Emmy-winning anchor Dustin Nolan announced his decision to "to step away from the news industry" at the end of his morning newscast Friday on KWQC-TV6, an NBC affiliate in Davenport. In his lachrymose farewell, Mr. Nolan expressed his belief that a local news station has "to be more than trends or sanitized news" and that "facts matter.”
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'Facts Matter': KWQC's Dustin Nolan Quits Abruptly
- Thread starter Kemosabe
- Start date
I think we'll be seeing more of this as the FCC continues to allow multiple TV and radio expansions in various markets, especially for companies whose owners have a particular political viewpoint that may not be supported by the available factual information.
Iowa TV anchor quits on-air, saying 'facts matter'
Emmy-winning Iowa local-news anchor Dustin Nolan quit on live television Friday, bidding an abrupt, tearful farewell to viewers at the end of his morning newscast on KWQC-TV6 in Davenport, Iowa.
www.arcamax.com
His exit seemed sprinkled with just a bit of sanctimony. I wonder if management was clear he was resigning before the broadcast?
Since his wife, who co-hosted with him, isn't leaving, does that mean facts don't matter to her? I doubt that's what he intended to convey, or that it is at all true, but it would be a reasonable interpretation.
There's been no recent change in ownership at the station, so this one is a puzzler.
Doubtful. It just places his on air comments in a questionable light.
I had an F & W set around 1983. Memory unlocked!
Or, if any of you could have been bothered to do some basic research, instead of parrotting extreme-right talking points, you would have learned that Nolan had been planning to leave for months, his wife was involved in the decision, and the station was aware of what he was going to say.
Nolan clarified matters in a statement, linked here from the Quad-City Times: Dustin Nolan's statement clarifying his farewell
Notable quotes:
"First, I was not quitting on-air. I decided with my wife months ago, and the station had the job posted months ago. (Emphasis mine.) Second, I was not blasting the news station or the news industry. I was simply explaining my approach to journalism and reminding everyone why we do what we do. Finally, I was not fired or forced out."
And:
"To the publications that published this story without asking for context and those who grasped at straws to create a storyline that simply isn't there, you're part of the problem".
Some commentary here: After farewell goes viral, KWQC's Dustin Nolan says he didn't quit on-air
Quoting from that:
"What is remarkable about the coverage Nolan’s address has received is that the overall tone of his message was intended to convey the importance of factual journalism, yet the headlines covering his announcement got significant details wrong, including the circumstances of his departure."
Fortunately, this little tempest in a teapot has quieted down and it appears the only real misstep Nolan made was to be naïve about how his comments would be twisted and exploited by those with an extreme-right political agenda who have no beliefs other than a desire to engage in cynical manipulation and outright gaslighting.
Nolan clarified matters in a statement, linked here from the Quad-City Times: Dustin Nolan's statement clarifying his farewell
Notable quotes:
"First, I was not quitting on-air. I decided with my wife months ago, and the station had the job posted months ago. (Emphasis mine.) Second, I was not blasting the news station or the news industry. I was simply explaining my approach to journalism and reminding everyone why we do what we do. Finally, I was not fired or forced out."
And:
"To the publications that published this story without asking for context and those who grasped at straws to create a storyline that simply isn't there, you're part of the problem".
Some commentary here: After farewell goes viral, KWQC's Dustin Nolan says he didn't quit on-air
Quoting from that:
"What is remarkable about the coverage Nolan’s address has received is that the overall tone of his message was intended to convey the importance of factual journalism, yet the headlines covering his announcement got significant details wrong, including the circumstances of his departure."
Fortunately, this little tempest in a teapot has quieted down and it appears the only real misstep Nolan made was to be naïve about how his comments would be twisted and exploited by those with an extreme-right political agenda who have no beliefs other than a desire to engage in cynical manipulation and outright gaslighting.