A New York-based Emmy-winning investigative journalist has filed a lawsuit against her bosses alleging systematic gender discrimination and retaliation against her that ultimately led to her firing.
Rachel Yonkunas claims she was repeatedly undermined, marginalized and stripped of resources that could have been directly provided to her male colleagues.
The lawsuit names Altice USA – the parent company of News12 Long Island – as a defendant and paints a picture of a toxic workplace.
Yonkunas, 35, joined News12 in 2022 and quickly became a prominent investigative journalist for the network.
But her rising career took a dramatic setback in September when her superiors issued an ultimatum: Take a $10,000 pay cut to join the channel’s morning broadcast or face the consequences.
‘I was shocked, devastated and confused. I couldn’t understand why they put me, a successful investigative journalist, in this position. I think they thought I would just accept it,” Yonkunas told the BBC New York Post.
She said the demand came after she pointed out significant differences in the way male and female reporters were treated at the network.
The reporter was nominated for three Emmys this year alone, winning the prestigious award in 2016 while working for Pennsylvania’s Fox 43 station.
Rachel Yonkunas, 35, claims she was repeatedly undermined, marginalized and stripped of resources that could have been directly provided to her male colleagues. She was fired in September
Yorkunas’ career took a dramatic downturn in September when her superiors issued an ultimatum: accept a $10,000 pay cut to join the station’s morning show or face the consequences
In her lawsuit, Yonkunas describes a workplace where male colleagues appeared to enjoy consistent support from producers and photographers, while she was often left to fend for herself.
She claims her stories were often pulled from broadcasts at the last minute to prioritize those of male colleagues.
Despite her contributions to high-profile investigations, including the ongoing Gilgo Beach killings, Yonkunas said even those assignments were eventually handed over to male reporters, sidelining both she and a female colleague.
“High-profile assignments were consistently given to male reporters,” Yonkunas said in her lawsuit.
“For example, despite my significant contributions to the Gilgo Beach investigation, the story was assigned to a male reporter, ignoring both my and my female colleague’s input.”
The lack of resources wasn’t limited to investigative reporting either.
Yonkunas said she had no photographer to help her for months, even though a male sports anchor was regularly prioritized for such support.
Her bosses claimed they didn’t want her to leave, but her decision to speak out about such differences put her in management’s sights.
Yorkunas was nominated for three Emmy Awards this year. She proudly shows off the trophy she won in 2016
Fired News12 Long Island reporter Rachel Yonkunas is seen in photos from her Instagram page after her Emmy win eight years ago while working for a network in Albany
She claims that after she raised her concerns, she was placed on a 30-day performance improvement plan, despite her work being consistently praised up to that point.
“It came out of left field. I met the goals they set for me, but the demand to move into a lower-paying job blindsided me. It made me feel like I wasn’t good enough to be there,” she said.
Yonkunas’ refusal to immediately accept the pay cut — or, as she describes it, a demotion — proved to be the final straw.
When she showed up for work without answering, she was promptly fired. Her last report was submitted on September 19.
“I was told I couldn’t return to the office until I made a decision,” Yonkunas said. ‘But I was currently under contract. I was afraid that if I didn’t show up for work it would be considered insubordination.”
The University of Tampa-educated journalist described her role at News12 as her “dream job” and is now seeking unspecified damages through her lawsuit. But for Yonkunas, the case is about more than her personal experience.
‘I research stories. The last thing I want to be is the story,” she said. “And now I find myself having to stand up for what’s happening, to make sure this doesn’t happen to the other female reporters who still work there.
“This was my dream job,” she said. ‘I knew I wanted to plant roots here. This was it for me.’
Despite her contributions to high-profile investigations, including the ongoing Gilgo Beach murders, Yonkuna’s assignments were handed over to male reporters, leaving her sidelined.
Fired News12 Long Island reporter Rachel Yonkunas interviewed NYS Police Major Steve Udice about the Gilgo Beach murders
The University of Tampa-educated journalist described her role at News12 as her “dream job” and is now seeking unspecified damages through her lawsuit.
Attorney Erik Bashian emphasized the broader implications of the lawsuit.
“This case highlights the systemic gender discrimination our client suffered during her tenure at News12,” he said.
Matthew Blit, another attorney representing Yonkunas, called the network’s actions “a calculated attempt to marginalize her and ultimately force her out of her position.”
Altice USA and News12 have both denied the allegations, calling them “completely baseless.”
“We pride ourselves on providing an inclusive and equitable workplace where employees can thrive based on their skills, contributions and merits. We will vigorously defend ourselves against these allegations,” News 12 said in a statement.