The (Scranton) Times-Tribune quote Poynter’s Al Tompkins in a story about reporting weather from an unusual location:
“The local NBC affiliate’s morning weather anchor Kristi Capel gave the forecast from inside a car at a local dealership during a recent 11 a.m. segment. There was no mention of the dealer or why Ms. Capel picked the location.
“Experts said it was, at best, odd, and, at worse, unethical.
“Asked whether the segment was a part of an advertising deal or just a different look for viewers, WBRE vice president Lou Abitabilo said in an e-mail that it was ‘A different look. We always try and do weather from different venues around our DMA (designated market area).’ Mr. Abitabilo said he would not comment on ‘anything related to business arrangements, one way or the other.’
” ‘Weird doesn’t equal unethical,’ said Al Tompkins, Poynter Institute’s group leader for broadcast and online media. However, ‘If it was an undisclosed weird pay-for-play thing, it could have serious ethical implications and legal implications,’ Mr. Tompkins said. ‘But the key question is, was this part of an advertising deal? If it was, it has to be disclosed.’ “
