As the dust begins to settle over the situation with the Nina Radetich controversy at KTNV TV-13, I sense that every other media outlet in Las Vegas is circling like a vulture.On one hand, competing media outlets are following the story of Radetich recommending boyfriend Jack Finn to provide damage control for Tire Works, which just happened to be the subject of an investigative story by Channel 13.

On the other hand, we might just have competing media outlets eager to take an advertiser’s money while also attempting to stay within the bounds of journalist integrity.

With regards to the Radetich situation, management at Channel 13 might actually believe that no ethical violation occurred although the higher-ups have to be the only ones with that opinion. Or yet another possibility could be that someone else at the station played a role in encouraging Radetich to counsel Tire Works owner Roshie Weightman just as the news department was about to unleash a critical report alleging wrongdoing.

In any case, there has been an ethical issue (or two) involved in a story that could be discussed in every high school and college journalism class in the country. The mere fact that the controversy surfaced in the first place is mind boggling, because the rules of journalism are spelled out quite well.

However, something tells me that we haven’t heard the end of this particular situation, since Tire Works spends considerable money and has proven a very valuable client in the past. Every advertising account rep has his or her hand out right now as everyone tries to survive the worst economic setback in the history of Las Vegas.

So if I were a fly on the wall of the other media outlets, I would listen carefully during these tough economic times. While I don’t know what Tire Works spends, I do know that if I was the general sales manager of another media outlet, I would love to have the money spent previously at KTNV TV-13 no matter what demands might be made as it relates to rates, etc.

And now that questions regarding the ethics of journalism have surfaced at KTNV, should we be concerned about the other stations? In other words, would the other stations cross the line to lure the advertising money their way now that everyone is suffering financially and advertising budgets have been cut dramatically?

Will another media outlet promise positive stories in conjunction with an advertising contract? Or at the very least, would another media outlet promise that the sales department will work closely with the news department so that there are no hurt feelings in the future?

At this point, every sales staff in the city is facing drastically reduced sales revenues. Cuts have been made on everything from editors to reporters and videographers not to mention producers and members of the all-important sales staffs.

And in the meantime, Finn has left NV Energy and KTNV is steadfastly supporting Radetich even though things have gone so bad that signs saying “Nina Lies” were seen hanging from freeway overpasses Tuesday.

It is ugly out there, even in a city many thought was actually recession-proof. The bottom fell out last October and many of the so-called experts don’t expect a turnaround for another two years.

So how far will journalists and sales departments go to survive? Will there be so-called “puff” stories about local businesses simply to attract future advertising? In this world of trying to survive, there’s no telling.

Stay tuned.

*****

Talented anchor and reporter Mitch Truswell, who left KVBC TV-3 after getting caught in budget cuts at the NBC station in Las Vegas, is now working as a freelance reporter at ABC15 KNXV in Phoenix.

Truswell, who joined KVBC in 2003 after working in Phoenix for six years, said he will be with the station at least through November.

If ever there was an example of one station’s loss being another’s gain, this is it. Truswell is not only an excellent journalist but also a very dedicated individual who was known for being involved in the community while working for KVBC.

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