WPLG anchor social media posts drew renewed attention after FTVLive published excerpts of an internal memo from WPLG Vice President of News Bill Pohovey that criticized influencer-like material on station-related accounts. Subsequent coverage by Fox News Digital and the New York Post highlighted the memo as it resurfaced amid interest in anchor Jenise Fernandez’s recent travel images.
What happened: WPLG anchor social media posts
FTVLive reported that Pohovey circulated an internal memo instructing staff to avoid producing “influencer-like” posts on station accounts and to stop filming content inside the newsroom or using the set as a background. According to FTVLive, the memo warned that such material undercuts the newsroom’s professionalism.
That memo drew attention after a series of Instagram posts by WPLG anchor and reporter Jenise Fernandez — including travel photos from Fiji — were publicly noticed. FTVLive identified Fernandez’s verified account as having roughly 28,000 followers and published the memo excerpts alongside the description of those posts.
Fox News Digital summarized the resurfacing of the memo as outlets and social users linked the internal guidance to the Fiji images, and reported that the station’s memo language prompted questions about whether the guidance was aimed at a single employee or at a broader pattern of staff social posts.
What the memo says
Excerpts published by FTVLive include direct lines attributed to Pohovey that describe concerns about staff social content. FTVLive quoted the memo as saying, “too many of our social media accounts are being used for foolish nonsense” and urging staff that “we should never produce such content, and we should absolutely NEVER create such content inside the station, in our newsroom or studios, using our news set as the background.”
FTVLive also reported the memo used blunt language such as “Some of what I see is cringeworthy,” and emphasized that the likes and follows are not worth eroding the credibility of the news organization. Those excerpts frame the guidance as reputational, aimed at protecting the station’s public brand.
Timeline and dispute over context
Accounts diverge on when the memo was circulated and whether it was a direct response to Fernandez’s photos. FTVLive published the memo excerpts in its post tying the guidance to social posts. The New York Post, by contrast, quoted Pohovey telling the paper the memo “was sent out many months ago and is not new,” and that it “was not a response to one individual post.”
The New York Post also quoted Pohovey saying the memo did not prohibit staff from posting vacation photos on personal pages and that he considered the Fiji images “tasteful and completely fine.” Fox News Digital reported it had reached out to both Fernandez and Pohovey for comment; Fox News Digital’s coverage framed the memo resurfacing as part of the conversation sparked by the social posts.
Because reporting relies on FTVLive’s publication of the memo excerpts and later interviews reported by the New York Post and Fox News Digital, some timeline elements remain disputed in public accounts. News consumers should note that FTVLive published the memo text and that Pohovey’s comments to the New York Post characterize the memo as older and broadly directed.
Why this matters for newsroom credibility
The incident highlights an enduring newsroom concern: how staff use personal and station-linked social accounts can affect public perceptions of impartiality and professionalism. The memo excerpts quoted by FTVLive explicitly link social-post behavior to broader reputational risk, saying audiences are already skeptical and that avoidable social content can amplify that distrust.
Industry discussions — reflected in the reporting — center on whether personal posts that are easily associated with a journalist’s on-air role undermine trust, complicate advertiser relationships, or invite external scrutiny. Pohovey’s reported line that “the likes and follows are not worth eroding your credibility and the credibility of this news organization” positions the guidance as a preventative measure rather than a blanket ban on personal expression.
What to watch next
Expect follow-up reporting in three areas: requests for comment from Jenise Fernandez and WPLG leadership; checks for any written or updated social media policy from the station; and further industry reaction about where to draw the line between staff personal accounts and the newsroom brand. Fox News Digital reported outreach to Fernandez and Pohovey; other outlets may publish additional responses or documentation.
Next steps and possible policy clarifications
- Station clarification: Watch for any formal memo or staff guidance posted or summarized by WPLG that confirms the memo’s date and scope.
- Staff guidance: Reporters should monitor whether WPLG updates written social media rules distinguishing personal accounts from station-affiliated accounts.
- Public statements: Expect outlets to seek a direct comment from Jenise Fernandez and for the station to decide if a follow-up statement is necessary to address staff and audience concerns.
FAQ
Did Jenise Fernandez violate WPLG policy?
There is no public indication Fernandez violated any written policy. The New York Post quoted Pohovey as saying the memo did not prohibit vacation photos on personal pages and that he found the Fiji photos “tasteful and completely fine.” FTVLive’s posting of the memo excerpts prompted the discussion.
What did Bill Pohovey actually warn staff about?
FTVLive published excerpts in which Pohovey warns against influencer-like posts on station accounts, filming inside the newsroom or using sets as backgrounds, and any social content that could be seen as unprofessional. Pohovey’s comments to the New York Post framed the message as a reminder of long-standing guidelines rather than a new rule aimed at one individual.
Will WPLG change its social media rules?
As of reporting there has been no public announcement of a formal policy change. Coverage from Fox News Digital and the New York Post indicates outlets will monitor whether WPLG issues clarifying guidance or updates written staff policies.
Source attribution
This article is based on reporting by FTVLive (which published the memo excerpts), follow-up comments reported by the New York Post quoting WPLG VP Bill Pohovey, and coverage by Fox News Digital. Original reporting referenced: FTVLive, New York Post, and the Fox News report at Fox News Digital. The Nonstop News reached out to WPLG for comment and will update if the station issues further guidance.
