WNEP caught in FCC "fake news" probe
WNEP is one of 77 television stations being contacted by the FCC over its use of video news releases. The agency is investigating whether the stations broke the rules by airing VNRs, which are paid commercial messages disguised as legitimate news stories. If so, stations like WNEP could be fined.
You may recall that, earlier this year, WNEP health reporter Jill Garrett used a VNR in a health report on dietary supplements. The story was actually produced by a public relations agency who was paid by a supplement manufacturer, which makes any credibility on the story non-existant. After the VNR scandal came out, WNEP admitted it aired the VNR without identifying the source.
You may recall that, earlier this year, WNEP health reporter Jill Garrett used a VNR in a health report on dietary supplements. The story was actually produced by a public relations agency who was paid by a supplement manufacturer, which makes any credibility on the story non-existant. After the VNR scandal came out, WNEP admitted it aired the VNR without identifying the source.
posted by Howard Beale at 10:16 AM
39 Comments:
Hey Howard, before you go beating up on WNEP, perhaps you should've checked the list.
Nexstar has FOUR stations being investigated by this.
Count 'em, FOUR !!!!!!!
And WCIA in Champaign, IL is where the current corporate ND used to be the ND!
not that it is unbelievable, but where does it say that wnep is a target?
never mind, found the link.
Hey Howard, before you go beating up on WNEP, perhaps you should've checked the list.
Nexstar has FOUR stations being investigated by this.
Count 'em, FOUR !!!!!!!
That's correct. But none of those stations are in northeast or central Pennsylvania, which is why they were not mentioned. Had WBRE or WYOU been part of the probe, I would be "beating up" on them as well.
Hey Howard, before you go beating up on WNEP, perhaps you should've checked the list.
Nexstar has FOUR stations being investigated by this.
Count 'em, FOUR !!!!!!!
That's correct. But none of those stations are in northeast or central Pennsylvania, which is why they were not mentioned. Had WBRE or WYOU been part of the probe, I would be "beating up" on them as well.
I doubt there will be any action against WNEP for the mistake, but the station certainly hasn't learned from the embarrassing situation.
16 recently aired video shot by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office for a sex sting and didn't identify it. 16 also airs state government video supplied by p.r. arms of the democrats and republicans and often doesn't disclose the source.
Using VNR's is wrong, but doesn't the government have anything better to do? It's okay to own a gazillion stations and screw employees over. It's okay to take infomercial money from products that are clearly crap and fraudulent, but run a VNR and they're all over you. Priorities.
Did this happen BEFORE or AFTER Bob Absher left 16?
Hard to believe that paragon of journalistic virtue and values would have tolerated it.
Almost as hard to believe that his disciples would let it happen.
Who's minding the WNEP store?
Please stop calling what WNEP did a "mistake". It was sheer carelessness on their part. The ND's response to the situation was pathetic also. Doesn't the Number 1 station have journalistic standards? I believe it did happen when BA was still there.
Am I missing something here, Howard mentions the FCC investigation, ties in the Jill Garrett mistake from a couple of months ago and that's it. Where is the "beating up on 16?" and ok Nexstar stations in other markets got named, but none here.
Boy seems the thick skin at 16 is wearing a bit thin these days.
For the 167th time, it does not matter who's minding the WNEP store/Kool-aid tent.
OMG! Ryan Leckey is so hot! Go Joe! We love you Sherman! God Bless Scott and Julie. If you don't like them using VNR's change the channel. Hurry back Kim. WNEP Rocks!
Yeah...BUT...
Didn't Absher have them better trained? And didn't he have them all brainwashed so that every time the "Move Closer to Your World" theme starts playing everyone in the newsroom stands, puts his hand over his heart, and pledges undying faith to journalism and the 16 way of life?
I always thought of the 16 news staff as a bunch of Amway dealers: cleancut grinning robots.
It seems to me every news story has a "source" and as long as it's reliable do we need to know the background all the time? Isn't it a "commercial" of sorts any time any product is mentioned? While no one wants anything unethical, I think the general public doesn't sweat the "sources" if the facts are basically accurate. I'd be happier to see infomercials removed than little blurbs within newscasts. This seems to be a mountain out of a molehill.
It seems to me every news story has a "source" and as long as it's reliable do we need to know the background all the time? Isn't it a "commercial" of sorts any time any product is mentioned? While no one wants anything unethical, I think the general public doesn't sweat the "sources" if the facts are basically accurate. I'd be happier to see infomercials removed than little blurbs within newscasts. This seems to be a mountain out of a molehill.
11:33 PM
STRONG disagreement from this corner. The entire purpose of the handout is to PUSH THE PRODUCT. An infomercial is obvious and identifiable. The VNR is subtle, and therefore dangerous: there's an implied endorsement.
