in exchange for a letter of recommendation, my manager agreed. Thirty minutes later the office manager came to my cubicle and asked for my signed letter of resignation, I asked for the letter of recommendation and was told that there was no time and they would mail it to me. I said I don't mind waiting. After another 30 minutes of management walking past and glaring at me, the letter of recommendation appeared and I swapped my letter of resignation for it. I was then walked out of the building, and my credentials and building keys confiscated. So it isn't just the media.

[dreaming]

channel 10 isnt the only media company that treats its employees like dogs on the way out. security escorts layoffs from the trib routinely. at least the times stuffs a few more (newspaper sized) dollars in its employees pockets when they are let go.

media companies in general are the worst at eating their own.

[lin]

Mercy, she had worked there since 1996 and that's how she was treated? All the more reason that people owe loyalty to themselves, not their employers. All employers care about is their bottom line, their profit. And, besides working hard and doing a great job, that is all that employees should care about, their own profit, which is the discretionary income they have left over after paying necessary bills. If a person doesn't have discretionary income, they need to work an additional job while looking around for a better opportunity. It's a hard cold world.

[Lillysuez]

Jen, Wow, what can I say, you made week-end news worth watching. I am glad that you are staying in the area, and I know that there is another door opening soon for you. I have to say that you and Randy had the best on air chemistry around.

I went to the station on Monday to pick-up a couple of mugs and your picture was down already and the atmosphere there was really cold (if you get it). An e-mail I recieved from a producer said that you had left the station and didn't know why. But we the viewers know the truth.

I will miss you on the air and like everyone has said that you are a class act and I too will be changing back to 13, the best one is gone. Take care and God bless.

Judy

[tvwatcher]

In these tough times, when advertising revenue is way down, people are going to lose their jobs. Jen seemed like a nice lady. Unfortunately for her (and others) the facts are simple. Unless management believes that the $$$ they are paying her is helping the ratings or that there is an important viewer connection then that news person is expendable. 80% to 90% of the local news people can be replaced with little affect to the bottom line. I am sure they do research on this but I venture to say that john Wilson, Gayle Sierens, Mark Wilson, and paul delegato are part of the group of television news people that people turn to watch. She was not part of that group, so when the company said we need to cut expenses some more she was deemed expendable and was let go. Simple as that.

[former tampanian]

Roblimo- Thank you for setting the record straight regarding the Trib and WTSP. The Anon poster was driving me crazy.

Joe @ 845pm- Mace Michaels is now Chief Meteorologist at KGAN in Cedar Rapids.

Jennifer @ 704pm- Your bogus post on Phillips is the reason why few watch 28. Your promo department is the worst in the area...worse than WTSP's which is saying something. If you're going to try and do some viral marketing, then at least disguise it better.

Marcia @ 641pm- You're leaving 10 for 8 because you think they treat their viewers and employees better? That's the funniest thing I've read today.

Best of luck Jen.

[Great Friend of Jenn]

It is very sad to watch individuals be treated the way Jenn was treated. After 12 years of commitment to WTSP and to the Tampa Bay Community, she deserved to be treated much better then she was.

Corporate of any business makes it's choice on how people are treated. It was Darren Richards and Sam Rosenwasser's choice to treat someone who gave 12 years of their career life to the station of which benefited greatly by what she did. They chose to treat her unprofessionally and without respect. For that, they should be ashamed of themselves. That is not what business is supposed to be and it is not how any business should treat it's most incredible asset ... the employee. Shame on you management. You show no leadership and for that ... remember ... what goes around comes around. Perhaps your turn is next. Then you can go home and figure out how to tell your children and pay your bills.

I'm not watching channel 10 ever again ... and I'm telling the 3500 people I work with not to either.

[FLAuto]

I agree with some folks here, this shows a complete lack of class and respect for Jen and the viewers. There are plenty of ways to save wasted money at WTSP, disrespecting viewers and staff is not one of them. I will not allow anymore Ads from my business to appear on WTSP until Darren Richards and Sam Rosenwasser are both gone! They have proven they have no idea how to treat consumers, and I will not support them any longer.

WTSP is a low class station. They can't even spend the money to send the anchors into the field to do special events as well as the other stations. They're very cheap.

[Anna]

I know the feeling, just like Jen, you think you're doing a great job, giving your all for many years and guess what. You're given the door, no warning, just pushed out the door.
I'm a better person for it. She will as I did, come into something better, where she is truly appreciated.

[Rosenwasser....or was that Rottenwatcher?]

Rosenwasser is just your typical news director tool. His type have become less and less relevant as the Internet News revolution has hit full stride. It will hardly stun any of my fellow posters to discover he is around 5'6".

Good for Jen to get out in time -- her old station will be left with Reggie Run-into-tree, who isn't exactly the ticket to huge ratings!

[Scott K Wagman]

Compassion certainly is in short supply these days. Jen is a class act and will certainly land on her feet in a hopefully better atmosphere. Best wishes,Jen.

[Jim]

Jen, I enjoyed your broadcast every weekend. You were the ultimate professional. Good luck with your future endeavors.

[Brian]

Jen, if I can call her that, was one of the most professional, classy and talented personalities in the Bay area. She will be missed, but no doubt, she will move on to bigger and better things. GOOD LUCK Jen!!!

[tvwatcher]

She was one of many on the news in tampa bay that is completely forgettable. Do you think that her absence will make a difference to the bottom line at channel 10??

There are not many people on the news here that are critical to their stations success.

The few include gayle Sierens, paul dellegato, mark wilson, probably john and kelly at 13, no one at channel 10, maybe denis phillips at channel 28. that is it.

Weather is the one position that really matters. FOX should and won't mess with dellegato, jerve and philips are safe. the rest are just interchangealbe.

[Gail]

I really like Jen Howe sorry to see her go

[tim]

That's show biz kiddies.