| Topic Name: |
KTNV "resignation" |
| Message Name: |
Classic! |
| Date Posted: |
06/02/2005 |
| In Reply To: |
Gosh..hadn't heard that name in years. Worked with the Big Fish (1985ish) in Cleveland, and that was probably 15 markets ago for him. How he gets around!
Anyway--if I ever write a book about the TV biz--this story is chapter 4.
It was a slow, gray day in February and nothing was happening at Hopkins ((airport))
or on the Lake--and Dick was in need of a lead.
Luck would have it, the state Lt. Gov in neighboring PA. chose that day to blow his brains out at a news conf. with TV cameras
rolling. Seems he was trying to avoid an indictment of some sort.
It was powerful, disturbing stuff. The guy tells the gathered media he's innocent--then he pulls out a gun, puts it to his head--and BANG. The body hits the floor--and all the camera sees is the blood and brain spattered wall. After a few moments of silence, someone in the crown is heard to say..."HOLY SH**".
((Bare w/ me--almost over))
After much heated debate--Dick decided run the story -(it was sweeps after all))
Boy, did the SH** hit the fan. When the phones lit up-- Dick ordered them taken off the hook. Undaunted by public outcry, he ordered the story to ran again uneditted at 11.
Outrage all over again.
The editorals in the Plain Dealer ripped the mighty TV5 a new one.(it was then!) and Dick was forced to explain the station's decision to air the video on "The Morning Exchange".
Wilma Smith lobbed him softball questions, and Dick talked of ethics and the need to cover the news--no matter how shocking. When asked why the gross part wasn't editted out,((as it was at the other stations)) Dick's answer was a classic.
"We don't edit the news," he said. Funny, the viewers never heard the "Holy Sh**",
It was editted out, on Dick's order.
Dick was gone a few months
later--to be replaced by Joel Cheatwood.
And that's another chapter. |
| Message: |
LOL!
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