Former TV anchor Huebner sues ‘Valley News Live’ parent company over gender, age discrimination
December 19, 2011 at 9:55 am in Grand Forks Herald
In the complaint, Robin Huebner alleges managers at KXJB/KVLY illegally discriminated against her when they demoted her in August in favor of a younger female anchor who reportedly appealed to male viewers.
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Democrats and Independents would never do such a thing. Never. Right Jeff? Do you really know the political affiliation of those who orchestrated Robin’s demotion? I thought those working in news media were considered to be quite liberal, that is until FOX News came along. You keep beating the same drum Jeff. Yada, yada, yada…
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As opposed to the “Groper in Chief” Slick Willy?
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heh heh Jeff! I guess you got lost on your way to this comment section and still thought you were defending your sugar beet friends?
Robin, in the words of the late, great, Frank Sinatra, “you’re a good looking dame.” And certainly, weighing all your options, trying to collect what you can, when you can, based on your age and the media industry, why not sue? Of course KXJB/KVLY will settle outside of court as the cheapest way, possible, to avoid the lengthy and ugly public scrutiny, as to why you got the boot. Age fifty is nothing these days except where on-air face time is important. You still got it and I, and your fans, miss you.
You go girl!
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EVERYTHING is the fault of the Republicans to Jeff.
I’m guessing if he finished in the bathroom and found his Toilet paper roll empty it would be the fault of the GOP. What a lack of vision.
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That comment makes you look silly, political parties have nothing to do with Robin’s termination and or law suit.
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Go get ‘em lady!..
.Jeff H…..you have real problems about Repubs, you need real help before you jump off a tower, or hurt yourself or something, or OD on Crystal sugar.
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She hired a “super lawyer.” http://www.superlawyers.com/minnesota/lawyer/James-H-Kaster/73bc7d7e-9b56-4270-b5e6-1b41ba79a203.html
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Maybe she’s right…in fact, I suspect she IS a victim of age discrimination.
Who did SHE replace twenty-one years ago?
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I am pretty sure she didn’t replace anyone. She was the first female anchor at then KTHI now kVLY.
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Where did Kathy Coyle work? She was an early female anchor
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20+ years ago there were still many barriers that made getting hired in certain positions very difficult for women. I remember Robin being one of the first few women to break through those barriers as a news anchor in the valley. Age discrimination is very difficult to prove. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but it is very difficult. I hope she gathered enought junk on the company in the two months before she left to put them on the ropes. Give them a run for their money Robin!
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You don’t know that. Robin was a real sharp young lady, a gymnastics athlete, I believe. She got hired for lots of reasons.
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Best of luck Robin. BTW, the current females’ wardrobes are hideous. I’ll fitting, cheap and unprofessional.
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Obviously if they wanted to replace her, and they wanted to make it right they would have promoted her….I’m not positive, but I think that’s most likely what they would have done with a man. Maybe something in productions….None the less if you just demote someone for no good reason, then age discrimination does seem probable.
Having said that…Anyone who makes a living in front of a camera in the media though has to know going into it that the media is often quite fickle. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how well you perform….If there’s a shiny object someplace else it just might take peoples attention away. So I’d think going in to it people in the media have to know they’re always extremely vulnerable
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All I know is Valley News, morning, evening and night were always on at my house. Since this none have been on and they will not be on. Valley news is no longer watched in this house.
And I have found that the other stations have very good, better in some cases, news casts.
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BTW, the yahooo general manager who makes public comments on their tv stations would be better suited to managing a backwoods swap meet than a representing a media empire.
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Best of luck Robin, we all know your allegations are true, unfortunately companies use tactics like moving people to less desirable shifts or job assignments to get them to resign on their own as a means to avoid a discrimination charge. Hopefully the judge will see through this tactic.
We too have made the channel switch at our house, we are very lucky to have your old co-anchor Charley Johnson in Grand Forks! You two were the best together! Seems Charley would have a case too, same thing happened to him.
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I like Charlie and Robin as well. Not sure what to say about the law suit. I try not to judge without something to go on. I will say though because he has proven time and time again on this page the JEFFH is a flipping MO RON. Yep I know I am in trouble know…. call the FCC
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Grand Forks Channel 8 doesn’t have that problem….They basically change monthly for the new team…I’ll be gone a couple weeks and come back to a bunch of new faces. Must be the proving grounds for interns or something. They can’t be going through people that fast all the time otherwise.
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It prevents lawsuits by not allowing any one person to think they are owed a specific time slot.
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watching Ch #8 in GF is similar to watching paint dry. Dont get me wrong both great activities to pass time…….in jail that is!
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Captain someone once said if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything. How stupid is that? Anywho, I find it a tad bit unprincipled to make personal attacks on people’s appearance, unless of course they are a Chomo or Rapo.
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Yeah I like Robin but considering the Valley News is 80% weather, I want too tall back.
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So, this woman feels that she is better qualified to attract viewers than the younger, more attractive woman hired for her time slot? “Show Biz” is a brutal and honest business. The younger, more attractive men and women will always prevail. It’s all about ratings. Not a “slight” to anyone aging, it’s just the way things are. In that business people actually are judged on their looks. Who would want to watch someone that looks like Helen Thomas for 1/2 hour or more every day. This woman, by NO MEANS, looks like her but I’m just saying that looks matter in the media.
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It is older men who get promoted and hired in the news business not younger. Older women get “reassigned”, they dont dare just fire them any more, in favor of young attractive women. Younger men do not get anchor jobs they have to work as reporters for years before they “make it” if they ever do.
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Yeah, that’s why Andy Rooney and Walter Cronkite were so popular! What you say is only applied to WOMEN in the media. It’s an unfortunate fact that old women and old men aren’t allowed the same opportunities.
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There has been a mjor shift. Decades ago, news was news, and on the national level you had real reporters, people who proved themselves in the field: Murrow, Cronkite, Chancellor, Huntley/Brinkley,et al. Then news became entertainment and reporters became news readers. It was then that ability was replaced by looks. As I said above, Robin Huebner was a beneficiary of that shift. She got her job because of her age and looks. Now she’s replaced by another woman due to HER age and looks. These are simply the realities of the business.
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You have a poingt that those guys did prove themselves in the field, but once they hit the desk then in all reality they too basically read the news. Don’t get me wrong…I’m sure with their experience they most likely did a lot of re-writing to make it a better read, but I doubt they did much more then present the news either. It’s just that people recognized the faces from all the big stoies they were on before they hit the desks.
For the most part this is just the business they’re in. If it appears that some other station is getting higher ratings and able to sell more commercia space, then everyone is expendable until they find a formula that works…..Cut throat…Damn right…But it is the business, and they all know that going in right?
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I forgot to add….I don’t think her case has a chance to win unless her contract gave certain protections…….Otherwise the company will point out that it is the nature of the business to switch people to increase ratings…..Not good, but I’m guessing it’s not wrong in the eyes of the law…
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Unfortunately, they have no proof the ratings will be better under Stephanie Goetz. I would actually hazard a guess the ratings will go DOWN, at least for awhile. Robin was well-liked, and the manner in which she was “forced” out does not sit well with people in North Dakota.
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