Good way to bring up bullying or does this TV anchor make a story about them?

[Rusty Shackleford]

I think this started with Livingston showing her husband the note. He, understandably, wants to defend her honor. So he calls the guy out on Facebook. The reaction from viewers is immediate, visceral and overwhelming.

Either Livingston or the news director have enough sense to figure out that this has serious potential. This issue provokes reactions and is exclusive to the station. It's a no brainer. But how do you handle it? It isn't a pure news story... so you do a special comment. It goes viral....

I'm also cynical enough to believe that Livingston sees this as insurance. She's obviously not dumb. Surely the station has wondered if they should replace Livingston as morning anchor with someone younger, cheaper and more nubile. But this story ensures that if Livingston is fired because of her looks, the station faces a possible PR disaster.

Then turn it into an actual story. Interview a bullying expert, a psychologist, maybe some fat school girl who gets picked on. Then maybe at the end of the story, have a short commentary where the anchor says "I too, get bullied. Just this week, I received an email from a viewer..."

The way this was done, she comes off as a thin-skinned whiner, blowing this out of proportion, and a bad journalist by making herself the story. Like was said - how many did Oprah get? How many emails do journalists get saying that you suck as a writer, or TV people get saying you're fat and ugly? And you never see other journalists respond like this because it isn't the right way to respond.

As for the insurance - you're probably right. This makes her very difficult to let go for the foreseeable future, and gives her a certain marketability if she decides to try to move on and up on her own.

 

[spikechiquet]

Reading the facebook of the station has been interesting...pretty much the same discussion here, but with more flame wars and not as well put points.

 

[geddymurphy]

Then turn it into an actual story. Interview a bullying expert, a psychologist, maybe some fat school girl who gets picked on. Then maybe at the end of the story, have a short commentary where the anchor says "I too, get bullied. Just this week, I received an email from a viewer..."

We have a winner. This is exactly what should've been done.