The Progressive THINKERS: Update on Lisa Lake's Discrimination Experience

Friday, June 13, 2008

Update on Lisa Lake's Discrimination Experience

June 13, 2008, 4:50 pm
Greetings:
As you know, we immediately initiated complaints to Channel 10News in letters, calls, and emails in response to their attempt to demote Lisa Lake from the early morning slot on Channel 10News. I spoke with Lisa this morning to get details on her position and clarification on the offer from Channel 10News. In response to initial complaints, Sean Kennedy, Channel 10News Acting News director wrote to say Lisa was receiving a "prime presence" on the midday news and in a "reporting position" at 7 pm. Because we didn't understand what a "reporting position" was, it sounded pretty good on the surface.

However, from Lisa Lake, this "reporting position" is really a field position on general assignment, meaning she would be running all over town to cover stories. Her hours could easily turn into a 12 hour day (unacceptable for a single mother). A field reporter is more an entry level position, and would be a serious demotion to a professional with over 17 years of dedicated service to that station. In addition, they wanted her to sign a contract that would allow them to dismiss her with only 2 weeks notice. Outrageous!!!

Here are facts you should know about Lisa Lake's tenure at channel 10News as you customize the attached letter and send it in. We absolutely cannot back down on this one!!!
1. Lisa Lake is the only African American employed in the newsroom.
2. She has been employed there 17 years, 13 years as the Morning and Midday news anchor.
3. Several years ago, along with Fred Blankenship (who is now in Atlanta), Lisa Lake applied for the 4 pm news slot. Both were denied.
4. The station claims the workforce is 6% African American. It is not. Ask for numbers of full time African American employees.
4. With no prior notice, and on a Friday afternoon, Lisa was told that she was being taken off mornings "because of the changing audience." Yet the all of the evening news anchors are white.
5. In the 42 year history of channel 10 there has never been one African American prime time news anchor.

To serve the growing Spanish speaking audience, Channel 10News started a full Spanish news broadcast on Channel 15. In essence they are already serving the Spanish audience with a full commitment. Lisa speaks Spanish fluently as well.

Apparently this is a growing problem at Channel 10. Here's an excerpt I received from the President of the NABET-CWA Union:
"We have long been concerned with not only the (lack of) diversity of the anchor team at Channel 10, but how ALL employees are treated. Lisa Lake is the latest in a long line of employees who have received a bad deal. When we created "10NewsUnfair.com," we didn't choose the name lightly. Channel 10 is not treating its employees with fairness or respect. We support your position and urge you to share your feelings with KGTV President/General Manager, Ed Quinn (Edward_Quinn@10News.com). You can call his office directly at 619-237-6200. Tell him it's time to treat ALL employees with fairness and respect -- including Lisa Lake. Our Union is also urging advertisers to suspend their advertising contracts with the station as an effort to apply financial pressure. You will find the list of major local advertisers at 10NewsUnfair.com. It is no accident that management told the Catfish Club and UNCF to hit the road several years ago. They have lost their sense of community spirit, fairness and respect." Sincerely, Dennis Csillag, President, NABET-CWA Local 54

Please, please, please send your letters in, email, or call:
Ed Quinn, General Manager
10 News, KGTV
4600 Air Way, San Diego, CA 92102
Main office: 619-237-1010 or Programming Comment Line 619-237-1010 ext 6686
Email: ed_quinn@10news.com

The "sample" letter I wrote yesterday to Ed Quinn should be customized with your contact information. If you are not an African American, replace that with "concerned community citizen" or any other descriptive you chose. Just please don't sit on this!
Thank you, Dee Sanford

Dee Sanford International
375 Winewood Street
San Diego, CA 92114-5955
Home ofc: 619 263-6868; Cell: 619 203-1590; deesanford@cox.net; www.deesanford.com

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16 comments:

