OLD Media Moves

Reporter's employment with public TV station ends after Alcoa story

August 18, 2010

Posted by Chris Roush

A reporter for UNC-TV has left the public station after criticism about a documentary on Alcoa she reported, reports Benjamin Niolet.

The station is not saying how or why Eszter Vajda‘s job ended.

Niolet writes, “Zimmermann declined to discuss how or why Vajda’s employment ended.

“‘It’s a personnel matter and so I can’t say anything about that,’ she said.

“Vajda’s involvement in a documentary about aluminum maker Alcoa has been the subject of news stories.

“Alcoa is seeking to renew its federal license to operate hydroelectric dams on the Yadkin River. The state is fighting the relicensing, and wants to take over the operation.”

Read more here. More on the story can be found here.

DISCLOSURE: Three UNC-Chapel Hill School of Journalism professors — my colleagues — have criticized Vajda’s Alcoa reporting, but I was unaware of the situation until today. Vajda’s response to the criticism can be found here.

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