Steve Wexler, Vice President for Television and Radio Operations at the Journal Broadcast Group, and Vice President and General Manager, WTMJ-TV, was interviewed by Charlie Skyes on 620 WTMJ radio this morning.
Wexler was on to discuss the revelation that "several members of [the WTMJ TV and radio] staff signed recall petitions against Governor Walker. Some of those employees play a role in [the] news-gathering and editorial process."
No surprise that some Leftist employees of the Journal Broadcast Group would sign the petition to recall Governor Scott Walker. If you're surprised, then you haven't been paying attention.
I give Wexler credit for going on the air to comment on the journalistic integrity violations of his employees.
He said things to the effect that it was important to be transparent and to maintain the trust of the audience.
Wexler has a very fogged up definition of transparency.
Sykes asked Wexler, point-blank, to name the employees involved.
Wexler refused.
He kept repeating "I get it" and "I get that" as a response to questions asking for real transparency. Apparently, Wexler "gets it" that the audience wants to know the names. He just won't cooperate. He prefers to hide under the "it's an internal personnel matter" blanket.
I know Wexler isn't responsive when it comes to viewers' questions. He and his underlings don't respond unless they feel like it.
Examples: Here and here. Overview here.
In short, Wexler talks transparency but doesn't walk it. When it's time to shed light on the truth about his employees and the Walker recall petitions, he won't.
I thought it was strange that the statement posted online reads "several employees" signed against Walker. During the interview with Sykes, Wexler turned "several" into a "handful."
Wexler said audience members likely wouldn't recognize some of the names.
That doesn't line up with this: "Several of them also work on-air: One at TODAY'S TMJ4; four at Newsradio 620 WTMJ."
Repeatedly, Wexler said it was only "two or three."
What is that?
Was it two? Was it three? Come on.
The statement refers to FIVE on-air employees, among the others.
It was not too bright for Wexler to talk about only "two or three" when the statement cites more.
The real problem with Wexler's refusal to come clean is that it puts ALL the employees under a cloud of suspicion. That's not fair to the employees who perform their jobs with integrity.
Why would Wexler sacrifice the integrity of ALL to protect a few? He's not doing the Journal Broadcast Group and its reputation any favors.
I can only conclude that Wexler does not, in fact, "get it."
Now that Journal Broadcast Group has come forward with the admission that some/several/a handful of its employees involved in the "news-gathering and editorial process" engaged in PUBLIC political activity, I think it's time for other media outlets in southeastern Wisconsin to do the same.
At least, like the Journal Broadcast Group, they should be sort of, kind of, a little bit transparent, too.
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UPDATE:
In violation of her employer's policy, Trenni Kusnierek signed the petition to recall Governor Scott Walker.
More: Trenni Kusnierek and Politics
April 4, 2012 - Mark Belling links to Kusnierek's tweets about signing the recall petition:
@AaronSchiebel In my defense, I looked at this like voting. Was not meant to be a "statement". Having a unique name got me thrown under bus
— Trenni Kusnierek (@trenni) April 3, 2012
@AaronSchiebel I guess I felt as someone who doesn't follow politics or work in news, it wasn't a conflict of interest. (cont)
— Trenni Kusnierek (@trenni) April 3, 2012
Kusnierek didn't get thrown under the bus. SHE signed the petition. She threw herself under the bus when she chose to engage in PUBLIC political activity.
She says she "doesn't follow politics."
Does this sound like someone interested in signing a recall petition?
With all due respect, she sounds like an airhead.
Also reported by Belling, another employee who signed the Walker recall petition and Steve Wexler refused to name: Justin Metzger.
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UPDATE, April 5, 2012, from Mark Belling:
Shari Dunn, On-Air Milwaukee TV News Anchor, Signed Walker Recall Petition
CBS 58 Reporter Who Signed Recall Petition Reported Brazenly Biased Story On Recall
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