Miami News Bureau Memo Cautions Against Social Media Conduct

The director of the Miami News Bureau recently addressed staff in a memo, urging them to refrain from posting “stupid nonsense” on their social media. This communication resurfaced after WPLG anchor Jenice Fernandez shared a bikini photo during her vacation in Fiji, igniting discussions regarding potential policy violations.

Bill Pohovey, the vice president of news at WPLG, expressed concern over staff producing content reminiscent of social media influencers, arguing that it diverts from their role as journalists. He noted in an internal memo, “I have emailed many times about this in the past and it appears we are heading in the wrong direction again.”

This memo made headlines following Fernandez’s Instagram posts showcasing her trip to Fiji to her 28,000 followers. Interestingly, the memo was circulated weeks prior to her recent posts.

Fernandez, who has been with the agency since 2014 and was formerly crowned Miss Miami, posted a striking image of herself in a red bikini captioned, “Now I know what it’s like to be on @cloud9_fiji.” Another photo depicted her posing at a resort bar with friends, and the pictures have drawn attention in the wake of the internal memo concerning social media etiquette among newsroom personnel.

Although some reports suggested that Pohovey’s memo was a direct reaction to Fernandez’s posts, he contested that notion, clarifying that it wasn’t aimed at any specific content but rather served as a reminder of established guidelines. He emphasized, “This has nothing to do with current employees. The memo was sent many months ago and is not new.”

Pohovey further stated that the photos shared by Fernandez did not breach his instructions. He clarified that the memo did not prohibit posting vacation or daily life pictures, acknowledging the context of Florida life. “We live in Florida and people wear bikinis on the beach. These photos were classy and totally fine,” he remarked.

In the memo, Pohovey reminded employees that their online public identities should not undermine their roles as local journalists. He expressed frustration with what he described as “stupid nonsense” permeating social media accounts and added, “We don’t want dance videos with our staff. We don’t want fashion shows, outfits of the day, or other silly content that diminishes our value as journalists.”

Moreover, he indicated that filming social media content in the newsroom, a practice that has grown common in newsrooms nationwide, is unacceptable. He urged staff to reflect on the same standards for their personal social media as well, noting, “Some of the things I see are disgusting.”

Pohovey concluded by highlighting the growing distrust towards news outlets, mentioning the rising use of the term ‘fake news.’ He stated, “Likes and follows are not worth the loss of your credibility or the credibility of this news organization.”

FOX News Digital has reached out to both Fernandez and Pohovey for additional comments.