Days before she suffered a serious stroke, KGO-TV reporter, Heather Ishimaru, was about to file a hostile work-environment lawsuit against the station, according to well-placed broadcast sources close to Channel 7.Ishimaru, who is unable to speak or swallow food is in a SF rehab facility. Her attorney, Angela Alioto, confirmed to me on the phone that Ishimaru had planned to file a lawsuit.
"She, (Ishimaru), wrote three letters to management, (News Director, Tracey Watkowski and Assistant ND, Stephainie Adrouney), about some work-related issues then suddenly she had her medical setback," Alioto said.
Watkowski did not return phone calls requesting comment.
Privately, my sources at KGO, (all requested anonymity due to the nature of the story), told me that Ishimaru, who is a veteran and much-respected reporter, had asked for some time away from the station dealing with a family matter involving one of her kids, a special-needs child. Alioto confirmed this account.
Watkowski balked.
"They were giving her shit," offered one of the sources. "They essentially told her to take care of the 'issue on her time, not the company dime, and that's just bullshit."
Needless to say the Ishimaru tragedy has rocked the KGO newsroom where several staffers are unhappy with the vibe overall. "This has just added to all the angst inside the building--there's a tremendous amount of tension here. They, (management), just don't get it--they're in over their heads."
Added Alioto:
"Heather has an incredible performance record. She was harassed and treated differently by her superiors Stephanie and Tracey concerning medical leave to take care of her son. Heather was very stressed out about the treatment."
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May Watkowski and Adrouney suffer hardships 10 times greater in their miserable middle management suck up bully lives...worthless pieces of fuckwad shit
ReplyDeleteBoth are drunk with percieved notions of mid manager power. Worked for both of them. Lightweights.
DeleteI agree. If they have kids, they'd understand. And if they "really" have kids, they probably hate their moms.
DeleteRich is back to doing publicity for Angela Alioto.
ReplyDeleteThe implication of this story is reprehensible; because of KGO, Ms. Ishimaru is unable to speak or swallow food. Undoubtedly these words are coming directly from Alioto's office.
How about letting the dust settle before blaming KGO.
How much do you get paid to come here everyday and take a dump? Do they pay you by the word or single post? All you do is confirm that sleazy people run media. How you think your comment helps KGO is beyond me. It just makes them look exactly like the kind of slimeballs that would deny someone family leave. Just turned off KGO news at 4pm. Back to TCM. Get well soon, Heather.
DeleteNotice the silence of no one coming to the direct defense of Ms. W and Ms. A? Why? Because what goes round comes around. Karma is a bitch isn't it Tracey?
DeleteYou obviously have no idea about this business. As those who actually know it, will say nothing or "when the dust settles" Or you are a KGO-Fanboy. I say both.
DeleteAnon at 6:18....surely those two "managers" would a have a friend or co worker who would chime in....right? Right? Are you confusin an official statement couched in legalese with just some friendly support? Sounds like you're the Disney/ABC-KGO lawyer "fanboy".
DeleteIt is sad that Ms. Ishimaru is seriously ill.
ReplyDeleteHowever, that does not justify Rich Lieberman acting like a press agent for Angela Alioto by 1) suggesting that Ms. Ishimaru's stroke (if that's what it was) was caused by KGO and 2) disseminating a one-sided story of Ms. Ishimaru being harassed and abused at work.
No serious journalist would publish claims like this without confirming sources. Furthermore, to start flogging this story while Ms. Ishimaru is so recently stricken is tasteless and is just the latest attempt by Lieberman to come up with anything to promote his blog and pretend he's some kind of cutting-edge, reporter.
I hope that Ms. Ishimaru can return to health, and if she has a valid claim against KGO, can recover everything she is entitled to.
However, I have no respect for Lieberman's eagerness to report sensationalistic stories for the sole purpose of advancing his career and saving his teetering blog.
Hey, Jackass.
DeleteI didn't go looking for THIS story --I had heard Heather had a stroke and it was confirmed by THREE separate sources....then soon after it was conveyed to me that HI was about to sue KGO before her medical issue.
I then poked around and made sure that the information I was receiving was accurate by calling the sources directly and then seeking out HI's attorney, who happened to be Angela Alioto. Angela did not come to me --I called her and she confirmed my account.
Before running with the story, I made numerous phone calls to both KGO ND, Watkowski and her assistant. They did NOT return phone calls seeking comment.
The story is sensitive and it's tragic and I feel for Heather and hope she makes a speedy recovery; for you to try to impugn me after I did my work only makes me suspicious of just who YOU are, Mr/Mrs. "Anonymous."
And I stand by the story, 100%.
Yes, you stand by all your stories 100% just like you thought your humiliating diatribe on KSCO was "funny." But no one else agrees with you and lots of your former 100% stories end up being wrong.
Delete> disseminating a one-sided story of Ms. Ishimaru being harassed and
Delete> abused at work.
Since Tracey didn't return his phone call, how can his story be anything but one-sided?
