A 15-year Detroit radio reporter was fired for wearing an Obama T-Shirt while on the job covering an Obama rally. As a result of this major breach of ethics, WWJ Newsradio 950 showed reporter Karen Dinkins the door -- that's right, she was fired.
I must say that it is pretty amazing to see a media outlet uphold ethics like this, especially in Detroit. But there you have it.
According to the local Fox affiliate, the radio station issued a press release.
WWJ Newsradio 950 Believes that our credibility with our listeners rests on the independence of our newsroom staff.
WWJ does not favor any candidate, party or issue.
While we encourage employees to exercise their rights as citizens, we expect them to be on guard against any actual or perceived conflict of interest when covering news stories.
Georgeann Herbert Director of Programming
The TV station quotes a professor to the effect that the reporter should more properly been suspended instead of fired and that she will probably go to the courts and end up getting her job back. And, more's the shame there. If ethics mean anything at all there really should be consequences.
But, at least the station took a stand.
(h/t ExurbanLeague.com)
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Comments Policy
Justice was served!
October 2, 2008 - 09:08 ET by goldenthroatThis reporter deserved to be fired - she was there to report the news, not make the news!
Now, when will Gwen Ifill be fired from moderating the VP debate tonight for her fawning over Osama Bama in her soon-to-be-released book?
Oh, wait a minute - I just checked - that's under the "when hell freezes over" file!
"Don't crush that dwarf, hand me the pliers!" - Firesign Theatre
Gwen Ifill - Your Tax Dollars at Work Supporting PBS
October 2, 2008 - 09:24 ET by Gothampc"Now, when will Gwen Ifill be fired from moderating the VP debate tonight for her fawning over Osama Bama in her soon-to-be-released book?"
Not only will she not be fired, but taxpayer supported PBS will let her stand a copy of her book next to her so that everytime the camera pans to her, the audience will see her book. /sarc off
If there were any justice, she should be forced to pay some of her royalties to the American public because she is getting free publicity for her book off of a taxpayer sponsored program.
And it's about damn
October 2, 2008 - 09:54 ET by motherbeltAnd it's about damn time!!
And the same should happen to every "journalist" who cheers at an Obama speech!
Sure she deserved to be
October 2, 2008 - 10:15 ET by RandogSure she deserved to be fired. But that will not change the liberal slant at WWJ, a CBS affiliate. I have to listen to that garbage when I tune in for the traffic and weather during my morning commute to downtown Detroit. Quite frankly, I think it is lip service to the fact that reporters are supposed to be unbiased. She will ultimately get her job back in a hush deal because no one in Detroit, other than the local fox affiliate (whose reporters are also bleeding heart liberal)reported it - and only then in the 11:00 news edge program (after the typical 10:00 news).
I will give this to that fox affiliate - one of its own (Fanchon Stinger) got caught up in a scandal that paralleled the mayor's. She apparently helped her husband, who is an exec for a waste disposal company, "assist" certtain members of the Detroit City Council to change their mind about voting against a lucrative city contract with that company (Synagro). A federal grand jury is now investigating the sudden approval of the contract.
One of the city council members of interest to the FBI in the probe, you might ask?
Monica Conyers, Detroit city council president and wife of Congressman John Conyers
At some point, with enough heat, all sand turns to glass - My dad
Maybe
October 2, 2008 - 12:56 ET by DEVILDOCMOMshe could loan her shirt to gwen ifill to wear tonight...
I believe I know what her
October 2, 2008 - 09:04 ET by IgnatzJFahrquarI believe I know what her next step will be and I'm sure it'll have the word "racist" involved.
"All generalizations are false, including this one.” Mark Twain
WOW!
October 2, 2008 - 09:11 ET by Indiana JoeThat's ... amazing! And high-friggin' time, too!
The trolls will scream "freedom of speech," but that doesn't apply on the job. And it may seem extreme, but it's not inappropriate. Definitely within the station's rights. And it really proves the point, doesn't it?
Sadly, it takes something like this to make them look serious about non-bias.
