What is the price of good publicity?
Have you ever read Happenings magazine? It's something that NEPA Media describes as a "glossy shopper," of the many that no doubt dot this area. The magazine is full of the usual fluff and features that you'd expect. And last month, Happenings featured a cover piece about former WYOU anchorman Frank Andrews and his love of the Red Cross.Sounds like an on-par story for this caliber of publication. But here's where things get a bit strange. First, the piece on the Red Cross only mentions Andrews once or twice, even though he's on the front cover. Second, you have to buy a full-page ad if you want a front-page story.
Wait, did I just hear myself correctly? You have to pay to be considered for a front-page story? That's straight from the publishers themselves. And if you look inside the front cover, there's an ad for the Red Cross.
Color me confused. Why would Frank Andrews, a 30-year news veteran, agree to appear in a pay-to-play publication? More importantly, why would he do so while he was still news director at WYOU? So, I decided to ask him. Here's what he told me:
1. He was unaware, until now, that Happenings was a pay-to-play publication.
2. The Red Cross asked him to pose for the front cover, and he obliged because he likes to help charities.
3. He was told Happenings always gave front-page coverage to the Red Cross' events.
4. He saw no conflict of interest with WYOU because he was only agreeing to be honorary chairman, nothing else.
5. He did not pay anything to Happenings, nor did WYOU. And he believes it didn't cost the Red Cross anything either.
6. He agreed to be on the cover, long before Gaynor Cawley (who he's hoping to replace) decided to retire from the state legislature.
I tried contacting someone from Happenings, but got nowhere. Color me surprised.
Given that the Red Cross seemed to have total control of the story in Happenings (and because the inside ad is for the Red Cross, and not Andrews), I'm more inclined to believe the organization wanted Andrews on the cover simply for the "wow" factor ("Hey, look who's on the cover! I should read this!"), as opposed to Andrews wanting election publicity.
I guess the lesson here is to know what you're getting yourself into.
posted by Howard Beale at 7:47 AM
25 Comments:
LIES LIES LIES FROM ANDREWS, AS USUAL......
If the cover photo happened before thoughts of becoming a candidate, that means Frank Andrews threw journalistic ethics out the newsroom window! What kind of a news director becomes chairman of anything connected to an organization that is regularly covered by his staff. More poor judgment by Frank.
If there was ever a textbook case of "follow the money," this is it. Who bought the ad inside, and with whose money did they buy it? Was the money budgeted by this charitable organization, or did a healthy donation from some benefactor make it happen? How much does an ad and cover in HAPPENINGS cost? If not a ton of money, anyone could have picked up the tab on this.
Another possibility is that someone on the board of the local chapter applied proper pressure to get this done. Who might it be on the board that would do this? Snoop around, you might find answers rather easily.
Whoever did what, the magazine itself should have turned thumbs down on the timing of this.
We are talking about the Red Cross here and it was a honorary chair, not like he was on the board of directors.
Just another nail in the campaign coffin
to the 12:36pm poster:
"He saw no conflict of interest with WYOU because he was only agreeing to be HONORARY CHAIRMAN, nothing else"
Reporters and anchors serve as HONORARY CHAIRMAN/WOMAN all the time of organizations they cover. They use their name to help draw awareness to the events, and it also gives the television station good PR because their employees are helping out with community organizations. And because he is HONORARY CHAIRMAN he doesn't really get to make any decisions that impact either organization. It is the Red Cross, good for all of them. Now if he was in bed with Big Oil Companies that would be a different story. Perhapse after he decided to run he should have asked to be removed from the cover, but then again, looks good for his campaign.
We are talking about the Red Cross here...
If you are in the news biz, then let me ask; are you following any and all of the dark clouds that have been gathering over The Red Cross in the last several years? The Red Cross is far from the sacred cow it once was.
If anyone here thinks that strings weren't pulled, that this whole thing is strictly coincidence, then you need a serious dose of reality. This just didn't happen, someone, or some institution, made it happen. HAPPENINGS may be a minor player on the local "media" scene, but it's likely just one more piece of what is hoped is a well-planned and well-orchestrated campaign to get this guy elected. Actually, getting his puss on the cover was a pretty slick move, someone here knows what they are doing.
