Press Democrat accused in workplace discrimination suit

<p>Two women who formerly managed The Press Democrat’s Web site are suing the newspaper, alleging sex discrimination, harassment and other workplace violations. </p><p>Leigh Behrens, who was online director at pressdemocrat.com for almost two years, and Laurie Barton, the site’s executive producer, said they were targeted by jealous managers from the print side of the newspaper.</p><p>Behrens’ detractors “appeared clearly upset that this strong and successful female leader was being recognized for her accomplishments in developing the online side of the business, while they were stuck in the print side of the operation, which was suffering from declining readership and revenues,” according to the lawsuit. </p><p>“These individuals engaged in a concerted campaign to harass and impede Ms. Behrens and certain female members of the management team she had brought into employment in the Online Department,” the lawsuit said.</p><p>The women contend they were subjected to<NO1><NO> false accusations, insulting comments, rumors and intimidation, according to the lawsuit. Other department heads and higher-ups <NO1><NO>allegedly ignored their complaints and ultimately retaliated, forcing them out, the two women said. </p><p>In addition to the newspaper, the lawsuit names Press Democrat publisher Bruce Kyse, four news managers and three department heads. It also names The Press Democrat’s parent company, The New York Times Co. </p><p>Kyse on Thursday referred questions to Catherine Mathis, the New York Times’ senior vice president for corporate communications. She didn’t return a call seeking comment. </p><p>Behrens and Barton filed complaints with the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which enforces California laws on job discrimination. The state agency has taken no action on their complaint, but granted the two women the right to sue in civil court.</p><p>Behrens and Barton are seeking unspecified damages in the suit, which was filed March 30 in Sonoma County Superior Court. </p><p>Both women left The Press Democrat last year. Behrens now is president and editor in chief at Personal News Network, PNN.com, a women’s social news and entertainment Web site in Rohnert Park. </p><p>She joined The Press Democrat in March 2006 after a career at the Chicago Tribune as an online editor, reporter and features editor. Behrens was fired in February 2008, according to the lawsuit. </p><p>Barton was a reporter, editor and online manager at the Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register before joining The Press Democrat in April 2007. She took pregnancy leave in mid-2008 and decided she couldn’t return to work last December because of a “harassing environment” at the newspaper, according to the lawsuit. Barton is still looking for work, the lawsuit said.</p>