An Emmy-awarded journalist, Rachel Yonkunas, has lodged a lawsuit against News12 Long Island and its parent company Altice USA for gender discrimination. She alleges that she was fired due to her objections against the unequal treatment she received in comparison to her male peers.

Yonkunas began her tenure at the local news network in 2022 and was let go in September after rejecting a $10,000 salary reduction to transition to the station’s morning broadcast.

Yonkunas, a 35-year-old journalist who clinched an Emmy in 2016 while operating in Albany, New York, and was shortlisted for four more awards this year, alleges that she was a victim of systematic discrimination at the station. Legal filings reveal that Yonkunas was consistently deprived of resources that were easily accessible to her male counterparts.

The lawsuit highlights specific instances of the alleged discrimination. Yonkunas states that her stories were frequently withdrawn from broadcasts an hour before airing in favor of her male colleagues’ work. She also claims that while a male sports anchor was provided with regular photography support, she had to go months without such assistance.

The University of Tampa alumna also asserts that she was overlooked for major stories, including the notable Gilgo Beach killings investigation, despite her substantial contributions to the coverage. According to the lawsuit, these assignments were preferentially given to male reporters.

Yonkunas asserts that she was placed on a 30-day performance improvement plan after voicing her concerns about these inequities. Despite meeting the plan’s outlined goals, she was subsequently given the choice to accept a lower-paying role or leave.

Upon refusing the pay cut and reporting to work, Yonkunas was terminated. Her legal representatives, Erik Bashian and Matthew Blit, argue that the network’s actions were a deliberate attempt to push her out of her job.

Altice USA acknowledged the existence of the complaint but stated they had not yet been served with the lawsuit. News12 refuted the allegations, labeling them as “entirely baseless” and stating, “News12 prides itself on providing an inclusive and equitable workplace where employees can thrive based on their skills, contributions, and merit.” 

“I investigate stories. The last thing I want to be is the story,” Yonkunas said. “And now I find I have to stand up for what’s happening, to make sure this doesn’t happen to the other female reporters still working there.”