Former News12 Journalist Details Traumatic Aftermath of Salary Negotiations
In a shocking revelation that highlights the ongoing struggles for workplace equity in broadcast journalism, award-winning television anchor Annalisa Klebers has come forward with disturbing allegations against her former employer, News12 Connecticut and New Jersey.
The 42-year-old mother of three claims that her request for equitable compensation triggered a chain of events that ultimately led to a mental health crisis and her placement on suicide watch. Klebers, who was earning $71,000 at the time, says what began as a routine contract negotiation devolved into what she describes as systematic workplace retaliation.
“What management did to me changed my life forever. I almost lost my life. My children came very close to almost losing their mother. I felt like my whole world was caving in,” she told The New York Post.
From “sunshine” to shadows: A career derailed
When Klebers joined News12 in April 2018, her future seemed bright. Initially praised as the “sunshine of the newsroom,” she quickly established herself as a dedicated professional, particularly during the challenging days of the pandemic. Working as one of only two people in the building, she managed multiple responsibilities, from operating technical equipment to covering then-Governor Cuomo’s daily press briefings.
Despite receiving a $4,200 bonus for her exceptional work, Klebers discovered that colleagues were receiving substantially higher compensation—in some cases, double her bonus amount. According to her account, when she raised this disparity with management, the workplace atmosphere shifted dramatically.
Allegations of systematic retaliation
Klebers describes a work environment that became increasingly hostile. She alleges that supervisors employed gaslighting tactics and isolated her from colleagues, while assigning demeaning tasks such as correcting her co-anchor’s typos.
“I felt humiliated. I was being alienated from the rest of the news team. Management began blaming technical difficulties on me that I had no control over,” she states. “This all while my contract and pay raise were being held over my head. It felt like management wanted me to quit or react poorly to the things they were doing to me.”
Mental health crisis and aftermath
The situation reached a critical point on May 13, 2022. “I had a psychotic break. I was suicidal. This all happened in front of my husband and children and even my sister,” Klebers recounts. Her husband Erik described her condition as “almost catatonic, staring into space, moving around the house inexplicably.”
Following what doctors later identified as a suicide attempt, Klebers spent six days under psychiatric observation. Adding to her struggles, she was terminated by Altice USA while on disability leave.
Company denies allegations
In response to these allegations, an Altice USA spokesperson defended the company’s practices: “News 12 prides itself on providing an inclusive and equitable workplace where employees can thrive and are compensated based on their skills, contributions, and merit; any gender discrimination claims are entirely baseless, and we will defend against them vigorously.”
The case highlights broader concerns about gender pay equity and workplace mental health in the broadcasting industry, as more journalists come forward with similar experiences of retaliation following salary negotiations.