Anonymous said...: It's time for the real story to come out. Lisa has her job any day she decides she wants to go back - management wants her and has said as much to everyone at the station. However Lisa's co-workers are ready for her to move on and she knows it. They've been sending her messages to let her know that what they do every day (reporting) is NOT an ENTRY level position. HOW DARE YOU!!!! Either she sets the record straight and stops lying about her situation or she will not have a very welcome return to 10. How many of us would get to take 4 months off with full pay and have a job waiting for us at the end of it? How many of us have had our jobs changed over the years? Playing the race card in this is offensive to me, I am also a minority (not black) and I would never do this. Anyone who has ever worked with Lisa will attest to the fact that she is lazy and relies on her race for job security. Shame on her! Get back to work Lisa or move on.; July 18, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Anonymous said...: Dee Sanford - thanks for editing out any comments that dare to tell the real story. Keep up the good work!; July 18, 2008 at 10:14 PM
Unknown said...: I always wonder about how credible people are that seem to have plenty to say but want to be "Anonymous"; July 24, 2008 at 7:51 AM
Anonymous said...: Do you think similar has happened to James Quinones? In the 3rd grade I was a Junior Weathercaster for the station. I met Lisa LAake and James Quinones and as a young african american girl, Lisa Lake was my hero, when I met her I bragged to my friends for WEEKS. When my grandma realized she'd been off air, she called the station and asked for a reason. They LIED to her and told her that Lake would return after taking care of some personal business. My family will no longer be watching Channel 10 news, becuase they obviously aren't giving other peoplethe oppurtuniies they deserve. Also their on-air representation does not mere the San Diego communities well.; September 13, 2008 at 1:52 PM
Walter Davis said...: I do not know if the James Quiones story is simular. Lots of tight lip stuff going on. I believe it is related and I too have stopped watching channel Ten as well as ABC news as a whole. Charles Gibson and the others seem to have taken a turn to the Right and I do not like what I hear on the station. When a White man gets into trouble for example, it is described as "A man...(robbed, was shot etc.)...when African American men get into news worthy events especially when it is negative, you are sure to know that they were Black or Latino or whatever else they were.

I believe Channel Ten is racist and will no longer support them. I believe a general boycott is in order.; September 15, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Walter Davis said...: There appear to be lots of cowards on here who will not reveal their identities.; September 15, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Anonymous said...: As a long time viewer of channel 10 I have seen how they have run off anchors over the years. A quick switch to KUSI 9 is like a trip down memory lane of Channel 10. The treatment of Lisa Lake is discriminatory, her race, her sex, and marital status are all part of the immoral minority exercising authority over an employee. 10 news actions towards their Union is clear how they demand to dictate every aspect of employment. The reassignment of Lisa is a guise, much like making a person do the dirtiest jobs everyday.Her training , senority and professionalism are all neglected by 10 news. I no longer enjoy watching this station, and only through this blog became aware of why she is no longer a part of my day, Thanks Lisa for trying to hold on, but its clear they are treating you as if it still 1955.; October 11, 2008 at 3:34 PM
Anonymous said...: I have been trying to find out what happened to Lisa and James. I am a white female and their ethnicity has no bearing on my opinion of their professionalism and genuine likeability. THEY were the sole reason I watched channel 10 news. If Lisa is hired by another local station, I will definately follow.; November 24, 2008 at 8:06 AM
Anonymous said...: I wondered what happened to Lisa Lake. At least KUSI actually explained why Rod Luck no longer reported stories.

I always liked Lisa's delivery of the news, she had a friendly smile and a very professional attitude.

I didn't even think of her in regard to race. I noticed enunciation and delivery more than anything.

I have, however, quit watching CH 10 mostly because I felt it was being taken over by Spanish related items. I loved their CH 15 to catch news I missed due to various activities. Then more and more Spanish reporters. I never had anything against Spanish or Mexican reporters,stories, but now I feel it's going to take over. And I don't like it. I like a VARIETY much more.

Sheesh, even the word verification sounds Mexican. See what I mean?; November 24, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Anonymous said...: Like many in San Diego, I had wondered for sometime what had happened to Lisa Lake on the Morning 10 News "Team" broadcast, then today I found this blog with the explanation of the problem and attempted demotion. I had noticed in the past the constant coming and going of various anchors and weather people at channel 10 and thought that signified employment problems, so now this situation explains a lot. Like many others, though I watched this news channel for years, I will no longer be tuning in...these people need to clean up their act and treat people better! This is unfair to their employees, and to the public in general, who have come to think of these people who come into our home almost every day as family.; January 16, 2009 at 5:02 PM
Anonymous said...: Ok to the first "Anonymous".. You said you're appalled that Lisa Played the "race card" and that u as a minority never would? BULL SHIT!! U just did! Lisa is the greatest African American TV. Anchor/Reporter to ever live in San Diego! So i have one thing to say to u.. FUCK YOU!!! Your probably nothing more than a stupid fucking Black Bitch!!! And i very seriously doubt that you are black! But on the off chance that u r black answer me this... How is it that every single time a little tiny "indescretion" happens against a black person, the black people of the United States play the "Race Card"? Why is that hmmmm? I want you and all black people to understand something.. Just because there is a black President in the White House DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO ALL OF THE SUDDEN BECOME MORE ARROGANT AND EXPRESS YOUR BULL SHIT OPINIONS! And quite frankly evrybody knows that black people's "representatives" are Oprah Winfrey, Tyra Banks, And Wendy "the fat ass black bitch" Williams! So as far as Lisa Lake's situation goes It IS NOT HER FAULT, and anyone who thinks otherwise can kiss my FUCKING ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!; December 30, 2009 at 6:34 AM
Anonymous said...: I am curious to hear what Ms. Lake has to say about her part in the Reggie Bush scandal that is bringing USC football to its knees.
Please Tell me more about the $1700 check she wrote to Reggie when he was a junior in college.
Maybe KGTV is exercising its right to distance itself from wrong doers.; June 12, 2010 at 10:54 AM
Anonymous said...: Lisa Lake is a racist. Plain and simple.