"To doubt everything or to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions; both dispense with the necessity of reflection." - H. Poincaré
Sadly, those "trolls" think
October 2, 2008 - 09:59 ET by motherbeltSadly, those "trolls" think that "freedom of speech" means it's OK to use your job to promote your candidate.
Actually they do it all the time....Dinkins just needs to learn to be more subtle...you know, just slant her stories, so there's nothing "obvious" to point to.
It's a start
October 2, 2008 - 09:15 ET by dboMaureen Dowd-check
Karen Dinkins-check
Just 1,516,237 reporters to go before we get some balance.
Put her on the moderator
October 2, 2008 - 09:19 ET by mattmPut her on the moderator panel for tonight's debate.
I don't know....
October 2, 2008 - 09:20 ET by SQL_Sam"The TV station quotes a professor to the effect that the reporter should more properly been suspended instead of fired and that she will probably go to the courts and end up getting her job back."
Don't these reporters (well at least most of them) have college degrees? Isn't it a requirement to take ethics in the field of journalism? This shouldn't have to have an outside professor trying to explain what should already be known (sounds like the station is in CYA mode). I would tend to think she has had other issues with her employer though as I do believe being fired was a tad bit harse - especially since she is in radio not TV where people listening on the radio would have no idea what she was wearing - I don't know what Rush is wearing when he is on the radio but if he had a McCain/Palin T-shirt would anyone even raise an eyebrow?
Oh, and 20 bucks says she plays the race card because she is black, any takers?
Rush is not a reporter; he
October 2, 2008 - 10:06 ET by motherbeltFirst of all, Rush is not a reporter; he is a commentator. So even if anyone did care about what he wears while broadcasting, it doesn't apply.
Secondly, this reporter was not reading a story in the studio; whe was "covering a rally"...that means she was out in public, AT the rally.
Big difference.
good point
October 2, 2008 - 10:18 ET by SQL_SamI understand that Rush is about an Oppinion, not news, but how many of these "news" radio stations have Rush's show on their station (my local talk radio station does, and I do get most of my news from them) - might be considered a slippery slop is all I'm saying.
Another note to make is that I've seen my local channel 3 news station in the mornings go to fairs, rally's, etc. and I have seem them get into the crowd, put on hats, shirts costumes etc - I didnt find it offensive, I found it entertaining that these reporters would get in with the crowd and in some cases get more info because the crowd is all having fun and the reporters are in the mix. All in all this lady may have a damn good case against the station.
Do I have to explain this?
October 2, 2008 - 10:55 ET by nkviking75They're called usually called News/Talk stations because they combine hard news and opinion talk shows. Most listeners are well aware of the difference.
There's a big difference between putting on a state fair t-shirt at a remote, a non-partisan shirt at a non-political event, and wearing a candidate's shirt at one of his rallies when you're supposed to be reporting on them.
I wouldn't have been surprised if she'd gotten a warning or a suspension. Instead she's learned a valuable lesson if she's serious about being a journalist.
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
I agree
October 2, 2008 - 11:06 ET by SQL_SamShe did learn a lesson, but I don't think it was worth letting her go - I tend to think there had to be other issues involved.
Good grief! You're saying
October 2, 2008 - 15:16 ET by motherbeltGood grief!
You're saying that having a news station carry Rush's show is a "slippery slope"? to where???
News radion stations shouldn't carry opinion shows? Are you sure you want to go there? Then I guess newspapers shouldn't have editorial and opinion pages!
News reporters are supposed to maintain objectivity. If you can claim with a straight face that this lady whooping it up at an Obama rally, wearing an Obama shirt, is unbiased, you win the Oscar!
I wonder how many of her
October 2, 2008 - 10:19 ET by seaniepI wonder how many of her listeners were offended by her shirt?
its a freakin radio station, not a TV station!
