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KSTP under fire for "Pointergate"


Mrtraveler01

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KSTP in Minneapolis is facing a lot of criticism after running a story which accused the mayor of Minneapolis of flashing gang signs.

 

http://www.startribune.com/local/west/281998761.html

 

The worst part in this is it looks like KSTP is doubling down in the face of the criticism.

 

http://kstp.com/news/stories/s3613514.shtml

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I seriously cannot believe that this is anything but a sweeps stunt, and a weird one at that. "Look how stupid we're being!!!" is certainly a new one.

 

Nobody can really be so dumb that they think this is a legitimate story, can they???

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KSTP in general seems messed up and has been for quite some time.

 

In fact, all of Hubbard seems screwed up in some form save WNYT and even they have had their spurts.

Hubbard still has WTOP Radio's Glass Enclosed Nerve Center, so there's that.
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Hubbard still has WTOP Radio's Glass Enclosed Nerve Center, so there's that.

Save for being able to sell ads for alcohol, lotteries and casinos, nothing has changed on WTOP under Hubbard versus Bonneville. Even the old NonStop sounders from First News and News Central are still there. It isn't like Hubbard's mark is anywhere.

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Save for being able to sell ads for alcohol, lotteries and casinos, nothing has changed on WTOP under Hubbard versus Bonneville. Even the old NonStop sounders from First News and News Central are still there. It isn't like Hubbard's mark is anywhere.

The only real cosmetic change that has taken place - the loss of Pat Garrett as WTOP's longtime imaging voice - was beyond Hubbard's control (CBS Radio contracted Garrett to image 106.7 The Fan).
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Well, KSTP continues to defend this story. They ran another story on Thursday night in which they stated “We stand by the story" and “Others can interpret the facts as they see fit. But these are the facts.” And, KSTP owner Stanley Hubbard is now defending the story as well. When asked by protesters at a speech on Thursday if KSTP would apologize Hubbard stated, "No, of course not, that's ridiculous."

 

I seriously cannot believe that this is anything but a sweeps stunt, and a weird one at that. "Look how stupid we're being!!!" is certainly a new one.

 

Nobody can really be so dumb that they think this is a legitimate story, can they???

Sure they can. I suppose the issue is when they also own media outlets. For those unfamiliar with Stanley Hubbard if you have 6 minutes I'd suggest you listen to him continue to defend the story to MPR in an interview conducted on-air Friday. His answers really are amazing and it's almost comical. But, it also goes to show you how crap like this makes it to air.

 

Here is a quick excerpt from the interview:

On whether KSTP should apologize Hubbard said "This isn't something we did. You can blame the police and you can yell at them. Don't blame us. We're only reporting the news, and we will continue to report the news. We're very sorry if somebody was offended. The facts are the facts. We only report the facts, and the facts are that multiple police agencies said this was a bad thing."

 

So, in other words. "Someone came to us with story and we ran with it. Don't blame us. We just said what they told us." It really is amazing, isn't it?

 

It's not the first major blunder for KSTP. Journalism left University Ave. more than a decade ago and has yet to return.

I think you are being generous saying "a decade ago." Sadly, I think it left with Ron Magers and he left KSTP in 1981. That place has been in a downward spiral ever since.

 

 

Also, If anyone wants to know the missing context/backstory to this story. MPR has a great article laying it all out pretty succinctly.

 

 

Save for being able to sell ads for alcohol, lotteries and casinos, nothing has changed on WTOP under Hubbard versus Bonneville. Even the old NonStop sounders from First News and News Central are still there. It isn't like Hubbard's mark is anywhere.

WRT Hubbard Radio, they along with the broadcast division and the cable division, operate pretty autonomously within the Hubbard Broadcasting empire. And, when Hubbard acquired the Bonneville stations the Bonneville leadership remained at the helm. Former Bonneville CEO/President, Bruce Reece and former Bonneville COO, Drew Horowitz moved to the newly formed Hubbard Radio in the same roles upon closing. In Fact, until Reece stepped aside this summer the "Corporate Headquarters" for Hubbard Radio were split between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Salt Lake City where Reece was based. So, it's not all that shocking that little changed at the acquired Hubbard Radio stations as the leadership remained the same post-acquisition and for the most part still does today.
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Well, KSTP continues to defend this story. They ran another story on Thursday night in which they stated “We stand by the story" and “Others can interpret the facts as they see fit. But these are the facts.” And, KSTP owner Stanley Hubbard is now defending the story as well. When asked by protesters at a speech on Thursday if KSTP would apologize Hubbard stated, "No, of course not, that's ridiculous."

