Tuesday Morning News Monica Lewinsky & Me.

Once again, my duties require me to be in the newsroom as the 3rd GA Reporter. Although my preference is to be in the field, it’s always interesting to mix things up a bit.

This morning, my colleague Elissa Harrington responded to a breaking news story – water main break near SF General – before moving on to Game 1 of the World Series and San Francisco Giants Fever. Matt Keller has the latest on the Ebola crisis and its impact/preps in the South Bay. As I’ve mentioned before – part of morning news requires we advance stories that hit the wires overnight and package them for our AM viewers.

Hot stories always generate discussion – Monica Lewinsky’s decision to join Twitter and speak out against bullying was no different.

I’m making my position on Ms. Lewinsky clear:

There is no such thing as a “consensual relationship” between an intern and their boss.

Period.

I’m sure I’ve lost some of you, just as my colleagues lost me this morning.

To say I was surprised by what I heard some of my “well-read, educated, news savvy and genuinely kind” co-workers say about Ms. Lewinsky, wouldn’t be entirely true; it is common for us to disagree. Part of our mission, in the newsroom, is to deliver the facts – simple and clear, in a fair and impartial way – sticking strictly to what we know and leaving personal biases and opinions out of the coverage.

When it came to Ms. Lewinsky and her choice to describe herself as “patient zero” re: cyber bullying, I wanted more from those with whom I work.

I wanted to believe they didn’t think her less because she says she “fell in love” with Bill Clinton.
I wanted to believe they weren’t the kind to make jokes about “cigars.”
I wanted to believe they had compassion for decisions made by a 22-year old intern, that the now, 41 year old Ms. Lewinsky must live with forever.

Monica Lewinsky deserves to have a voice.
Monica Lewinsky deserves to speak out.
Monica Lewinsky deserves better than the bullying – via whispers in newsrooms or on the internet.