
Updated: ABC 15 Nabs Fay Fredricks: NBC 12 News Phoenix, AZ a Tegna Company: Where is Fay Fredricks? Is it Time to #ChangeTheChannel & #FollowFay?
Updated: April 21, 2017 As predicted by The Sociopathic Business Model™: TEGNA’s NBC’s, 12 News anchor Vanessa Ruiz didn’t last in the anchor position until the end of her contract in July. According to FTVLive “management is pulling Ruiz off the main shows and the other Anchors at the station were told that she will different schedule until her contract is up in July.” We’d like to say we’re surprised but all accomplices eventually become victims. Maybe Ruiz can try out a French accent at her next station.
UPDATED: September 1, 2015
Welcome to the #abc15 family Fay! @fayfredricks joins ABC15 starting September 14: http://t.co/vDSe1vr8wg pic.twitter.com/GDONF5rtVL
— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) September 1, 2015
Very happy that Fay Fredricks found a new home on Phoenix ABC 15; but, that doesn’t change Tegna 12 News NBC’s mistreatment of an employee for 14 years. If you, like me, are going to #FollowFay over to ABC 15 please show support on social media and let #12News advertisers know why you’re making the switch. UPDATED August 31, 2015 BOYCOTT Advertisers of TEGNA NBC 12 News Who Nationally & Unethically Exploited Racism for Ratings & Implied their Viewers are Racist | KILLING MY CAREER
After 14 years, the time has come for me to say goodbye to #12News – It’s been an amazing journey in so many… http://t.co/McMEC0f1W4 — fayfredricks (@fayfredricks) August 31, 2015
August 18, 2015
Disclosure: This story is written, like many others on this site, as a live Case Study to show patterns in workplace abuse which is often a tactic used in The Sociopathic Business Model™ by companies engaging in ethical and or illegal activity at the expense of patients, consumers, employees & taxpayers. The points made are my own and not of Fay Fredricks or 12 News Phoenix, AZ a Tegna Company.
This is a Case Study I’ve wanted to do for some time but because of my personal friendship with Fay Fredricks I’ve been inconsistent & contradicted myself by (in this case) not writing about what I do daily, workplace abuse & corporate fraud. Because of a 10 year plus friendship with Fay, who worked first as a reporter but most will remember her as an anchor at NBC 12 News Phoenix, AZ a Tegna Company, for more than 14 years I’d ignored previous patterns abuse but given recent very public & noticeable events, not writing about a public case of potential workplace abuse just because she’s my friend is unethical. I fully recognize in writing this Case Study it could very well end our 10 year friendship, I hope that’s not the outcome, but as I’ve often written to the over 350,000+ viewers of this website’s organic traffic*, workplace abuse is no longer just my story it’s our story; and, each time we allow a company to get away with unethical or illegal behavior it strengthens a corrupt business model at the expense of patients, consumers, viewers, employees and taxpayers.
*Since January 2014 Organic traffic is naturally occurring traffic not paid for traffic and means there’s an engaged audience which the metrics support across many industries (pharma, med device, marketing, automotive, and startups) as The Sociopathic Business Model™ applies to any and all companies engaging in unethical & or illegal activity. As it’s a likely tactic to state I’m exploiting my friendship for readers and data strongly suggests I had readers well before this story.
I’m not a just a causal friend of Fay and her husband Tim Ring the 3TV Sportscaster I was in the delivery room when their twin sons Connor & Dylan were born. Not by design mind you but out of demand. Tim was working in Denver at the time and trying (despite the weather and airlines not cooperating) to get to Phoenix in time for the earlier than expected birth of their sons. I don’t share this story for any other reason than to give context to a friendship which could be viewed as bias, but I’ll leave that up to the readers to decide, as I tend to have a higher opinion of readers than most media executives. Almost two years ago, during a personal lunch, I asked if I could walk Fay through what I’d been working on, The Sociopathic Business Model™, a diagnostic tool, to help people recognize patterns of abusive corporate behavior as a means to expose, protect and create positive change by forcing accountability back on to the corrupt corporation, as I thought I was noticing similar patterns of workplace abuse materializing on her station, which I mentioned to her at the time.

