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October 23, 2003
FOX 4 RIP
OFF! WATCH WB33 NEWS TONIGHTby
Nelson Thibodeaux, Publisher LNO
Local News
Only.com (LNO) was the first news media to break the story on Reginald
Diggs, the Dallas Fireman accused of indecent exposure at a Colleyville
Starbucks. The research was done by Linda Baker and story, editing and
photos by staff.
After facts were checked and verified, LNO contacted Jeff Crilley of Fox
4 News to determine if he wanted to partner on releasing the breaking
story. Crilley immediately followed up by bringing a crew to
Colleyville, taking some initial video and coming to the office of LNO.
In addition to having a personal contact with Crilley another reason LNO
contacted Crilley is because he is the author of a book entitled "Free
Publicity."
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Crilley's
book is touted as the "start-to finish guide to becoming a
media darling while raking in a fortune in free publicity."
Basically the book speaks to organizations about how to attract
media attention. "Finally a working journalist shares
the secrets of getting covered on the news!" the books
says. |
Since
LNO knew Crilley appreciated the value of additional media attention,
LNO confirmed with Crilley that if LNO turned over its information that
Fox 4 would credit LNO as the source of the breaking story.
Crilley was only too glad to accept our offer. On his visit to LNO
offices he was given a copy of all the police reports on the incident
and the advantage of information that LNO had obtained from
interviews.
Taking a paragraph from Crilley's
book, "Never Violate a Reporter's Trust," as a fellow
reporter/journalist, information was turned over based on trust amongst
media colleagues.
To Crilley's credit, he
called me on the cell phone one hour before air time to tell me that his
boss, Pat Radde (apparently a 30ish broadcast media mogul expert) had
ruled out giving on air credit to LNO as a source. Crilley attempted to
honor his commitment to LNO and was overruled.
As publisher of LNO, I called Pat Radde and turned on all my legendary
charm. However, to no avail, Radde said it would set a
"precedent" to acknowledge LNO as the source, because,
"we get leads all the time." Besides, he continued,
"Crilley did interviews and follow up, the story is about the
fireman, your organization has nothing to do with the story."
Radde could not be swayed and, when asked he honor Crilley's commitment,
Radde became irate and said he was trying to be professional?
Apparently Radde hasn't read
Crilley's book. In the next printing Jeff Crilley may have to add,
"when you have a story and expect your company or organization to
get credit, call another television station other than Fox
4". At Fox 4 it is the Radde school of honor. Note that
I started in radio as a high school senior in 1966. I have worked
at ABC television and numerous radio stations and cable
television. Crilley is correct NEVER VIOLATE A REPORTER'S
TRUST.
Radde told me that Crilley couldn't make commitments! An Emmy Award
winning reporter can't make commitments as simple as giving credit to
his source. If the source wanted to be protected, what are Radde's
rules then one may ask?
Radde's timing was also
convenient for Fox 4, because he knew that no other station could get
the story on the air with less than an hour to air time. But you
can bet Radde's sense of ethics that LNO sure as heck tried to help out
their main rival WB 33 for the 9 PM news.
Unfortunately, the time was too tight to get the story own, but I was
called back and assured that WB 33 would like a working relationship
with LNO. Further, that WB 33 News would broadcast the event
tonight and provide LNO with it's deserved status as the original
breaking source.
SO WATCH THE 9 PM WB 33
NEWS TONIGHT AT 9 PM FOR THE COLLEYVILLE STORY
Since the treatment of Fox reminded me of another detail involving Fox
Sports.
I will report on what appears a flat out consumer scam using the Fox
Sports name tomorrow.
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