A local television station had been experiencing a ratings decline for several years. In 2014, the station switched some of its programming. That has explained some of the ratings decline. However, in recent months, the ratings have continued to slide. Eventually, the station manager, Lucien Stone, decided he had to make a change to the local newscast.

After meeting with the programming manager, Stone called a meeting of the employees and announced his intention to “spice things up” during the 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. local news. The 30-minute broadcasts would still include the traditional “top stories,” “sports,” and “weather” segments. However, on slow news days, more attention-getting material would be used. Stone also indicated some programming decisions would probably be revisited. “The days of Little House on the Prairie are over,” he said.

Madison Devereaux, 29, had been the chief meteorologist since 2012. After receiving a degree in meteorology, she joined the station and quickly worked her way up the ranks, impressing viewers and management alike with her extensive knowledge and articulate, professional, mistakefree delivery.

Although she was religious, Devereaux was not one to express her religious beliefs in the newsroom. Most of those at the station were not even aware that she closely practised a religion.

Devereaux was troubled by the announced changes to the programming but did not speak up at the time. One Monday during a pre-production meeting, she learned that on Thursday of that week, one of the reporters, Sam Berkshow, would present a segment called “Dancing Around the Economy,” which would focus on how local strip clubs were doing well despite the sluggish economy.

Devereaux did not think it was appropriate to air the segment during the 5 p.m. newscast and asked both her producer and Stone to reconsider the piece, or at least air it in the 10 p.m. time slot. When they refused, she asked whether she could take the day off when the segment aired. Stone again refused. This was “sweeps week” (when ratings are calculated), Stone wanted to air the story, and Devereaux’s contract prohibited her from taking time off during sweeps week.

When Devereaux did not show up for work that Thursday, the station fired her, arguing that she had breached her contract.

For her part, Devereaux said, “I’m not angry with the station, but I am sorry about the changes that have taken place.”

Questions 

1. Do you think either party behaved unethically in this case? If so, why?

2. If you share Devereaux’s view on the segment, would you have handled the situation differently?

How?

3. Drawing on Kotter’s eight-step plan for implementing change, how might the station have handled its planned change differently?