Firings at CBS

[George K]

Damn, you're good at ferreting stuff out.

So Herridge was one of two reporters let go. I wonder if Mr. Pegues' computer was confiscated and his pre-CBS notes taken. I'd guess not.

Pegues' dismissal, however, seems to be clouded by something other than budget cuts:

Among the other Washington casualties, sources said, was CBS News correspondent Jeff Pegues, who was subjected to HR probes over his workplace behavior, including an alleged incident in which he dressed down a female colleague in a “20-minute rant.”

When the incident was investigated in 2021, insiders said, Ciprian-Matthews — who insiders have accused of promoting minorities while unfairly sidelining white journalists — attempted to “blame” the female correspondent and eventually gave Pegues a promotion.

More reporters:

A source said CBS News, which employs just under 2,000 people, got hit with 20 job cuts altogether.

Also among those laid off on Tuesday was Christina Ruffini, a political correspondent who has been featured on “CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell,” “CBS Mornings” and “CBS Sunday Morning..."

Pamela Falk, CBS News correspondent for the United Nations based in New York, was also laid off, according to sources.

[Mik]

There’s no justification or work product issue with her pre-CBS work unless there is a contract issue

[George K]

@Mik said in Firings at CBS:

There’s no justification or work product issue with her pre-CBS work unless there is a contract issue

I was wondering about that. If there is something in the contract about her pre-CBS material belonging to CBS, then I don’t see how she has a legitimate, and by that I mean legal complaint.

But, as we’ve said many times, “legal does not necessarily mean what’s right or ethical. “

[Doctor Phibes]

So they let the Paramount Executive VP go as a smokescreen to cover the conspiracy to oust the journalist and her computer?

Is the computer owned by the company? If so, it would be pretty weird to let her keep it I would have thought.

[George K]

[Doctor Phibes]

I honestly don't understand this. If I get let go from my job, they don't let me take anything with me other than personal items. Is it different for journalists?

[Jolly]

Don't think the contention is over hardware, but the personal notes and especially the source information.

[Aqua Letifer]

@Jolly said in Firings at CBS:

Don't think the contention is over hardware, but the personal notes and especially the source information.

Did they let her go back for her stuff, or did they tell her it'd be sent to them? If so, anything missing?

[Axtremus]

@Mik said in Firings at CBS:

Stinks.

Shouldn’t you withhold judgement before you hear the other side out?

[Doctor Phibes]

@Jolly said in Firings at CBS:

Don't think the contention is over hardware, but the personal notes and especially the source information.

I don't really know what is standard practice for journalists, but the expectation for me would be that what happens in my office stays in my office. Obviously, stuff gets taken away - my ancient collection of business cards, for example, but all my email, technical files, assessments, notebooks etc. would stay behind.

[George K]

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

I don't really know what is standard practice for journalists

See the SAG*AFTRA comment above:

"The retention of a media professional's reporting materials by their former employer is a serious break with traditional practices which supports the immediate return of reporting materials"

[Doctor Phibes]

@George-K said in Firings at CBS:

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

I don't really know what is standard practice for journalists

See the SAG*AFTRA comment above:

"The retention of a media professional's reporting materials by their former employer is a serious break with traditional practices which supports the immediate return of reporting materials"

I'd be interested to hear their justification for this, then. Based on some of the people let go, it seems like they're getting rid of some big positions, which kind of makes me think that isn't just some political shenanigans,

[George K]

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

it seems like they're getting rid of some big positions, which kind of makes me think that isn't just some political shenanigans,

Yes, I see your point, and you're probably right.

But Herridge's files?

[Aqua Letifer]

@George-K said in Firings at CBS:

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

it seems like they're getting rid of some big positions, which kind of makes me think that isn't just some political shenanigans,

Yes, I see your point, and you're probably right.

But Herridge's files?

I've been a journalist, and I've seen journalists get laid off.

I've also seen a journalist get fired for plagiarism. They had security come up, escort the guy out of the office and down into the elevator. They walked with him very closely.

Even then they let the guy take his rolodex (yeah, no shit, he was still using one of those) and a box of files.

