Standing up for your colleague is truly a selfless deed. They are not really your family, nor are they your close friends. You are often pitted against your colleague, running the rat race and competing for promotion.
These relationships are pure business, but at the same time, this camaraderie walks a fine line between professional and personal. So, it is understandable if you choose not to stand up for them; the work environment can often be “to each their own.”
Working for a news agency is even more challenging when forming friendships with their colleagues. The cutthroat competition and the constant comparison can cause a rift between news anchors. But Mark Mester was different. The confident young journalist was quite secure about his skills to let these inhibitions hamper his friendship with colleagues.
When Lynette Romero was fired from KTLA, Mark Mester went on a tangent against the script given to him to expose the reality behind the scenes, calling out the studio executives for their unprofessionalism. Later, Mester was also suspended after the live segment.
Although there is not much information on his current whereabouts, it seems like he is doing just fine.
Who Is Mark Mester?
Mark Mester, born on December 26, 1986, is originally from Budapest, Hungary. He came to America for higher education and secured a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of California. He further earned his journalism degree from Syracuse University.
After graduation, he was recruited at New York-based NBC News when he was 20. He then served as a presenter and reporter for KEYT-TV.
He was widely known for his considerable contribution to journalism, covering a wide range of news, including politics, breaking news, current events, and human-interest stories. His onscreen charm boosted the show’s rating when he started anchoring for KTLA 5 Weekend Morning News in May 2014. He was commended for his ethics, honesty, and unbiased reporting, earning him accolades and journalism awards.
But such an impressive name just faded away after a serious incident at the news station. Read along for detailed information.
What Happened to Mark Mester from KTLA?
Mark Mester considered his co-host of KTLA as one of his closest friends. When Lynette announced her departure from KTLA, Mark was apparently dissatisfied with how the station handled his friend’s farewell. Lynette served in various roles for the independent news station for 24 years.
KTLA assigned a small segment for Lynette, which Mark Mester would address in the show’s last few minutes. Instead of reading the script, Mester decided to express his sentiments and pay homage to Lynette during the September 18 broadcast.
He went off script and started by saying–
“It was inappropriate and we are so sorry. I also want to say sorry to Lynette Romero, because Lynette I love you so much you really are my best friend. You did not deserve what happened to you on Wednesday.”
He later expressed his disdain for the unprofessional script handed to him and apologized to Lynette on live television.
“It was unfortunate. It was inappropriate and we are so sorry about that when that deserve to say goodbye. I don’t know who wrote the script. I don’t know who handed it to Sam Rubin. Regardless this was a mistake. We owe you an apology.”
According to initial reports, he was briefly suspended for breaking off script. But, later, E! News confirmed that Mark Mester was fired on September 23.
Where Is Mark Mester Now?
Mark Mester has since then maintained a private life. He did not join any other new station after that. But still, there is not much information about his current status.
However, according to his latest post on social media, it seems like he wants to venture independently. He has expressed his desire to start a podcast as well.
Several news anchors and reporters have been fired for distinct reasons, including Brandon Roux, Geraldo Rivera, Carlson Tucker (for his biased journalism), and recently a BBC presenter was suspended on the grounds of engaging in sexual favors with a minor.
But Mark’s removal seemed genuinely unfair, considering how dedicated he was to the KTLA morning news segment.
What is your take on this case? Do you think KTLA was unfair to Mark Mester? Which new channel do you think Mar is best suited for? Let us know in the comments section below.
