A New York-based Emmy-winning investigative reporter has filed a lawsuit against her bosses alleging systemic gender-based discrimination and retaliation against her that ultimately led to her being fired.
Rachel Yonkunas claims she was repeatedly undermined, marginalized, and stripped of resources that were readily provided to her male colleagues.
The lawsuit names Altice USA—the parent company of News12 Long Island—as the 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 downturn in September when her superiors issued an ultimatum: take a $10,000 pay cut to join the station’s morning broadcast or face the consequences.
‘I was shocked, devastated, and confused. I couldn’t understand why they were putting me, a successful investigative reporter, in this position. I think they thought I would just accept it,’ Yonkunas told the New York Post.
She said the demand came after she had pointed out significant disparities in how male and female reporters at the network were being treated.
The reporter was nominated for three Emmys this year alone and won the prestigious award in 2016 while working for Pennsylvania station Fox 43.
Rachel Yonkunas, 35, claims she was repeatedly undermined, marginalized, and stripped of resources that were readily provided to her male colleagues. She was fired in September
Yorkunas’ career took a dramatic downturn in September when her superiors issued an ultimatum: take a $10,000 pay cut to join the station’s morning show or face the consequences
In her lawsuit, Yonkunas details a workplace where male colleagues appeared to enjoy consistent support from producers and photographers, while she was often left to fend for herself.
She alleges how her stories were frequently pulled from broadcasts at the last minute to prioritize those of male coworkers.
Despite her contributions to high-profile investigations, including the ongoing Gilgo Beach killings, Yonkunas said even those assignments were ultimately handed off to male reporters, sidelining both her and a female colleague.
‘High-profile assignments were consistently given to male reporters,’ Yonkunas stated in her lawsuit.
‘For instance, despite my significant contributions to the Gilgo Beach investigation, [the story was] assigned to a male reporter, disregarding both my and my female colleague’s input.’
The lack of resources wasn’t limited to investigative reporting either.
Yonkunas said she spent months without a photographer to assist her, even as a male sports anchor was regularly prioritized for such support.
Her bosses claimed that they did not want her to leave, but her decision to speak out about such disparities put her in the crosshairs of management.
Yorkunas was nominated for three Emmy Awards this year. She is seen proudly showing off the trophy she won in 2016
Fired News12 Long Island reporter Rachel Yonkunas is seen in photos from her Instagram page following her Emmy win eight years ago while working for a network in Albany
She alleges how after raising her concerns, she was placed on a 30-day performance improvement plan, despite her work receiving consistent praise up until that point.
‘It came out of left field. I met the goals they set for me, but the demand to step into a lower-paying gig blindsided me. It made me feel like I was not good enough to be there,’ she said.
Yonkunas’s refusal to immediately accept the pay cut – or, as she describes it, a demotion – proved to be the final straw.
When she showed up to work without providing an answer, she was promptly fired. Her last report was filed 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 feared if I didn’t show up to 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 investigate stories. The last thing I want to be is the story,’ she 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.
‘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 killings, Yonkunas the assignments were handed off to male reporters, sidelining her
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 underscores the systemic gender-based discrimination that our client endured during her tenure at News12,’ he said.
Matthew Blit, another lawyer representing Yonkunas, called the network’s actions ‘a calculated effort to marginalize and ultimately force her out of her position.’
Altice USA and News12 have both denied the allegations, calling them ‘entirely baseless.’
‘We pride ourselves on providing an inclusive and equitable workplace where employees can thrive based on their skills, contributions, and merit. We will defend against these allegations vigorously,’ News 12 said in a statement.
