Local Alaska TV Station Fires Employees Caught Planning Negative Joe Miller Reports

by Frances Martel | 7:42 am, November 3rd, 2010

» 31 comments

Alaska network KTVA, which came under fire when two employees were caught on an inadvertently recorded phone conversation conspiring to find negative stories on Alaska Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller, has released a press statement defending their coverage and announcing the dismissal of the two reporters on the phone call from their duties with the channel.

After completing an inquiry into the incident, for which Alaskan Sarah Palin labeled the organization “corrupt bastards,” the two reporters whose voices were caught on a phone conversation hoping to “find that one person” in Joe Miller’s group “who is a sex offender,” among other things, “are no longer with the station.” They clarified that neither the News Director nor Assignment Editor involved were in trouble with the station, however, nor any other KTVA reporters, as they were not involved in the incident.

The full press release below:

Anchorage, Alaska, (11/02/10) – KTVA today released findings of its internal assessment of allegations that the “news director for CBS Anchorage affiliate KTVA, along with assignment editor Nick McDermott, and other reporters, openly discussed creating, if not fabricating, two stories about Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, Joe Miller,” as alleged by the Miller campaign. KTVA states that its review included multiple staff interviews, a review of that day’s actual news coverage and a forensic transcript of the recorded audio conversation.

General Manager Jerry Bever stated, “As we worked through this fact-finding process we noted that actual story assignments for that day had already been decided before the recorded conversation took place. At no time did any of the elements associated with the recorded comments become part of any coverage or broadcast. The recorded conversation in question specifically involved how that evening’s Miller rally might be promoted and the ensuing dialogue went down hill from there. These particular comments were not in line with KTVA standards.”

As a result of this incident, the two producers involved in the recorded conversation are no longer with the station. As a matter of policy KTVA did not identify the staff members involved, however KTVA clarified that neither the News Director, Assignment Editor Nick McDermott nor any other KTVA reporters were involved in the recorded conversation as previously reported by the Miller campaign.

KTVA believes that its actual broadcast coverage of Miller has been sound and fair during this election cycle and the history of our coverage speaks for itself. Bever noted that in the coverage of this issue, FOX News correspondent Dan Springer reported that in a review of recent Miller coverage by KTVA, Fox News could not find any articles or stories that showed any obvious bias or hit pieces against Joe Miller.

KTVA has contacted the Miller campaign to set up a meeting to review its findings.

2010 elections, Alaska, Joe Miller, KTVA, Republicans, Sarah Palin, senate

Latin2

…maybe Mediaite should do the same…but then again they wouldn’t have a writing staff…LOL

X^P
Latin2

Just ‘joking’, you know like people on the Left do all the time.

;)
sarainitaly

for me, the worst thing about this, whether they actually planned on creating conflicts or finding the child molester to smear him with, is that they even think this way. That *reporters* real actual reporters think in such a bias unethical manner. the idea that they would even contemplate or joke about such dirty journalism is such a blight on (the already suffering reputation of) journalism, IMHO.

there’s rarely any *truth* anymore…just twisted facts, distorted realities and biased opinions.
Latin2

If you notice the MSM did not focus on Democratic candidates. They only focuses on Republican candidates and in a negative way.

It was reported that Christine O’Donnell had more negative coverage than any other candidate, followed by all Republican candidates.

If the MSM had done that with Obama the 1st time he might have not been elected, but instead they became his cheerleaders and defenders.
Latin2

…and just like Joe Miller, the MSM, revealed themselves ONCE AGAIN as trying to openly defeat Republican candidates and not focusing on their Democratic revels
Latin2

oops meant rivals.
The Real Royal King

It’s Juan Williams all over, again.
The Real Royal King

Latin2 said:
It was reported that Christine O’Donnell had more negative coverage than any other candidate ….

That could be. Do you remember who said this, or what the context was? The reason I ask is that there were lots of jokes and potshots. This is understandable, to be sure. O’Donnell was truly whacky. I reached a point at which I thought some pundits were becoming a bit cruel. It had become clear this woman’s campaign was going nowhere, so the jabs became gratuitous. Then, again, I listened to her concession speech last night, and I was reminded that this woman has a system of logic unique to her and indecipherable by virtually anyone else, and she really does not have a grasp of reality. She should have never been put into the position she was in my opinion.
skyfet

I think Joe is about to get fired from a job he’s not going to get.
CosmosDan

sarainitaly said:
there’s rarely any *truth* anymore…just twisted facts, distorted realities and biased opinions.

really?
sarainitaly

that’s what it seems like.
CosmosDan

sarainitaly said:
that’s what it seems like.

I agree.

I’m just surprised because in another thread you seemed reluctant to criticize Fox over a lack of truth.

I don’t know how serious they were about it but it’s a bad joke. I think it’s too bad in this age of electronics that what might be a casual comment can cause such upheaval. Maybe it will remind people of an old and often ignored principle.
Never say anything about somebody that you wouldn’t say ti their face.

I’d love to see the media in general make the truth much more of a priority.
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notsofast

But, but, but, I thought they did nothing wrong? What happened? Your lib excuses didn’t work?

