Miami News Station Director Addresses Staff Social Media Use

A Miami news director instructed employees to limit posting frivolous content on their social media. This guidance resurfaced after discussions about anchor Jenise Fernandez’s vacation photos. According to a report by FTVLive, WPLG Vice President of News, Bill Pohovey, criticized staff for sharing influencer-like content that detracted from their journalism mission.

Pohovey stated in an internal memo that had been circulated well before Fernandez’s recent posts. The memo was a reminder of long-standing social media guidelines. It emphasized maintaining professionalism on personal accounts to uphold the journalistic image of the station.

I have emailed about this numerous times, but we seem to be going in the wrong direction again, Pohovey reportedly communicated, stressing the importance of maintaining a focus on journalistic integrity.

Recent photos on Fernandez’s verified account showed her in a bikini during a vacation in Fiji. Despite scrutiny, Pohovey clarified that the images did not breach any directives, as the memorandum was not aimed at a specific incident but aimed to upholding a professional standard.

Fernandez, an anchor at WPLG since 2014 and a former Miss Miami, posted photos of herself in a fire-red bikini, enjoying resort amenities. Despite reports suggesting otherwise, the memo was unrelated to these posts.

Pohovey’s memo advised staff against using social media for dance videos or fashion posts. He reiterated that newsroom culture should avoid content creation within station premises, to preserve the channel’s credibility.

Maintaining credibility is crucial as audiences lose trust, and ‘fake news’ labels become more common, Pohovey noted. Journalists should remember their public image influences both personal reputations and the organization’s standing.