Familiar Faces At News 12 Bid Adieu After Altice Staffing Shifts

LONG ISLAND, NY — Viewers are saying goodbye to familiar faces at News 12 Long Island after a shift in staffing leaves longtime employees without jobs.

At least four News 12 anchors and reporters announced on social media that they would be leaving Altice USA, stunning viewers and fans of their work.

"After nearly 16 years my time at News 12 has come to an end. It's still surreal and hard to digest," said anchor and reporter Jackie Lukas.

"That being said, wow, what a journey it has been. Even as a daily storyteller, it's almost impossible to put into words what this journey has meant to me," she wrote. "I started at News 12 at just 23 years old. I worked hard and rose up the ranks. During that time I got married, had three amazing babies and was able to be a hands-on mom, all while balancing a career that I loved. It was the best of both worlds and I have no regrets."

Lukas thanked the viewers. 'We've laughed together, cried together, navigated uncertain and scary times together. I hope I brought you some sort of comfort and consistency throughout these years... and was also able to make you smile. We've got to have a little fun too — right!?"

She added that the future remains uncertain: "So what is next? I'm not sure. I'm leaving all my options open, but for starters I'm going to enjoy my family and sleeping past 3:30 a.m. on weekends. I hope you will continue to follow me along my journey. . . and thank you again for all your love and support!"

Sportscaster Jamie Stuart also said in a Facebook video he had just finished his final sports broadcast, after 21 years. "The memories I have covering my favorite teams and telling your stories will last forever," Stuart said.

He recalled highlights of his tenure, including winning multiple Emmys. "What's next? I'm not sure. But as someone a long time ago once told me, 'It's not good-bye. Rather, see you soon."

Christine Insinga, a News 12 reporter, said on Facebook that it was hard to believe she'd been working with News 12 LI for nearly 20 years.

"Before that I wore many hats behind the scenes as a freelance assignment editor, associate producer and production assistant. So it is extremely bittersweet to tell you that my time there has come to a close," she said.

Insinga also thanked viewers: "Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to reach out, comment and watch over the years. You are what it's all about. What's next? Still working on that but I'll keep you posted!! Stay healthy and be kind," she wrote.

"It’s really hard to say goodbye especially after so long. . .but here it goes," Shari Einhorn wrote on Facebook. "After nearly 28 years, my time at News 12 Long Island has come to an end. It’s hard to believe and I’m still processing it all."

Einhorn said she started as an intern "way back in 1993 while I was getting my master’s degree . . . and I never left. After interning, I worked my way up from a freelancer to a full-timer and then a part-timer when my boys were born. I pretty much learned how to be a television news reporter while at News 12 and I trained dozens of other reporters as well."

She added: "I am truly honored to have spent nearly three decades telling stories about Long Islanders, to Long Islanders, for Long Islanders. I’ve laughed with you. I’ve cried with you. I’ve even chased some of you down."

Einhorn also thanked the viewers. "I’m not sure what’s next for me. I’m still figuring it out but I’m excited about new opportunities and I’m keeping my options wide open! I hope you’ll stay around and see what comes next," she said.

A spokesperson for Altice USA, which purchased Cablevision in 2015, said in a statement: "As News 12 continues to expand and strengthen its news organization, we are focusing additional resources to cover more hard-hitting investigative reporting and consumer-driven stories that our viewers want. As a result, we’ve created several full-time journalism positions to align with our programming content as we continue to deliver the best hyperlocal news coverage on Long Island."

But the news left many unhappy.

“It pains me to see so many award winning, popular and highly talented journalists leaving," Drew Scott told Patch.

Scott is a former News 12 anchor and reporter who retired in 2017, dedicated to raising awareness after losing his granddaughter to an overdose.

"Altice should be doing everything to keep these familiar and much loved talents," he said.

It's not the first time Altice has been in the news for eliminating positions: In 2018, a lawsuit against Altice over News 12 staffing cuts made headlines.

"Changing News12 means changing the dynamic of the public conversation," Jaci Clement, the CEO and executive director of the Fair Media Council wrote in 2018 in a piece titled "Altice’s cuts to News12 pose a threat to Long Islanders."

"Issues that matter, historical accuracy and area legacies will get lost, as Long Island loses its voice and, along with it, its identity," Clement wrote.