United States: CFWIJ is monitoring the situation under which Ivory Hecker got fired

June 24, 2021- Ivory Hecker, Fox 26 correspondent for Houston, was fired after her on-air claim that “her corporate bosses had been muzzling her”. Ivory shared these claims during her live weather report. The journalist accused her news network and confirmed that she provided secret behind-the-scenes recordings to Project Veritas Group. Project Veritas is known for its sting operations against mainstream media organizations and political groups. Ivory was suspended by the channel earlier but later confirmed her termination in a social media post, sharing the email from Fox 26 management. CFWIJ is monitoring the situation as it unfolds. We are keeping track of the allegations Ivory made public.

Ivory shared in her interview, “I have been longing to part ways with this strange, slightly unhinged corporation since last August.” According to the reports, the journalist has not yet revealed what the recordings she submitted to Project Veritas contain, nor has she said anything about how she plans  to hold the organization accountable. 

While speaking to Newsweek, Ivory shared her relationship with Fox 26 took a turn in August of last year. She had interviewed an unspecified person, and the management did not like the content of the interview and started harassing and defaming her internally. “I realized that I was not working for a news organization when I was called into an HR meeting in December and was told to keep my support for free speech and opposition to censorship to myself- that those were not matters to be publicly spoken about,” added Ivory. She further emphasized that censorship corrupts journalism and “true journalism needs an environment of free speech”. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands by the journalistic values Ivory Hecker stated in her interviews. We are also monitoring the accusations she made against her previous employer as they unfold. We wish the best for the journalist moving forward through this uncertain time. We urge newsroom management at Fox 26 to rethink their repressive tactics and allow their correspondents to work within the true values of journalism.