KYTX station president and GM Phil Hurley shrugs off the criticism, pointing Friday to the big story on cable news.
"Journalism credibility? I think that's somewhat amusing when all I see today on the cable news is Paris Hilton, nonstop," he said. "This is a TV show. It's going to be a comedy. They just chose to shoot it at our station."
That quote there is why Hurley doesn't get it! Cable news is one thing. He's NOT a cable news station. He's GM of a station that is trying to break into a market with two established local news operations, one of them that pulls 30-50 shares for everyone of their newscasts. That market is mostly made up of people that find that Church and Family are the most important things, and wouldn't even think about watching anything to do with Paris Hilton in it. And, if he thinks the Tyler COC wants this kind of publicity, he's sadly mistaken... they don't. I know people at both Tyler and Longview COC's, from my days up there. They don't like stuff like this, because it doesn't represent the area well. You think they want Tyler put on the national map for a bikini model/WWE wrestler chick?! No, their roses yes... azalea trail yes... bikini model/WWE wrestler turned anchor... no.
One of the last sacred grounds of integrity in local television is the local newsroom, so I guess I would say I'm disappointed to see a station, much less one in our own community, that has evidently sold its integrity," said Brad Streit, vp and GM for KLTV-TV, the ABC affiliate in Tyler.
My good friend, Brad is right here. As I said before, if I were an anchor/reporter at KYTX, I would be offended and I would leave as soon as possible. Because as soon as she hits the airwaves, their journalistic credibility goes right out the window. And, shortly after "Anchorwoman" airs their final episode, people around the country will forget all about Tyler and the show. However, the good folks of Tyler and Northeast Texas will not forget about this "stunt", and will remember KYTX as the station that sold its integrity for a bikini model show. It's all about knowing your market. And, Phil has shown after all this time, he still doesn't get it.