I'm sure he would have loved to get her on the line, but she apparently has refused. If that makes the story "one-sided" then that's Tracey's fault. To not talk about it just because one side refused comment would mean no story would go reported, as one side could merely never talk and the story would thus go away.
Logic a tiny child would understand. Rich did nothing here but good old fashioned reporting. Something you're probably unfamiliar with.
I am Anon 4:26. Lieberman and his mysogeny (sp) gets on my nerves big time but here he is reporting facts. Heather had a stroke. She was trying to get family leave to tend to a special needs child, fact. Her lawyer says she was going to sue KGO, fact. You can't refute the facts so you attack the messenger. I am convinced that today's news media outlets are run by caretbagging scumbags. You serve to underscore that point. Rich didn't say the conflict with KGO caused the stroke, he reported a series of events that may or may not have contributed to her stroke. However, stress most certainly can contribute to heart attacks and stroke. If they denied her family leave, I hope she cleans their clock. I am done watching local news. None of it is fueled by a single ounce of integrity.
DeleteThis is a blog, not a newspaper.
DeleteMore KGO Fanboys obviously.
DeleteAnon5:11~ I just read on talkers magazine
Deletewww.talkers.com
"After he listened to the entire segment, Zwerling concluded that while he respects and appreciates Graff’s position and concern for the welfare and reputation of KSCO, Lieberman’s comments and delivery were “funnier than hell, extremely entertaining, and not requiring any discipline directed at Lieberman.” Clearly *someone* enjoyed Rich's banter.
Ah yes, the interns are working overtime at KGO. Management seems to be the biggest collection of assholes around. Truth hurts, doesn't it? People don't want to hear the truth anymore. They want "likes". Life isn't always about "likes." There's some serious shit out there in the world today. A lot of people are in denial. What happened to Heather is just a taste of how lousy the world is today. It's all about $$$ and people with no balls or tits hiding behind their spreadsheets because they can. No cares about anyone anymore. It's all about $$$. Look at the shit that's on the news. There's nothing hard hitting anymore. Nothing that's important to the people. If I want entertainment, I'll watch Food Network.
Delete"However, I have no respect for Lieberman's eagerness to report sensationalistic stories for the sole purpose of advancing his career and saving his teetering blog."
DeleteYou just lost all credibility. In the future, learn how not to contradict yourself.
Are you suggesting that Rich is pulling information out of his ass, and not reporting facts that he has received from credible sources close to, and familiar with, the situation?
ReplyDeleteWhat evidence do you have that Mr. Lieberman is just "coming up with anything" in his report on this blog? And why is it "tasteless" to report on this tragedy, and do you know exactly when the unfortunate medical event occurred? What is your definition for the word "recently," and wouldn't that be considered relative? Do you know if people close to Ms. Ishimaru are actually objecting to Rich's post?
Sounds like you're eager to compose sensationalistic posts for the purpose of discrediting and denigrating Mr. Lieberman.
Anon at 4:26....no doubt a KGO shill and or disney corp. lawyer....since deregulation in 2001 it is a sad fact that "reputable" broadcast journalistic outlets like KGO do not vet their stories to the level Rich said he did. Having worked in the biz the modern day newsroom is a bunch of morons with no sense of gravitas for what they throw up on air..........ho Lee fuk
ReplyDeleteA few questions. Is HI still planning on filing the suit? By law employees are allowed time off to care for a child/husband/etc. Believe it's 4 weeks per year. It called the "Family Medical Leave Act".. Had she already burned through the aforementioned time and was asking for additional? Or was she denied the FMLA? If denied FMLA I would think ABC 7 would be in serious trouble unless the leave request was unsupported by medical documentation..
ReplyDeleteAll legitimate questions and all LEGAL which I'll defer to her lawyer who would know.
DeleteI managed my news departments and businesses one way: FAMILY FIRST. No deadline, no story, no bottom line was more important than my employees and their families. Shame, shame, shame on you KGO TV. Shameful. I'll keep the reporter, whom I don't know, in my prayers. Thanks for letting us know the truth, Rich.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anon 7:41. I was also a news manager who tried my hardest to make sure my staff and their important family matters came first. My fear with today's newsrooms and ownership is that slimmed-down staff (and salaries) have made it far more difficult to effectively cover as much of the local news as it was when I was an ND and AND. Knowing other news management members of Disney ABC, it doesn't surprise me that 7's "Modus Operandi" is push as hard as possible to cover more with less. Bad enough if you're talent that management balks at the vacation time you deserve, but rarely get to take, at least when you want it. My hope for a quick, full recovery for HI and for KGO managers to take ten steps back before then try to go forward. BTW, I gave one of my reporters a day off to help her mom move into a seniors home, only to have her show up a few hours later that same day at the scene of a major accident because she knew it was a huge local story for us. If you kill them with human kindness, they'll reward your shop enormously. Otherwise they'll kill you in court and/or with bad publicity. Pretty simple stuff, eh?
