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KGUN-9’s Anti-Gay Newscast Out-Gunned

A Call to Action: Keep the Pressure On!

Jim Burroway

February 5th, 2007

KGUN-9's Jennifer WaddellIt looks like KGUN-9 co-anchor Jennifer Waddell’s hit piece on local gays and lesbians here in Tucson failed to achieve the results that station management had hoped for. Her tabloid journalism has landed the evening KGUN-9 newscasts squarely where they belong: in the gutter.

5-5:30 p.m. Newscast Rating Share of households
KOLD-13 (CBS) 3.3 16.8%
KVOA-4 (NBC) 2.8 14.3%
KGUN-9 (ABC) 1.9 9.7%
6-6:30 p.m. Newscast Rating Share of households
KOLD-13 (CBS) 2.9 13.0%
KVOA-4 (NBC) 2.7 11.9%
KGUN-9 (ABC) 0.9 3.9%
10-10:30 p.m. Newscast Rating Share of households
KOLD-13 (CBS) 4.8 17.9%
KVOA-4 (NBC) 4.5 16.8%
KGUN-9 (ABC) 3.1 11.5%

If KGUN’s management have any sense, they should realize that Waddell’s shrill and unprofessional “reporting” has no place in the Tucson market. They should send her packing to Roanoke, Virginia where she came from. Maybe unbalanced reports that play on the worst stereotypes and fears about gay men play well there. I don’t know. They certainly don’t play well here.

Again, I invite you to see for yourself what she thinks reporting ought to look like in the Old Pueblo. And this isn’t about just what is happening here in Tucson. If this style of “reporting” goes unchallenged, it will only embolden another so-called “reporter” to do the same thing elsewhere.

Tell Jennifer Waddell and her managers what you think. Nothing will happen unless we all speak up.

Jennifer Waddell
Reporter, KGUN-9 News
Tel: (520) 290-7719
Cell: (520) 260-6355
jwaddell@kgun9.com

Andrew Stewart
Vice President and General Manager, KGUN-9
Tel: (520) 290-7633
Fax: (520) 733-7080
astewart@journalbroadcastgroup.com

Bill Berra
Vice President, News, Journal Broadcast Group
Tel: (414) 967-5319
Fax: (414) 967-5378
bberra@journalbroadcastgroup.com

See Also:

Tucson’s KGUN-9: Will They Apologize to the LGBT Community?
KGUN-9’s Anti-Gay Newscast Out-Gunned
Tucson’s KGUN-9 Gunning For Gays

Wingspan’s Statement: “Wingspan Responds to Jennifer Waddell’s Sensationalistic Journalism”
GLAAD Statement: “GLAAD Urges Tucson ABC Affiliate to Address Defamatory News Coverage”

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