Whenever she doesn't get her way she plays the race card. In fact, the only reason she was on KGTV for so long was because she was a black woman. It sure wasn't because of any "talent" because she didn't have any.

I have hours of out-takes of her stumbling through her copy .

She was (IS) AWFUL! Glad she is finally off the air.; July 22, 2010 at 5:12 PM
Regina Greene said...: To Brandon, WOW...you are a VERY ANGRY WHITE MAN. First of all, I resent you referring to black women as bitches...what is that about? You are trying to condemn the whole African American community because you're mad as hell Obama became President. If you don't like that, then cast your vote for a Republican who will do nothing for poor/middle Americans. You have no idea what you're talking about, you're just spewing your hatred in a post. By the way, the black bithces you are referring to raised your white ass descendants who from the way you seemed to have beem raised with a lack of common decency, need your white ass re-raised and whipped by those black bitches as you called them.; August 16, 2011 at 9:51 PM
Regina Greene said...: To Brandon, WOW...you are a VERY ANGRY WHITE MAN. First of all, I resent you referring to black women as bitches...what is that about? You are trying to condemn the whole African American community because you're mad as hell Obama became President. If you don't like that, then cast your vote for a Republican who will do nothing for poor/middle Americans. You have no idea what you're talking about, you're just spewing your hatred in a post. By the way, the black bithces you are referring to raised your white ass descendants who from the way you seemed to have beem raised with a lack of common decency, need your white ass re-raised and whipped by those black bitches as you called them.; August 16, 2011 at 9:54 PM
Anonymous said...: I'm a native San Diegan, and have seen ALL the news anchors & reporters there have been here since the 70's.

In all that time, my attention to local news has never been so seized by any of them, like it has been when LISA LAKE appeared on the screen.

Her natural beauty, accompanied by that articulate yet upbeat style & smile she used to tell us the news during that time, made KGTV 10 my favorite choice. (and all this coming from a homegrown gal ? ? ? MAN, how could she not have been the best thing to hit the airwaves of San Diego)

Then, sometime within the last 2 years, she was GONE!?! I never knew what happened to her, and just assumed that she must've landed some big-money spot in Chicago or somewhere. Sadness...

So, what the hail brought me here today ? ? ? Something that occurred in my life about 8 hours ago.

OH MY GAAAAAWWWSH ! ! ! I'm trying to save a few dollars more by shopping at Food4Less/Market at the Creek about 2:30pm this afternoon, and who do I see in the Produce Section next to me, in flip flops, black shorts & a 2-toned t-shirt -- LISA LAKE ! ! !

But not having seen her in about 2 years I had to make sure -- so, I turned to her and blurted out, "Hey - isn't your name Lisa!?!" And, surprizingly, in a manner like a person excited by the possibility of a past friend finding them, responded, "Yes! Take of your sunglasses so I can see who you are."

WOW! Completely unpretentious, friendly & natural -- as in NO MAKEUP -- yet, even MORE attractive than I ever remember her looking on TV (have you ever seen Carol Lebeau without makeup? MAN - like a fish outa water!!! And Kimberly Hunt without makeup??? Probably looks more like Billy Rae - eeek!!!)

I was curious about where she had disappeared to, so I asked Lisa what she was up to these days. She told me that, after spending 17 years in news broadcasting, she wanted to help students get into the broadcast industry. And, now she is teaching a class.

I ended our convesation by telling her it was good to know that some lucky San Diegans were still enjoying her professional expertise & pretty face. She thanked me and, with a smile, said, "It was a pleasure to meet you".

MY DAY HAD BEEN MADE ! ! !

(p.s. Knowing now, after reading these related threads, that Lisa is a single mom, I would've probably worked my Latin Lover magic and asked her out to Dinner - but that will have to wait until another day ? ! ?)r

~~~Henry Curiel~~~; October 13, 2011 at 9:33 PM