This weekend WJLA-TV announced that it had fired veteran anchorman Doug McKelway for a verbal confrontation this summer with the station’s news director. McKelway is a longtime journalist in the Capitol and his termination raised questions about the limits on fair commentary for anchors in political coverage.
In a brief story on environmentalists protesting the influence of the oil industry in Congress, McKelway referred to the small demonstration as “largely representing far-left environmental groups.” He went on to note that such protests “may be a risky strategy because the one man who has more campaign contributions from BP than anybody else in history is now sitting in the Oval Office, President Barack Obama, who accepted $77,051 in campaign contributions from BP.” It is, in my view, clearly wrong to suggest that the protesters were “far left” since many environmentalists are appalled with the level of influence of the industry in Congress and the Administration. The second comment, however, was fair game in my view and has been noted by other journalists in covering such stories — though it has been challenged on the grounds that it came from employees as opposed to company itself.
The second segment is more problematic. He added in a later piece that the Senate was unlikely to pass “cap-and-trade” legislation this year, because “the Democrats are looking at the potential for huge losses in Congress come the midterm elections. And the last thing they want to do is propose a huge escalation in your electric bill, your utility bill, before then.” That seems well over the line for reporting as opposed to commentary. It is the very talking point line put out by conservative advocates to justify more drilling and less regulation. It is greatly disputed and should not have been reported as a fact. However, the question is whether it justified termination.
That coverage led to a confrontation with ABC7’s news director and general manager, Bill Lord. In a letter to McKelway this week where McKelway was accused of insubordination and misconduct. It was the argument with Lord that was the direct justification for the termination decision.
McKelway has accused local news of having a liberal and pro-democratic tilt in the past. He comes from a long line of Washington journalists in his family. He also attracted criticism in 2009 when he was accused of threatening to punch a gay blogger over his practice of “outing” politicians who are in the closet.
McKelway is well known in my area not just as a newsman but as a musician. My family and I have enjoyed his performances with a local blue grass band that plays at restaurants and other venues. He is a very talented banjo player. It is a sad way to end a long career at the station, but McKelway is reportedly working on a book and could still find another venue as a journalist or commentator.
Source: Washington Post
Byron,
I’m with Elaine on this one.
Other than Maddow, I only watch PBS News Hour. It’s not glitzy but the stories are well researched and presented in a manner that doesn’t insult one’s intelligence.
I do get the NY Times delivered and use the internet for all other news … especially international
I don’t think I have watched any other news channels in over a year.
I get all my fake news from Stewart and Colbert.
It works for me and keeps my irritation level very low … good for the blood pressure.
FormalFederalNothing,
“If you think _any_ mainstream “news” organization is giving you the real news, you’re wrong.”
Is that what you think I was implying with my earlier comment?
Elaine,
You are spot on. There is a huge difference between diverse independent news organizations and corporate media.
Elaine M,
If you think _any_ mainstream “news” organization is giving you the real news, you’re wrong.
Read this book: http://www.amazon.com/Manufacturing-Consent-Political-Economy-Media/dp/0375714499
Or watch the movie adaptation: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5631882395226827730#
Nal,
Good catch. Accuracy counts. That still doesn’t excuse Obama’s capitulation to the BP pressure to low-ball the damage of the spill or any of his other crimes, but I’m all for accuracy.
Byron,
“Obviously your boss can fire you but if this is a real news organization then it has lost a good deal of credibility and has become a shill.”
I’m beginning to wonder how many of our news organizations are “REAL news organizations.” I’d say, in this day and age, we don’t have news media–we have corporate media.
Check out the following story from 2008 about executives at MSNBC, which is considered by many to be a “liberal” network.
*****
From Politico
CNN’s Yellin: Network execs killed critical White House stories
May 29, 2008
http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0508/CNNs_Yellin_Network_execs_killed_critical_White_House_stories_.html
On Wednesday night, CNN’s Jessica Yellin talked to Anderson Cooper about Scott McClellan’s tell-all memoir and agreed with the former press secretary that White House reporters “dropped the ball” during the run-up to war.
But Yellin went much further, revealing that news executives — presumably at ABC News, where she’d worked from July 2003 to August 2007 — actively pushed her not do hard-hitting pieces on the Bush administration. [UPDATE: Yellin now says it was MSNBC execs, not ABC]
“The press corps was under enormous pressure from corporate executives, frankly, to make sure that this was a war presented in a way that was consistent with the patriotic fever in the nation and the president’s high approval ratings,” Yellin said.
“And my own experience at the White House was that the higher the president’s approval ratings, the more pressure I had from news executives — and I was not at this network at the time — but the more pressure I had from news executives to put on positive stories about the president, I think over time….”
