WKOW-TV in Madison, Wisc., is under scrutiny for a recent pitch it gave to top medical professionals.
"Al Tompkins, who leads the broadcast group at The Poynter Institute, a journalism training center in St. Petersburg, Fla., said the wording of Allen's letter suggested news would be involved. He said the station was allowing doctors to be 'the authority' regardless of their background, as long as they pay.
" 'Stations need the income to keep doing good things and cover news,' he said. 'But anything that reinforces an existing perception that content is for sale undercuts everything a serious newsroom works toward.' "
