What's this blog really about?

You may notice a variety of topics here - from business, to charity promotion, even to local news, but the primary reason this blog was created was to alert readers to the hostile atmosphere and sexual harassment at The Danville Register & Bee. The readers and creator of this blog want a FULL FRONT PAGE apology in the Danville Register & Bee, plus the disciplining of those individuals involved. Until then, we'll continue to post regular updates. To tolerate THIS kind of behavior by a major media network is intolerable. And this isn't just ONE instance. Media General has been sued nationwide for racism and sexism, yet they CONTINUE to keep the offenders employed. Why? And why am I doing this? TRUTH compels me.

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Lesson in Corporate PR

Thanks to the hundreds of folks who've been online reading this today. I'm sure many of you work for Media General. Some are cheering - I know, they've told me so. Others are angry and thinking, "How can we shut her up?"

My question is - everyone at The Danville Register & Bee and Human Resources in Richmond KNOWS all this happened. I have the emails between us. It's a FACT. A FACT. The employee handbook, the orientation, the diversity training - all the paperwork and ethics training we have all SAYS it's "not tolerated" and that there is a zero tolerance for this sort of behavior. So WHY are they retaliating against me, wondering how to shut me up - and not just firing those involved, saying, "We're terribly sorry," and letting everyone get on with their lives.

You'd THINK they'd want to do the right thing. You'd hope they'd want to do the right thing. But I really think they'll send their team of ALL-WHITE, ALL-MALE lawyers after me to shut me up. Ho hum. Typical. Meanwhile there are how many Media General properties who have reporters with video cameras, television cameras? You'd THINK they'd make a big deal out of punishing this behavior so readers and viewers would feel SAFE next time a camera is pointed their way. Is one stupid reporter going to ruin it for everyone? Or is the company really not concerned about that possibility? You'd THINK they'd think about that.

Media in general is in the toilet...because they don't do local news. They don't have quality stories. And before they start hammering on my spelling errors, let me point out that of the 550 emails I have - a heck of a lot of them have to do with major errors (like posting a fake fire story online - that more than 1,000 folks read before someone figured out it was only a "training story.") So - just don't go there.

Just apologize - Headline in 200 point type above the fold please. Fire the appropriate people - editor, publisher, reporters and managers...the victim was very clear about what she wanted. She knows exactly what body parts she'd like to see rolling and rattling around in a bowl.

But no - when you're dealing with immature men they're immature on all levels and somehow feel that letting a "girl" beat them even when they're wrong is more than they can handle - so....around we'll go. End it now. Apologize. Admit you were wrong. It's the manly thing to do. Try to salvage something before half the country realizes Media General would really rather punish a lone whistle-blower than address the FACT THAT ITS REPORTER WAS FILMING WOMEN'S BREASTS AND SHOWING THE VIDEO AROUND THE NEWSROOM SO THE MEN CAN LAUGH!!! C'MON!!!

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