Is NBC 12 News Phoenix AZ a Tegna Company employing tactics from The Sociopathic Business Model™ when transitioning female anchors?
My new partner in crime @VanessaR12news starts today!#12news http://t.co/qlQ3lqzyRD — MARK CURTIS (@mcurtis12news) August 17, 2015
Yesterday, NBC 12 News Phoenix AZ a Tegna Company via Mark Curtis announced a new partner in crime but: NBC 12 News Phoenix AZ a Tegna Company rather glibly made the announcement NBC 12 News Phoenix AZ a Tegna Company’s inconsistent & contradictory language to action regarding the announcement which in itself indicates the station was aware there was a previous partner in crime could also be viewed as insulting, demeaning and creating hopelessness in the victims (and isn’t a news station supposed to report news? Again, inconsistent & contradictory on the part of the station not to address the change head on).
Confused..where is @fayfredricks? Are you gone from the station completely? Already missing you in the morning and now no PM? #12News — GatorGal94 (@PattyCashin) August 18, 2015
NBC 12 News Phoenix AZ a Tegna Company Manipulation of facts while not addressing the viewers who asked directly where Fay Fredricks is, it appears today, the company decided to double-down on manipulation by distracting with an already familiar face (but do notice the time slot change for Emma Jade, she’ll no longer be weekday mornings (a more desirable position) but now on weekends (is the station punishing a woman for having a child?) Contracts or not employers must be fearful of the Hobby Lobby decision to human personify a company because that opens the door legally for corrupt companies up to be sued for being sociopathic (beyond EEOC claims) and there’s more than a few local attorneys who I know first-hand, would love to handle such claims.

Is NBC 12 News Phoenix AZ a Tegna Company exploiting one employee to distract viewers from asking about where Fay Fredricks is currently?
NBC 12 News Phoenix AZ a Tegna Company while not recognizing the rights of 14 year station veteran Fay Fredricks, anchor replacement Vanessa Ruiz, or loyal viewers did so without shame, remorse, guilt or accountability
When a company pits employees against one another like we’ve recently read about in The New York Times Amazon article that’s a sign of an abusive workplace or when a company manages by fear, threats, or intimidation.
NBC 12 News Phoenix AZ a Tegna Company insulted and demeaned Fredricks, Ruiz and their loyal viewing audience by not addressing but ignoring the change (rarely challenged and prefer s to work that way).
It’s important to point out companies who may employ tactics from The Sociopathic Business Model™ that eventually all employee (accomplices) will become employee (victims) it’s not a matter of if it’s when. When corporate negative truth is exposed damaging image which is tied to profits it’s not uncommon that a company will try and threaten, intimidate or retaliate as a means to prevent the negative truth they’d rather remain hidden from becoming exposed.
When should NBC 12 News A Tegna Company’s Phoenix viewers expect Vanessa Ruiz to announce her “new partner in crime?”
Again, I express that this Case Study was done based on events that unfolded yesterday publically, are my own opinions and were written without knowledge from anyone mentioned in this piece, so it’s not coming down unless NBC 12 News Phoenix AZ a Tegna Company should decide to unethically & illegally try and take legal action. If the station should try and threaten or intimidate Fay into getting it taken down that’s likely documented retalitory behavior & frequent readers will know that bigger, more powerful organizations than a Tegna Company have tried (and failed).
NBC 12 News Phoenix AZ a Tegna Company already has questionable ethics for association with parent network NBC and misremembering anchor Brian Williams, Ebola quarantine breaking, soup-loving Nancy Synderman or NBC’s Today’s Show ill-treatment of Ann Curry. All of this is enough information for me, despite my personal friendship with Fay to #ChangeTheChannel and #FollowFay if her anchoring days are over at NBC 12 News Phoenix AZ a Tegna Company -let’s just hope one of the other stations is smart enough to realize that more than just her friends will follow her. It’s up to each person reading this to apply the facts and make the best decisions based on those facts for themselves and or their families.
