TV anchor claims right to host evangelical show on side

Frank Turner, a 5 p.m. anchor for WXYZ-TV in Detroit, has filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against his employer “for refusing him permission to host an evangelical radio program in his spare time,” thus violating his right to religious accommodation. The station disagrees: Station officials, while not wanting to comment on Turner’s case […]

Frank Turner, a 5 p.m. anchor for WXYZ-TV in Detroit, has filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against his employer “for refusing him permission to host an evangelical radio program in his spare time,” thus violating his right to religious accommodation. The station disagrees:

Station officials, while not wanting to comment on Turner’s case directly, say they have exclusive contracts with their on-air talent and never allow anchors or others to work on competing broadcast outlets.

“We spend millions of dollars a year promoting our on-air talent and we want to have them working exclusively for Channel 7,” said Grace Gilchrist, the station’s vice president and general manager.

(Paul Egan, “TV anchor’s choice: God or Ch. 7 job”, Detroit News, Mar. 31)(via Romenesko).

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