Collins' Cozying Up With Esch Is News Again
MSNBC Investigative Reporter Bill Dedman dredges up an incident KPTM (Cox Channel 10) reporter Calvert Collins would certainly like to put behind her.
In a three-page story on MSNBC.com, Dedman writes:
A few journalists let their enthusiasm extend beyond the checkbook. A Fox TV reporter in Omaha, Calvert Collins, posted a photo on Facebook.com with her cozying up to a Democratic candidate for Congress. She urged her friends, "Vote for him Tuesday, Nov. 7!" She also gave him $500. She said she was just trying to build rapport with the candidates. (And what builds rapport more effectively than $500 and a strapless gown?)
The cutline beneath the picture of Collins and Esch (courtesy of the Leavenworth Street blog) says Collins said her father wrote the check, and that she was just building rapport with candidates. Collins also provides a more detailed explanation of the contribution to MSNBC in a separate story.
For the record, Collins has previously told Media Watch that the Facebook posting was a mistake and that at the time she asked former KPTM news director Allen Beckner not to assign her to stories involving Esch so as to avoid a conflict of interest.
22 comments:
What's sad is that Larry "Bud" Collins didn't know it was a "mistake" until after the fact. She must've been busy thinking about her wardrobe or planning a sorority slave-auction when they covered journalism ethics in college.
poor calvert.
Yes, We've all done stupid things at 23. But nobody's talking about getting too drunk in public or buying a time share in Mexico.
We're talking about failing a basic premise of journalism. Can you really be fair when you are such a vocal supporter of a candidate?
The sad part is some network exec will see how hot she looks in this story and she'll end up as an anchor on Headline News.
She is not alone. The journalists surveyed gave to democrats more often (9 to 1) than republicans.
Isn't having someone else donate to a campaign in your name against federal law?
"Just trying to build rapport with candidates?" The defense is almost as brainless as the action. People like her should find a different line of work; they're making life difficult for the few serious journalists left in television.
There is no defense for her actions. Embarrassing as can be and a mark against all journalists. Geez, have some respect for your co-workers.
If you want something a little odder, check out Lincoln Journal-Star cartoonist Paul Fell's comments in the MSNBC article when asked about his financial support of Congressional candidate Maxine Moul. Even though Fell is a freelancer for the Journal-Star, I'm surprised they continue to employ him!
Calvert was fired by KPTM Friday morning.
It's too bad that she was fired...She was finally starting to get it as a reporter...She was improving...Good Luck Calvert...
typical kptm...the girl understands she made a mistake and the situation was handled in october and if calvert was going to be fired it needed to be done then.
the news director that station has now wasn't even around when all this happened and he is just looking for any reason he can to "clean house." it's too bad for the station that they've lost 3 news staff members this week!!
Who else have they lost this week?
Political cartoonists are on the opinion page for a reason. Just because they don't support the Republican candidate does not mean you fire them. Geez. Opinions are their lifestyle.
I believe they've also lost two photographers to other stations but that's how it works. KPTM just puts their employees in the worst working conditions and teaches them to deal with it, thereby preparing them to go work at other stations in better conditions. Seriously, how many Fox 42 employees now work at all the other stations?
Who is the 42's new news director? I've heard from some of their employees that he was hired to clean house to get rid of everybody...They say they hate working for him....And that he's become a puppet for the top dogs at corporate... Not suprising since Allen Beckner their old news director left for less money cause pappas doesn't care about their employees...It's too bad for Calvert... KPTM is now in the shit hole.
Cleaning house at KPTM sounds like a promising thing. Only problem is, whenever they clean house, the people who need to be taken out always seem to survive. Funny how that works. Considering the people there that routinely screw up and not only don't get fired, but get passed around to other jobs and end up getting raises. It's no wonder all the other stations continually stock up on KP's frustrated talent.
so who should be fired from KP? I thought firing Calvert was the right decision.
I agree that what she did was stupid, but why not fire her back in October? Pappas management types are just evil.
I heard that the new news director is one creepy guy. As a former employee at that piece of shit news station I'm glad that I don't have to pass that guy in the halls. I guess he makes all his employees feel inferior to his dead eye stare and fishy hand shake. Calvert will do fine elsewhere. Shake them puppies.
I wish I worked at KPTM. Its more drama over there than the new survivor!
If she was going to be fired it should have happened when this first broke.
It's not like this story hurt KPTM's reputation in the industry.
Calvert messed up. But as far as I know she hasn't messed up since. She worked hard under bad conditions. Good luck Calvert.
well serves kptm...heard that one of their reporters is leaving too. wow way to go to their new news director!!! losing 4 people within a week...that's got to be a record!
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