Anna Ayers
I am so sorry this has happened to Fay. I have watched her on channel 12 since she started. This sounds very familiar as I’ve experienced such abuse in my 30 year career
Melayna Lokosky
Thanks Anna for sharing your experience sadly many of us can relate. For most of us (thankfully) it’s not done in a public forum which makes NBC 12 News A Tegna Company’s treatment of their employees unforgivable. Executives & Management will unfairly place blame on employees when accountability is their responsibility. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment-Melayna
Anonymous
Agree with you! Need to switch channels, poor Fay. Don’t need or want to watch the new girl, just not my style.
Melayna Lokosky
#FollowFay
Lorna
I already changed the channel. Fay deserve better. Mark Curtis and the new girl are boring. I wish Caribe Devine will leave too.
Anonymous
I can’t stand Fay. She obviously thinks too much of herself.
Melayna Lokosky
Or perhaps you think to little of yourself.
Dave Hall
Thank you for bringing this business model to the forefront! Really interesting. I hope not only Fay but others do not get the short end of the deal. As you mentioned Ann Curry and DR Snyderman, what became of them? They are awesome. Maybe it’s time for me to rethink what network I watch. If you can let us all know where Fay ends up. Keep writing!!
Melayna Lokosky
Hi Dave thank-you so much for your kind words and taking the time to comment, it’s truly appreciated. I actually agree with NBC’s decision to let Nancy Snyderman go but can’t help but notice the inconsistent & contradictory language to action when it came Brian Williams & his pathologicaly history of far more egregious ethics breaches yet NBC still found a place for him.
This certainly points to sexism which is one of the triggers for The Sociopathic Business Model™ where that unethical & illegal behavior is often encouraged, replicated and rewarded from the top down which should have viewers asking if Emma Jade’s move from weekday mornings to weekends (often viewed as a demotion in industry terms) is yet another example of sexism at NBC. A woman should be able to have a child and return to work to the same position; but, instead it often allows an unethical company to exploit the lapse of time (out of sight out of mind) and hope that people don’t question the change at the expense of the employee. I can only hope advertisers are taking note of what’s happening and respond accordingly.
This is just one of those rare overlaps where my personal and professional life crossed but I have no doubt that Fay (as her Tweets and Facebook posts state) appreciates the support & she’ll keep everyone posted I’m sure. Again, thanks for reading Dave.
dianne incardona
I miss Faye couldn’t believe we did not even get a good bye just this new girl coming another Mexican with her slang accent I think I will change the channel
Melayna Lokosky
It’s an interesting choice not based on race but lack of noticeable experience especially when many other internal candidates were a much better fit, time will tell. Thanks for reading!
Anonymous
Just because she’ speaks Spanish does not mean she’s Mexican! I hate people who are ignorant!
Melayna Lokosky
I agree; however, Ms. Ruiz appears to be ignorant on the topic of language herself. So much so it was alleged she expressed she thought Tegna NBC 12 News should send her to Rio to cover the Olympics in 2016 because she speaks the language-except they speak Portuguese in Brazil, not Spanish.
Anonymous
Slang language??? Please!!!
Kathy J Barrow
I am done with Channel 12/Phoenix…and look forward to Fay appearing on 15 on 9/14. This new “Vanessa” is disgusting…has no class, You can barely understand her, too much make up, appears to want to be “hip” and “young”. Not! Maybe she should consider toning down your clothes so it does not like you are going clubbing. Doesn’t really matter -you won’t be in Phx long. Need to go back to LA or Miami. Again, no class – and even less class to take a job when someone else was shoved out. Not anchor material. Good luck, Mark. You are going, to need it with this one. Cannot wait for Fay and Channel 15.
Melayna Lokosky
Changes happen within the industry and while I think Ms. Ruiz lacks experience seldom do people turn down a job if offered to them (especially if it’s such a huge and obvious promotion). As I’ve said Tegna NBC 12 News set Ms. Ruiz up for failure and insulted and demeaned a loyal employee to do it. I do agree Mr. Curtis will need more than luck but I’d suspect it’s to hold on to his job. #FollowFay
Anonymous
I love the new girl I’m a new fan
Melayna Lokosky
That’s great! She’s not the problem it’s the way the station handled things. And now it looks like they’re manipulating facts as she had no accent in LA (just two months ago) but does in Phoenix. Sadly it looks like she’s a pawn in a game I’m not sure she understands she’s playing where the executives, not the employees are the problem.
