DALLAS (CN) - Former KDFW news reporter Rebecca Aguilar sued Fox Television Stations for race discrimination. Aguilar claims Fox fired her in retaliation for suggesting that more Hispanics be considered for management. "Fox 4 wanted my client to advocate change in the community through her reports, but to keep silent in improving working conditions in the newsroom," said her attorney, Steve Kardell.
A Fox employee since 1999, Aguilar claims she pushed for racial equality at Fox and voiced concern over race discrimination in the workplace, concerns she said were rarely addressed.
Aguilar says she counseled several Hispanic employees who suffered racial discrimination in the Fox workplace.
While working for Fox in September 2007, Aguilar was awarded the Hispanic Journalist of the Year Award from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Aguilar says she asked Maria Barrs, Fox vice president of news, to capitalize on the award by seeking out minority management candidates. Barrs not only rejected the suggestion, she decided to fire Aguilar at "the next possible opportunity," according to the complaint.
One month later, Aguilar says, she was suspended due to "fabricated criticism" about a news story. The suspension was lifted two weeks later, but Aguilar was removed from the air without cause or explanation. Four months later, in March 2008, she was told her contract with the station would not be renewed.
Aguilar's attorney, Steve Kardell, is with Clouse Dunn Khoshbin.
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