1. It was a joke;sarcasm
2. It was taken out of context
3. Everybody does it
4. Bitch is a good thing to call someone
5. We were making fun of what they do
6. It went down hill from there
Latin2

Yet no stories about Obama’s senate seat going to Republicans.
tatboy

We didn’t do it. But we won’t do it again and fired those that “didn’t” do it.
The Real Royal King

notsofast said:
But, but, but, I thought they did nothing wrong? What happened? Your lib excuses didn’t work?

And, I mistakenly assumed you and Michelle-in-Utah would be happy and upbeat today. Why don’t you swing by her house. You two gals could wash and set your hair. Make some fudge while your hair is drying. Then, do a bit of window shopping. Some crab salads and iced Red Zinger. Maybe, by the end of the day you’ll be a bit less bitter, a bit better able to enjoy what should be a happy day for you.
Harry Flashman

I like the part in their statement where the management says that they believe their coverage of Miller has been fair all along. But they fired the reporters covering him. Hmmmm.

Sacrificial lambs. We got caught in our group think so the two most visible have to go.

Knock knock.

Who is it?

It’s the wolf.

Hey, reporters – it’s for you.
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http://www.facebook.com/people/Dronetek-Bulk-Vanderhuge/100000918732763 Dronetek

Notice this article does its best to carry water for CBS, by calling it ” a local TV station or just “KTVA”? This is the SECOND time CBS has been caught trying to influence elections with lies.
golds1

They will proudly put this episode on their resume – like a badge of honor – and have a new job with the MSM before the week’s out.
http://www.anonymousfinch.com AnonymousFinch

Ahhh . . . taking a page from the ACORN personnel manual:

Our people did absolutely nothing wrong and acted appropriately at all times. Therefore, we are firing them for what they didn’t do.
http://Race4Congress.com Magister

sarainitaly said:
for me, the worst thing about this, whether they actually planned on creating conflicts or finding the child molester to smear him with, is that they even think this way. That *reporters* real actual reporters think in such a bias unethical manner. the idea that they would even contemplate or joke about such dirty journalism is such a blight on (the already suffering reputation of) journalism, IMHO.

AnonymousFinch said:
Our people did absolutely nothing wrong and acted appropriately at all times. Therefore, we are firing them for what they didn’t do.

If I’m reading it right, the press release says that the guilty parties were producers not reporters, or people with any authority.

Anchorage strikes me as a market that a reporter would probably “graduate” to from their first or second gig and from what I’ve seen, producers don’t necessarily follow a similar career path because those that long to be on-camera just have their foot in the door waiting for a break, while others just see it as something better than working at FootLocker.
sarainitaly

CosmosDan said:
I’m just surprised because in another thread you seemed reluctant to criticize Fox over a lack of truth.

no, i was just reluctant to get myself in a blather and join the pitchfork carriers against FOX after ALL the crap we’ve seen from the liberal MSM. it was small potatoes compared to what we’ve seen coming elsewhere.
sarainitaly

CosmosDan said:
I’d love to see the media in general make the truth much more of a priority.

ditto!
VRWC Destruction Machine

Magister said:
If I’m reading it right, the press release says that the guilty parties were producers not reporters, or people with any authority.

If a producer doesn’t give their okay, it doesn’t go on the air.
CosmosDan

sarainitaly said:
no, i was just reluctant to get myself in a blather and join the pitchfork carriers against FOX after ALL the crap we’ve seen from the liberal MSM. it was small potatoes compared to what we’ve seen coming elsewhere.

I can understand that. It is possible to acknowledge the offense without lighting a torch and joining in. I think posting here has caused me to see things a little differently. I’m not a Fox fan because I think they do too much of that same type of spin, but I acknowledge I’ve seen some very interesting and informative discussions there. People who have different political views will gauge an offense differently. I certainly don’t agree with those who seem to want to shut them down in some way. I want to hear intelligent conservative voices giving their view and I think other networks ought to make an effort to find good conservative commentators. and maybe they’d draw some viewers in instead of going the other way.
The thing that discourages me about TV media is a general lack of depth. They give an issue about 10 minutes of fairly superficial coverage when they could easily dedicate an entire show to a detailed informed discussion.
http://Race4Congress.com Magister

VRWC Destruction Machine said:
If a producer doesn’t give their okay, it doesn’t go on the air.

In local television, a producer is often the kid who takes or accompanies a camera to get background footage for the anchor to speak over, or they help the talent arrange interviews and with logistics.
http://Race4Congress.com Magister

IOW: They’re not Mary Richards. She had a modifier before her title. (“Associate”)
lane

Glad to see some accountability in journalism.
sarainitaly

CosmosDan said:
I can understand that. It is possible to acknowledge the offense without lighting a torch and joining in. I think posting here has caused me to see things a little differently. I’m not a Fox fan because I think they do too much of that same type of spin, but I acknowledge I’ve seen some very interesting and informative discussions there. People who have different political views will gauge an offense differently. I certainly don’t agree with those who seem to want to shut them down in some way. I want to hear intelligent conservative voices giving their view and I think other networks ought to make an effort to find good conservative commentators. and maybe they’d draw some viewers in instead of going the other way.
The thing that discourages me about TV media is a general lack of depth. They give an issue about 10 minutes of fairly superficial coverage when they could easily dedicate an entire show to a detailed informed discussion.

we probably agree on more than you think. :O)