When Reporters Are the News
July 7, 2010 - by
It’s Reporter Versus Reporter. UNC-TV versus UNC Radio. And the best drama of the legislative session.
Senator Fletcher Hartsell’s inspired idea to subpoena UNC-TV’s unaired Alcoa story stirred up great mischief. It:
- Put Alcoa in an unwelcome spotlight
- Put UNC-TV in an unwelcome spotlight
- Put a UNC radio reporter at odds with a UNC-TV.
UNC Radio’s Laura Leslie took UNC-TV reporter Eszter Vajda to task:
“Vajda claimed in her affidavit that she has decided to cooperate ‘without waiving my right to exercise my journalist’s privilege.’ That’s like deciding to have a car wreck without waiving your good driver’s discount. You can’t have it both ways.”
Then Leslie zeroed in on Vajda’s bosses at the station:
“I’m still wondering how half-hour segments on local golf clubs, botanical gardens, and the Andy Griffith Museum
Plus, Leslie blasted UNC-TV for “(rolling) over in record time with barely a whimper” to the subpoena.
This year’s Press Corps Follies should be interesting.
When Reporters Are the News
July 7, 2010/
It’s Reporter Versus Reporter. UNC-TV versus UNC Radio. And the best drama of the legislative session.
Senator Fletcher Hartsell’s inspired idea to subpoena UNC-TV’s unaired Alcoa story stirred up great mischief. It:
- Put Alcoa in an unwelcome spotlight
- Put UNC-TV in an unwelcome spotlight
- Put a UNC radio reporter at odds with a UNC-TV.
UNC Radio’s Laura Leslie took UNC-TV reporter Eszter Vajda to task:
“Vajda claimed in her affidavit that she has decided to cooperate ‘without waiving my right to exercise my journalist’s privilege.’ That’s like deciding to have a car wreck without waiving your good driver’s discount. You can’t have it both ways.”
Then Leslie zeroed in on Vajda’s bosses at the station:
“I’m still wondering how half-hour segments on local golf clubs, botanical gardens, and the Andy Griffith Museum
Plus, Leslie blasted UNC-TV for “(rolling) over in record time with barely a whimper” to the subpoena.
This year’s Press Corps Follies should be interesting.