'Predator' finally on the run?!
Surprise. Surprise. Former NBC News producer Marsha Bartel, who has worked on the "To Catch a Predator" series, has filed suit against the network. She claims, in part, that NBC fired her after she complained about the bad journalism ethics figuring into the show's production.
I said in November that the show had some serious problems -- and Gary Hill, a veteran broadcaster and former chairman of SPJ's National Ethics Committee also expressed serious reservations.
According to a story appearing on ABCNews.com:
- Bartel claims NBC pays Perverted Justice, an online vigilante group whose volunteers pose as juveniles on the Web to lure their targets. By providing the money. NBC has given Perverted Justice a "financial incentive to lie and trick targets of its sting."
If the network is, indeed, paying Perverted Justice, is Bartel's argument reasonable? I think so.
- Bartel claims the network failed to give her the names of the volunteers working for Perverted Justice. She also said that the organization does not provide complete transcripts of its volunteers' chats, making it impossible to "independently verfiy the accuracy of those transcripts."
Another reason to be concerned? Yup.
- Bartel claims NBC "unethically pays or indirectly reimburses law enforcement officials to participate in the 'Predator' sings in order to enhance and intensify the dramatic effect of the show." In her claim, she states that NBC provided police with video equipment and tapes and other forms of reimbursement.
Another problem? You don't need to read SPJ's Code of Ethics, do you?
Bartel is suing for $1 million.