Viewers Voice: Outrage over Paterno coverage

By: Jay Warren | WSLS 10
Published: January 29, 2012

Joe Paterno's death last week and our coverage of it has one viewer ready to turn off WSLS.

Felicia Gondor emailed, "I would think a decent news channel could show a little respect for the dead. You didn't have to mention the sex scandal surrounding Paterno. The man is dead. You could wait a reasonable amount of time to bring that up. Everybody knows about the scandal anyway. It just shows lack of taste and class and total disrespect for the family in this time. News is to be handled responsibly and within what is socially acceptable."

WSLS responds: Joe Paterno legacy's includes many great things he did for college sports and Penn State. But, that legacy now also includes his involvement, or lack thereof, in the sexual abuse allegations involving one of his former assistant coaches in which dozens of children may have been sexually assaulted. And, while we mentioned this in our stories, it was never the highlight of those stories, just a part of it. You are right, news is to be handled responsibly. We believe to have simply praised Paterno's life and not mention the scandal would have been irresponsible, given that the sex abuse allegations were certainly not, as you put it,. 'socially acceptable."

Last week, we aired a complaint about a paid program we air on Sundays which generated a host of comments this week, all supporting the Friendship Baptist broadcast.

Marcus Allen emailed, “I just want to let you know how much I love pastor Jon and the fact you have him on Saturday mornings. If it wasn't for him and his old time religion I would still be the same person that had no meaning to life. I think you should advertise him more so more people can have their life changed."

And Justin Lucas added, “Most stations, including your own, display shows dealing with gruesome crimes, adultery, theft, scantily clad individuals and so on. I think that some exposure to the Lord Jesus Christ and moral values are something I am thankful for and you all should be proud of."