Crystal Bui, a former KTSP (Minneapolis) Reporter, has come forward with startling allegations of sexism and unsafe work practices during her tenure at the local ABC affiliate. In her recently self-published book titled "More to Tell," Bui recounts her experiences from 2019 to 2021, shedding light on the challenges she faced while covering protests in the aftermath of George Floyd's death.

Bui alleges that the station's management failed to prioritize her safety adequately during the initial riots, despite Minneapolis being significantly affected. She claims that unlike other news outlets that invested in security measures, KSTP did not allocate sufficient resources for the protection of its reporters. In her book, Bui vividly describes the emotional distress she endured while reporting in the field and reveals that, at one point, she contemplated faking a medical emergency to leave the dangerous environment.

"While I was focused on staying safe, managers were focused on ratings," Bui writes, shedding light on the priorities she believes were skewed. She goes on to suggest that although there were no explicit instructions to move closer to danger, managers used coded language that reporters understood. This, in her view, created an atmosphere where the pursuit of ratings overshadowed the importance of ensuring the safety of journalists.

Moreover, Bui accuses KSTP of treating her differently from her colleagues due to her gender and race. She claims to have been silenced during staff meetings and overlooked for crucial assignments. Expressing her disappointment, Bui writes, "My heart is exhausted from fighting this system and trying to excel while walking on eggshells." She further expresses frustration at not being chosen to participate in an ABC docuseries on George Floyd, believing that KSTP managers intentionally disregarded her.

In another disturbing allegation, Bui accuses a staff photographer, whose name she does not disclose, of sexual harassment. She recalls an incident where he allegedly drew a phallus symbol in the snow shortly before one of her field reports. While she uses aliases for most of her co-workers, Bui emphasizes that those involved in the incidents are aware of their actions, choosing not to reveal their identities to protect her sources and due to fear of retaliation.

In response to Bui's claims, KSTP news director Kirk Varner acknowledged being aware of her book but was unable to address the specific personnel issues raised. Varner emphasized the station's commitment to safety and maintaining a positive work environment, highlighting that no formal complaints regarding the issues Bui raised were made during her tenure. KSTP general manager Rob Hubbard declined to comment further, stating that Varner's statement adequately addressed the matter.

Bui explains that she did not report her experiences to the station's human resources department because she held little faith in their ability to address the issues. In her view, HR departments primarily serve to protect the company's interests, rather than foster employee well-being.

Since leaving KSTP-TV, Bui has undergone trauma therapy, and she currently runs her own public relations firm after a brief stint at WANF-TV in Atlanta. Bui admits that writing her book was challenging but underscores the importance of speaking out to improve the journalism profession for future generations.

"I don't want my experiences to be in vain," Bui affirms. "This is my way of talking back and ensuring that the industry becomes better for everyone, especially for women who have been taught to remain silent and compliant."

H/T Star Tribune