Former Channel 5 anchor says women in TV news encouraged to dress ‘more provocatively’
When she abruptly resigned last fall, longtime WCVB-TV (Channel 5) anchor Heather Unruh gave no indication of the reasons why. Unruh’s exit followed the arrival at the ABC affiliate of Maria Stephanos, who began co-anchoring the station’s 7 and 11 p.m. newscasts, while Unruh co-anchored the 4:30 and 6 p.m. newscasts.
In a new interview with New England Living TV, Unruh doesn’t say why she left Channel 5, but does imply she had become uncomfortable with changes in TV news generally.
“Probably the biggest change I have witnessed is how people get their news. Young people now expect their news in real time, relying on mobile devices rather than television,’’ Unruh says. “That has made the fight for viewers all the more competitive. As a result, women are ‘encouraged’ to dress more provocatively than I feel is appropriate for delivering news.’’
It’s not clear if dressing “more provocatively’’ was a directive from the Channel 5 bosses, but it’s obviously not something Unruh was interested in doing. She also objected to the focus on what she calls “sensational’’ news at the expense of reported pieces.
“Nearly every newscast begins with ‘breaking news,’ which I think people are tired of hearing — I know I am — and informative stories are sometimes passed over for the more sensational,’’ she says. “I would personally like to see local stations return to airing fewer newscasts with more emphasis on solid, impactful, longer format journalism.’’
Unruh does have nice things to say about the colleagues she left behind.
“Despite having to keep up with the increased digital demands with fewer people, those who bring you the news are some of the most dedicated, principled people, committed to keeping you informed and getting the story right no matter the personal sacrifice,’’ she says.
Unruh, who posted the interview on her Facebook page, lives in Dover with her husband and two children. She says she’s begun working on a documentary, which, she says, “checks all the boxes for me because my greatest passion is storytelling.’’
