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ViacomCBS Places Stations President Peter Dunn, Senior VP Of News David Friend On Administrative Leave Pending Results Of Investigation

Y2kTheNewOldies

Y2kTheNewOldies

newyork.cbslocal.com

ViacomCBS Places Stations President Peter Dunn, Senior VP Of News David Friend On Administrative Leave Pending Results Of Investigation

The investigation stems from issues raised in a recent Los Angeles Times report.
newyork.cbslocal.com newyork.cbslocal.com

www.latimes.com

Inside CBS' fraught investigation into allegations of racism and misogyny

A Times review of court filings, CBS' internal communications and interviews with two dozen current and former CBS television station employees found that many were troubled by the outcome of the investigation and questioned the company's commitment to cleaning up its culture.
www.latimes.com www.latimes.com

www.nytimes.com

CBS Suspends Two Executives Accused of Racist and Sexist Conduct (Published 2021)

The executives, Peter Dunn and David Friend, were placed on leave after a report in The Los Angeles Times in which they were accused of creating a hostile work environment.
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

www.hollywoodreporter.com

CBS Settles Reporter’s Gender Bias Lawsuit

Resolution of Michele Gillen’s lawsuit comes on the eve of trial.
www.hollywoodreporter.com www.hollywoodreporter.com


According to the NY Times and other outlets Peter Dunn and David Friend of the CBS O&O division have been accused of creating racial and sexism environment. Initially CBS was resolving a toxic culture on the national level with Leslie Moonves, Charlie Rose and Jeff Fager and the reforms that took place on the national divisions. Now the articles look at allegations that took place at KYW, WBBM, KCBS/KCAL over how the GM's, ND and Stations President failed or escalated the toxic environment at the O&O division. I remember at previous posts WFOR-TV Lawsuit was the initial sparking point for the CBS O&O's division facing a toxic work culture around the time the national CBS was making reforms. Also some of the CBS O&O's were facing allegations of ageism under Peter Dunn's tenure at the O&O division.

CBS has placed two top TV executives on leave after a report detailing accusations that they had created a hostile work environment, including making disparaging remarks about female and Black employees.

The executives, Peter Dunn, the president of CBS television stations, and David Friend, the senior vice president of news for TV stations, were placed on administrative leave pending the results of a third-party investigation, the company said in a statement on Monday.

“CBS is committed to a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace where all voices are heard, claims are investigated and appropriate action is taken where necessary,” according to the statement. CBS declined further comment.

The suspensions came after The Los Angeles Times published a report on Sunday in which employees accused the executives of “bullying female managers and blocking efforts to hire and retain Black journalists.”
Click to expand...
 
www.latimes.com

CBS settles suit over Dallas TV reporter who lost job to former cheerleader

CBS denied that it refused to hire popular reporter Tammy Dombeck Campbell because of her age. The job went to a 24-year-old former NFL cheerleader.
www.latimes.com www.latimes.com

Also the LA Times released allegations of age discrimination allegations at CBS in that example it mentioned CBS O&O KTVT/KTXA Dallas in 2020 was facing a lawsuit in relation to ageism. This is one of the lead ups to Peter Dunn being suspended by the current management of CBS.

www.cbsnews.com

CBS executives placed on leave after reports of "racist" and "sexist" comments

A company statement said there would be an independent investigation into issues raised in a report in the Los Angeles Times that accused an executive of making "racist, sexist, homophopic and discriminatory comments."
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com

Here is the national CBS division Responding to the allegations. Also mentioned in the national report Peter Dunn was accused of a racial rant against Ukee Washington (CBS3 Philadelphia Anchor) and David Friend made rants against a black female news talent at CBS3 Philadelphia in which the GM and News Director at KYW blew the whistle on Dunn and Friend leading up to the suspensions.
 
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thegrio.com

Ex-CBS reporter claims discrimination, says he was reprimanded for 'queening out'

Don Champion shared a photo he says brought back "horrible memories of being bullied and discriminated against for being a gay Black man."
thegrio.com

Don Champion former WCBS-TV talent comes forward with allegations of misconduct about Peter Dunn and David Friend over allegations of Homophobia and racism.

