United States: CFWIJ Condemns The Racial Workplace Discrimination Against Lori Lizarraga, Sonia Gutierrez, And Kristen Aguirre

Location: United States
Date: April 21, 2021

Lori Lizarraga, Sonia Gutierrez, and Kristen Aguirre, former correspondents for 9News Denver, shared their experience with workplace discrimination in an article published on March 28. In the article, Lori described how the newsroom policy was inconsiderate of using harsh language against undocumented immigrants. When she raised such concerns, the journalist was told to follow 9News guidelines. For Lori, the post at 9News was an exciting opportunity to work for an organization that values diversity. She soon realized her perception of the platform was a misconception. Fellow 9News journalists Sonia Gutierrez and Kristen Aguirre were also let go, sharing similar experiences with prejudice and limitations placed upon their journalistic coverage. CFWIJ condemns this racial discrimination at the workplace against these women journalists. We demand 9News to issue an apology for the hostile environment and inconsiderate newsroom policies.

Lori Lizarraga criticized the 9News approach, claiming it was highly negligent when making decisions about representing communities of color, failing to include people of color in the deliberation. She detailed how she was told she could not refer to anyone in the immigrant community as undocumented, ordered instead to use the terms “here illegally” or “illegally in the country”. She also condemned the practice of the newsroom dismissing their personal stories and lived experiences in an immigrant community. As a proud woman of color, Lori reported hundreds of community stories during her tenure at 9News. After two years of contention with managers over these practices, Lori’s contract was not renewed.

Lori shared that during her employment period at 9News, she was warned several times not to engage with Black community leaders. The context of the warning was: “it suggests support of their views on public policy issues.” The journalist included how she was asked not to wear her hair in a middle-parted bun, a style she wore often, like most Mexican and Ecuadorian women. Lori revealed that by her second year, she was fearful of being fired. She said that, at work, her identity was like baggage she often wished she could leave at home. The journalist was let go in a 90-second call, two weeks after a manager at 9News told her they were considering if she was worth keeping.

Kristen Aguirre was fired 11 months after having a stroke. Following her rehabilitation, the journalist resumed work part-time.  Instead of receiving support, Kristen claims the 9News team challenged her with deadlines and critique: “I realized then that no matter what I did, even when I did everything they threw at me, something was always wrong about my work”. The journalist shared her story on Instagram on April 10, 2020, stating how she was informed she was no longer up to the 9News standards and consequently let go.

Sonia Gutierrez was not allowed to report on immigration topics unless she divulged her own immigration status on-air.  She recalled that, for three years, she saw other journalists bring their own stories and experiences without having to explain personal details.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is dismayed by the discrimination experienced by these women journalists. CFWIJ believes in the importance of diversity and fair representation in the newsrooms.  We denounce the prejudicial practices of 9News and encourage the media outlet to reevaluate their broadcast guidelines.  Voices from underrepresented communities, especially those of women of color, should be valued and respected, not repressed. We stand in solidarity with these journalists and protest their unjustified dismissal from 9News.

The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.

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