Scarier still: before WBRE and WYOU merged their morning newscasts, 28's was full of live guests and product demonstrations provided (of course) by outside companies. If I remember, WBRE was pretty good about identifying who supplied what.
Is this going to be a worry for 22's new "interactive news?" Will some guests be "provided?"
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11:33 said: Every news story has a "source" and as long as it's reliable do we need to know the background all the time? ... I think the general public doesn't sweat the "sources" if the facts are basically accurate.
Here's my problem with this:
(1) I don't know who you are, and that can make a difference if you are Jill and trying to cover your @. So the source does make a difference, because it helps us make a judgement as to the degree of belief we put in this so-called and so-delivered news item.
(2) How do we know it's reliable? If someone may have (note "may") become lazy, a report may have become a pipeline for any kind of gvt propaganda or medical sales pitches. That's why we have the sponsor-identifier law for spots and psa's -- let us know who is behind it.
"This report was supplied by Bayer Health Products ... by Homeland Security ... by the Insurance Institute of America." That's all you need.
"This report, which saved me from doing any work, was supplied by Big Brother."
Not long after the Jill Garrett situation became somewhat-public, Ron K. held a staff meeting at Nexstar and hammered out a policy regarding VNR's. If the FCC has been watching this area closely over the past few months, it looks like 22 and 28 passed the test.
Even No. 1 has to take a few lumps here and there.
Yeah, let's not make a big deal about WNEP's "mistake"...RIGHT!!!!
It is bad enough some folks in this area believe everything that comes out of the mouths of 'NEP so-called "newspeople" is "sacred"..and they believe everything they hear. Now, you are going to argue that 'NEP doesn't have to identify the source of a news story?
Are you sure the "facts" in that (VNR scandal) story were indeed accurate?
Check out 16's webpage right now and catch the headline about the kids who were caught with explosives.. NO NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK THEIR WORK OR FACTS....THEY ARE THE NEWS STATION!!!!
To Tom Carten: You commented on my comment and said you don't know who I am. That's right, you don't, so I'll tell you I am not associated with any media source. By the way, I don't know who YOU are either! I am a member of "the public", the people you all serve, and feel the right to give my opinion. I'm a middle-aged woman who has watched and listened to local news sources all my life. I'm not qualified to give a professional opinion, but I DO have an opinion here. Look. If they show a heroic policeman who saved a life in his car standing next to his patrol car, that's almost like a commercial for that model car. These blurbs don't matter that much to the public in general. Maybe those of you on the inside have reasons to feel differently. Anyway, don't insinuate I'm someone on the inside sneaking in a comment. I am NOT. Sorry if I confused you.
Absher left WNEP last summer. The VNR foul up happened this year.
Just my opinion, but there's a big difference between Dennis Fisher and Absher when it comes to journalistic standards. The newsroom is now all about being nice to each other. Who's minding the store? Some of us say no one.
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6:32 said: Anyway, don't insinuate I'm someone on the inside sneaking in a comment.
Take a deep breath; exhale; read (1) again. It was an example of what can be the case when a poster is anonymous, the same as a VNR.
By the way, I don't know who YOU are either!
Well, I'm a person who signs his name and, although I realize most people here are not able to, a non-media person certainly can. As to not knowing me, gee, after 33 years part-time in radio here, 27 years writing for the Citizens' Voice and 27 years in a fairly high-profile day job, I feel so soon forgotten. :) Ah, fame is fleeting.
Dennis Fisher is a cartoon. He'd never be able to arrive in a market and make a number two or number three station the number one. All he really has to do is show up to work everyday and make "The News Station" run on autopilot. Lets face it WNEP can show colorbars at 6pm every night and their ratings will still be through the roof. It's just how the market is. Dennis and WNEP should be thankful that the competition in this market is subpar at best. They have fallen from grace over the past few years, but they will always be #1 because Nexstar will never spend the money to narrow the gap, let alone strive to be #1. What it comes down to is money, resources, and promotions. WNEP has the chopper, the huge staff, and the "Vial of Life" and "Thank Our Troops" campaigns. WBRE can't get the main talent to march in a parade a block away from their newsroom and WYOU is resorting to desperate measures.
"Just my opinion, but there's a big difference between Dennis Fisher and Absher when it comes to journalistic standards"
This comes from someone who works at 16: She says the standards have not changed. Whats has changed is 16 is doing reports that Absher would have not allowed on the air.
He was good when it came to accuracy BUT over the last few years he went overboard when it came to his power. Most of the people who work in the newsroom, are glad Absher "retired"
The stress levels have lowered especially when it comes to the reporters. They could expect that each day Absher would be waiting to review scipts and spend an unreal amount of time...sometimes 30 minutes or more nit picking over words and in the end would change the "style" of said reporter. But what has not changed is the fact that EVERY reporter script gets reviewed by someone else.