I remember in previous postings when the initial articles of CBS O&O's were being exposed for this issue it was initially KTVT/KTXA, KCBS/KCAL and WFOR-TV facing a lawsuit but the lawsuit was initially directed the allegations at the GM's and ND's as the accused for this very toxic culture but in those suits the people filing those suits could not prove David Friend and Peter Dunn directly at the time was behind the toxic work culture at the CBS O&O's it was the local GM and ND's at CBS O&O's facing the allegations.
 
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chicago.cbslocal.com

CBS Executives On Leave After Allegations Of Racism, Sexism; 'You Cannot Change This Culture....And Not Cut The Head Off And Not Completely Restart'

The two executives are Peter Dunn, CBS Television Stations President and David Friend, Senior Vice President of News for the stations. The National Association of Black Journalists is calling for both to be fired.
chicago.cbslocal.com chicago.cbslocal.com

CBS News has now confirmed that the former GM of WBBM-TV was forced out of the Chicago station by Peter Dunn and David Friend.
 
I enjoy the story about the small station in Long Island they bought with rights to the fancy golf course.
 
www.latimes.com

CBS hires Proskauer Rose to investigate alleged misconduct by CBS TV stations heads

CBS Chief Executive George Cheeks told staff members on Friday: "We are committed to creating a company culture that is diverse, equitable and inclusive."
www.latimes.com www.latimes.com

ViacomCBS has got an outside firm to investigate other allegations of misconduct on the CBS O&O division. Peter Dunn and David Friend so far has been suspended by CBS over racial, Homophobia and misogyny rants and harassment.
 
deadline.com

WGA Seeks Sit-Down With CBS Over Probe Into Alleged Racist, Sexist Behavior By Local TV Execs

CBS’ recently opened investigation into alleged racist and sexist conduct by two of its top local TV executives is now in the spotlight of the WGA, and the guild wants a face-to-face ASAP. “T…
deadline.com deadline.com

The WGA is responding to the allegations against Peter Dunn and David Friend over allegations of racial and sexist rants at CBS O&O's. Note in some of the cases it was the News Director and GM that were harassed by David Friend and Peter Dunn over hiring Black and female talent that under question in this case.
 
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RadioPatrol said:
Peter Dunn and David Friend are removed from CBS as a result of the racial and sexual misconduct at CBS O&O Management.
Click to expand...
Guess the firm doing the investigation must have already issued their report. Wonder if CBS will ever disclose that the severance/parachute package is/was?
 
variety.com

CBS Fires Station Chiefs in Los Angeles and Chicago Following Misconduct Probe

CBS has ousted the leaders of its O&O stations in Los Angeles and Chicago after concluding a six-month investigation into misconduct claims at the CBS Television Stations group. Jay Howell is o…
variety.com variety.com

CBS has ousted the leaders of its O&O stations in Los Angeles and Chicago after concluding a six-month investigation into misconduct claims at the CBS Television Stations group.

Jay Howell is out as general manager of KCBS-TV and KCAL-TV Los Angeles, as is Derek Dalton at WBBM-TV Chicago. The terminations were disclosed in memos Thursday about the conclusion of the investigation sparked by a Los Angeles Times expose on hostile working conditions for women and people of color at a number of CBS O&Os.

In April, former CBS Television Stations president Peter Dunn and David Friend, senior VP of news, were forced out amid allegations that they had made racially charged comments about anchors and reporters and blocked efforts to retain and promote Black journalists, among other accusations.
Click to expand...

Update CBS Television Stations has now removed Jay Howell from GM Seat of CBSN Los Angeles, KCAL-TV, KCBS-TV and Derek Dalton from WBBM-TV over the same allegations that got Peter Dunn and David Friend removed from the CBS O&O division.
 
Kelly A said:
Guess the firm doing the investigation must have already issued their report. Wonder if CBS will ever disclose that the severance/parachute package is/was?
Click to expand...
Likely enough money to prevent lawsuits. Educated but wild guess: for an LA or NYC manager, likely in the $600 to $800 thousand range plus liquidations of vacation days and any due bonus.
 
Kelly A said:
Wonder if CBS will ever disclose that the severance/parachute package is/was?
Click to expand...

They never do for many reasons, including the IRS. Imagine if the Trump organization had publicly announced their bonus structure before it came up during Congressional hearings by Michael Cohen.
 
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