Says he won't be reporting on Sarah Palin * Bill McAllister, who served as Gov. Sarah Palin's spokesman, will be a television reporter again. McAllister will leave his current job as communications director for the Alaska Department of Law next week and begin reporting for KTVA in Anchorage, according to a story in the Anchorage Daily News:
McAllister, 55, reported on politics for KTUU, Channel 2, and left the station to work for Palin.
He moved to the Department of Law in 2009 after serving for 11 months as Palin's spokesman.
KTVA's news director, Stacy Feger-Pellessier, said the station was "thrilled" to have McAllister coming on staff. McAllister said he won't be reporting on Palin. "In fact, I'm not going to be doing just politics, whereas at Channel 2 that was like my whole thing," he said.
McAllister will likely replace former reporter-anchor Matt Felling, who quit this week to become Sen. Lisa Murkowski's communications director.
* Lacey Halpern of Fox News reports that two KTVA producers involved in the "Phonegate" scandal in Alaska have been fired:
The former employees of the CBS affiliate in Anchorage left an accidental voicemail for an aide to GOP Senate candidate Joe Miller, in which they joked about the possibility of reporting on the appearance of sex offenders at a Miller rally.
KTVA's General Manager released this statement on the station's web site:
Anchorage, Alaska, (11/02/10) - KTVA today released findings of its internal assessment of allegations that the "news director for CBS Anchorage affiliate KTVA, along with assignment editor Nick McDermott, and other reporters, openly discussed creating, if not fabricating, two stories about Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, Joe Miller," as alleged by the Miller campaign. KTVA states that its review included multiple staff interviews, a review of that day's actual news coverage and a forensic transcript of the recorded audio conversation.
General Manager Jerry Bever stated, "As we worked through this fact-finding process we noted that actual story assignments for that day had already been decided before the recorded conversation took place. At no time did any of the elements associated with the recorded comments become part of any coverage or broadcast. The recorded conversation in question specifically involved how that evening's Miller rally might be promoted and the ensuing dialogue went down hill from there. These particular comments were not in line with KTVA standards."
As a result of this incident, the two producers involved in the recorded conversation are no longer with the station. As a matter of policy KTVA did not identify the staff members involved, however KTVA clarified that neither the News Director, Assignment Editor Nick McDermott nor any other KTVA reporters were involved in the recorded conversation as previously reported by the Miller campaign.
KTVA believes that its actual broadcast coverage of Miller has been sound and fair during this election cycle and the history of our coverage speaks for itself. Bever noted that in the coverage of this issue, FOX News correspondent Dan Springer reported that in a review of recent Miller coverage by KTVA, Fox News could not find any articles or stories that showed any obvious bias or hit pieces against Joe Miller.
KTVA has contacted the Miller campaign to set up a meeting to review its findings.
Update: But that's not the whole story, not by a long shot. Ed Morrissey explains.
"I can't say I'm surprised, as this is par for the course for the Shill Media. By rights, every one of these 'reporters' should be fired; they are guilty of gross journalistic misconduct. But I won't be any more surprised when that doesn't happen than I am by the behavior itself. They are, quite simply, evil."
"Basically, KTVA told us that we’re imagining things out of thin air. Although the audio clearly indicates the media have conspired to ruin Miller’s reputation, they claim they were discussing 'what-if scenarios.' Yeah, the what-if scenarios are how to bring the downfall of the political career of an innocent veteran who is running for office to save future generations from onerous debt. This is beyond the pale. I hope Alaskans hold this station accountable, and the establishment republicans accountable for what is going on to Joe Miller. Alaskans, please vote in Joe Miller and end this culture of corruption."
"There a certain Keystone Kops quality to the reporter’s conduct. Yes, they plotted something truly foul, but they did so with such ineptitude they got caught and publicly humiliated. Now, to add to the slapstick quality of the whole thing, they’re contending that they were just strategizing possible things that might actually happen, rather than trying to find a child molester to attach to the Miller campaign. The only difference between these yahoos and the Kops, is that the Kops were innocent and funny. These guys and gals, despite sharing the stupidity, are as malevolent as anyone you’ll find within this nation’s borders."
"The MSM was caught red handed in a conversation that was never intended to be heard and they have no explanation... Remember, the conversation would have occurred right after they got off the phone with the Miller campaign."
"Recorded statements of 'journalists' working for CBS affiliate KTVA included this gem: 'We know that out of all the people that will show up tonight, at least one of them will be a registered sex offender.' The tape also reveals individuals discussing the newsworthiness of a Rand Paul moment — referencing the incident involving George Soros plant Lauren Valle. KTVA spokesman naturally claimed that while the incident did happen, the Joe Miller campaign has taken this entire incident out of context. Right. I have a bridge for sale, too."
