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Channel 5 reporter fired for ethical lapse

K

KeithE4

WMAQ-TV reporter Amy Jacobsen was fired yesterday for going swimming at the home of the estranged husband of a missing woman - a story she was covering. She said she was on her way to go swimming elsewhere, and had her kids with her, when the man's sister called and wanted to talk to her. But rather than changing into more professional attire and leaving her kids at home, she took them with her and went swimming with the man and other people at his house.

Unfortunately for her, a Channel 2 camera crew was already there covering the story and filmed her at the house, bikini, kids, and all. She was canned after Channel 2 ran the film several days later.

Link: Robert Feder/Chicago Sun-Times

All I can say is that, while she certainly could have used better judgement, it sounds like a suspension was in order, not termination. And to Channel 2, I have two words for them: Giselle Fernandez. Pot, meet kettle. Neither station can claim the high ground when it comes to lapses in judgement by either on-air people or management.
 
This is just a horrible story. I feel very sorry for Amy, she was just trying to keep her edge on the story and gets pulled down because Chan 2 wanted to play High school games. So what? so she was at his house in a swimsuit...maybe she was going swimming with her kids! In any case, it didn't look like to me that anything was going on..it wasn't like she was caught in a lip lock with this guy or anything like that...you see her at the door on her cell...perhaps calling the station..another reporter...who knows? Then Stebic comes out and puts a shirt on....nothing suspicious about that...I mean hey if your covering a story and you want to get to the "meat and potatoes" of the stroy you have to go out on a limb...it's just too bad that this limb broke and it took Amy with it..I hope she gets back on the saddle at another station..she's a terrific reporter who deserves(d) a lot better!!!!
 
I know what you mean. She didn't know it was wrong to go swimming with a "person of interest" in a murder case. I see women in bathing suits all the time. In other countries, they have reporters do the news topless! She wasn't topless! Geez guys!

Da.....Let's say I was invited over to have an interview with a person of interest and I was in a bathing suit. I think I would stop at the nearest Target and pick up a pair of slacks and shirt. Da......I know a little sensuality always helps. Right? Da....She is now being portrayed as this innocent waif in this cruel-hard world. Oh me, Oh my.

Do you think John Calloway would wear a two piece to an interview? Da..?
How about Carol Marin? Da...?

Come on people, would you trust a reporter with this kind of maturity?
 
Yeah I will still trust her..she did nothing but think about geting the story...she was trying to keep the edge of on the story and for that I commend her
 
Anything for the story. Right?

I was in Dallas at the time. A reporter who liked to portray himself as a "gutsy" guy who was on the leading edge was caught in a drug bust (He had permission from his boss!) After the cops were through with him, he was doing weekends in Joplin.

I have always been very careful about when and where I got my stories. I have seen "bosses" turn on a dime to save their own butt.

I've been out of the industry for awhile but I can't believe it's changed that much. The reporter in question will end up in someplace like South Bend for a while, if she is lucky or end up doing press releases for some small outfit. Maybe radio under a non-deplume.
 
NightCourtFan said:
Yeah I will still trust her..she did nothing but think about geting the story...she was trying to keep the edge of on the story and for that I commend her
Click to expand...

Are you serious or just being sarcastic? For both of our sakes, I hope it's the latter. The reporter showed an astounding lack of judgment at a time when the answer was more than obvious. Not to mention that this is actually creepy. This is beyond being a simple case of a 'bad decision', it is so off the chart inappropriate as to warrant dismissal.

"Gee, I'll take my kids swimming in a person of interest's pool." Dumb, dumb, dumb. Of course channel 2 ran the tape of her in the pool! This woman became part of the news! Now, that tape keeps the "edge" on the story. Channel 2 was doing their job properly, Amy Jacobson was not. And, she got busted - and probably should have.

Management at WMAQ-TV had no other choice. This one isn't even close folks. The last one to be surprised at the dismissal should have been Jacobson herself. You don't get a gig in the #3 market without knowing the basic rules of reporting. It was clearly inappropriate and unprofessional behavior - and a clear cause for dismissal.
 
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