So, a couple of things:

1. Yes, this is weird.
2. Could be a lot of different reasons for it. One thing going on, media layoffs are handled very differently in recent years. It's more sneaky in a lot of places. They'll clean your desk out over the weekend and have your personal effects mailed to you—you get a message in email or on your phone. Or you might be asked out to lunch by your manager and on the elevator ride down, he tells you you're laid off and you're to escort the building. Or, sure, it could be some kind of conspiracy. Who knows. But it isn't standard practice. Not even close.

[Copper]

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

what happens in my office stays in my office

Your office isn't specifically mentioned in the Constitution.

[Doctor Phibes]

@Copper said in Firings at CBS:

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

what happens in my office stays in my office

Your office isn't specifically mentioned in the Constitution.

I think you might need to be a little less cryptic.

[Jolly]

@Aqua-Letifer said in Firings at CBS:

@George-K said in Firings at CBS:

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

it seems like they're getting rid of some big positions, which kind of makes me think that isn't just some political shenanigans,

Yes, I see your point, and you're probably right.

But Herridge's files?

I've been a journalist, and I've seen journalists get laid off.

I've also seen a journalist get fired for plagiarism. They had security come up, escort the guy out of the office and down into the elevator. They walked with him very closely.

Even then they let the guy take his rolodex (yeah, no shit, he was still using one of those) and a box of files.

So, a couple of things:

1. Yes, this is weird.
2. Could be a lot of different reasons for it. One thing going on, media layoffs are handled very differently in recent years. It's more sneaky in a lot of places. They'll clean your desk out over the weekend and have your personal effects mailed to you—you get a message in email or on your phone. Or you might be asked out to lunch by your manager and on the elevator ride down, he tells you you're laid off and you're to escort the building. Or, sure, it could be some kind of conspiracy. Who knows. But it isn't standard practice. Not even close.

In that case, I believe I would have an info stash corporate could not get their hands on

[Aqua Letifer]

@Jolly said in Firings at CBS:

@Aqua-Letifer said in Firings at CBS:

@George-K said in Firings at CBS:

@Doctor-Phibes said in Firings at CBS:

it seems like they're getting rid of some big positions, which kind of makes me think that isn't just some political shenanigans,

Yes, I see your point, and you're probably right.

But Herridge's files?

I've been a journalist, and I've seen journalists get laid off.

I've also seen a journalist get fired for plagiarism. They had security come up, escort the guy out of the office and down into the elevator. They walked with him very closely.

Even then they let the guy take his rolodex (yeah, no shit, he was still using one of those) and a box of files.

So, a couple of things:

1. Yes, this is weird.
2. Could be a lot of different reasons for it. One thing going on, media layoffs are handled very differently in recent years. It's more sneaky in a lot of places. They'll clean your desk out over the weekend and have your personal effects mailed to you—you get a message in email or on your phone. Or you might be asked out to lunch by your manager and on the elevator ride down, he tells you you're laid off and you're to escort the building. Or, sure, it could be some kind of conspiracy. Who knows. But it isn't standard practice. Not even close.

In that case, I believe I would have an info stash corporate could not get their hands on

Yeah, that's what I wonder about, too. Absolutely no way she didn't have copies.

[George K]

@Aqua-Letifer said in Firings at CBS:

Yeah, that's what I wonder about, too. Absolutely no way she didn't have copies.

But it's more than a question of "having a backup."

It's a question of someone else, someone you probably don't trust, having access to confidential material - sources, etc.

If it becomes knowledge that your sources are no longer secure, your career as a journalist might well be over.

[Aqua Letifer]

@George-K said in Firings at CBS:

@Aqua-Letifer said in Firings at CBS:

Yeah, that's what I wonder about, too. Absolutely no way she didn't have copies.

But it's more than a question of "having a backup."

It's a question of someone else, someone you probably don't trust, having access to confidential material - sources, etc.

If it becomes knowledge that your sources are no longer secure, your career as a journalist might well be over.

No I get that, I'm just curious about the files themselves and if she has a backup.