Miami news anchor Jacey Birch went to a music festival, posted photos of her side-boob-baring outfit and ended up facing criticism from fellow journalists. At least 10 journalists reportedly sent links to her Instagram posts to an industry publication, with some questioning whether her festival look was appropriate for someone working in television news.
The WPLG Local 10 presenter attended Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) in Orlando, Florida, from 6 to 8 November, where she posed in a revealing outfit that showed the sides of her breasts. Her photos have become a talking point because her boss previously warned employees against posting content that could damage their credibility as journalists.
The controversy has brought an earlier workplace memo back into focus, along with questions about how much control a news station should have over what its presenters wear when they are not working.
Jacey Birch's EDC Orlando Outfit Draws Complaints
Birch attended EDC Orlando, an electronic dance music festival known for its colourful costumes, revealing outfits and elaborate rave fashion. She shared photos from the event on Instagram, showing off a festival look that exposed the sides of her breasts. The pictures reportedly caught the attention of other journalists, some of whom were unhappy with what they saw.
Birch is no newcomer to television news. She joined WPLG in January 2004 and has spent more than two decades at the Miami station, where she now works as a weekend evening anchor and animal advocate reporter. Her reporting on animal welfare has also helped bring about changes to local laws.
Despite her long career, an unnamed newsroom insider claimed Birch had already been warned about her social media posts before the festival. The alleged warning has not been independently confirmed, and its details remain unclear. Four television news directors who were shown her photographs reportedly said they would have considered disciplinary action, potentially including dismissal. None was identified as a WPLG decision-maker.
Why Does WPLG Have a Problem With Influencer-Style Posts?
The issue goes back to a memo from WPLG Vice President of News Bill Pohovey, who had previously told staff to rethink what they were sharing online. His message was direct: 'I'm exhausted to have to repeat this but we are not influencers, we are journalists.'
Pohovey specifically called out dance videos, fashion shows and outfit-of-the-day posts, arguing that such content could distract from a journalist's professional image. He also reminded employees that their personal social media accounts still reflect on the station, even when they are off the clock. Some of the content he had seen, he wrote, was 'cringeworthy'.
Birch is not the first WPLG personality whose off-duty wardrobe has attracted attention. Fellow anchor Jenise Fernandez previously shared bikini photos from a holiday in Fiji, prompting questions about whether the same rules applied to beach pictures. Pohovey defended Fernandez's posts as tasteful and acceptable, explaining that the memo had been sent before her trip and did not ban ordinary holiday photos.
Should a TV Anchor's Festival Outfit Affect Her Job?
The complaints have also raised questions about whether women in television face greater scrutiny over what they wear outside work. Communications strategist Amore Philip argued that 'singling out a female anchor for festival photos creates a double standard' if male colleagues faced no consequences for sharing pictures of their own social activities. She questioned whether an outfit worn at a music festival should be enough to justify disciplinary action.
For now, there is no confirmed indication that WPLG has taken action against Birch over the photos. The station has also not publicly clarified whether her festival outfit crossed any of its social media rules. What started as an Instagram post from a weekend at EDC has instead turned into a debate over how far a news anchor's professional image should extend beyond the studio.
