"Reckless, shameless, unprofessional"

Judge John Torrence, who oversees Jackson County's Division 14, has written a blistering letter to KCTV over a report aired last week on the Elijah Jones murder trial. There were threats made against several people connected to the case, the judge writes, including the jury.

So, Torrence writes, he's furious that KCTV reportedly showed jurors walking to their cars after the trial.

You placed their lives and welfare in jeopardy and you did so unethically, recklessly and unnecessarily. You could easily have reported the story without showing the video of the jurors. If the directors and producers at Channel 5 weren’t the shameless bottom-feeding predators of the local electronic media that they are, they would be ashamed.

Torrence says he'll never let Channel 5 back in his courtroom, and he encourages the other judges to follow suit.

Tracy Miller, the station's news director, gave me this response:

“We regret showing the jurors. It was not an important part of the story. We will respond to the judge and tell him that.”

I didn't see the spot, but Miller says the jurors were on screen briefly.

Here's a PDF of the full letter. And here's Joe Lambe's story about the trial. (Joe was crucial to my getting a copy of the letter, so big thanks to him!)

Comments

[The_Golfer]

Some one in power who says what we all think about KCTV5

[sweetlou]

His Honor left the part out about channel 5 also being sensationalist, biased, inaccurate and fear-mongering.

[Tam]

Ouch.

Can't wait for her response.

[jack]

Several years ago I saw an ad for a Channel 5 "investigative report" on the dangers of riding an escalator. "What you don't know could make your trip to the second floor a ride on the STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN!"

Sadly, I am not kidding.

I didn't watch this report. And, enjoyed not watching it so much I have not watched 5's news since.

[jack]

Is channel 5 a FOX affiliate?

[The_Golfer]

CBS jack, CBS.

[bh]

Wow.. what a letter! If KCTV-5 does take note of this and try to clean up their act, I hope they also decide to stop sensationalizing the weather report as well.

Could severe storms be heading our way? Nah but we knew that would get your attention.

[Katie Horner]

Tonight: cloudy with chance of frogs falling from the sky. Could potentially have laser beams attached to their heads so be careful out there Kansas City.

[blarneology]

Katie Whorner?

[in2ropin]

I wished the entire viewing area would write to TV-5 (sponsors) letting them know that Channel 5 will no longer be viewed. Because that's the only thing that will get 5's attention.

[locomotivebreath1901]

You mean TV5 had time for something besides Katie's weather-gasms?

[Tam]

Katie, will the frogs be baseball sized or just pea sized this time?

[tim]

yeah that's pretty bad showing the jurors because someone could try to kill or threaten them

[EyesRgreeN]

Bravo Judge Torrence !!!

I recall seeing that newscast ... and thinking how irresponsible it was to show the identities of the jurors ... if it were me, I'd hit 'em where it hurts.

[*sexy*]

KCTV-5 is the worst news station. It's almost like the old 'Inside Edition'. I'll only watch KMBC news.

The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason.
Hunter S. Thompson

[kay]

Katie's weathergasms! That's great. I can't stand to watch Katie. I rarely watch channel 5 and never the news. They are everything that's wrong with broadcast journalism.

KCTV 5 hasn't been the same since Windell Anshutz, Barbra Porter, and Jack Harry left.

[Jane]

BREAKING NEWS AT 10… We just got pwned!

[Shifty]

I remember when channel 5 was KCMO, and Don, the weatherman, had instruments - mounted on the wall - that gave the "real time" weather readings. Something about watching the wind speed and direction actually change was a real magnet to the newscast. Definitely a different station now.

[Joe B]

Give me a break. Maybe it wasn't the best thing for the station to film the jurors but the segment was so short you could not make out their faces. I think they just wanted to show the security in place for the jurors and I see nothing wrong with it. If they were in that nuch danger then the sheriff deputies should have made Channel 5 stop taping. The blame rests with them not the news station. Don't think for a moment that the defense attorney in the case couldn't get information on each juror and supply it to his client if he was unethical. It happens all the time in other cities and is why people get targeted for "snitching".

[Britt]

I saw that report and I don't think it gave away the jurors identities. It was just a brief shot of them. Besides the people that were making threats hung around the courthouse all day, so they prob. saw the jurors in person anyway.

[Mickey Mouse]

Wow, were they pounding on the car's window to get their opinion? How about going to their homes and pushing the doorbell to stick a microphone in their face after they've answered to the door?