Reporters and anchors serve as HONORARY CHAIRMAN/WOMAN all the time of organizations they cover.
Agreed, no argument at all. But most who have were not looking at the bigger picture, a picture that very much includes running for an elected office. Each and every step of this has been carefully planned and executed.
Does anyone know where this guy's advanced degrees are from? He claims a master's and a doctorate. From where? What institution bestowed these degrees? Furthermore, does anyone know from where, and if, he has a bachelor's? He claims to be ordained. Fine, by what denomination? When? Where?
More importantly, why is no none asking these questions? And why is no one questioning why he uses a PO Box in Scranton as his address, even though he lives in South Abington Township? Too many questions, too few answers. How about some honest answers. Not wild speculation and accusations, just plain, straightforward answers. He really needs to come clean. His defeating demons in his life is admirable, that is of no concrern, it's a lot of the other fuzzy and hazy info out there. Don't tell me you have a PhD, then fail to somehow mention from where.
To the 5:18pm poster from the 12:36pm poster:
Honorary or not, it's a conflict of interest. How could a news director accept such a position and then make impartial decisions about news coverage of the same organization? What if there's a scandal to report? He/she can't win. Those at the organization would be angry if it's reported. The news staff would be angry if it isn't.
Are you saying a reporter who covers police could be the honorary chair of an F.O.P. fund raiser? A health reporter could be the honorary chair of a hospital fund raiser? And then I'm to believe those reporters could go back to being the public's watchdogs of those groups?
I know reporters and anchors make appearances at events to do p.r. for their stations. Some of those probably shouldn't happen either, but it's not the same as honorary chair.
If it's routine to take on such honorary positions, could you provide a few examples?
Those of you who say honorary titles at non-profit orgs do not create conflict of interest should think again.
Down at Sunbury's WKOK, the CEO is heavily involved with local groups and hospitals. Many a time did the edict from management "require" covering a story about the United Way, simply because the CEO was an honorary chair. In other words, their reporters became paid shills.
WYOU hasn't turned into Red Cross central, but in Andrews' position as news director, he should have kept a respectful distance, or told the magazine not to bring his WYOU job into things.
7:18 --
Does anyone know where this guy's advanced degrees are from? He claims a master's and a doctorate. From where? What institution bestowed these degrees? Furthermore, does anyone know from where, and if, he has a bachelor's? He claims to be ordained. Fine, by what denomination? When? Where?
- - -
Very valid questions. Roy Morgan got along for years as Dr. Roy Morgan, even though they were honorary and nobody raised the question.
But who's going to bell the cat? Nobody at 50, you can be sure; anyone at 16 tries it, you'd hear cries of "foul!" You don't expose each other's liasons, or each other's inflated resumes. The newspapers going to deflate a likeable guy and act as if they are taking sides in an election? Not likely.
The only way left is for his political opponents, and you don't want to drag the election down into the mud. His degrees and/or ordination aren't issues; the future of this area are.
But, hey, Bealites, start your engines.
Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Frank resign from all decision making rolls at the station awhile ago?
The station continues to let him consult...
What does everybody think about that?
22's management is shameful.
His degrees and/or ordination aren't issues;
They most assuredly are issues. If he has misrepresented himself all these years, then his integrity becomes a crucial issue. And if his opponents take the high road and fail to question his claims, then they will effectively hand him a win. My money says they aren't about to do that. Wait, wait until the very beginning of May, that's when the mud will fly. One surprise in all of this is that he hasn't heavily played "The Reverend" card to date.
As to Dr. Roy Morgan's charade, it was completely inappropriate, and that's being generous.
"consultant"? puh-lease! When will John Ditmeier (sp?) get a clue? Why does he stand by this man and drive other good people away? Frank obviously sucks as consultant just as he did as a news director. Bottom line- Frank would not have appeared on Happenings if not for his political aspirations. I mean check out the red, white and blue suit and the way he is posing! He should been laying on a table with a needle sticking out of his arm like he does at every live shot during wyou blood donor campaigns. Another thing- Frank teaches journalism. Can you imagine what his students and future journalists are learning? Frank if you are reading this -you should be ashamed of yourself.