What the last person said about Absher is accurate. Right now there are things that are making the air that never would have a little over a year ago. With that being said Absher was just brutal to deal with, the man had no heart, had his own agendas, made life brutal for most, and one only let up on his brutalness for those who were petite and wore short shirts. One thing that has not been mentioned is that WNEP over the last 5-6 years has hired people that would not even be allowed through the door a decade or so ago. Other than John Meyer, they really have not hired a great reporter over the past 4-5 years. The producers they have hired have been awful (most of those hires have come under Dennis Fisher's watch), the last few assignment editors they have brought in have been terrible (Bin Laden could be found in a cave on Montage Mountain and they wouldn't know unless they got a tip call on it), and they have lost some amazing photographers/editors over the last few years (Frank Deom and Steve Firmstone) and replaced them with mediocre, at best, shooters. They have lowered their standards in the hiring department over the years and that has had a trickle down effect on channel 50 who is hiring people right out of school now.
In thirty years at WNEP Bob Absher enforced his standards of accuracy and fairness, and a lot of reporters are better for his mentoring.
At the same time, he bludgeoned countless reporters into imitating his own personal style. “Newswatch 16” has a unique voice, but it’s Absher’s voice, and it’s dishwater dull.
Put another way, WNEP reporters know all the fundamentals: they choke up on the bat, punch out the singles, and play solid defense. But there’s not a homerun hitter on the staff and they don’t steal extras bases. There’s no daring. No flash. No wit. No life. It’s all by-the-book.
Mixing metaphors, Absher made WNEP all meat and potatoes; no appetizers, no salad, no desert, no after-dinner liqueur. What you see is what Absher wanted you to get.
God bless you, Bob Absher, goddammit!
To Tom Carten: Your statement somewhat clarifies who you are. I really don't know you; I don't read Luzerne County newspapers since I live in another local county, and apparently don't listen to the radio stations you've been on. Sorry! I wasn't trying to diminish your importance. On another point: not all non-media persons can sign their names for other reasons, including personal reasons, or jobs that discourage media contacts. That happens sometimes for security reasons, not to ignore or avoid the media. Anyway, I guess I see your point. I hope you see mine as well. Peace, Tom, and wishing you success in your endeavors. From a member of "the public".
Well, well, well. The fictional Lou Grant would never have stood still for airing garbage that arrived in the postal mail.
"Dennis Fisher is a cartoon. He'd never be able to arrive in a market and make a number two or number three station the number one."
I thought Fisher was news director at a station in Johnstown that became #1. Anyone have the facts?
"Whats has changed is 16 is doing reports that Absher would have not allowed on the air."
Meaning more fluff and VNR's? What's on WNEP now that couldn't air in other years?
"They could expect that each day Absher would be waiting to review scipts and spend an unreal amount of time...sometimes 30 minutes or more nit picking over words and in the end would change the "style" of said reporter."
If reporters at WNEP are showing their style now that Absher is gone, he must have been trying to protect them from themselves. Mike Stevens and a few others have style. Most need to think more about getting the facts right and telling the story in a way that viewers understand it by the time they sign off.
The upside of having Bob Absher as gatekeeper was that he guaranteed a certain level of competency.
The downside was that his standards didn't encourage breakthroughs or breakouts.
From what I've seen of them as people, WNEP reporters run the gamut from A to D+. WNEP reportING runs the gamut from B+ to C+
Over the years WBRE, for all its faults, has still had some A+ reporting get on the air. That's why there are WBRE alums that have gone on to really big and exciting jobs elsewhere: if they've got talent, it gets showcased.
WNEP's reporters are just another brick in the Absher wall. I don't see that changing since he left.
Let us not forget the Absher had different rules for different people as well.
I think Dennis might have pushed his station in Altoona/Johnstown to the top. He's done nothing however at WNEP so far, except lower the hiring standards at the #1 in the market.
Mike Stevens? Yes, he's got style.
One style.
He's got his "Will Rogers sittin' around the cracker barrel whittlin' & spittin'" act down pat:
"Not many people these days take the time to make buggy whips the way Zeb does in Wyalusing."
It was unique the first 3,000 times.
Anymore it sounds like Charles Kuralt on thorazine.
Not exactly the hardest working man in showbiz.
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10:00pm said: Sorry! I wasn't trying to diminish your importance.
Popularity is one thing, importance is another. :) My listeners and readers know who I am; aside from that, I could drop dead today and next week they'd be asking, "What happened to Tim Carter?"
Yeah, I appreciate the fact that everyone would get their heads bashed for signing in here ["including personal reasons, or jobs that discourage media contacts; that happens sometimes for security reasons."] but hadn't thought of that in your case.
I think WNEP has branded its reporters to be droids. Most are boring. One of the few reporters, and I hate saying this, who shows some level of enthusiasm is Leckey.
