United States: Madeline Odle Fired For Revealing Anti-LGBTQI Memo Circulated Among News Staff
The Coalition For Women In Journalism alarmed at attempt to influence coverage and calls for Madeline Odle’s reinstatement
Location: United States, Michigan
Date: June 29, 2023
Two producers at a Michigan TV station were fired for criticizing a memo ordering reporters to ease up on LGBTQI-focused stories during Pride. Madeline Odle and Luke Stier stood up for journalistic integrity and the LGBTQI community and now face unexpected career changes. The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls for their immediate reinstatement.
On June 29, 2023, executive producers for WOOD TV Madeline Odle and Luke Stier were fired for allegedly leaking a staff memo to the media.
Due to having signed a non-compete clause when starting with the station, both journalists are unable to work in another newsroom and are forced to find employment in different industries.
— Madeline Odle (@MadelineOdleTV) June 30, 2023
Controversial anti-LGBTQI memo
On June 15, 2023, several staff members at the station publicly stated their outrage at a memo from Assistant News Director Amy Fox requesting staff to tone down Pride coverage and ensure they “get both sides of the issues,” without specifying what the opposing side of a Pride event would be.
The memo mentioned that West Michigan is a conservative area, and some stories related to LGBTQ issues may be controversial and polarizing.
Several WOOD TV staff members, including Madeline Odle, publicly criticized the memo on social media. News anchor Michele DeSelms stated that requiring coverage of the "other side" of Pride events would give "equal time to hate and discrimination." Chief meteorologist at the station Ellen Bacca also expressed her opposition to the memo, calling it offensive and contrary to the principles of journalism.
Following the outcry, Nexstar Media Group, the corporate parent of WOOD TV, issued an apology, stating that the memo did not align with the company's diversity, equity, and inclusion values and promised to investigate the matter.
Two weeks later, following a review by the company, Odle and Sier were fired for allegedly leaking the memo, and News Director Stanton Tang and Assistant News Director Amy Fox were dismissed for their role in drafting and sending it.
State Representative Phil Skaggs commended the firing of Tang and Fox but called for the reinstatement of Odle and Stier, referring to them as courageous whistleblowers.
Non-compete clauses stifling careers
Noncompete clauses are common in local television news in the USA, preventing employees from moving to other stations in the same market for up to a year after their contract ends. These clauses have traditionally been imposed on reporters, anchors, sportscasters, and meteorologists but have recently expanded to include off-air roles such as producers and editors.
While the agreements are claimed to be necessary to cover the cost of training employees, they are seen by many as a barrier to job mobility in an already precarious industry. The contracts often require journalists to commit to months of unemployment to change jobs within their profession. As a result, journalists find themselves trapped within the confines of their current employers, unable to explore new avenues or seek out more favorable working conditions.
USA Federal Trade Commission is currently working to limit noncompete clauses, a move that could significantly impact the media industry, which is rife with these agreements.
However, business trade associations are lobbying against the proposed rule, arguing that noncompetes protect employers' investment in employees and prevent proprietary information from being used by competitors.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is astonished at Nexstar’s decision to fire Madeline Odle and Luke Stier. The company’s review of the memo found it to be against its policies and concluded that those who wrote it should be terminated. Considering these findings, firing the two producers for allegedly bringing news of this misconduct to light is excessive.
Odle and Stier are now unemployed and unable to apply for jobs in their field because their non-compete clauses remain in effect. We call on Nexstar to reverse their misguided decision to terminate Odle and Stier and reinstate them immediately.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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