Tampa Channel 8 to Not Allow On-Screen Personalities to Wear Red, White, Blue Ribbons

MJ Morning Show, Tampa, FL | 9/20/01 | MJ Kelly, On-Air Radio Personality, WFLZ 93.3

[cactmh]

Most of Florida of south Florida and the cities are made up of people from NY, Mass, NJ, Ohio, Penn, and Michigan...

[Shannon]

Here's more info. I just called Eric Land the General Manager. What a piece of work this guy is. He said he stands by the decision. Why? "Because we have to remain neutral." I asked who he was afraid to offend, Saddam?? He got annoyed and would not answer the question other than to say "there might be a time when we have to be critical of the government". I told him now was not that time and that he's a disgrace. He HUNG UP on me.

[Kaslin]

I have always said we should give Florida back to Spain.

[Brandonmark]

TV stations divided on anchors wearing ribbons
By ERIC DEGGANS
© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 20, 2001

TV STATIONS DIVIDED ON ANCHORS WEARING RIBBONS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To wear ribbons or not?

For WFLA-Ch. 8 anchor Bob Hite, a former Marine, there was no question he would wear his tiny American flag pin when he returned to the air Monday. He wasn't on the air immediately after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks because he was stranded at his Colorado ranch.

"I'm an American first, a husband and a father, then a newsman," Hite said.

Still, there's a difference of opinion among journalists on whether news anchors should be wearing red, white and blue ribbons or lapel pins.

Anchors at WTVT-Ch. 13 wore ribbons during Friday's newscasts for the national day of rememberance. At WFTS-Ch. 28, anchors Monday and Tuesday wore ribbons that were prepared by another employee and made available to any on-air staffer who wanted to wear one.

The ribbons also have appeared on national correspondents, including Meet the Press anchor Tim Russert.

"We are citizens of the U.S., and I encourage our people to show support for the Americans who died," WFTS news director Bill Berra said. "I can't imagine anyone would criticize that."

At WFLA, news director Forrest Carr issued a memo to staffers Monday that said "patriotic ribbons are not appropriate" for journalists who may be called upon to question the actions of the government (lapel pins like Hite's are an exception, Carr said).

"We were all torn about this decision . . . who wouldn't be?" said Carr, adding that he consulted journalism ethics experts at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, which owns the St. Petersburg Times. "But then somebody said, "You never saw Edward R. Murrow wearing a ribbon (during World War II).' That decided it for me."

[KansasConservative1]

"FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM" Braveheart!

"FReeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppppppppeeeeeeeerrrrrss" US 2001

[Texbob]

Typical souther Fla. , They are more communist than Americans there,including Baby Killer Janet Reno.

[BlueNgold]

TAMPA is NOT NOT NOT South Florida ... it is Central Florida, and the community is generally VERY conservative ... this is NOT Miami or Boca or Palm Beach. Don't go slamming the community because we happen to have a few numbskulls running around here.

[mattdono]

Sounds like that is what we need.

EAGLES UP! LET'S ROLL!

[mattdono]

I would agree with Blue. I lived in South FL (Palm Beach, eechhkk!) for 25 years, now I live in North Central Florida and it is conservative.

But, hey, they chumps at channel 8 need to feel the wrath of all FREEPDOM!

[KneelBeforeZod]

if it works for California....

[Beowulf]

Cheap ploy for attention as in the old time-honored Hollywood tradition of "any publicity is good publicity" or treason?

[Dick Vomer]

I tell you all that the sponsors are the way to go.
Did you see Maher from Politically Incorrect falling all over himself when Fedex and Sears yanked sponsorship.
Freep on Brothers and Sisters
God Bless America.

[mattdono]

Hey Gang,

I was just looking at the email naming conventions and it seems that they are using first initial-first name, then last name.

So, it should logically follow that Eric Land's email address is eland@wfla.com

In the same token (and if his name was spelled correctly), Mr. Carr's should be fcarr@wfla.com

LET'S ROLL!

[J Schweinbagel]

"We were all torn about this decision . . . who wouldn't be?" said Carr, adding that he consulted journalism ethics experts at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, which owns the St. Petersburg Times. "But then somebody said, "You never saw Edward R. Murrow wearing a ribbon (during World War II).' That decided it for me."

Of course not...Murrow's reports were on the *radio!* Network TV didn't *exist* during WW2!

And if you're Edward R Murrow, I'm a dumptruck. Idiot.

[rwfromkansas]

I appreciate your restraint. It has also been verified. If you get the cell phone number of the news director, I would appreciate you posting it. I doubt he will be wanting to answer his work phone and I am going to interview him about this for the school paper, some way or some how, I am going to reach this creep.

[LonePalm]

I sent the following message to their on-air producer just now.
************************
A question,

HAVE YOU GUYS LOST YOUR COTTON PICKING MINDS?

I strongly suggest that you reevaluate your position and make a strong on-air statement in support of the nation, the flag, the military, and the president during these trying times.

Unhappily,
(Real name and e-amil address)
**************************

I hope they get the message but somehow I doubt it.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic!)

[MayflowerMadam]

Fox never said it was MCCI. They always said NCCI; people just misunderstood. I heard the first time ED Donahay mentioned it, and she definitely said NCCI.

[ArneFufkin]

I live in an Arabic community in Detroit. There is a problem of trust, but no overwhelming problem of cruelty.

I hope NOT!!! That would be profoundly wrong. I can assure you, however, that in Minneapolis I've seen EVERY local news station highlight the great dangers and hatred that law abiding, peaceful Islamic-Americans face right now. I'm OK with features like that as an educational resource - people need to understand true Islam. The stories I've seen, however, turn into explorations of "institutional racism", "police profiling" and there are inevitable comments by recently converted Black Muslims who have regularly plied their trade in endeavors of racial divisiveness. We lack the Arabic Islamic community that has a home in Detroit, and the Twin Cities reporters probably don't know any Somalis or Ethiopians, - so we get a Matthew Ramadan who was fairly recently known by his birth name i.e. Steven Twincity.

[Nuke'm Glowing]

************ OPERATION INFINITE FReedom ****************

Also known as the war on the PC police and the left.

VERIFIED. We may see some new personalities on the air tonight as the on air staff is pissed to all living hell. They do not appreciate being dictated to. It is time to unless holy hell on this pc bastard who made this decision. In case it was missed, refer to post # 20. OUR MISSION:

1. Crash their server, email and all.

2. OPEN BOMBAY DOORS, FAX BOMBS AWAY. FYI,for those that do not think this is effective, those cartridges can cost up to $200 a pop to replace in the large fax machines. And it really pisses off a leftist to see paper wasted.

3. BOYCOTT SIDEWINDERS AWAY - A Brief list of advertisers:

Publix

Tampa Electric Co.

And as I think of more let's hit them where it hurts. I'm raising mortal hell, and they are not going to get away with this.