A WPLG anchor’s photos from an Orlando music festival have renewed debate inside the Miami ABC affiliate over how far management can go in policing employees’ personal social media accounts, according to a report from industry outlet FTVLive.
Jacey Birch, an anchor at the station, posted a series of photos over the weekend from the Electric Daisy Carnival, a large electronic dance music festival in Orlando, wearing an outfit that exposed the sides of her breasts. FTVLive reported that at least 10 journalists sent the outlet links to Birch’s posts, with some colleagues objecting to the content.
The outlet also reported that a WPLG newsroom source claimed Birch had been warned before about her social media activity but kept posting similar material. FTVLive said it showed the photos to four television news directors, all of whom said they would have considered disciplinary action, up to and including firing her.
The posts land months after WPLG Vice President of News Bill Pohovey sent staff a memo telling them to stop posting what he called influencer-style content. “I’m exhausted to have to repeat this but we are not influencers, we are journalists,” Pohovey wrote. “We don’t want dance videos with our staff. We don’t want fashion shows, outfits of the day, or other silly content that detracts from you as journalists.”
The memo also extended the station’s expectations to employees’ off-duty conduct. “Whether you are working or not, you still represent the station and must always remember your role as a credible, trusted journalist, not a Kardashian. Some of what I see is cringeworthy,” Pohovey wrote.
One WPLG staffer told FTVLive that management has not followed through on the policy, saying of Pohovey: “Pohovey doesn’t have the balls to take any action, he’s spineless.”
The memo previously drew attention after fellow WPLG anchor Jenise Fernandez posted vacation photos from Fiji showing her in a red bikini at a floating bar and taking shots with friends. FTVLive had initially reported, citing newsroom sources, that the memo followed Fernandez’s trip, but Pohovey disputed that timeline, providing a screenshot showing the memo was sent Feb. 11, before her vacation.
“The memo didn’t tell employees they couldn’t post vacation photos or other daily life activities on their personal social pages,” Pohovey said at the time. “We do live in Florida and people wear bikinis on the beach. These photos were tasteful and completely fine.”
Pohovey and Birch have not responded to requests for comment.