WYOU hasn't turned into Red Cross central,
Well, yes, in a way it has indeed. The News Alliance, including WYOU, holds several blood drives a year in which numerous(5-6)locations are involved. Make no mistake, The News Alliance is in bed big time with The Red Cross. Trying to disconnect all of these players and pieces is a fool's pursuit, everything is inextricably intertwined. If you cut away the crap, what this guy is, is The NE PA News Alliance's candidate for state rep. Nice, huh?
As much as I dislike the T-L, this is one time I so wish they had an interest in this story. Sad to say, the 113th race holds no interest for their subscribers at all.
1:31 --
My post, repeated in yours:
His degrees and/or ordination aren't issues; the future of this area are.
I should have worded it: "The future of this area far outweigh his claimed degrees and ordination, to the point where his opponents should focus on that future."
However:
If he has misrepresented himself all these years, then his integrity becomes a crucial issue.
Yeah, now that I think of it, you are right on the money and I sit corrected.
It doesn't pass the smell test. Surely AndrewsShimkus had given some thought to running for public office. One does not leave a job like his without some planning. And surely he saw that incumbent state representatives were dropping like flies.
And I don't think a reasonable person -- or a jury -- would accept the explanation that he agreed to the photo only to generate positive publicity for the Red Cross. The -appearance- is that the story is about AndrewsShimkus, not the Red Cross. Wouldn't a more engaging graphic be of a worker helping out at a fire or of someone getting stuck at a blood drive? Wouldn't AndrewsShimkus, an experienced newsman, realize this?
I fear Frank may have bitten off more than he can chew. The wingnuts are dying to cut him off at the knees, and stuff like this -- stuff that doesn't pass the smell test -- will kill him.
How could a news director accept such a position and then make impartial decisions about news coverage of the same organization? What if there's a scandal to report? He/she can't win
A similar situation is happening at the 28 part of channel 50.
Andy had great police sources and would break good stories about arrests etc....BUT Andy would run in the other direction if a "negative" story on law enforcement had to be reported.
It's great to have good sources but to be in bed with them and NOT reporting ALL the facts is unethical and not the sign of a good reporter.
Are you talking about Agent Andy, aka Andy Mehalshick? I disagree with your contention that it's the same. Andrews is actively blurring the lines, working for organizations -- and appearing on their behalf -- while making news judgments about them.
Mehalshick may run from a negative cop story, but that's a tactical decision on his part, not because he is honorary chairman of the FOP Poker Run. He's got the biggest Rolodex in town. He can get a cop story in five minutes that it takes some schmuck at the TL five hours of desparate phoning to get. More power to him. I think that makes him kind of a chickenshit and not really a man to be respected, but it certainly contributes to longevity and it makes his job a hell of a lot easier.
All these anti-FAS arguments are valid except for one fundamental issue...
"I, Frank Shimkus, do solemnly swear..."
The populous doesn't give a hoot about conflicts of interest. he's in, fellas. get used to it.
The populous doesn't give a hoot about conflicts of interest. he's in, fellas. get used to it.
You could be right, if the primary were tomorrow. However, that last two week run-up to the primary will tell a lot of tales. If it gets as dirty as many political insiders(and we all know a few, right?)think it will, he'll finish poorly. If his opponents give him a pass on, for example, his educational credentials, then they deserve what they get.
I keep hearing about Frank Andrews and his "issues"...
I'm new to the area...can somebody fill me (and the rest of the non-natives) in on what these issues are? I "Googled" him, but came up with very little.
It's nice to know the full story about politicians before you have to make decision about whether or not to vote for them!
From the 7:45pm poster: I keep hearing about Frank Andrews and his "issues"...
I'm new to the area...can somebody fill me (and the rest of the non-natives) in on what these issues are?
Reply: Sometime ago, some people at channel 22 were doing stuff that usually stays in house. Frank was doing more and now that hes running for office its coming out.
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