DeleteRich; I believe that you received the same comments when you reported that Ralph was going to sue. You later reported that Ralph had won. Keep reporting the truth,
ReplyDeleteKeep digging Sir Rich you're right on track. This could be bigger than Holy Fuk! Did Tracey "Trixie" Watkowski cause Heather's health issues? Of course not. But.....ask just anybody who worked for her ( like I did ) and most will generate this simple truth. Tracey Watkowski is the worst middle management drekk to creep the halls of Circle 7. Assistant AD Stephanie A, who many fondly remember... as the Jonah Hill clone ...11 producer.... is the consumate "yes" girl. She's simply Tracey's Lucca Brasi. Lucky for Stephanie that will surface during depositions. Unlike Ralph, and unlucky for Tracey, Heather is from money, BIG money so lawyering up is easy. Heather will kick Tracey's ass, book it.
ReplyDeleteHoly fuk was more of a self-inflicted gun shot would followed by a botched surgery to fix it. Still in disbelief of how that got on air and then how channel 2 reacted.
DeleteThis is more along the lines of Kevin Spacey's character in "Swimming with Sharks".
I've heard that Ralph had some pretty deep pockets and was well connected prior to his lawsuit. He also used the same attorney that Heather is using.
DeleteHow is it that there is discontent at EVERY single newsroom in the Bay Area? Could it be that Rich attracts mostly malcontents and water-cooler gossipers? Is his coverage a tad skewed in that regard?
ReplyDeleteI've worked at EVERY single newsroom in the Bay Area. They are all run by morons--egomaniac narcissists. And the owners of the stations are like horse-and-buggy makers who are in fear of that new invention, the car (only this time it's the internet) and don't want to admit to themselves that their days are numbered. So they lash out, yell at, mentally and even physically-abuse their employees.
DeleteIf you think it's so wonderful to work there, you get a job. The barriers to entry are low. Anyone with basic communications skills can do it. So go check it out and tell us what a workers' paradise it is, comrade.
I'm doubting he'd last a day there. Some people talk big. They're usually the ones who take the longest lunch breaks and screw up the most. Then they just go somewhere else and talk big again. Every newsroom I've seen has them.
DeleteFirst off--best wishes to Heather and her family. One can only hope she makes a full recovery.
ReplyDeleteWith regards to the lawsuit: that's the kind of stuff that ends careers. If the allegations are the least bit true people are going to be walking the plank. This day in age there is an electronic trail to things. It is just a question of who all is part of the chain.
Terrible. I wish Heather the best, she is a top professional. Rich, when did this happen?
ReplyDeleteAs far as the Channel 7 personnel who harassed Heather and denied a MOTHER the time off to care for her CHILD - I hope the lawsuit is the best thing that happens to you for DECADES. Angela will work to make things right, she has the strength of her father. I would rather have Angela as Mayor than the Liar Ed Lee - but San Francisco missed that opportunity too.
> I would rather have Angela as Mayor than the Liar Ed Lee - but San
Delete> Francisco missed that opportunity too.
Agreed. Lee is a slimeball but for some reason gets a pass. Of course, the same was true of Tracey till--hopefully--now.
First Gene Burns, then Jennifer Jones Lee, now Heather. Is the job worth your health? Sounds like that place and the powers to be are hidious. So sad what once was so great is now so awful. If that is what you wantesd to accomplish congrats you have suceeded. I believe is karma and what goes arounf comes around. Remember the old say be careful who you step on on the way up as you will likley meet them on the way down.
ReplyDeleteIts diffilcut being a media manager. But Tracey is the Queen of Mean. The good news for pissed off KGO staffers is this if this goes FUBAR., Disney may consider E-P Bob Goldberger. He was ND at KNTV. Aside from poor Heather, Bob's gotta be enjoying this. He HATES Tracey, and people auctually LIKE working for him. What a concept!
ReplyDeleteBob Goldberger is a mensch of a man and truly one of the nicest guys I've ever met. If he does become ND, that will mean the cream, eventually, does float to the top. But he is known for being nice, so I'm not holding my breath. Instead Disney will bring in one of their own hatchet men or women, beholden to the mouse, who will make things even worse. KGO, so well-run just five years ago, is now a sinking ship with the rest of them. The sad thing is, rather than see that what they did was wrong, the owners instead will just do more of it, tighten the noose, expecting a different result. And you know what AA says about people who keep doing the same thing expecting a different result...
DeleteThis sounds like a weird script from Walt's grave.... Disney may actually hire Mr. Nice to counter Queen of Mean. Its been done in other newsrooms:
ReplyDelete*If Burbank bean counters push Tracey enough to generate say another 15% in payroll savings (and make more sick in the process ) they'll have the luxury of Bob, or someone like him to regroup the newsroom. Mr. Nice generally means you're not as good with money and have a conscience.
*Disney will then dump Tracey after the dirty work say by Labor Day, and blame her for low morale, bad ratings, etc. Have you seen the 4 o'clock numbers lately?
*They'll tell Allioto, it was HER fault.
Tracey Watkowski ENJOYS firing staff. But as the great Robespierre once opined, the executioner is always excecuted. Tracey is Disney toast, they HATE labor suits and ALWAYS blame middle managers. She does have one option, there's an opening for Wicked Witch at Disneyland.