Weekend anchor Howe out at WTSP - St. Petersburg Times

Jennifer Howe was just a few hours into her shift Sunday, preparing to anchor WTSP-Ch. 10's 5 p.m. Webcast, when the news director asked her to come to his office.

Before long, Howe's concern about seeing the top news manager in the building on a weekend were realized: She was informed the St. Petersburg CBS affiliate was exercising its option to end her contact early, terminating her employment.

Howe says she was told to turn in work-related materials and asked to leave the building. Heather Van Nest anchored WTSP's late night newscast; Howe says she was never told why the station chose to let her go.

"(News director Darren Richards) said they chose to do it on a Sunday because there were fewer people around," said Howe, 42, who worked at WTSP for more than 12 years.

WTSP general manager Sam Rosenwasser said he could not comment on the specifics of Howe's termination and wasn't sure who would replace her in the long term. Peter Nikiel, WTSP's director of marketing and promotion, said such abrupt transitions sometimes happen in the TV news industry.

In the past few weeks, WTSP has let go weather forecasters Anna Allen and Randy Rauch and traffic reporter Meredyth Censullo. But Nikiel said the trickle of departures hasn't damaged morale at the station.

"It's TV — people come and go for a lot of different reasons," said Nikiel, who could not say who would replace Howe on the station's weekend newscasts in the short or long term. "We will continue on, like we always have."

Howe came to WTSP as a morning anchor in 1996, moving to the weekends in 1997. She was married to former WTSP anchor Pat Minarcin, who won almost $300,000 in 2002 after filing an age discrimination lawsuit against the station. He was replaced by current evening anchor Reginald Roundtree in 1998.

Howe said her departure likely had nothing to do with that lawsuit. Her marriage to Minarcin ended in 2006; they have a daughter, 7-year-old McKenna Katrina Minarcin.

A native of St. Petersburg, Howe hopes to develop work voicing commercials and stay in the Tampa Bay area.

"A lot of media outlets are suffering economic difficulties and having to make tough decisions," Howe said. "I just wished I'd had a chance to say goodbye last night."

Comments on this article

by Barton	Oct 3, 2008 7:22 PM
In shock; first to learn last month Randy was out, now Jennifer Howe who's the classiest & most professional newswoman on the air is suddenly told to leave the building. WTSP is declining faster the stock market. You'll do fine Jennifer. WTSP won't.

by Dr. Tim	Oct 2, 2008 3:26 PM
Jennifer Howe is a true professional. You deserve the very best. Channel 8 now lost my confidence and support. Tampa Bay needs your leadership. I will always follow you. God Bless.

by Mann	Oct 2, 2008 10:54 AM
Oh how well I know. I too was "let go" after 12 years of employment after training the owner's relative, after a promise it would never affect my own position. It's a jolt - but she will be better off and new doors will open for her. TTFN

by Tracy	Oct 1, 2008 5:31 PM
I have stopped watching channel 10 since they let go of Meredith and Anna from the morning show. I no longer watch the evening newscast just out of protest. I can't believe the treatment of the employees. So long WTSP!!!!!

by Rosemary	Oct 1, 2008 2:25 PM
Jennifer Howe was a very articulte and also very likeable person.As was Anna Allen.Not even giving her(Jennifer) a chance to say goodbye to her audience...seems a bit tacky....I will definately switch channels...Gadsen is no joy to watch

by rene	Oct 1, 2008 2:25 PM
Anna Allen now Jennifer Howe you keep replacing good people with mediocre ones

by hope	Oct 1, 2008 2:13 PM
You know I can understand reporters come and go, but anchors you keep. We rely on them to keep us informed and up to date on things. First Randy and now Jen being let go. WTSP has pulled up anchor and so have I, sailing back to WTVT. Good luck Jen!!!

by Tony	Oct 1, 2008 2:13 PM
Great move WTSP, sack a solid professional, while keeping on someone who can't string a coherent thought or sentence together. Palin, the Sherry Ray of politics.

by Gabriel	Oct 1, 2008 2:02 PM
Wait -- they have news ON TV?!?! That's amazing. I had no idea.

by Dennis	Oct 1, 2008 9:57 AM
This assures me that watching Foxnews is the best choice. I only watched Jennifer Howe!

by Matt	Oct 1, 2008 9:57 AM
Who cares? What channel? Who watches channel 10 anyway? I thought it was a public access newscast whenever I flip by it! Jennifer - now's your chance to a job at a real station! This was a blessing in disguise - GOOD LUCK!

by shirley	Oct 1, 2008 9:57 AM
I THOUGHT FLORIDA WAS HOT BUT I AM FINDING OUT IT IS COLD THE GOV THE SCHOOL THE MEDIA WERE IS THE COMPASSION FOR MANKIND AND FAMILY I DON'T WANT TO TURN ON THE T.V.ANY MORE NO GOOD COMES FROM IT I HAD 2 CHANNELS I WATCHED NOW ONE C.U.

