WJAR reporter caught in controversy is leaving
5:03 PM Fri, Jul 25, 2008 | Permalink
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A WJAR television reporter whose two-part series called into question the effectiveness of Rhode Island tourism centers -- and set off a storm of controversy -- is leaving Channel 10 as of Sunday, the station's general manager confirmed today. Station general manager Lisa Churchville would not say whether the departure of Leslie Yeransian was related to the controversial segment, which ended with the station issuing an on-air apology and the station's ombudsman criticizing the report. "We wish her well," said Churchville. Yeransian could not be reached for comment. The station said it did not have a forwarding number for her. Paul M. Giacobbe, the station's ombudsman, investigated the reporting of the story after the station received complaints. Giacobbe said in his report that Yeransian's two-part story suggested that local restaurants (Federal Hill was specifically mentioned) cannot rely on the Rhode Island Tourism Division for support and that representatives of the tourism division's 800 number could not answer basic questions. -- Journal reporter Tom Mooney The story said that the tourism help line was located in Missouri, and that many of the call-takers there had never been in Rhode Island. The story also said that when the reporter called a local 800 number - the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council - and asked where someone could find a good Italian meal, the call center representative there recommended the Olive Garden in South Attleboro, Massachusetts. Then when he was asked where he would go for Italian food in Rhode Island, the tourism council representative said, with a slight chuckle, "I like Olive Garden." In that same context he then mentioned Vinny T's, but quickly added that it was in Massachusetts. Giacobbe found that the tourism council representative did initially guide the caller to Federal Hill, home of several Italian restaurants and food shops, contrary to what was reported. Giacobbe also found that the tourism council representative did not recommend the Olive Garden in Massachusetts or Vinny T's in Massachusetts, contrary to what Yeransian reported. Because the story was inaccurate, Giacobbe said the station properly issued a correction and an apology. Before recently joining the Channel 10 news team, Yeransian had worked as a field reporter for ABC affiliates in Palm Springs, Calif., and El Paso, Texas's Washington D.C. bureau, as well as News 12 bureaus in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, according to the Channel 10 Web site. She was a reporter in New York City for ABCNews.com, where she also was a producer for the Web sites for "20/20" and "Primetime." 
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Maybe the reporter, Ms Yeransian, was right and the tourism council decided to correct the misinformation they were distributing to callers. It seems like the station had a knee jerk reaction to the whole issue. BTW, is Federal Hill now in Blackstone Valley? I think Ms Yeransian was set up.
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The was multi-part series and the News Director, Betty Jo Cugini, and other managers didn't verify the story before it hit the air? Sounds like WJAR is in major CYA mode.
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Did the reporter make an audio tape of her phone calls to prove her story?
If she was fired, just because state leaders suddenly claim the report was wrong, then WJAR has made a terrible mistake.
Where is the audio tape?
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If you researched all of the reports, she only reported what she needed to to get the story. They have the recorded conversation with all involved and that why she is looking for another job. Get the facts before you comment.
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If you're open 7-7 why does it take so long to see a post up from yesterday morning? Are all the posts going up? Are we really in China and we cannot say anything against the Government? Must we accept anything the government does without question? We cannot even open dialogue for constructive criticism? The news must use extreme headlines which is why I said there was only one lie and it was from Tourism, not the reporter. The media needs to grab with sensational headlines to increase ratings but you know that, so why are you not grabbing? Are you afraid of the government too? I know I'm afraid our government will refuse to work with me to lower costs, increase sales and improve profits by consolidating via the Internet because I speak my mind. But I am hoping an open forum like this will finally get us all working TOGETHER. How do we become more efficient if we do not OPENLY discuss these issues? I don't have time to volunteer to be on a board. In the early AM before the phones start ringing I am grabbing a few minutes to use an open forum but it is not open?! I'm too busy to volunteer on boards because I am slaving so more tourism taxes can be used by our "Plantation" masters! We're not in China. We're on a Plantation=The State of RI and Providence PLANTATIONS!
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Looking back on this story both the reporter and the station handled things poorly. Though leslie may have been right she was not always right in her previous stories for wjar, and in that instance it appeared the station overcompensated for past undercompensations. Overall, both sides behaved disgracefully in this affair.
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