 

Sure they can. I suppose the issue is when they also own media outlets. For those unfamiliar with Stanley Hubbard if you have 6 minutes I'd suggest you listen to him continue to defend the story to MPR in an interview conducted on-air Friday. His answers really are amazing and it's almost comical. But, it also goes to show you how crap like this makes it to air.

 

Here is a quick excerpt from the interview:

On whether KSTP should apologize Hubbard said "This isn't something we did. You can blame the police and you can yell at them. Don't blame us. We're only reporting the news, and we will continue to report the news. We're very sorry if somebody was offended. The facts are the facts. We only report the facts, and the facts are that multiple police agencies said this was a bad thing."

 

So, in other words. "Someone came to us with story and we ran with it. Don't blame us. We just said what they told us." It really is amazing, isn't it?

 

I think you are being generous saying "a decade ago." Sadly, I think it left with Ron Magers and he left KSTP in 1981. That place has been in a downward spiral ever since.

 

 

Also, If anyone wants to know the missing context/backstory to this story. MPR has a great article laying it all out pretty succinctly.

 

 

WRT Hubbard Radio, they along with the broadcast division and the cable division, operate pretty autonomously within the Hubbard Broadcasting empire. And, when Hubbard acquired the Bonneville stations the Bonneville leadership remained at the helm. Former Bonneville CEO/President, Bruce Reece and former Bonneville COO, Drew Horowitz moved to the newly formed Hubbard Radio in the same roles upon closing. In Fact, until Reece stepped aside this summer the "Corporate Headquarters" for Hubbard Radio were split between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Salt Lake City where Reece was based. So, it's not all that shocking that little changed at the acquired Hubbard Radio stations as the leadership remained the same post-acquisition and for the most part still does today.

 

My favorite bits of the MPR interview:

 

On feedback KSTP has received on its reporting:

A lot of positive — boy, the day of we had positive phone calls and emails, yes ... by the general public.

 

Apparently that didn't carry over to their Facebook page because positive comments about that story were few and far between. Either the people leaving the positive calls and e-mails don't have Facebook, or he's full of crap.

 

 

 

On whether or not KSTP has reached out to Mayor Hodges:

We tried to but she wouldn't talk to us. And if she'd talk to us in the first place, this story might not have ever come about.

They did reach out to Mayor Hodges and sent the station a statement, they brushed it off by then going to the head of the police union saying "she should know better".

 

http://kstp.com/article/stories/s3612199.shtml

 

They weren't going to give her a fair shot and stick with the police union's side of the story even if she did accept an on-camera interview with them. This story is a disgrace to journalism and now I see why WCCO and KARE trounce them in the ratings, if I lived in Minnesota I would not watch a station that is as sloppy with journalism as KSTP seems to be.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Wow

 

This is pretty much quadrupling-down at this point.

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I wonder if this hard liner attitude is being driven by corporate (who may have a political grudge) rather than KTSP.

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I wonder if this hard liner attitude is being driven by corporate (who may have a political grudge) rather than KTSP.

Um...Stanley Hubbard **is** corporate in this case. You've confused KSTP-St. Paul with...KMSP...(maybe?).

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Um...Stanley Hubbard **is** corporate in this case. You've confused KSTP-St. Paul with...KMSP...(maybe?).

I guess I wasn't clear, I was referring to Hubbard as corporate. I only stated this is because I haven't seen or read any postings from people directly involved in the stations operations (such as their news director) lately. Now granite I haven't followed this recently but the fact that the CEO wrote a five page letter made me think corporate isn't backing down/letting this story die. I also realize that the line may be blurred between station and "corporate" considering Hubbard is based out of the same city.

 

Also I now realize I wrote the call sign as KTSP when it should be KSTP.

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I guess I wasn't clear, I was referring to Hubbard as corporate. I only stated this is because I haven't seen or read any postings from people directly involved in the stations operations (such as their news director) lately. Now granite I haven't followed this recently but the fact that the CEO wrote a five page letter made me think corporate isn't backing down/letting this story die. I also realize that the line may be blurred between station and "corporate" considering Hubbard is based out of the same city.

 

Also I now realize I wrote the call sign as KTSP when it should be KSTP.

 

Corporate=Stanley Hubbard.

 

His father (I think?) founded the company and Stanley pretty much controls it today as a family run company.

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