When TV anchors commit a crime…

Cory Bergman December 18th, 2007

The thing about working in local TV news is when an anchor (or reporter) commits a crime, it becomes big news. At this writing, 328 stories in Google News on that KYW anchor who’s accused of slugging a cop. Not because they’re celebrities, really, but because the newspapers love to give local TV types a taste of their own medicine. (And it happened in NYC.)

6 Comments Add your own

  • 1. Dr. Phil  |  December 18th, 2007 at 10:48 pm

    I have not seen either of the TWO Dr. Phil segments with Lane appearing to talk about her divorces.

    She is a lightning rod.

    It clearly brings to mind the ghost of Jessica Savitch.

    Lane has become the story because she is alleged to have acted in a felonious manner.

    I have not seen her work as a reporter or anchor.

    The days are OVER for paying any talent a salary such as the one Lane is reported to make — $700,000 annually.

    Who goes on Dr. Phil to talk about her failed marriages, sends a married man pictures of herself in a bikini, and who now is alleged to have struck a police officer?

    The shoe fits…………….CBS should act quickly. Lane should be terminated. At the very least, let her sit on her behind and ride out her contact.

    She is to television news as Chris Simon is to the NHL. Simon is on leave of absence for another stupid act.

    What exactly does Lane bring to ethics and credibility? Apparently, not much, but her very large breasts and tight skirts with thin, long legs appear to be the reason CBS has not cut ties before.

    To Alycia Lane, please, ring not the governor of PA’s office, but Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, and Britney Spears. They are waiting for you.

  • 2. CBS3Philly  |  December 19th, 2007 at 5:21 am

    And here’s the extent of KYW’s online coverage:

    “CBS 3 anchor Alycia Lane is facing a felony charge of assaulting a police officer in New York City.

    A police report indicates that Lane, holding a camera, approached a police officer involved in a dispute with a person traveling with her.

    According to the report, when another officer tried to grab Lane’s arm in an effort to move the camera away, Alycia struck the officer and made a derogatory comment.

    Alycia categorically denies she made any comment, or that she struck the officer.”

  • 3. John  |  December 19th, 2007 at 5:35 am

    Lane is a big story for one reason: she’s hot. ESPN’s Shelley Smith, on the other hand, would have to spray an all-night breakfast buffet with bullets — and then not leave a tip — for her to get this kind of coverage.

  • 4. Frank Catalano  |  December 19th, 2007 at 7:24 am

    Cory, these folks ARE celebrities. Being a celebrity these days just means being well known, not being well known for actually accomplishing something. And, like a good Greek tragedy, we the general public love it when a celebrity angers the public opinion gods and is downed.

    And let’s not blame the papers for piling on. I was subjected to many long segments on cable news dissecting this “story.” That’s what gives it legs these days.

  • 5. Trevor  |  December 19th, 2007 at 9:41 am

    I live in the philidelphia area and when the story broke on sunday it was huge news. WCAU made fancey “arrested” graphics and WPVI made it breaking news. Even KYW reported on it on monday. She was just a face, this will blow over in a week.

  • 6. Rob  |  December 19th, 2007 at 11:53 am

    Anchors and reporters are public figures and as such are open to as much scrutiny as the public figures and officials they report on.

    Local TV news has done much in recent years to show they care about the community by participating in everything from fundraising drives for food banks to helping with relief efforts for natural disasters from the local level to nationally and internationally.

    They do this to cultivate that ‘we care’ philosphy, so when one of them smacks a cop, gets a DUI, gets busted in a house of ill repute or is charged with a sex crime, those public figures open up a huge can of worms for themselves and the stations they represent.

    And while newspapers might be quick to point out the missteps of these public figures, as Trevor just pointed out competing TV stations are just as quick to take note. It’s one way a TV station can show ‘we care’ more than ‘they care’.

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