"'Corrupt bastards' -- that's what Sarah called the creeps at Alaska CBS affiliate KTVA, who were conspiring to embarrass Republican senatorial candidate Joe Miller. She suggested that the lack of journalistic integrity and outrageous bias displayed in the incident were generalized throughout the MSM. I think she's right."
"Joe Miller is perhaps the most sound political thinker running for office in this year's election. His message is as close to the founders that I have heard in a long time. It's no wonder the media wants to beat him up as he speaks Jeffersonian ideas."
"It's clear from hearing the audio and reading the transcript, these reporters certainly weren't trying to help Joe Miller, they were hoping to damage him. Yet, these are reporters, for a CBS affiliate station, people who are supposed to strive for fairness and accuracy in their reportage, for balance, whatever their private personal preferences. They weren't planning an opinion piece for an editorial. They were actually trying to manipulate the news, if not outright planning to create news out of whole cloth... Does anybody seriously wonder why conservatives hate the main stream media?"
"Perhaps [HuffPo's Sam Stein] plans on covering a Republican campaign event... and was off rifling through lists of potential sex offenders who just might happen to show up."
"KTVA General Manager Jerry Bever tries to spin [the] problem away, issuing a press release and smiling smugly... 'Have we had internal discussions about the level of professionalism we need to bring to our conversations, internally and externally? Of course we have, this is a lesson to learn from.' ... In other words, 'We’ve told our staff not to get caught.' Because unless the newsroom conversation was substantially as the Miller campaign and commons sense indicate, why was there any need for internal discussions on the level of professionalism?"
"The transcript of the call does not line up with KTVA's explanation... Is anyone actually surprised that conservative candidates don't want to speak to the so-called mainstream media?"
"‘KTVA general manager Jerry Bever issued a statement Sunday. In it, he called the voice mail *unfortunate* but disagreed with the Miller’s campaign’s interpretation of events.’ If the Miller interpretation is wrong, then exactly what is ‘unfortunate’ about the comments? ... ‘Bever said the station has discussed the matter internally. He said *this is a lesson to learn from.*’ Yes, the lesson they will learn is ‘be more subtle.’ And, more importantly, ‘don’t get caught.’ ... Ms. Palin was perhaps being too kind to call them ‘bastards.’"
"Calling them 'corrupt bastards,' Sarah Palin has asserted that reporters at a CBS affiliate in Alaska tried to gin up false controversies surrounding the Republican senatorial candidate, Joe Miller."
"We have two private individuals employed in the media industry. They are conspiring to fabricate and publicate (great word – made it up) untrue and damaging stories against a candidate for the United States Senate. This violates both professional ethics and federal law."
"Funny one guys! You know just like when MurCOKEski had a talk radio host thrown off the air for supporting Miller and criticizing Her Royal Cokeness."
"Needless to say, if this allegation is true, then … we have an epidemic of incompetency when it comes to handling phones. KTVA also has a big scandal on its hands if this is substantiated... Sarah Palin tweeted that the Alaska media are 'corrupt bastards.' Well, she would know after the way they treated her during and after her VP run."
"The media is corrupt, and we all know it. It is rare, however, that we get proof. Now we have it... The television station is denying any wrongdoing, claiming the staffers were talking only about what others would do. But the transcript... is to the contrary, and talks about what 'we can do' and 'You have to find that one person...'"
"If this is true, it would be no surprise. KTVA has been running a distant second to KTUU Channel 2 in the ratings war in Anchorage, and has been unable to make any headway. So it would not surprise me if they started resorting to sleaze. Until now, Alaska Dispatch has been the only media outlet openly and flagrantly biased against Joe Miller. Maybe the rest of them are starting to come out of the closet as well."
"May this truth exposed send Alaskans to the polls with a determination to vote for the real Joe Miller, rejecting the Left's sick agenda--so sick they joke and laugh about child molesters. Their behavior is disgusting, and certainly not befitting those who should be honored to represent our First Amendment rights. The term 'sick puppies' comes to mind."
"Nothing says journalistic integrity like setting up a political candidate with a child molester supporter, does it? Or hoping for that candidate be attacked, for that matter... Oh yes! OF COURSE with the kind of people that will show up for a Miller rally, at least one will be a registered sex offender! HAHAHAHA!! Let’s get that on film…that would just be so awesome! Edward R. Murrow sure would be proud."
