Journalism Ethics - TVSpy

WITI Criticized For Promo Showing Reporter Dancing at Scene of Fatal Fire

Merrill Knox — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 11:41:36 +0000

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel TV critic Duane Dudek takes note of a recent WITI promotional video, noting the “thin line between news and entertainment got a little thinner” at the Fox affiliate last week.

The promo, which is of WITI‘s morning anchors and reporters doing the “Dougie,” includes one clip of reporter Angelica Duria dancing at the scene of her live shot Friday. The problem? She was reporting from the scene of a fire that resulted in the death of three children. ~~(Watch the promo online here; WITI’s video player does not allow embedding.)~~ >Update: the promo has been removed from WITI’s website.

“We have been working to make parts of FOX 6 Wake Up more fun and spontaneous — especially near the end of the show as we transition into ‘Real Milwaukee.’ We have tried to involve all of the crew and staff,” WITI general manager Chuck Steinmetz said in a statement. “While I personally received multiple positive comments from viewers about the segment — one person specifically thanking us for getting their day off to a fun start before going to work — we never intended to offend anyone. If we did we certainly apologize.”

What do you think? Should the station take down the promo? Vote below.

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WXMI Fires Reporter For Failing to Disclose Ties to Atheist Group He Was Covering

Andrew Gauthier — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 13:34:28 +0000

WXMI has fired reporter and weekend anchor Jason Volentine after he failed to disclose his connection to an atheist group that he was covering.

In July, Volentine did a story for WXMI about the Freedom From Religion Foundation‘s campaign to have the image of a church removed from the city logo of Wyoming, MI. MLive reports that the Grand Rapids Fox-affiliate dismissed Volentine when it learned that he had ties to the FFRF, a Wisconsin-based organization that fights for the separation of church and state. continued…

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WDBJ Urges Viewers to Look Up Porn Online

Andrew Gauthier — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 14:10:42 +0000

For a story about a former porn star who is now volunteering as a local EMT, Roanoke CBS-affiliate WDBJ urged viewers to check out her adult films online.

“The Cave Spring Rescue Squad has been around for more than 60 years. In that time, it’s probably never had a volunteer like Harmony Rose,” WDBJ reporter Justin McLeod told viewers on Thursday. “She’s a former porn star. Just Google her name and you’ll find hundreds of pornographic videos of hers.” continued…

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WSOC Retracts ‘Vagina First’ Graduation Story

Andrew Gauthier — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 11:53:25 +0000

WSOC is apologizing for a series of stories covering a “controversial” high school yearbook photo that may or may not have shown an 18-year-old student lifting up her graduation gown to flash her vagina.

In an all-caps message on its website this week, the Charlotte ABC-affiliate issued a formal apology and retracted all of the stories published on the site related to the photo.

“WE OPENLY AND FULLY APOLOGIZE TO THE YOUNG LADY SHOWN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH AND TO OUR READERS,” the post states, listing a series of statements contained in the stories that the station now admits were made in error. continued…

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Miami Stations Air New Video of Cannibal Attack

Andrew Gauthier — Wed, 30 May 2012 15:52:06 +0000

All of the local news stations in Miami aired new video today of the gruesome cannibal attack that occurred over the weekend near the Miami Herald building.

The newly released video, taken by a Herald security camera, shows a high-angle long shot of the location where Rudy Eugene, 31, appears to have randomly encountered a 65-year-old homeless man, identified as Ronald Poppo, and proceeded to chew off a significant portion of his face before a police officer arrived.

The new video was the top story on the noon newscasts of WPLG, WSVN, and WFOR, and WTVJ, which has a half-hour 11 a.m. newscast, played a portion of it during its coverage of the incident today. continued…

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KMVT Explains Suicide Policy to Viewers

Andrew Gauthier — Wed, 30 May 2012 10:46:36 +0000

Reporting on a rise in local suicides, KMVT took time to explain its policy on covering suicides (video above). Like most stations, the Twin Falls, ID CBS-affiliate has a specific policy about reporting on suicides.

“As a rule of thumb, we do not report on suicides, however, we have guidelines we follow,” KMVT news director Joe Martin told viewers. “For example, if it’s a public figure or puts the public in danger then we determine if we report on it.”

The station also posted its policy on its website.

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Gay and Lesbian Center Criticizes KCBS For Posting Names, Birthdates of Men Arrested in Sex Sting

Andrew Gauthier — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:06:57 +0000

FishbowlLA reports that the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center is outraged over KCBS-KCAL’s decision to post the names, birthdates, and mugshots of eighteen men who were arrested in an undercover sting operation at a Manhattan Beach restroom.

This week KCBS and KCAL reported on the arrests, which were based on a range of offenses, including engaging in lewd conduct in a public place and indecent exposure, and aired the Manhattan Beach Police Department’s collection of mugshots and personal information of the men arrested. The images, names, and birthdates were then posted on the stations’ website. continued…

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Milwaukee Stations Admit Staffers Signed Petitions to Recall Wisconsin Governor

Andrew Gauthier — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:44:01 +0000

News employees from at least three Milwaukee stations signed petitions to recall Scott Walker, Wisconsin’s controversial Republican governor.

WISN and WITI confirmed to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Wednesday that some of their employees signed the recall petitions.

WISN and WITI came forward after WTMJ reported during its Tuesday evening newscasts that several of its employees, including one on-air figure, signed the petitions.

