An Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter was criticized by her boss for a lack of resources and airtime, and even removed from reporting on the Gilgo Beach murders, even though her male colleagues had ample support. He claims he was abruptly fired from News 12 Long Island. Lawsuit.
Rachel Yonkunas, who has worked at the local news network since 2022, was stunned in September when her boss asked her to take a $10,000 pay cut to join the network's morning broadcasts.
“I was shocked, devastated and confused,” Yonkunas, 35, exclusively told the Post. “I couldn't understand why they would put me, a successful investigative reporter, in this position. I think they thought I would accept it.”
The ultimatum came after Yonkunas pointed out that her male colleagues were getting more from the department, including regularly receiving additional help with assignments, she said.
A male investigative reporter who worked at News12 in New Jersey had “support from producers and cameramen,” and stories written by male colleagues were “prioritized,” said Yonkunas, who works with Altice USA, which owns News12 in New Jersey. This was stated in a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by Tri-state area.
Meanwhile, Jonkunas claimed that her story was removed from the broadcast an hour before it aired in favor of a male colleague.
In court documents, the colleague's name was not disclosed, she said in court that she had been without a cameraman to help her for several months, but that male sportscasters were “routinely given priority” for such support. stated in the document.
“High-profile assignments were consistently given to male reporters, such as Mr. Yonkunas, despite his significant contribution to the Gilgo Beach investigation. [the story was] … She was assigned to a male reporter who ignored the opinions of her and her fellow female reporters,” she said in court documents.
Yonkunas said her work had been consistently praised before she spoke out, and that after raising the issue of inequality, she was put on a 30-day performance improvement plan and asked to do more.
“It came out of left field,” Jonkunas said. He has been nominated for four Emmy Awards this year and won the prestigious award in 2016 while working for the Albany network.
The University of Tampa-educated journalist said he achieved the goals set out in his performance improvement plan, but was blindsided by the demands of stepping into a low-paying job.
Her bosses claimed they didn't want Yonkunas to quit, but “made me feel like I wasn't good enough to be there,” she recalled.
“I was told not to return to work until I made a decision.” [but] He was currently under contract. I was worried about what would happen if I didn't go to work. . . It is considered disobedience. ”
According to Yonkunas, she showed up to work without answering whether she wanted to take a low-paying job and was immediately canned.
“This was my dream job,” she said. “I wanted to put down roots here and this was it for me.”
“This lawsuit highlights the systemic gender discrimination that our client, Ms. Yonkunas, endured during her tenure at News 12,” said her attorney, Eric Bassian, and another attorney. Matthew Britt called the department's actions a “calculated effort.” The defendants sought to marginalize and ultimately remove her from her position. ”
Yonkunas is seeking unspecified damages and said he filed the lawsuit against Altice USA and News 12 to help people facing discrimination.
“I investigate stories, and the last thing I want is for me to become the story,” she said. “And now I feel like I need to confront what's happening and make sure it doesn't happen to other female reporters who are still working there.”
AlticeUSA said it is aware of the complaint but has not yet been served with it.
News12 also denounced the allegations of sex discrimination as “totally baseless,” although no court documents have been served.
“News12 takes pride in providing an inclusive and equitable workplace where our employees can grow based on their skills, contributions, and accomplishments,” the department said in a statement. “We are committed to working hard for them. I will defend myself,” he added.
