Colleague of slain journalists asks local radio host to apologize on air for hoax comments
A local radio station should make one of its hosts publicly apologize for his on-air speculation that the slayings of two Virginia journalists on live television was a hoax, according to a high-ranking official at the station that employed the victims.
Mike Bell, programming and promotions director at WDBJ7 in Roanoke, Virginia, emailed KTTS programming director Mark Grantin Wednesday morning asking whether Joe Rios, host of the Sunday morning call-in show “Cracker Barrel,” had apologized on air for his comments. Cracker Barrel airs on KTTS FM, KSGF FM and KSGF AM, which are owned by the E.W. Scripps Company.
Bell noted in his email that Rex Hansen, station manager for KTTS and other local stations owned by the E.W. Scripps Company, issued an on-air apology calling the comments disrespectful, not factual and “downright wrong.”
The station should go further, Bell said.
“But has Joe Rios gone on the air and apologized and set the record straight? Otherwise has the record really been set straight?” Bell asked in the email. “I think your station has a moral obligation to answer each post on your Facebook pages and Joe’s page with the truth and to challenge all hoaxers. Otherwise you are allowing my two friends’ memories to be tarnished.”
Grantin told the News-Leader Wednesday that he forwarded the email to Hansen, who would respond to Bell. Grantin directed other inquiries to Hansen. A call made to Hansen Wednesday afternoon was not immediately returned.
Rios' remarks were made during the Aug. 30 episode of “Cracker Barrel” — four days after reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward from WDBJ7 were shot by a former co-worker on live television.
Rios’ call screener, Rick Kennedy, who goes by the on-air name Rick Masters, also speculated that the shooting was a hoax. Both men were suspended by the station.
Kennedy told the News-Leader last week he quit, that he stands by his views the shooting was a hoax, possibly to drum up support for stronger gun laws, and that he believes he was unfairly punished for expressing his opinion.
In his email to Grantin, Bell described the morning of the shooting and how he was called to the scene. He described having to talk with police and having to step over shell casings at the scene.
“I only wish it was a hoax since then maybe I could stop having nightmares, so I wouldn’t have had to tell Alison’s father that she was dead and he should not go to the site, and I would not have to put up with these unfeeling, idiotic, and warped hoax theories,” Bell wrote in the email.
He added, “Those theories just help support delusional thinking, dangerous delusional thinking. And before anyone starts projecting about my motives, I own guns. I believe there is a place for them in our society. My only motive these days is to respectfully honor my two fallen friends and help the families and friends with the grieving process.”
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