Rich Lieberman in his blog 415 Media is reporting the fake names of the Asiana pilots aired on KTVU were approved by managing editor Michelle Toy who is Asian American.
Toy questioned the authenticity of the names, according to Lieberman, She even questioned why the pilot names appeared Chinese when Asiana is a Korean Airliner. Ultimately she approved the names for air because they were confirmed by the National Transportation Safety Board.
As it turned out, the person at the NTSB who incorrectly confirmed the names was an intern. That intern was subsequently fired.
Adding to the confusion, the source of the names to KTVU was a former pilot who has been considered a trust worthy source in the past.
Toy was not among the four fired. At least one,Rich DeWolk, has filed a lawsuit against the station.
Said the source: “KTVU didn’t want to offend the Asian Community. They’d already did so with the fake name scandal and they were worried about a backlash.”
You can learn more in 415 Media.
RE: KTVU Asiana pilot name gaffe: The lesson here is that sources lie and that even “confirmation” from official sources (NTSB) is not good enough. KTVU has compartmentalized this so much so they can fire whomever they want. Not fair to blame this on Toy alone. At some point, the s–t has to start running up hill.
Bottom line is a fake name should be fairly obvious, or are we in the age when not even Modern Urology by I.P Freely would make one bat an eyelash?
This is what happens when experienced hands aren’t running the news operation. When youdon’t lay off or fire, or let retire, people who have some institutional memory and real life experience, stuff like this doesn’t happen.
When you hire the youngest, cheapest, up and comer from Fresno or Chico, or Colorado Springs, this kind of stuff can and will happen.