- Nov 8, 2010
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I'll start this off by saying I don't post here much, let alone start threads. I try to stay out of politics and all that, but I like to read up on how other people feel about what is going on in the country and the world.
This is a local-to-me story that I want to get your guys' opinion on. A news meteorologist was accused of making a racial slur on-air during a live broadcast, videos below. I couldn't find a good, clean recording so we get what we get.
Facebook link (hope it works): https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10212107640037628&id=1574055347
YouTube link (I think it's a recording of the Facebook video):
Yesterday, they had posted this apology:
Today, the mayor of the city of Rochester called for his resignation. The news station then reworded the previous statement, and added that they had fired the meteorologist.
I am all for businesses being able to fire any employee for any reason, but I see this as a stammering of words that happened to sound not good. I figured the station would issue their apology and move on, but I didn't expect the guy to get fired for it.
Your opinions?
Edit - For what it's worth, he was with the station for a year and 3 months.
This is a local-to-me story that I want to get your guys' opinion on. A news meteorologist was accused of making a racial slur on-air during a live broadcast, videos below. I couldn't find a good, clean recording so we get what we get.
Facebook link (hope it works): https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10212107640037628&id=1574055347
YouTube link (I think it's a recording of the Facebook video):
Yesterday, they had posted this apology:
A statement from News10NBC's Vice-President and General Manager Richard Reingold:
On behalf of News10NBC, I apologize for our broadcast of a racial slur in reference to Martin Luther King, Jr. Park during our Friday evening broadcast (1/4/19). This word has no place on News10NBC’s air, and the fact that we broadcast it disheartens and disgusts me; that it was not caught immediately is inexcusable. I regret that we did not immediately interrupt our broadcast and apologize on the spot.
I am personally investigating how and why this happened. Our Friday broadcast does not represent the values of News10NBC, its hardworking staff, or the great people of Rochester. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of America’s greatest heroes – for whom I, and all of us at News10NBC, have the utmost respect. I am terribly sorry to all of our viewers. We are redoubling our efforts to ensure that this never happens again.
Richard A. Reingold
Vice-President and General Manager
Today, the mayor of the city of Rochester called for his resignation. The news station then reworded the previous statement, and added that they had fired the meteorologist.
A statement from News10NBC's Vice-President and General Manager Richard Reingold:
On behalf of News10NBC, I apologize for our broadcast of a racial slur in a reference to Martin Luther King, Jr. Park during our Friday evening broadcast (1/4/19). Upon learning of the incident, News10NBC leadership immediately initiated an internal investigation and internal discussion, and by Sunday had made a staffing change.
As a result of that broadcast, meteorologist Jeremy Kappell is no longer with News10NBC. We believe strongly in holding our reporters and anchors to the highest standard. We are proud of our dedicated newsroom professionals, and expect and require that each respects and understands that their behavior reflects directly on the station for which they work and the community we serve.
These words have no place on News10NBC’s air, and the fact that we broadcast them disheartens and disgusts me; that it was not caught immediately is inexcusable. I regret that we did not immediately interrupt our broadcast and apologize on the spot.
Our Friday broadcast does not represent the values of News10NBC, its hardworking staff, or the great people of Rochester. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is one of America’s greatest heroes – for whom I, and all of us at News10NBC, have the utmost respect. I am terribly sorry to all of our viewers. We are redoubling our efforts to ensure that this never happens again.
I am all for businesses being able to fire any employee for any reason, but I see this as a stammering of words that happened to sound not good. I figured the station would issue their apology and move on, but I didn't expect the guy to get fired for it.
Your opinions?
Edit - For what it's worth, he was with the station for a year and 3 months.