WTVF Addresses Pride Month Controversy

Scripps-owned CBS affiliate WTVF Nashville (DMA 27) has responded to controversy generated after posting, then removing, a station logo supporting Pride Month on Monday.

Today, the station issued the following statement:

“NewsChannel 5 is committed to equitable, diverse, and inclusive news coverage that reflects the Nashville and Middle Tennessee community. Recently, one of our employees briefly posted an image related to Pride Month. The same employee made a decision to remove that image because it had not gone through our usual process of discussion and approval. Reaction to the image was consistent with responses we have received from other posts related to LGBTQ issues.

“The removal of the image was in no way meant to indicate a lack of support for the LGBTQ community, either from the station or the employee involved. In fact, on the very day the image was briefly posted, NewsChannel 5 provided other social media posts and on-air reporting related to LGBTQ issues and Pride Month in particular. Like the image that was posted and removed, our other posts related to LGBTQ issues were met with negative comments from some viewers.

“The station and its leadership have a long history of service to many diverse groups, including the LGBTQ community. In 2005, we became the first broadcast TV station in the country to launch a regular program focused on LGBTQ issues, weathering significant pressure from some viewers and advertisers. That program, Out & About Today, has been on the air now for 14 years. The station is committed to diversity in hiring and has a written inclusivity policy with a specific focus on LGBTQ.

“Members of our Diversity Team represent different races, departments, genders and sexual orientations. That team schedules Lunch and Learn sessions on important topics, including gay and lesbian rights and transgender issues. We have built a learning environment with a diverse staff, including those in the LGBTQ community, so that we can cover stories fairly and without bias.”