Anonymous
How can this be a promotion? She left the second largest television market for Phoenix. A small market where people in television come to die.
Melayna Lokosky
She went from reporter to main anchor.
JR - PHX
PHX is the 6th largest US city.
Val
Very interesting.. Always suspected the stations had zero loyalty to the employees and viewers. What happened to Doug M…I really enjoyed the 4 of them on the morning show.
Ohio
Doug is anchoring EVB Live at 4pm
Melayna Lokosky
I suspect it will look like a whole new station in the next six months or so.
Viewer
You are making this sound like some big conspiracy. A majority of this is pure speculation. As far as Emma Jade is concerned, did it ever occur to you that it could have been HER decision to change her shifts to spend more time with her newborn baby? Is that too far fetched for you to get your head around? You clearly need a hobby. Broadcasters move around all the time. It’s not the end of the world. Take a deep breath and chill. As a fan of Fay, I’m excited for her to start the next chapter in her impressive career at ABC 15.
Melayna Lokosky
There are patterns and trends in workplace abuse which go beyond speculation. Fact based evidence over time is a good indicator of the future; so yes, women returning to work AFTER maternity leave LOVE making less money AND working weekends. People in the industry pay their dues to have to weekends off and the added expense of a child is inconsistent & contradictory to the narrative being spun. Corporations/News stations love for “viewers” like you to buy into “it was her decision” which is nothing more than an abuse tactic which allows stations to avoid accountability for their unethical and possibly illegal behavior. Let’s remember they’ve dismantled the morning show, it’s not likely she was given a choice to go back, was she? Luckily we do have choices as viewers.
Viewer
As a personal friend of EJ, I can tell you unequivocally that you are wrong in your speculation. And, I know she doesn’t appreciate being dragged into this smear campaign, so it would be appreciated if you stuck with the facts. Emma is enjoying being able to be at home with her baby during the week, while still being able to continue her career in broadcasting on the weekends. It’s not fair to pull her into this.
Melayna Lokosky
The facts are this happens to women in the industry and across many industries [1]. Don’t blame those exposing truth others would rather remain hidden blame the system that allows it to happen. Nothing but the best for EJ & her family; however, this topic is bigger than EJ & timely (a hallmark in media) given the recent controversy around Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer’s maternity leave[2]. Women should not be penalized for starting a family or get paid less and that’s not a “smear campaign” it’s pointing out, like the rest of the piece, workplace abuse, and the foundation for this site (started in January 2014) long before this case study.
[1] http://buycott.com/campaign/737/boycott-aol-until-ceo-tim-armstong-is-fired
[2] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11844128/Yahoo-CEO-Marissa-Mayer-maternity-leave-a-bum-deal-for-women.html
Not a 12 fan
Well I did not see any story here about why is gone. Did I miss that? Also Caribe and Tram had babies and have not been demoted or let go. A little more background might be helpful.
Former 12 viewer
We were excited when Fay was anchoring with Mark for that brief time, then abra- cadabra…she’s gone! We’ve been waiting for Emma to come back, now find out she’ll only be on weekends. When EJ went to NY, she owned those reports, why would they punish her for being so good. I figured the network would grab her up. Time to change. We’ll be following Fay & definitely avoiding 12. Looking forward to a strong, intelligent female anchoring the news. See you next week Fay! Buh-Bye channel 12 news! #FollowFay
Julie
I too have switched to 15 and will follow Fay! Plus that means I will be on 15 morning ,noon, & night! Enough of the games with loyal employees AND fans!
Han
I too thought that the way they (12 news ) handled this issue was truly a slap in the face to Fay. So far I am not impressed by the new anchor. The recent changes in the “cast” are crazy. What can the reporters think whil literally walking on eggs not knowing who’s next?