"We’ve already seen Jerry Brown in the room discussing an ad campaign to call Meg Whitman a 'whore', and now we have 'reporters' at [KTVA] discussing how to take down Joe Miller..."
"They seem to conspire to create stories that will harm the election efforts of Miller including looking for registered sex offenders and child molesters who happen to support Miller’s campaign. Then they suggest staging a Rand Paul-type moment where someone attacks Miller. Not surprising to me. Remember, many journalism students join the profession to make a difference, not to report the news. When they realize they are not making a difference -- in this case electing their preferred choice for Alaska’s next senator -- they start making up the news."
"Remember to vote on November 2. Your vote will repudiate not just the Left in congress, but their allies in the media. The people who you can reach out and touch by contacting their advertisers and telling them that every penny they spend in that paper, that cable or broadcast show is blow against your ever doing business with them. There is no going back; there never is. And that's not a bad thing. We have seen one future and its devastating effect on our lives and on our country. We now have the opportunity to chart a new course, having the experience of what it means to go badly wrong."
"This is shocking, but it won't make frontpage news anywhere because big media is the problem. For those diehards and numbskulls who still take the mainstream media at their word, shame on you. If this is not the final nail in the coffin, I don't know what would be. What is so unnerving... is the casual, matter-of-fact tone of this obvious debased standard operating procedure. Look, we know the media, CBS, NBC, ABC, and the pathetic cable news channels are in the tank for the leftists, Democrats, socialists, etc. This is not new and goes way back to sixties. But the idea -- to slander, defame and destroy people with the most heinous and vile accusations made out of whole cloth... That's criminal. That's mainstream media."
* KTVA has now confirmed that the voice mail recording left on a Joe Miller campaign phone did indeed come from one of their reporters and did include part of a conversation strategizing their coverage, but station management incredibly denies that the CBS affiliate's reporters wanted to slant their coverage of the race for the US Senate in Alaska. Calling the allegations "untrue" and "absurd," KTVA general manager Jerry Bever says that they were merely "preparing for any eventuality." The full KTVA statement is here.
KTVA’s explanation is absurd. What possible context can they put around the suggestion that they start looking for child molesters at a political rally in order to exploit that for their television coverage? That’s a “potential what-if scenario”? Is this a suggestion that came up in strategy sessions when discussing a McAdams campaign rally?
The only absolution KTVA could have possibly had was showing that this conversation didn’t take place among their staff, but was left on the voicemail by some other people or organization. Even if KTVA approached coverage of every political event in this manner, it would be an embarrassment. In this case, it shows a strong bias against Miller and gives a window into the editorial direction at KTVA.
Basically, KTVA management is asking, "Are you going to believe us or your lying ears?" Wait a minute... didn't CBS already use the "fake but accurate" excuse?
* For those who don't believe the Alaska media is in collusion with the Murkowski campaign, here is some compelling evidence. The voices of Anchorage journalists, believed to include those of the news director and assignment editor at CBS affiliate KTVA, have been captured on tape openly discussing ways to fabricate stories about Joe Miller, the Palin-backed GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate. A voice mail message, inadvertently left on the cell phone of Miller campaign spokesperson Randy DeSoto, is the smoking gun:
The following is a transcript of a call recorded after CBS Alaska affiliate KTVA called Joe Miller’s Senate campaign spokesperson. The call failed to disconnect properly. It was later authenticated by McDermott, who sent a text to Randy DeSoto stating, “Damn iPhone… I left you a long message. I thought I hung up. Sorry.”
Clearly the reporters were conspiring to set up some type of smear of Joe Miller. With glee, they even cite a recent controversy over an incident involving the Rand Paul campaign, while discussing how they would spread the story via social media after whatever incident they had in mind came off. It also brings to mind another recent episode that ended with Jerry Brown’s California gubernatorial campaign being caught up in controversy when someone from Brown’s camp called Brown’s opponent, Republican Meg Whitman, a “whore.”
This calls into serious question what type of campaign coverage CBS’ KTVA has been providing Alaskans all along, given their reporters’ willingness to conspire against Miller.
Sarah Palin sent the following message about the incident via Twitter:
Corrupt bastards. CBS/media plot against Joe Miller before our Anchorage rally Thurs Kinda'what I've put up w for 2 yrs http://bit.ly/cmbzMr
She also mentioned it this morning during her appearance on Fox News Sunday. The Miller campaign's news release is here. The Vice President and General manager of KTVA can be contacted by email at jbever@ktva.com.
So far, the corrupt Alaska media is ignoring this bombshell of a story.
