Miami TV anchor Jenise Fernandez, a six-time Emmy winner, has drawn attention for posting glamorous bikini photos from a recent trip to Fiji and from local beach days, coinciding with a directive from her station's Vice President of News, Bill Pohovey, cautioning staff against social media content he deems unprofessional.
Pohovey sent a message to employees in February, stating, "Too many of our social media accounts are being used for foolish nonsense." He specified that "dance videos," "fashion shows," and "outfits of the day" detract from the role of journalists. He extended these guidelines to personal social media accounts, emphasizing that staff represent the station "whether you are working or not" and must maintain credibility.
"We are not influencers, we are journalists," Pohovey wrote, expressing concern over the erosion of trust in the news industry and the unprofessional behavior contributing to perceptions of the media. He cautioned that "likes and follows are not worth eroding your credibility and the credibility of this news organization."
However, Pohovey later clarified to The New York Post that Fernandez's bikini posts were "tasteful" and "completely fine." He stated that the memo did not prohibit employees from posting vacation photos or other everyday activities on their personal social media pages, noting, "We do live in Florida and people wear bikinis on the beach."
Fernandez's social media presence features a mix of professional content from the WPLG Local 10 studio and personal posts from her travels and daily life, including her grandmother's 85th birthday celebration. The anchor is a former Miss Miami. The Daily Mail has reached out to Fernandez and WPLG for comment.