Glad to see someone get called out on this, but this is not a victory or anything, its meaningless, there are bigger offenders
I also don't think it
October 2, 2008 - 10:50 ET by SmartypantsI also don't think it matters what Rush Limbaugh is wearing on the air. Rush is not an objective news outlet; he is a conservative pundit. A radio news reporter, however, has the responsibility of maintaining at least the appearance of objectivity at all times. What would you think if Katie Couric was walking around with an Obama t-shirt on, even off-duty? It is inappropriate behavior for someone in that profession (and I use the term loosely).
careful
October 2, 2008 - 11:21 ET by SQL_Sam" What would you think if Katie Couric was walking around with an Obama t-shirt on, even off-duty? "
Lets be clear - I believe you can do anything off duty you want if it is not illegal. What anyone including Katie has 9 to 5 (or longer i would expect) is that she is under the duty of her employer and must behave so in that manner - I'll be damned if ANYONE tells me what I have to "behave" like or "be like" in MY time. If she wants to wear an Obama shirt when she's not working, by god - you go for it girl! And guess what, it wouldn't be a big surprise now would it?
Don't ever tell me or anyone else what they have to "think" when they are on there own time - that gets close to being a big brother. I like living free thank you very much.
- sorry I had to edit, I got a little worked up and forgot what you had actually wrote LOL
MSM
October 2, 2008 - 09:22 ET by ConLosRepublicanosNoWill MSNB, NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN follow suit?
Obama: "No, if we're going to ask questions about who is promulgating negative ads that are completely unrelated to the issues at hand, I think I win that contest pretty handily"
»→ Journalistic standards? In Detroit?
October 2, 2008 - 09:24 ET by Cool ArrowSuddenly I think more kindly towards Detroit as a city.
"I've got a bracelet too" - Barack Obama
Pretty Amazing...
October 2, 2008 - 09:43 ET by Secret ConservativeThis girl is black, rooting for Obama, and she got FIRED??? In DETROIT??? Did I slip into a parallel universe or something? Next you'll be telling me that Jennifer Grantholm is being replaced by a conservative governor who will get Michigan back on track. Or maybe that the UAW is going to allow a decertification vote at the Big 3 automakers.
YOU'RE FIRED!
October 2, 2008 - 09:36 ET by UphillIf only it had been that easy to get rid of the mayor.
LIONS...
October 2, 2008 - 14:50 ET by danybhoy...or Lions General Manager, Matt Millen. Who was just sacked, but should have been fired 3-4 yars back. He made Kwame look good.
"...it's still We The People, Right?" Megadeth
OPPPS...
October 2, 2008 - 15:11 ET by danybhoydouble post
Call me a cynic, but this
October 2, 2008 - 09:55 ET by MazziCall me a cynic, but this woman will have her job back quickly, with all back pay AND damages, by virtue of a federal judge.
Race trumps everything else in our world, and you guys know that!
"I've now been in 57 states -- I think one left to go." ~ Barrack Hussein Obama ~
"You cannot go to a 7-11 or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent.... I'm not joking." ~ Sen. Joe Biden
Look, nobody can be blamed
October 2, 2008 - 10:09 ET by JasonCLook, nobody can be blamed for having bias in this election; who isn't leaning one way or another at this point? But how, I ask myself in bewilderment, can a reporter be foolish enough to pull a stunt like this? Besides smacking of bad judgement, it's like just begging not to be taken seriously as a professional - or to be fired, as it were. This is really disgraceful. No one can tell journalists that they can't have their personal opinions on a matter - it would be impossible not to - but the first rule of this business should be to act as if they don't.
Who would have dreamed that when socialism came to the U.S.A.
it would be brought not by Bolsheviks in blue jeans but Wall Street
bankers in Gucci loafers?
»→ Jason
October 2, 2008 - 10:14 ET by Cool ArrowAt least she didn't wear her "night job" outfit.
Kill Bill II - Stop the bailout
Oh, that's nasty. Who
October 2, 2008 - 10:17 ET by JasonCOh, that's nasty.
Who would have dreamed that when socialism came to the U.S.A.
it would be brought not by Bolsheviks in blue jeans but Wall Street
bankers in Gucci loafers?
