TPMMuckraker

Alaska Producers Fired Over Jokes About Joe Miller Story

Republican candidate for US Senate in Alaska Joe Miller

Two producers for the Alaska television station KTVA are no longer with the CBS affiliate after an internal assessment found that they made comments that were were not in line with the station’s standards, the channel said in a press release late Tuesday.

In a recording posted on the conservative website Big Government, individuals could be heard discussing a supposed plan to make up a sensational story on Miller — in reality, joking that they would find a child molester who was voting Republican to tie him to Miller.

But the station found that contrary to the claims of the Miller campaign, neither the news director, an assignment editor or reporters for the station were involved in the recorded conversation, the station said.

“As we worked through this fact-finding process we noted that actual story assignments for that day had already been decided before the recorded conversation took place,” General Manager Jerry Bever said in a statement. “At no time did any of the elements associated with the recorded comments become part of any coverage or broadcast. The recorded conversation in question specifically involved how that evening’s Miller rally might be promoted and the ensuing dialogue went down hill from there. These particular comments were not in line with KTVA standards.”

Miller supporter Sarah Palin accused the media of conspiring against Miller after the recording came out, and said that CBS stood for “Corrupt Bastards Club.”

As a matter of policy, KTVA did not identify the staff members involved.

Top Stories From TPM

Oklahoma GOP Sen. Tom Coburn Will Seek To Offset Tornado Aid

Secret Service Looking Into Radio Host’s Graphic Violent Comments About Obama, Hillary Clinton

GOP Nominee In Virginia Praised Three-Fifths Clause As An ‘Anti-Slavery Amendment’

VA GOP's Attorney General Nominee Wanted Women To Report Miscarriages To Police Or Face Jail Time

The NRA Thinks These Are The ‘Coolest Gun Movies’ Ever

Submerged Structure Beneath Sea of Galilee Stumps Archaeologists

Disqus Conversations

Click here to read the Disqus Commenting FAQ.

Editor & Publisher

Josh Marshall

Managing Editor

David Kurtz

Associate Editor

Nick Martin

Assistant Editor

Igor Bobic

Reporters

Brian Beutler

Sahil Kapur

Eric Lach

Hunter Walker

Frontpage Editor

Zoë Schlanger

News Writers

Tom Kludt

Video Editor

Michael Lester

General Manager & General Counsel

Millet Israeli

VP, Ad Sales

Bruce Ellerstein

Associate Publisher

Kyle Leighton

Assistant To The Publisher

Joe Ragazzo

Designer/Developer

Matthew Wozniak

Design Associate

Christopher O’Driscoll