by Pete	Oct 1, 2008 9:57 AM
This reminds me of when Christ Thomas (R.I.P.) was "let go" from Channel 8. I have normally watched 13, but liked Jennifer Howe as well. Not a fan of Roundtree or the others. Now I will be exclusively watching channel 13. Good luck Jennifer!

by Nan	Oct 1, 2008 9:57 AM
I can't stand companies who thrive on those creepy back room meetings. Seems to me that WTSP has been a rather 3rd rate player in the news market down here anyway. Without Howe, they'll be behind Baynews 9.

by Barb	Oct 1, 2008 9:57 AM
Wow, how ratings hungry is this station? A viewer revolt is in order for all the really good people they have terminated lately. Shafting your employees is not the key to higher ratings. I'm off to Fox 13. See ya!

by CL	Oct 1, 2008 9:57 AM
I didn't know 'til I read this story about the Howe departure. I stopped watching 10 News after the absurd way they got rid of Anna Allen and Meridyth Censullo. Channel 10 is going downhill and has been since they brought in Ginger Gadsden.

by Nol	Oct 1, 2008 9:57 AM
Its obvious WTSP general manager Sam Rosenwasser is a Jerk off.. It stuns me that a talented Anchor such as Howe was let go in that way. I hope your reading this Darren BONEHEAD Richards.. Your former viewer...

by Chip	Oct 1, 2008 9:56 AM
This is very sad. Jennifer Howe is such a classy lady. She certainly demonstrated her professionalism in her above remarks. My guess is Richards and Nikie would not handle it with near the class. I wish her a new start filled with many blessings.

by kay	Sep 30, 2008 8:15 PM
The loss of Jennifer Howe is just one more nail in the coffin of WTSP news. Dave, Reginal, and Heather look out! You're probably next!!!

by Lawrence	Sep 30, 2008 8:14 PM
Someone in your organization must have lost the remaining half of their brain to have discharged these three people. Then you retained some of those squeeky voiced, non interesting reporters. I guess it's time to change channels.

by Valerie	Sep 30, 2008 6:51 PM
Jennifer Howe is a solid journalist and a class act. She didn't deserve to be treated so poorly after 12 years at WTSP. Way to go Darren Richards! It's obvious you thrive on acting like scum. Managers who cover for you are no better.

by william	Sep 30, 2008 6:17 PM
I believe WTSP is a rag of a station in what they did.thank god for WFLA

by Jay	Sep 30, 2008 5:41 PM
And businesses wonder why people are increasingly not inspired with their work and lack a sincere interest in how companies perform. We have tried offshoring jobs, cutting benefits, churning employees and here we are. How is this working for us?

by Don	Sep 30, 2008 5:36 PM
First Randy Rauch, now Jennifer Howe? Shame on you both, Darren Richards and Sam Rosenwasser.

by Jay	Sep 30, 2008 4:11 PM
Welcome to the real world, where poeple get laid off at a monents notice.

by Andre	Sep 30, 2008 4:11 PM
The way Howe was let go is normal in the electronic media. Management can't risk a ticked employee saying something against them on live TV. Those in the industry don't like it but know thats the way it is cause they've seen it happen to others.

by Gayle	Sep 30, 2008 3:27 PM
Howe is handling this as the professional she is unlike her employers. To not even allow her to say goodbye was wrong, and the old saying what comes around goes around will come back to them. We need to show them how we feel in their ratings.

by Sara	Sep 30, 2008 3:24 PM
I have to say that this recent housecleaning by WTSP has really disappointed me. I used to enjoy the news and weather, but with the losses of Randy, Jennifer, Anna and Meredith it just isn't worth the effort to change channels. Goodbye WTSP news.

by Laura	Sep 30, 2008 3:15 PM
I am saddened with the firing of Jennifer Howe, I always looked forward to her newscast on the week-end. I think you have done an unjust firing, and did not let her say her goodbye to her dedicated listeners. She was an asset to your statiohn.

by Jim	Sep 30, 2008 3:15 PM
They terminated the Anna Allen and the traffic girl as well. Ginger is horrible and can't communicate fire her please.

by Kathy	Sep 30, 2008 3:13 PM
WTSP began to plunge upon hiring Sherry Ray.The loss of Fletch was crippling,but they still had Reg,Heather&Randy. Goodbye WTSP news/weather, U R not worth watching anymore.

by Reeves	Sep 30, 2008 3:13 PM
WOW, I'm surprised WSTP didn't have enough respect to let her say a formal "goodbye". That's irresponsible. Best of luck Jenn.

by Lee	Sep 30, 2008 2:59 PM
I'll be changing channels for news.

by Joe	Sep 30, 2008 2:52 PM
Howe was my choice for weekend news, much better than Josh Thomas, Lloyd Sowers, or Lloyd's co-anchor. Sorry to see her go.

by Laura	Sep 30, 2008 2:40 PM
I want to let you know that Jennifer was an asset to your station, and I think she was reasonable,dedicated,friendly,pleasant and attractive, she had all the assets for the job she did. Good luck on finding someone as great as she was.