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StumbleSun editorial:
A TV anchor’s failing
Radetich violated journalism ethics, viewers’ trust with behind-the-scenes actions
Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009 | 2:04 a.m.
KTNV Channel 13 aired a series of undercover reports in March on Tire Works, a local tire dealer accused of defrauding customers.
Before the series aired, anchor Nina Radetich told Tire Works owner Roshie Weightman that her boyfriend could help mitigate the negative reports that were going to come from her station. In a recorded phone call, she pitched the services of boyfriend Jack Finn, a former spokesman for Sen. John Ensign and then-Gov. Kenny Guinn, calling him a “master” of handling negative stories.
Weightman claims that, in another call, Radetich told her Tire Works would have to pay for Finn’s services and suggested she “spin” the story by pointing to the company’s charitable donations, including those to Nina’s Night Out, a benefit created and hosted by Radetich.
When the Tire Works series ran, Radetich introduced some of the segments but never disclosed her relationship with Weightman. Nor did she tell her colleagues. In the recorded call, Radetich told Weightman she had “not told a soul at my station that we’ve talked” and asked her to keep the conversation “between us.”
By asking for secrecy, Radetich showed she knew she was violating ethical standards, which call for journalists to avoid conflicts of interest that would create even the appearance of impropriety.
Jim Prather, KTNV’s vice president and general manager, tried to dismiss his star anchor’s actions as a lapse of judgment. It was nothing of the kind. It was a clear and deliberate violation of standards, and Prather is only compounding the problem by glossing over it.
Radetich’s actions will tarnish not only her reputation but also Channel 13’s credibility, which will make it difficult for viewers to trust the station’s news reports and for sources to trust the station’s reporters.
Radetich and Prather should know better. Among the stated values of KTNV’s parent company, Journal Broadcast Group, is this line: “We will act ethically.”
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why does radetich still have a job???
are her actions criminal???
why does prather still have a job???
is he a clown???
who the hell would watch ktnv 13 abc after this crap???
With such low standers as Nina Radetich has she could easily get a media job in the casino industry. LOL
In response to Birdie's comment: Keep in mind that it was a major coup for Channel 13 to take Radetich away from Channel 3. Radetich was one of the most prominent local anchors; after all, how many others could have pulled off something like "Nina's Night Out"? When Channel 13 got her and Darcy Spears, that indicated to me that KTNV was serious about becoming a real contender in local news. Admittedly, I've been a little unimpressed by the results; I think Channel 8 is still on top, followed by Channel 3. But Radetich has been a big feather in KTNV's cap, and I understand why they're reluctant to cut her loose.
And really, should she lose her livelihood over this? I'm not sure that a TV anchor's credibility is as vital as that of a print journalist. It could be argued that the most important duties of a TV anchor are to project a pleasant personality and to read the teleprompter without making mistakes. Do some anchors do much more? Sure. But Radetich performs the basic duties very well.
Call me naive, but I think Radetich was probably sincerely trying to help Weightman out. After all, she'd known Weightman for years, and benefited from Tire Works's sponsorship of her charity events. I'm just not convinced by the shake-down allegations. Finn has held some high-profile posts; he probably is good at this kind of thing. And you can't really expect the guy to offer his services for free. To me, the issue is not that Radetich was trying to solicit business from Tire Works for her boyfriend; the issue is why she would want to.
Personally, I found KTNV's segments on Tire Works to be very persuasive. I'm surprised that Radetich wanted to help Tire Works rebuild their image, even if they had contributed to her events and even though extra money in Jack Finn's pocket could, I suppose, benefit Nina. (An extra carat on the next diamond bracelet, maybe? Or an extra night in Cancun?) For that matter, I'm surprised that Finn was willing to represent them, though it might have actually been a step up after working for Gibbons and Ensign.
I doubt I'll watch a newscast hosted by Radetich again. Still, I'm not sure we need to hold our local TV anchors to the same standard as Walter Cronkite.
ucsb1990 said: I doubt I'll watch a newscast hosted by Radetich again. Still , I'm not sure we need to hold our local TV anchors to the same standard as Walter Cronkite. >>>>> Are you kidding me local tv anchors are the bullpen for the big jobs at the networks. Thats like saying that we do not hold (LVPD' Metro Police) at the same high standard as the FBI! What kind of comment was that.
hey, nina...with your low moral standards you do AWESOME selling advertising for the review-journal.
Radishtop and her sneer-smile should go. I stopped listening to ch 13 when they did skype interviews with a local hate-talk radio station and their on the air no nothings including a guy that (used to) sprays bugs for a day job.
That God the award winning Sun newspaper stands guard over our town, an ever vigilant beacon of light shinning on the dark and dirty recesses of our society, to purge the filth and evil of the dittohead inspired serpents that infest all that it right in the world.
Jim Prather has Eyes Wide Shut at Ch 13.
Nice job firing Ron Futrell (after 25 years) over nothing and then keeping Nina when she violates major journalistic ethics. Next up we will see Prather on NBC's "Biggest Loser" (not for his weight problem).
This is embarrassing even for the citizens of Las Vegas. I am trying to organize a boycott of Channel 13, so far there has been no volunteers, this is sad because the only way to prevent this from happening again is to TAKE ACTION.
You're right, foreveryoung, it was pretty rotten to ditch Ron Futrell that way after 25 years.
Many of the comments about this episode essentially boil down to, "How can KTNV retain any credibility if they keep Radetich on the payroll?" I think that's a little overblown. Nina Radetich is just one person, and I suspect her colleagues will be keeping an eye on her from now on. (For that matter, I've read some pretty wild editorials in the Review-Journal, but that doesn't invalidate the entire newspaper.)
I don't share the intense anger that some people have over this incident. To me, the whole thing is just a shame. I'm reminded of the line from "A Bronx Tale": "The saddest thing in this world is wasted talent." I used to think it was just a matter of time before Nina Radetich got snatched up by one of the big three national networks. Not anymore.
What ever happen to the weather dude with the orange pointer? Much more respect!
This is just further proof that the journalistic ehtics in Nevada date back to the early 1960's, before anyone came up with guidelines or regulations. But in Nevada as a whole, ethics and integrity are a joke anyway. This entire state is a good old boy network, and it effects every aspect of business and journalism. Ever wonder why the big guns of the news industry, Walter Cronkite, Mike Wallace, and Bob Scheiffer, have never ever set foot out here? Because it is mostly a sewer of lies and deception and scandal that none were ever interested in getting involved with. Old Nina will get a hand slap, be told 'No no no', and within weeks this will be forgotten. Thank god for satellite, where I can get the real news out of New York or Chicago, and not Nevada's poof news. Lots of us care not how the casinos are fairing, nor about local murders or crime sprees, we actually want to know what is going on in the nation as a whole and the world as well..............