Jason
October 2, 2008 - 10:34 ET by well99Wow!I agree with you on something.I better check my medication.It is silly on her part.I dont care if your working at Mickey Ds or a CEO.When you go to work you leave politics at home.You have a job to do.
Wow!I agree with you on
October 2, 2008 - 10:43 ET by JasonCWow!I agree with you on something.
I'd alert the press but, you know, I hear they're kinda biased...
Who would have dreamed that when socialism came to the U.S.A.
it would be brought not by Bolsheviks in blue jeans but Wall Street
bankers in Gucci loafers?
Jason
October 2, 2008 - 10:47 ET by well99Yes they will spin the story.Tomorrows headlines will be 2 posters on the internet have duel over disagreement.
How dare they!!!
October 2, 2008 - 10:52 ET by pocomocoBeing that the reporter is a member of THE ‘protected class’, our enlightened judicial system will get her job back.
Wait for it...
October 2, 2008 - 11:07 ET by DamianoCivil Rights/ Workplace Harassment suit will be filed in... 5, 4, 3, 2...
And who will be the first Democrat to step up and condemn this racist behavior? /sarc
Premonition
October 2, 2008 - 11:08 ET by Kingfish17Anyone else get the feeling we are not going to be seeing the last of this lady?
I'm thinking: Future Under-Secretary of Information and Truth Verification, (New Cabinet Level Bureaucracy in the Obama Administration), in charge of enforcing the new and improved Fairness Doctrine of 2009.
No question, this issue is
October 2, 2008 - 11:16 ET by SmartypantsNo question, this issue is going to balloon into a big scandal. A black woman had her "freedom of speech" curtailed (of course, not really, but that's how it will be presented); there is no way this will go away. The ACLU is probably sharpening its pencils right now, chomping at the bit on this one.
This is going to be one hell of a lawsuit.
October 2, 2008 - 11:24 ET by R D HelmBet she will be back on the job by next Wednesday.
If not sooner.
-Dave
Fear makes people do weird things....it makes their brains stop working. - Dave Ramsey
My troll fuse length today: 0.5cm
RD... Most of the time a
October 2, 2008 - 11:36 ET by Clear thinkerRD...
Most of the time a case like this goes nowhere. I once had a young buck come to work for us with a T-Shirt that said "F*** Censorship" blazoned across the front. He had three choices. Cover it up, turn the shirt inside out, or go home and not come back. He chose to go home and contact a lawyer. His lawyer sent us a letter. My lawyers sent him a letter. Case closed!
That's a real world experience. But because this woman is black, and because so many people are in the tank for Obama, she will get the finest sleaze-bag representation that DNC money can buy, and she just might win. Sad, but true.
Fear And Loathing Of Sarah Palin
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
That's tenor and not tenure, Professor!
October 2, 2008 - 11:54 ET by CobraMan"The TV station quotes a professor to the effect that the reporter should more properly been suspended instead of fired "
They queried a professor as to the appropriateness of firing someone for violating employment policies? That's equivalent to querying a fish about the appropriateness of achieving proper airspeed to maintain lift.
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
Make no mistake about it...
October 2, 2008 - 12:04 ET by geokster...this is just a media "Sister Souljah" moment, cynically crafted to allow them to say, "see how objective we are?".
She will end up getting her job back, with a promotion for having agreed in advance to crawl under the bus for a brief moment.
..and here is another
October 2, 2008 - 12:11 ET by bigtimer..and here is another person who needs to be fired...but of course we all know that won't happen.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
You do know
October 2, 2008 - 12:27 ET by SQL_SamThat the owner and manager of the radio station are black.
would that change anything?
BTW - I don't know if what race they are I just wondered if that would change things.....
No worries
October 2, 2008 - 13:23 ET by greenfairieShe'll have a job at MSNBC by Monday.
1 down, 4360 to go.....
October 2, 2008 - 14:40 ET by bpjam1 down, 4360 to go.....
Stained t-shirt.
October 3, 2008 - 05:59 ET by KansasgirlI think the libs are starting to panic. They are even telling teachers to wear blue to school for Hussein. It won't work.