But then a shocked Cooper jumped in, asking, “You had pressure from news executives to put on positive stories about the president?”
“Not in that exact…. They wouldn’t say it in that way, but they would edit my pieces,” Yellin said. “They would push me in different directions. They would turn down stories that were more critical, and try to put on pieces that were more positive. Yes, that was my experience.”
Mespo:
what if you speak the truth as Geeba Geeba pointed out? Or at least point out what was said by another? It then appears that it is nothing but political censorship. Obviously your boss can fire you but if this is a real news organization then it has lost a good deal of credibility and has become a shill.
There’s a long history of politicians and journalists deriding anything the public wants as “left” or “liberal” (or “an ideologue” or “unrealistic” or “not bipartisan” etc. etc.) and anyone that advocates for them as “shrill.” Glenn Greenwald has had good coverage of this throughout the years.
Concerning the statement…” And the last thing they want to do is propose a huge escalation in your electric bill, your utility bill ….”
Obama himself said openly that this cap and trade legislation would necessarily make our utility bills skyrocket. This is not a direct quote but I think most of us have seen this statement on camera. This is called simply journalism. Stating what the prez has already made a point to say. You may not like it but that’s just too bad. Furthermore, on the enviromentalist demographics point, my experience is that they side predominantly with the left. Degrees of far-leftdom can be debated to no real point. It doesn’t matter. In all, and on the surface of what I see here, this talking head was let go for political reasons. He stated facts that were plain to see. Your boss don’t like it, yes you can be let go. But he was apparently doing his job. Yes he can make more money on Fox as they will let you speak the facts.
Mespo makes sense.
The guy could take his banjo and apply to Fox News and be a pickin’ and politicin’ pundit.
“McKelway is a longtime journalist in the Capitol and his termination raised questions about the limits on fair commentary for anchors in political coverage.”
********************
As we all know, the First Amendment protects one from government censorship of ideas. Absent specific agreements to the contrary, private employers may hire and fire for much of what you say publicly and while on the job, and even for stupid comments away from the job that impacts the employer. Here it appears the firing event was a confrontation with a superior possibly constituting insubordination. Nothing new about that either.
I explain to my clients in these situations that an employer has no obligation to support or foster your political views or your Constitutional rights. Principle is expensive in every sense of the word, and once should not expect to be free from consequences if what they say or do is contrary to the standards set by their employer.
All in all, I suggest if you want a political soapbox, so be it, but you can’t stand on your employers without its permission or acquiescence. Banjo-playing McKelway had neither. Foggy [Headed] Breakdown, indeed.
http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/09/gop-defending-your-right-life-liberty-and-inefficient-lighting When the republicans take over the house next year, we will get Mr. anti-environment, pro-Texas oil company Congressman Joe Barton back as energy committee chair.
Byron Do you really think if an organization lobbies for clean air and clean water that they are “far far left”?
Byron, the price of gold has been on the upswing since at least 2001…why do you say it is related to the bail-out? Just because there is a corollary increase in value doesn’t mean there is a dependant corollary…
http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/741668.html
Oh what is a little petroleum based products such as oil with your food, water in the wet lands. Whats a little gas by-product in the air. Geeze can we oil just get a long. The proper lubricant makes things slide in much easier all the way around…..Just happens money is the lobbyists choice.
So if you wanna have free speech in the media make sure you have a good contract….ask Dan Rather….but then again…the Bushes did it right…you report bad stuff about me…no problem…..You say you can’t get in because your press pass has expired…..we’ll get right on that…..
Most environmental groups are far, far left. that was a factual statement.
Again utility bills and energy costs in general will rise due to cap and trade. It is a factual statement, it is not opinion. Just as the bail-out and the stimulus have lead to an increase in the cost of living due to inflation caused by the increase in the money supply.
price of gold September 2008 – 911.00
price of gold September 2010 – 1279.60
some of that is due to uncertainty certainly but some is due to the effects of the bail-out and the stimulus.
He’s a perfect fit for Fox.
NY Times falsely reports that Obama took BP PAC money for 2008 campaign
In fact, Obama received $71,051 in BP-linked donations in 2008, and all of that money came from BP employees, not from BP’s PAC, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
Thanks, Nal, I added it to the blog.
As the lines between journalism and commentary get blurred more and more by Fox News, more people in that position will be able to do a little dance: I’m a reporter. Now I’m just a commentator. Now I’m a reporter. Who me? Just a commentator.
Err, question: Would we even be having a discussion about whether his comments crossed the line from news to right-wing talking points if this guy worked at Fox News? Oh, wait, stupid question. If he were working at Fox News, he would be *promoted* for spouting conservative talking points. not fired. Nevermind.