When TV People "Resign"

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The hypocrisy inside TV stations so often on display, that people in the business don’t even notice it.

A station sends Reporters out on a story and they expect them to get the facts. They expect the Journalist to cut through the B.S. and give the facts of a story.

But, when it comes to themselves, they pile on as much bullshit as any politician.

Yesterday, just before lunchtime, FTVLive broke the news that WFLA parted ways with General Manager Skip Valet.

Nexstar Senior Vice President & Regional Manager Andy Alford sent out a memo to the staff that Valet had “resigned” from the station.

Good Morning-

Earlier this morning I accepted Skip Valet’s resignation. I want to thank Skip for his efforts and contributions to our stations. And, I want to wish Skip only the best in his future endeavors.

Until Skip’s permanent replacement is announced I will be taking on the GM responsibilities for the Tampa operations.

-Andy
Andy Alford
Senior Vice President & Regional Manager

After lunch, FTVLive was the FIRST to tell you that Nexstar had filled the WFLA GM job with WSPA (Spartenburg) General Manager Mark Higgins.

So, is the WFLA staff really to believe that Valet “resigned” and his job was filled in an hour?

Why can’t TV stations tell the real story when it comes to themselves?

Skip Valet has been around this business for a long time. He has fired more than his share of people. He knows the game and he is not 15 years old. Can’t we just say he got fired? Do we have to put on the charade that he “resigned”?

TV news is the one business where getting fired is more like a badge than a bad thing.

TV demands that the people they cover by forthright and honest, yet they can’t do the same thing in their own station.

The only good thing in all of this? At least Skip Valet did not say he was “going to spend more time with his family.”