WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids under fire for internal memo calling for less LGBTQ Pride coverage

A Grand Rapids TV station is facing public and employee criticism for telling reporters to cover fewer LGBTQ+ events during Pride Month because, it said, it has been upsetting conservative viewers.

Employees said a WOOD-TV (Channel 8) memo, which the Free Press has obtained, was sent to them Tuesday and asked staff to "do some work to discern the newsworthy-ness" of Pride events.

"We know that West Michigan is a conservative area in many ways," the WOOD-TV memo said. "We need to recognize that some stories related to LGBTQ issues are going to be controversial and polarizing in our community."

The Free Press left messages with the station's news director and assistant news director.

By Thursday evening, Gary Weitman — the executive vice president of Nexstar Media Group in Texas, which owns WOOD-TV — released a statement apologizing "for offending members of the LGBTQ community and WOOD-TV’s viewers," and pledging to "take appropriate action as necessary to address this situation."

He said the company is "looking into the situation" and "the communication regarding the station’s coverage of PRIDE month activities in the area is not consistent with Nexstar’s values, the way we cover the news, or the respect we have for our viewers."

He added that "diversity, equity, and inclusion are among Nexstar’s core values. Our local TV stations are expected to cover and report the news of the day in an expansive and inclusive fashion, consistent with these values."

WOOD-TV has an editorial content sharing relationship with the Holland Sentinel, which, along with the Free Press and other Michigan news outlets, is owned by Gannett.

Pride Month, an annual celebration for LGBTQ+ Americans, has become a challenge for businesses they face increasingly divided — and vocal — opinions on whether to support or oppose events in the nation's current political climate.

Some local and state officials have voted to ban Pride flags and other displays from public property and prevent teachers from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity.

Florida passed a bill, which some opponents have called "Don't Say Gay," which bans teachers from having discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. Critics of the law included the entertainment behemoth, Disney.

Monday, the Hartland Consolidated Schools Board of Education narrowly passed a policy change that restricts what kinds of signs, posters, flags, stickers and other items can be displayed in school buildings, according to the Livingston Daily.

The Hamtramck City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to ban LGBTQ+ Pride flags from being displayed on all city properties after three hours of public comment and months of intense debate, setting the stage for political clashes represented diverging views about the city's future.

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Last month, Target moved Pride displays and merchandise away from entrances of some stores, saying the decision to adjust its plans was to protect workers under volatile circumstances after some customers screamed at employees and threatened to boycott the stores, according to news reports.

And Anheuser-Busch is facing fallout after a marketing campaign with the transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.

As for WOOD-TV, the news station suggested its reporters need not cover every Pride event. The station added: "If we are covering Pride events, we need to consider how to make the story balanced and get both sides of the issue."

It also said: "We have also started to hear pushback from viewers who are not happy to see those Pride related stories," adding that "while you personally may not agree with a certain position, people are entitled to their opinions and they are our viewers."

Some WOOD-TV employees have taken to Twitter to voice their concerns.

"This memo was met with immediate pushback from our newsroom. The guidance is not being followed," WOOD-TV Executive Producer Luke Stier posted on Twitter. "The only two people involved in its creation have been removed from any discussions surrounding @WOODTV Pride coverage as our corporation conducts a thorough investigation."

Another WOOD-TV employee also posted to Twitter on Thursday: "It has been an awfully difficult week for our newsroom. The silver lining in this mess is that our staff is united in pushing back on this ridiculous and hurtful memo that was sent out."

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: WOOD-TV under fire for memo seeking less LGBTQ coverage