Geneva
I think one that should be leaving is Mark Curtis, He thinks he owns the station. Thank God Faye was smart enough to get out right away. The new person comes on too strong, send her to Miami. She talks so fast you can’t understand what she is trying to say.
JB
The corporate tactics sound a lot like Scientology tactics only not quite as extreme….yet.
kelley
Wait, What? Did Fay LEAVE on her own? nowhere in this CASE STUDY do you comment on the facts surrounding her departure? Did she want something different from her job and they did not want to comply so she started looking elsewhere? Did she quit? or was she let go? broke rules?
If you want “viewers” or “fans” to make an intelligent comment on your case study, you have to give all of the facts so that we can discern if your sociopathic business model was in play here at all?
I feel like this study is just as lacking in the facts of the matter as was the 12news organization.
Give us the facts.
and personally…. it was a matter of time with DM before that morning group broke up. He is clearly an east coast newscaster, His heart is in the Northeast, I bet he is back there by the end of the year.
Melayna Lokosky
Hi Kelley-the exact facts on the departure, sadly, are not mine to disclose legally. The purpose of this piece was to look at patterns of abuse and apply them to as much of the situation as possible. I fully recognize there are pieces to the puzzle missing but I think with an educated guess coupled with the facts you’ll figure it out. You’re asking the right questions: Did she leave on her own? It appears 12 news did not allow for Fay Fredricks to say goodbye to her loyal 12 news viewers of 14 years; and, I suspect that wasn’t by choice and in comparison to the send off the station recently gave another anchor it’s inconsistent & contradictory to not do the same for Fay. So you have asked and answered your own question.
Ha! I won’t take your bet on DM because I’d suspect it’ll be even sooner (not sure about Northeast) but not on 12 news. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment-Melayna
Brian Penny
So, some of what’s written here is decent information, but honestly, I have no idea what happened to Fay that’s so abusive. There was so much hearsay and random ramblings that nothing of any value was said. When someone says, “my new partner in crime,” they’re saying a figure of speech. Only an overly sensitive SJW looks deeply into such a thing.
Overall it looks as though, despite knowing the people involved personally, your research skills didn’t go any further than a couple tweets. I don’t understand what point you’re trying to make, and I work in the media.
All that aside, you do at least recognize the sociopathic nature of local television news media, and this is a shock to absolutely nobody. Watch Network from 40 years ago. We’re still mad as hell and if you’re not gonna take it anymore, you need to present a better case.
And I can’t help but laugh that racist old ignorant people in Phoenix of all places still complain anytime someone speaks in any kind of Spanish accent. That type of racism is soooooooo much worse and more dangerous than the internal politics of a silly local news station.
Anything on OTA networks is watered down and polished with a shiny Disneyfied story. You’re not in a position to take a strong enough stance to change anything about that. Instead this blog comes off as a disingenuous (and shockingly poorly researched, considering how close the author is to the source) attempt to defend a woman against unfair treatment that can’t be proved.
If she has proof of unfair treatment, before I was a journalist, I was a bank whistleblower, and I’d be happy to walk Fay Fredricks through the process to fight this in court in a way that can actually change the system for the women who experience abuse in the workplace after. Until real steps and sacrifices are taken to protect others, this is fluff.
I know Amber Lyon, and Fay Fredricks is no Amber Lyon…
Melayna Lokosky
Hi Brian- “New” implies there was an “old” which there was and the abusive part is that it wasn’t addressed properly nor did it seem she was able to say a proper goodbye to loyal 12 viewers after 14 years. I’d suspect that wasn’t by choice.
The point I’m making is that there are patterns in workplace abuse that span all different industries, from med device-media; if you don’t recognize that pattern then it’s likely you’re a part of the problem; and, as a whistleblower I’d think those patterns would be obvious at this point.
There are racists everywhere I don’t think Phoenix has the market on it, but since you’re in media how do you account for Ruiz NOT having an accent in LA July 2015 to having an accent in August 2015 in Phoenix? Looks like someone was trying to drum up some #RacismForRatings which is deplorable & exploitative.
