CBS sexual abuse problems continue

[seatownmedia]

Wow, CBS is in a bad way recently with sexual abuse claims. Revealed today, Don Hewitt, (deceased) is still costing CBS millions.

url]https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/06/business/media/60-minutes-jeff-fager-don-hewitt.html[/url]

Looks like CBS had a "culture" of this behavior in past decades. Very sad.

 

[TheBigA]

Looks like CBS had a "culture" of this behavior in past decades. Very sad.

Then again when you add up the number of people who've worked there over the past 50 years, and compare it to the number of people who've had problems, it becomes a small percentage. It might fit into the statistical average for any place of business where people of both sexes work. I can tell you that at my first radio job, we found out that there was a bit of an affair going on between the chief engineer and the GM's secretary. We would never have known, but one day her husband came in to the station with a gun and shot the chief engineer. That's when we all found out the story.

So it's not always a culture of behavior. Just that these things happen between women and men "behind closed doors," as the classic country song goes. Until we find out about them. The reason we now hear about Hewitt is it came up in another legal case.

 

[seatownmedia]

Then again when you add up the number of people who've worked there over the past 50 years, and compare it to the number of people who've had problems, it becomes a small percentage. It might fit into the statistical average for any place of business where people of both sexes work. I can tell you that at my first radio job, we found out that there was a bit of an affair going on between the chief engineer and the GM's secretary. We would never have known, but one day her husband came in to the station with a gun and shot the chief engineer. That's when we all found out the story.

So it's not always a culture of behavior. Just that these things happen between women and men "behind closed doors," as the classic country song goes. Until we find out about them. The reason we now hear about Hewitt is it came up in another legal case.

You are correct, it is "not always a culture of behavior". But the facts show this culture at CBS. True, smaller companies get overlooked, and big highly exposed companies (like CBS), get more intense scrutiny. Another element is the power of some of these people who are in high positions and think they can get away with it. This has been an on-going issue in the movie and tv industry for several years now, and it is a real problem. The other smaller issues are also a real problem, but they don't get the attention.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Also in the NY Times article two new names pop up besides Hewitt and its how Jeff Fager handled the allegations of two staff members on 60 Minutes.

Michael Radutzky and Ira Rosen are named in the Jeff Fager allegations.

accusations of bullying against Michael Radutzky, a former senior producer on “60 Minutes,” and harassment against Ira Rosen, currently a producer on the show.


Mr. Radutzky, they wrote, was “abusive, screamed and threw objects at other ‘60 Minutes’ staff.” The lawyers noted that while many people at “60 Minutes” were aware of the conduct, Mr. Fager tolerated it because he viewed Mr. Radutzky as an “extraordinarily talented” producer.

In a statement, Mr. Radutzky said: “Some people may have found me difficult, but I was committed not only to getting the story but getting it first and getting it right. In that intense environment, I’m sure I said things that may have been hurtful to my colleagues. Now, with some distance, I regret the toll that it took on all of us.”

Mr. Rosen, the investigators wrote, “occasionally made inappropriate sexual comments to his female subordinates, such as asking them to twirl and encouraging them to use their sex appeal to secure information from sources.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/06/business/media/60-minutes-jeff-fager-don-hewitt.html

 

[TheBigA]

The other smaller issues are also a real problem, but they don't get the attention.

I suggest its a bigger problem when it involves politicians, and when they attempt to cover it up to influence popular voting.

Otherwise it's just a bunch of rumors, gossip, and innuendo, and the topic of endless TV dramas.

 

[LKellerIII]

In a statement, Mr. Radutzky said: “Some people may have found me difficult, but I was committed not only to getting the story but getting it first and getting it right. In that intense environment, I’m sure I said things that may have been hurtful to my colleagues. Now, with some distance, I regret the toll that it took on all of us.”

What a d**k. First Radutzky give an excuse for his bad behavior which amounts to - "Yeah, I was a bully, but it was because I had high standards." Then he minimizes the effect it had on others by referencing the toll it took on HIM, not just the others.

It reminds me of a business partner I had once who would have tantrums, and verbally abuse everybody - me and her other partners and the line staff, because, "I'm so committed to getting it right and I just have to express myself." Even though she couldn't fire me, it was the most miserable three years of my life. In the last 20 years - my most recent career - I've had mostly good people as supervisors, but with 2 exceptions - one man, one woman - who were control freaks and miserable human beings that spread their misery to others.

The worst part of it is - creativity in the workplace goes out the window, because the people that report to the bullies are afraid they'll be criticized - or worse - for coming up with new ideas. Then the only people who get ahead are the sycophantic yes men (and women) without any original ideas.

To be clear - in my experience - bullying bosses have been women just as often as men.

 

[TheBigA]

To be clear - in my experience - bullying bosses have been women just as often as men.

I agree with that. And so far we don't hear a lot of men accusing women of abuse, or even men accusing other men of abuse. So far, it's primarily women. In this case, it's not sexual abuse, but verbal abuse.

How often have we watched a football game (as I am now) where the coach screams at his player, throws his clipboard and his headphones to the turf, and runs on the field yelling? It happens pretty much every game, in pro sports and college. I've seen it happen in Little League. Where is the line between passion, emotion, and bullying? I don't know. I just know that people get wrapped up in what they're doing. Certainly physical contact is over the line. But I think everyone loses their temper. Does everyone have to act like Mr. Rogers or someone will accuse them of abuse? In that case, there will be a lot of accusations. I know it's off topic, but we're just hearing the tip of the iceberg in the white house. The name calling, the verbal abuse, and a lot of it is public. You think it doesn't have an effect on other things?

 

[LKellerIII]

I agree with that. And so far we don't hear a lot of men accusing women of abuse, or even men accusing other men of abuse. So far, it's primarily women. In this case, it's not sexual abuse, but verbal abuse.

How often have we watched a football game (as I am now) where the coach screams at his player, throws his clipboard and his headphones to the turf, and runs on the field yelling? It happens pretty much every game, in pro sports and college. I've seen it happen in Little League. Where is the line between passion, emotion, and bullying? I don't know. I just know that people get wrapped up in what they're doing. Certainly physical contact is over the line. But I think everyone loses their temper. Does everyone have to act like Mr. Rogers or someone will accuse them of abuse? In that case, there will be a lot of accusations. I know it's off topic, but we're just hearing the tip of the iceberg in the white house. The name calling, the verbal abuse, and a lot of it is public. You think it doesn't have an effect on other things?

Yes, everybody loses their temper occasionally - and perhaps you can make a case that we've all become too sensitive in the modern workplace. But the bosses I was referring to would do it on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. I believe they felt they had attained a certain station in life through their "talent and ability" (not always true), and they felt they had the right to act out that way. It was worse with one such boss of mine because she was volatile, and ignorant. A very bad combination.

One of my tasks was to do bench-marking salary surveys for my agency. I was doing them before she became my boss. The central tendency measure used for salaries is generally median, because the mean tends to skew the data. One day, she had read the results of one of my surveys, and I guess because she didn't like my conclusion - she came into my office screaming - "Why are you using medium?" That doesn't show averages. Stop doing the medium." Even though she had made it to a high level manager position, I guess she had missed entry-level statistics class. Because she was who she was, we couldn't discuss it civilly, yelling was required. It took me hours to finally make her understand. Essentially this same scene played itself over and over until the Director (over her) finally had enough, and sent her packing.