Swalloing hard and moving on... I think building a strong reporting edge takes respect and a defined mission... first, who's going to help you ring in the story and then, how are you going to make it shine.
I've seen some terrible stories molded into masterpieces. Isn't that the way? Isn't that the challenge? Is that what reporters are accomplishing here? Isn't walking through the front door supposed to lead to a challenge every day on the battlefield?
I watch all the stations and see some sharp reporters in this market: Amy Bradley, Jon Meyer, Joe Holden... I'd count Eric Debill, but he still scares me with seemingly forced enthusiasm.
I want to watch a reporter who sounds like they know what's being spoken: I want to believe what they're saying and see that they believe it too... lose the notebook and talk to me!
Break out of the rank-and-file mentality and give me a story I can remember! No VNRs, no press release junk, no chamber of commerce hounds... get deep inside the trenches and take a big sniff. You might come up with something great.
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1:04pm said: I've seen some terrible stories molded into masterpieces.
Something I learned early on in radio news was: "What's the right now angle on the story?" We got away from the past tense that way, presenting a story that occured as something hours ago. While including that necessary fact, we followed up on it and freshened up what could be rather stale copy.
By The Way... WTF are reporters thinking of when they stick a mic in a perp's face and say, "Did you (commit this crime)?" I saw a WBRE lady reporter do this with two people picked up for dealing cocaine. To the first, "Did you sell cocaine?" To the second, "Did you sell cocaine?" Did she think they'd say yes?
There have to be some stock questions reporters can ask that, if the perps don't answer, at least won't seem inane. Perhaps: "Do you have representation?" "Were you surprised at this?" "Did your mother raise you to deal drugs?" (That one's a joke.)
"Break out of the rank-and-file mentality and give me a story I can remember! No VNRs, no press release junk, no chamber of commerce hounds... get deep inside the trenches and take a big sniff. You might come up with something great."
You have a valid point but BEFORE that can happen management has to change their mentality too. It's called FILL the newscast!!! We really don't care with what!
"Break out of the rank-and-file mentality and give me a story I can remember! No VNRs, no press release junk, no chamber of commerce hounds... get deep inside the trenches and take a big sniff. You might come up with something great."
To Mr. or Ms. 8:51am... I wrote the above piece (1:24 post). I wrote it in light of shitty, terrible management.
There are days at work when it seems the only thing I'll ever accomplish is heart burn because of my short-sighted supervisors... then there are those other days when THANK GOD I'm in the field.
I tell them ("them" meaning desk, EP, producers and down the line) here's what we got and if you don't like it, pull me into your office and let's get nuts.
I try my best to kick ass... that said, I'm not going to be pushed around by a man at the desk who doesn't know the difference between a sat and microwave vehicle.
To Tom Carten about shoving mics in suspects' faces... I disagree with you.
I always ask "did you do this?"
I'm trying to obtain a confession while my cameras are rolling... Despite what police say about whatever suspect they're walking before me, I still AND ALWAYS ask, "do police have the right guy?" OR again, "did you do this, pull the trigger....?"
You don't realize how unsavvy Wilkes-Barre police are these days... I almost ask the suspect to be sure, to let him or her know, they got an ear to listen.
Take a look at the Mark Karr walk shot where he spits out information about Jonbenet... obviously he's responding to a reporter's question: "hey buddy, did you do this?"
okay, there are better examples, but at least we know close to everyone's seen that perp walk.
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11:59 said:
I'm trying to obtain a confession while my cameras are rolling
Just out of curiosity, and not smart-aleck malice, ever get one? I've done my share of prison work and, with maybe one exception, they've all been innocent...
Despite what police say about whatever suspect they're walking before me, I still AND ALWAYS ask, "do police have the right guy?"
I think that takes digging, not a quick question as the cops push the perp's head down into the back seat.
I almost ask the suspect to be sure, to let him or her know, they got an ear to listen.
In theory, an excellent idea, but I don't think that's on their mind at the moment. What's probably right upfront is, "I got mf'ing caught and there's some mf'ing reporter asking me if I did it. No, me mudder did it, @hole."
Obviously, we disagree (what was your first hint :) ??), but I thought I'd leave my humble opinion.
Anymore it sounds like Charles Kuralt on thorazine.
Kuralt was one of the finest broadcasters this business has ever known. You, me, any of us, should be lucky enough to have our name mentioned in the same sentence as Kuralt. The man was one of the greatest story-tellers television ever had, and that's what this dumbass biz is all about, telling a story; do it right and you'll be more than a footnote, which is all what many of us will be. Mike Stevens will forever be remembered, and you can't say that when it comes to maybe 85% of those who pass through here(or more than a few who stay). He was never a pretty-boy, he never ran around like a moron doing stand-ups, and he never went for style over content. In fact, he mixed style and content perfectly.
9:48PM:
Why are you talking about Mike Stevens in the past tense?
Unless maybe he lives there.
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