I research fraud and workplace abuse from the government to big business so you’ll forgive if your opinion about one small section on my research ability doesn’t hold much weight as others from the aforementioned have found it helpful in creating positive change. I do however agree that as a bank whistleblower you should be able to see the bigger picture and that real steps and sacrifices are being to protect others which is the entire function of this website from another whistleblower.
Trina
I watched News 12 for years, but I will not watch it as long as Vanessa is on. I do not like her, and I do think she is the problem. Perhaps not anything to do with Faye, but she is a problem. She talks fast and is so ignorant and unpolished plus just the way she looks is off putting. We went from classy and sophisticated with Lynn Sue and Faye to this??!!! Wow, Phoenix, wake up, obviously Channel 12 is trying to target their audience, and I think this is a direct insult as to what they think about their target audience.
Previous 12 News Watcher
Its a well know fact Vanessa slept her way to the top having had relationships with many of her previous station managers. This is NOT unsubstantiated rumor but fact.
jerry
to the famely of CBS anchor Otis Livingston tell him to stop tretened people onthe streets of New York he mey go to jail
Nancy Collett
Did not realize that Fay Fredrick had switched to channel 15 until seeing her after Cardinals football game this evening. Definitely switching to channel 15 for news. Channel 12 is definitely not the same anymore!
Chris
I’m thoroughly and regularly upset with NBC all the way back to Ann Curry…. I’ve tried to switch before it hasn’t been easy to change… However, V. Ruiz is horrible as an anchor I cannot believe she got this job (you can’t even understand her and she is not polished/worthy). I wonder how their ratings have been since I hope they have tanked…. They deserve it they made very poor choices all the way around
Melayna Lokosky
Ratings are down in one month as much as 30%. Advertisers should love those numbers.
jlr
Love watching Fay, I switched to 15 also
Melayna Lokosky
I really like what ABC 15 is doing on The NOW with Fay, as well. It’s a much more updated feel, natural chemistry with actual news sans the manipulated opinion pieces like those shown on TEGNA, NBC 12 News.
Pete and Angie
Stopped watching ch12 news ever since they let Fay go and hired “Miss Mexico”. However,we may be forced to give up watching our favorite NBC programs as well. It seems like that every commercial between program on CH12 “pitches” the new anchors. No other station does that. Forcing “Miss Mexico” and “clueless” Mark Curtis down our throats is not working. We really feel sorry for people like Bruce Cooper, Caribe and Joe Dana that have to be caught up in this mess. So, please CH12 “Big Wigs”‘ , just keep these people on the regular news slot so that we can turn them off and not see them during our favorite programs.
Melayna Lokosky
Channel 12 executives have to force Ruiz & Curtis since they created this miss-matched mess, and you’re right, the excessive running of promos of this undynamic duo isn’t helping keep loyal viewers. It’s certainly recognized they bit the had that fed them by alienating an loyal audience. Time for a true mix-up at 12, starting at the top.
Anonymous
I’m not a fan of Vanessa Ruiz at all. My 82 year old mother who has watched channel 12 news for 30 years always switches to 15 when Ruiz is on. There is something about her voice that I find very annoying and it’s not the accent. I actually love hearing accents when people talk. She is fake, I don’t like her inflections, her hair looks like plastic, she talks way too fast and she has no chemistry with mark. I loved Lin sue and enjoyed Fay. I’ve tried to warm up to Vanessa because I love Bruce cooper and like mark Curtis. But after all these months I still can’t stand Vanessa.
12 news is horrible
I thought channel 12 was doing something charitable my helping someone with mental disabilities. Then i realized this was not a joke. That Vanessa Ruiz thing, it or whatever the heck you want to call it was here to stay. She is freaking horrible. I honestly hope they get rid of it. 12 sucks now that Doug and Fay are gone. Screw you 12 news.
Anonymous
Joe Dana is extremely creepy! He gives me the chills.
V.c.
Fay needs to stop getting face lifts, she looks bloated. She was much prettier before.. Did channel 15 require that?