ABSTRACT
A Colorado television news reporter who had previously won two Emmy awards for her journalistic abilities went into state court as a key source for a news story. She was accused, and later convicted, for staging illegal dog fights so she could have her photographers record video for a “sweeps week” series. The dog fights, supposedly staged at her encouragement by a dog breeder, are felonies in Colorado. The reporter for KCNC-TV in Denver was also charged with, but not convicted of, felony counts of perjury for allegedly lying to a grand jury, and for conspiracy to commit perjury. The four-part May 1990 series called “Blood Sport” was aired on the Denver NBC affiliate during the spring sweeps period when stations typically strengthen stories to increase audiences during the week-long period when audiences are scientifically measured to set advertising rates for the rest of the year. Prosecutors had argued during the trial that the reporter, who was forced to resign from her job after 7 years, was driven by ambition and believed she was above the law. Her attorneys said she had violated journalistic ethics, but had not violated the law (Anon., 1991, July 29; Anon., 1991, August 8).