[concerned]

I despise Judges, but "Bravo" to Judge Torrence for defending the jurors and the integrity of the system! How stupid of TV5 to film them, but how reckless of the loser Sheriff Deputies for not protecting the jurors! Just another example of stupidity in action at Jackson County government! I am glad that our crony Sheriff Tom Phillips has decided to retire!

[kay]

Remember serving as a juror is your duty. See how well you're treated?

[Former KCTV5 Viewer]

KCTV5 is a joke! Earlier this week they hyped a "major" investigative report about a private club on the Kansas side that requires patrons to have "sex appeal".

The build up prior to the report airing insinuated that people were engaging in sexual acts inside the club yet the actual story provided little or no proof of this being true.

To get a witness perspective, they interviewed some drunk bimbo with "Lick my cherry" splashed across her t-shirt.

One would have needed a Bimbo to English translator to understand what this liquored up trick said during the report.

This is what passes for investigative journalism today?! What a waste!

[ms]

Willie - Not only are your words not funny, but I believe they are illegal.

James, will you report this poster, or do I need to refer this to the PA's office for a proper investigation?

[James Hart]

Ms: I went ahead and took it down because it's in poor taste. I think the poster was trying to pretend to be a gangster, though -- I don't think it was a real threat.

[FanDanGo]

If the other judges in Jackson County and the rest of the region follows suit then this will have an impact on KCTV 5's approach.

But, don't hold your breath.

Still, to have a judge who oversaw a murder trial call you "shameless bottom-feeding predators" has got to leave a mark, dude!

One really bad t-v news joke:

A news director with no ears is trying to find a reporter for his noon news show.

The first candidate walks in, and the ND spouts: "This job requires you to notice a lot of details. What is one thing you notice about me?"

The guy says, "Well heck! You got no ears, dude!"

So the boss yells, "Get out!"

The second candidate comes in, and the boss says, "This job requires attention to and recognition of details. What do you notice about me? "

The guy says, "Dude, you got no ears!"

And the ND again screams, "Get out!"

As the second candidate leaves he sees a third candidate -- a young woman from the University of Kansas School of Journalism -- about to go in.

"The boss has no ears so don't say anything about them 'cause he is really sensitive!"

So the aspiring tv journalist enters her interview forewarned.

The boss again says, "This job requires you to pay attention to detail. What do you notice about me? "

She says: "You're wearing contact lenses!"

Amazed, the ND says: "How did you know?"

She smiles: "Well you sure can't wear glasses because dude, you ain't got no ears!"

[in2ropin]

Darn, must of been a good one. I hate it when I miss out on the deleted ones. Kind of like missing out watching 2 people getting dressed in the back seat of their car:(

Where's KCTV5 When you need them? LOL

tonight on KCTV5 news!! something in your house will kill you in the next hour. find out what it is tonight at 10

I'm glad that michael scott is gone. he sucked pretty bad. I met him once and he was kind of a jackass. the whole station just tries to scare you into watching a half hour of crap just to find out what they were talking about has slim relevance to the story they report.
I'm guessing tonight it will be like "Balls of flame coming from the sky.. Are you protected? " when actually it's just a meteor shower visible only in the south pacific or something.

[willow]

Man, it is nice to see a Judge have some balls and just put it out there. Good for him.

[larry]

did anyone get thru on their $600 give away the other day i called from 2 different numbers and never got thru it was busy or the phone just went to dead space. i think it was a scam to get viewer ratings by keeping you there watching the channel

[General Blather]

"Unethical, reckless, and unnecessary"

This should be Chanel 5's new slogan. I've always had a great disdain for this station, even more so due to recent events. They only care about ratings, and not about the lives they ruin.

[beenthere]

I know somebody who was "investigated" by TV5. Just a regular person doing his job. His employer was humiliated by the air time. As a result, he lost his job...not right away, but it happened. Now there are people that he was helping, who no longer have his services. So, I think "Unethical, reckless, and unnecessary" is a good slogan for them.

If you want to see what happens when KCTV 5 is investigated, the Pitch's piece is priceless.

http://bottomlinecom.com/latestnews/pitchambusheskctv5.html

If you can't copy/paste this link, google- kctv5 pitch. The link should come up with some info about "ambushing" kctv5. Enjoy!

she's turning tricks for pesos and chimichangas on SW BLVD

[GetThatThroughYourThickSkull]

I too used to watch.....then when Helling left it wasn't hard to figure out why. I just went back to watching good ol boring Larry Moore who doesn't mind just delivering the news.

[ms]

Thanks James.

[Herbert Spencer]

TV5's gain was The Star's loss when Helling came to The Star. At one time he was a pretty good reporter, but he's been going down hill for quite sometime.

