In report on Imus settlement, KJCT did not mention controversial comments that led to his firing

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

On the August 14 broadcast of Grand Junction television station KJCT's News 8 at 5 p.m., anchor Ryan Cook reported that former nationally syndicated radio host Don Imus “has reached a settlement with CBS over his multimillion-dollar contract and is now in negotiations with WABC Radio in New York to resume his broadcasting career there.” However, News 8, which is an ABC affiliate, omitted mention of the bigoted and sexist on-air comments that led to MSNBC dropping Imus' program and CBS Radio firing him. In contrast, Denver ABC affiliate KMGH 7News reported on its August 14 7News Now at 4 p.m. broadcast that Imus had been “fired for racially insensitive remarks.”

As Media Matters for America noted, on the April 4 broadcast of MSNBC's Imus in the Morning, Imus referred to members of the Rutgers University women's basketball team as “nappy-headed hos” immediately after the show's executive producer, Bernard McGuirk, called the players “hard-core hos.” Following the public outcry over his comment, MSNBC, which simulcast Imus' radio show, announced on April 11 that it was dropping the program. The following day, CBS Radio fired Imus.

From the August 14 broadcast of KJCT's News 8 at 5 p.m.:

COOK: Don Imus has reached a settlement with CBS over his multimillion-dollar contract and is now in negotiations with WABC Radio in New York to resume his broadcasting career there. A CBS spokesman says that Imus and CBS Radio have reached a settlement which would pre-empt the dismissed DJ's threatened $120 million breach-of-contract lawsuit.

In contrast to the News 8 report, 7News anchor Mitch Jelniker noted Imus' settlement with CBS and his purported “comeback” with WABC, but also pointed out that Imus was fired for making “racially insensitive remarks.”

From the August 14 broadcast of KMGH's 7News Now at 4 p.m.:

JELNIKER: A settlement has been reached between Don Imus and CBS. He has threatened to sue for millions after being fired for racially insensitive remarks. A dollar amount has not been released. Meanwhile this afternoon, Imus is taking steps towards a comeback with WABC in New York. [emphasis added]

As Media Matters documented, before his “nappy-headed ho” slur, Imus had a history of making racist and bigoted remarks.