TV/Tornado lawsuit dropped

By Brian Kirwin | Friday, May 9th, 2008 | Catch-All

WTKR, probably because they were the subject of serious eyerolls and more than a few laughs, has dropped their battle to defend the Constitution and 1st amendment rights. I lambasted them here, but there’s more….

News Director Shane Moreland – Monday “We are clearly fighting for the rights of a free, independent and vigorous press.” Three days later….

News director Shane Moreland said Thursday that the media now has almost full access to the devastated areas, rendering its court action unnecessary.

Wow, in three days “the rights of a free, independent and vigorous press” became “nevermind.” WTKR has access now, but that doesn’t change that they didn’t have access before. No one at WTKR said “we’re suing because we’d like access a week from now.” If it was really about the first amendment, they’d still be fighting, wouldn’t they?

Moreland said the station filed the lawsuit partially on behalf of homeowners who weren’t allowed back to their homes.

Wait a minute! Monday it was about charities, and how the city “hampers the ability of charitable groups to identify needs and give help.” Oh, and it was about ratings – “WTKR also contends that its viewership may suffer.” Now it was crusading for homeowners?

Oh, and the first amendment, too? Can’t forget that!

So access a week later is going to crank up that viewership? WTKR was suing so that non-profit charities could help people 10 days after the tornado, huh?

a GIANT “yeah right” to that!

Here’s what it looks like to me – after spending all week being lambasted and trying to justify what I think was a frivolous lawsuit, they decided to punt.

If it was about the first amendment, they wouldn’t have quit. Access 10 days later wasn’t what they said they wanted.

In fact, there were so many reasons given for their lawsuits, it was impossible to take them seriously. Wisely, they pulled the plug.

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