I'm from KC, but haven't lived there since 1999. I usually didn't even watch 5 news because it was so dull, plus if I was watching TV which was rare except a few shows weekly and the news, there was nothing on CBS back then.

I read KC Star online almost daily just so I can keep up.

I go there for visits and my Grandma for years will not watch 5 News. I thought because it was dull, but what is being said here is the reason. This is really funny.

TV-5 you are busted big time, and what a pathetic response...are you kidding? Tracey Miller, you need a new job-"we regret showing the jurors, it was not an important part of the story, and we will tell the judge." First of all your response sounds so immature, and juvenile...must have come out of a first grade classroom, and to think you totally ignored any apology to the jurors. I hope every juror sues TV-5. You have it coming as you have placed their lives in jeopardy, invaded their privacy, and etc. READ ALL OF THESE COMMENTS FOLKS AT TV-5....YOU HAD LOST ALL RESPECT IN KANSAS CITY PRIOR TO THIS HORRENDOUS, EXPLOITED NEWS REPORTING, BUT I WOULD THINK THIS MIGHT BE THE END OF THE LINE, AND OPPORTUNIT FOR A TRUE, LONG OVER DUE WAKE UP CALL!!!!!

[JTW]

As a rule, TV stations set exceptionally low professional and ethical standards for themselves and consistently strive to meet them.

[larry]

man that ambush was funny the idiot actually thought someone had sent her some flowers lol!

[JDog]

BREAKING NEWS: EXCLUSIVE REPORT FROM KCTV-5

We will no longer be able to show our dwindling viewership any exclusive stories because no one in their right mind will talk to us anymore. We are, however, pleased to announce that we will be reporting on all news stories originally reported by KMBC, FOX and KSHB.
Additionally, we apologize, in advance, should anything happen to a juror or two. Please understand that WE, the MEDIA, are protected by the Constitution, and really don't give a crap as long as our advertisers checks clear.

On that note, perhaps the people of KC could contact any company advertsing during the local KCTV-5 newscast adn request that theu withdraw their advertisements. Ha, the power of the pocket book.

James, could you provide us a list of KCTV-5 news sponsors?

[Dissent]

TURN THE VOLUME OF YOUR TV TO MAXIMUM SO YOU CAN STILL HERE ME AFTER YOU HAVE TAKEN COVER IN YOUR BASEMENT!...PUT ON YOUR BICYCLE HELMETS AND PULL MATTRESSES OVER YOUR BODY! I WILL STAY HERE AND CONTINUE TO CAUSE PANIC AND FEAR TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY UNTIL THE DANGER HAS PASSED!

K.H.

[JH]

I did not see this story because I stopped watching Channel 5 "news" a long time ago. When I watch news, I want the facts presented to me in a consice and factual manner, not some sensationalized opinion of the reporter or news director. I find nothing of value on Channel 5 "news".

[urbangirl]

The best thing to do is stop watching them. Most of us complain but watch to see what horrible sensationalistic thing they will do next. They sort of want to to talk about them, hate them even.

You have to understand they don't car why you watch just that you watch. That way they can tell advertisers they have high ratings.

[Geno]

One of the comments was a viewer who actually defended Channel 5 and said something assinine like, "if the defense lawyer was unethical he could give the juror information to the defendant".

How sad that a television stations jeopardizes the lifes of citizens and then wants to inject the defense lawyer into play.

Channel 5 is a joke. This should be a crime.

[People Get a Clue]

Dear Blog patrons. First I would imagine that most of you are just jumping on the bandwagon and not basing your comments on the actual story/video. In other words I doubt that you even saw it. Let me interject some logic here for just a moment. The news story was about the verdict and the violent outbursts. The shot of the jurors was about 3 seconds long and was shot wide and far enough away that it would be difficult for John Q Public to identify who they were.

Anyone could get more information from the Public Records after a trial than what 3 seconds of distant video could ever supply. As far as KCTV being sued by a juror get a grip. Anyone in the public domain can be videotaped like it or not.

If you know anything about court proceedings you would know that after the trial is over EVERYTHING becomes public information. Their were no court rules that were violated, KCTV didn't follow the jurors to their cars take pictures or release any information that would personally identify any individual juror. The Jurors were videotaped within the Public Domain.

The judges response was a Knee Jerk response and while he took umbrage to the story there was nothing in there that anyone of the courtroom attendees could not have seen better and UP CLOSE and personal in the courtroom.

KCTV did not on this story cross any unethical boundary.