“Station management wants you to know they consider this a serious issue,” WTMJ anchor Mike Jacobs told viewers on Tuesday. “The station is in the process of dealing with it internally.” continued…

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KTXL Ditches Man on the Street, Interviews Staff for Reactions Instead

Andrew Gauthier — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:31:51 +0000

The reactions were the same but the setting was definitely different.

In a story this week about a controversial poster displayed at the local highway patrol academy, Sacramento Fox-affiliate KTXL featured reactions from its own staff, including the assignment manager, shot in the station’s newsroom.

One staffer interviewed for the story by reporter Rowena Shaddox even wore a lanyard with the logo of KTXL’s owner, Tribune, while standing in front of a wall displaying the station’s “FOX 40″ logo, leaving little doubt about his background. Video inside… continued…

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WGRZ Stops Showing Video of Girls with Tics; ND Jeff Woodard Calls Decision ‘A Great Journalistic Debate’

Merrill Knox — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:52:23 +0000

Buffalo NBC-affiliate WGRZ will stop showing video of a group of local high school girls affected by a mysterious disorder that makes them twitch and tic, the station announced this week.

More than a dozen students at LeRoy High School have developed the symptoms, which some doctors say indicate a psychological condition brought on by stress. WGRZ has been covering the story since it broke in November, news director Jeff Woodard says.

“We hear over and over from doctors that all the media attention doesn’t help them,” Woodard tells TVSpy.

Citing a desire to be “upfront” with viewers, Woodard says, the station discussed the decision on three separate newscasts this week. He calls the issue “a great journalistic debate” and says he can see both sides of the issue.

“I don’t know if this is something we should be doing or something we shouldn’t be doing,” he says. “It’s something we felt like doing as members of the community.” continued…

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Local Newspaper Wrestles with Coverage of ‘Drunk’ KEYC Anchor

Andrew Gauthier — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:29:59 +0000

In a recent column, the managing editor of the Mankato Free Press wrestled with whether the newspaper appropriately covered the tribulations of KEYC anchor Annie Stensrud, following her erratic behavior during a newscast in early December.

After video of Stensrud’s seemingly drunk delivery went viral and made her the butt of jokes on “Late Show with David Letterman,” she was arrested and charged for drunk driving. The Free Press covered all of these developments.

“We had a healthy debate on this in our newsroom,” Free Press editor Joe Spear wrote. “Some argued we shouldn’t really be hiding this event because, after all, alcohol abuse was, and probably still is, a huge issue in this town. Others argued we don’t cover every DWI in this way.” continued…

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News Director Peggy Phillip Explains Why KSHB Reported Don Harman’s Suicide

Merrill Knox — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:57:23 +0000

Peggy Phillip, the news director at Kansas City NBC-affiliate KSHB, writes on the RTDNA website about her station’s decision to report WDAF meteorologist Don Harman‘s suicide. Although all three WDAF rival stations reported the story, only KSHB’s coverage went into detail, detailing Harman’s struggle with depression for viewers:

We led our 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. newscasts with profile pieces on Harman followed by information to inform our viewers about warning signs and trends as well as suicide prevention telephone numbers. We tried to keep in mind how we would react if he were another local celebrity, like the Chiefs quarterback or prominent politician. It wasn’t easy and the discussions were emotional.

We received a handful of critical messages from viewers after our early evening news, complaining that the cause of death was not the public’s business and that we only reported it to make our competition “look bad.” One suggested that WDAF “sue our asses.” continued…

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WNYW’s Greg Kelly Interviews NYC Police Commissioner (His Dad) About Terror Arrest

Andrew Gauthier — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 11:54:36 +0000

WNYW had New York City police commissioner Ray Kelly in the studio this morning for an exclusive interview about the weekend arrest of a terror suspect who allegedly plotted to detonate bombs throughout the city.

The interview meant that WNYW morning anchor Greg Kelly would be questioning someone he’s been answering to his whole life: his dad.

At the end of the nearly nine-minute long interview–which included some terse answers from the police commissioner to his son’s questions–the younger Kelly awkwardly mentioned their connection. Video inside… continued…

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Fighting a Proposed Strip Club Next Door, WSVN Relentlessly Covers Opposition to It

Andrew Gauthier — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:52:25 +0000

A planning and zoning committee in South Florida made a significant ruling this week, at least according to Fox-affiliate WSVN.

A developer is trying to build a strip club next door to WSVN and the committee unanimously voted against the proposed gentleman’s club on Tuesday night. While WSVN has provided extensive coverage of the decision this week, its market rivals have devoted zero airtime to the strip club “controversy.”

Following a story from veteran reporter Patrick Fraser that all but urged viewers to attend Tuesday’s meeting, WSVN has covered the committee’s decision during all of its newscasts over the past 24 hours. continued…

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Locked in Legal Battle with Developer, WSVN Runs Negative Story About a Proposed Strip Club Next Door

Andrew Gauthier — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 15:45:38 +0000

WSVN is so concerned about a developer’s plans to build a strip club next to its headquarters that the station ran a story about it this week in which WSVN owner Ed Ansin called the planned gentleman’s club “extremely dangerous” for his female employees.

“There are many instances, both with our station and elsewhere, of women in television being stalked, harassed, threatened,” Ansin said in an interview. “Having a strip club would certainly be a major problem in that regard.”

WSVN used to share its property with WIOD but the news radio station moved out awhile ago and now a local developer plans to create a new five-story building that would house a strip club. continued…

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