It's one thing to be an active participant in the local food bank or the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, but when you start becoming an activist during politically charged protests, you've probably gone too far as a radio station employee. Unless, that is, you are trying to infiltrate the organization to get a few news scoops, right? In my first radio job, as a 20-something news reporter, I agreed to be put in a police lineup with 6 other guys and a killer and the detectives agreed to give me the scoop. Hey, it was a small town without a lot of burly guys. A freelance NPR reporter is looking for a new line of work after she got a little too cozy with community activists and the folks at NPR were none too happy. NPR is often criticized for leaning to the left, although it's hard to understand which way "Occupy Wall Street" leans or even wants. to accomplish with their sit-ins.
Lisa Simeone told the AP she was fired from ?Soundprint.? She said the head of Soundprint Media Center Inc., which produces the show, read NPR?s code of ethics to her before she was fired. She was also questioned Simeone?s involvement in the ?Occupy D.C.? Simeone told The Associated Press she is not a news reporter. "I don't cover news. In none of the shows that I do, do I cover the news," she said. "What is NPR afraid I'll do? Insert a seditious comment into a synopsis of 'Madame Butterfly?'"
Simeone also told the AP she serves on a steering committee for an occupation protest on in Washington. She said it's not connected to the Occupy Wall Street movement but they share similar philosophies. Ooops. That's a little more politically active than the local food bank so NPR said time to go. That raises an interesting question for every radio town in America. If one of your employees was seen in a politically motivated march or parade or in the crowd of an event chanting "America Stinks" (or something stronger), how would you handle that?
Slap on the wrist? Pink slip? Yawner, you wouldn't care?
(10/21/2011 6:04:13 AM)
Jim Trenton is reporting Occupy correctly, please read the email blast about his new syndicated radio program at www.poormansnation.com
By the way, we have everything from Tea-Baggers to commi-pinko-liberals...literally and figuratively at KCAA. I think apathy, not activism puts our system at the greatest risk. In this new world, we must have the reporting of an MSNBC as a counter-voice to FOX News and we must have stronger Unions to offset the power of the 1%.
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