WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Officials with the Stevens Point YMCA announced this week that they will no longer allow national cable news networks like FOX News or CNN to be shown on shared television screens in workout areas, but officials with the Woodson YMCA in Wausau say they have no such plans for a policy like that.
Director of Communications and Community Relations Carrie Hutton says the staff is instructed to try to keep a mix of programs on the TVs in the fitness areas. “Let’s say there’s five screens turned on, just make sure there is a mix of viewpoints showing across the TVs in the room.”
Those working out at the Stevens Point facility can still choose their own program on personal devices or the TV’s attached to cardio machines. Hutton says the same goes for the Wausau facility. “Members are in control of their own personal screens.”
While YMCA’s across Wisconsin do share similar goals and values, Hutton says she’s not aware of a movement to make the policy uniform across all facilities. “YMCA’s are generally independently managed and kind of serve their own communities,” she said.
Similar policies to the one implemented by the Stevens Point gym have been sprouting at other workout facilities across the country.
