The Baltimore Sun is reporting Melinda Roeder and station photographer Greg McNair are no longer with Baltimore FOX affiliate WBFF.
In a story first reported by FTVLive, The Sun said “two sources at the station confirmed today” that both were “dropped” by the station.
Last week, Roeder reported protestors at a rally were chanting “kill a cop” when they were actually chanting, “We won’t stop. We can’t stop, ’til killer cops are in cell blocks.”
WBFF later issued an apology and had the protest leader on air. As of this writing, Roeder’s bio is still on the station website.
When TVSpy asked GM Bill Fanshawe by phone yesterday about any possible disciplinary action for Roeder, Fanshawe said he wouldn’t comment on personnel matters.
The Baltimore City Paper quotes sources as saying news director Mike Tomko was behind the story.
Now a person familiar with the situation tells City Paper the news director is losing control of the newsroom, with photographers threatening to stage a “sick out.”
“The reporters and photogs believe Tomko sacrificed two little people to save himself,” the source says.
Both Roeder and McNair are “lawyering up,” the source also says.