John Hockenberry Accused of Sexual Harassment

Late last night, New York Magazine reported that several women are alleging that ​they were sexually harassed by ​former Takeaway host John Hockenberry. Many of the women who came forward are former producers (and in some cases, interns) of The Takeaway. In addition, at least two of his former co-hosts told New York Magazine they were bullied by Hockenberry.

We asked New York Public Radio and Public Radio International, the co-producers of The Takeaway, for comment. In a statement NYPR told us, "we are now challenging ourselves to do more to ensure that our New York Public Radio community can thrive and excel in an inclusive and diverse environment in which they are treated with respect. We have committed to providing more training for employees, including managers, hosts and other persons in authority, and more support for those who come forward. This may also mean more severe and immediate consequences for misconduct than was the norm in American workplaces a year ago." (See their full statement below.)

PRI sent us the following statement, "We find these allegations deeply unsettling and we take them with the utmost seriousness. PRI holds itself and our production partners to the highest standards with respect to positive work environments, and we recognize that WNYC is also committed to best in class processes to have a positive workplace."

We, the current staff at The Takeaway, ​take these allegations extremely seriously and are very disturbed by this report. There is a buffer between our journalism and the companies who own and distribute the show. We plan to report this story as we would any other ​and intend to bring you updates when we're back on the air on Monday.

Full statement from NYPR:

We don’t, as a matter of policy, comment on confidential personnel issues. However, since Suki Kim chose to waive her right to confidentiality in asking NYPR for an on-the-record response about her allegation against John Hockenberry, we wanted to acknowledge her decision and respond to her question to the best of our ability. Accordingly, we sent her this statement (reproduced below in its entirety):

A key fact in this story is that John Hockenberry is no longer employed by NYPR. Together with Public Radio International (PRI), our co-producer on The Takeaway, we did not renew his contract when it expired on 6/30/17.

As with other organizations across America, we do not disclose confidential employment actions. This policy often leads people who’ve complained to HR to conclude — in good faith, yet erroneously — that no action was taken against a wrongdoer.

NYPR promptly investigates every complaint we receive, including the one described by Suki Kim in her article, and we take any and all remedial actions warranted. These actions include: training, referral to counseling, disciplinary action up to and including suspension with or without pay, termination of employment, and/or other measures.

We also make every effort to protect the confidentiality of complainants, because, as was Suki Kim, they are concerned about their identity becoming known to the person being investigated. That is one of the reasons why personnel matters are kept confidential.

Except for outright termination, which is self-evident, the imposition of any of these sanctions is not something that is disclosed to — or observable by — employees or others who raise a complaint, including the complainant. And this is the conundrum employers face — how to reassure people who raise a complaint that complaints are taken seriously while at the same time protecting confidentiality for all parties involved. It’s a paradox we are attempting to address as we work to make it easier — for those who’ve experienced inappropriate behavior as well as those who witness it — to come forward.

As part of a long overdue national conversation, we are now challenging ourselves to do more to ensure that our New York Public Radio community can thrive and excel in an inclusive and diverse environment in which they are treated with respect. We have committed to providing more training for employees, including managers, hosts and other persons in authority, and more support for those who come forward. This may also mean more severe and immediate consequences for misconduct than was the norm in American workplaces a year ago.

Below is Statement from Laura Walker, president and CEO of NYPR:

I am deeply disturbed by allegations reported recently in the media against the former host of The Takeaway, John Hockenberry.

Some of the behaviors described in the media were known to NYPR, and we investigated and took action at the time. We learned about other allegations some time after he left the show following the decision by NYPR and PRI to not renew his contract. And some, we learned about for the first time in media reports.

The offensive conduct as reported would clearly violate NYPR's standards and workplace practices. As CEO, I deeply regret that our culture and protocols did not work as they should, such that the full nature and extent of the allegations are just now coming to light. I apologize, we can do better, and I give our employees and the entire NYPR community my word that the senior team and I will do our utmost to ensure that NYPR will safeguard all employees, provide an equitable, respectful, inclusive and harassment-free environment, and take prompt action when necessary.