Mean and Nasty

The Maven is wondering who pissed in WANE TV's cornflakes. From the tenor and tone of a couple of recent news stories, it's clear that WANE TV's attitude is anything but warm and fuzzy when it comes to attempting to sully people's reputations for the sake of an "exclusive" news story. 

A few weeks ago, WANE TV brought us an "exclusive" investigative story about two Fort Wayne police officers involved in a fatal 'line of duty' shooting. This "exclusive" story was the result of a WANE TV news intern, heroically and enterprisingly opening an email press release from the City (sent to all media outlets), which named the officers, identifying them by rank and seniority. As is standard practice, the release also included work and disciplinary histories of those officers. More than a few casual observers questioned WANE TV's motives in publishing the detailed personnel files, because to date, no one has been able to draw any conclusions that either of the officers did anything but defend themselves when confronted and threatened by a gun-wielding thug. The obvious conclusion must be that WANE TV wanted to influence public opinion about police and guns and to smear the reputations of the officers involved for the sake of enhanced audience ratings and a healthier profit margin for the station owners. 

Read the story here:

http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/local/police-release-names-of-four-officers-involved-in-fatal-shootout

More recently, Friday morning's newscasts featured the revelation that Airel Castro, the man accused of kidnapping and confinement of three women in Cleveland, had a daughter who lived in Fort Wayne. How did WANE TV find this out? Easy, they watched competitor WPTA, the ABC affiliate the day before as ABC interviewed her, here in Fort Wayne. The woman talked about being estranged from her father and that she barely knew him. Not to be outdone, WANE TV conducted an "exclusive" investigation, revealing the woman's former address (noting that the home had been foreclosed upon) as well as a more current address, an apartment complex, where WANE TV interviewed neighbors who offered unsubstantiated 'facts' that the woman had been evicted from the complex. Again, why disparage this woman's reputation and housing troubles, for the sake of a WANE TV "exclusive" story. No purpose was served, just another opportunity to sully or malign someone's reputation for the sake of enhanced audience ratings and a healthier profit margin for the station owners.

That story is here:

http://www.wane.com/dpp/news/local/man-accused-of-kidnapping-holding-three-girls-for-nearly-10-years-has-daughter-in-ft-wayne

WANE TV should remember that public records are available for any citizen, including so-called journalists, assignment editors, news directors, sales people, sales managers and general managers. The old yarn about glasses houses and throwing stones may seem appropriate, here.
Reporting news is protected by the First Amendment and is one of the hallmarks of liberty and a free society. However, the use of embarrassing or sensitive information NOT germane to a news story, for the purpose of creating artificial scandal for the sake of ratings, profits, and a big bonus for the guy in the corner office is not only unprofessional, it's disgusting. If this is the new direction for local TV news to find ratings and profitability, the Maven is deeply disturbed.