Caldwell says he is continuing to talk with KHOU and has reached no conclusions about the treatment of Scott and other staffers. "Traditionally, nepotism, sexism, racism, all those isms, have been alive and well in the broadcast industry," says the minister. "So I'm always curious what the process is."
Closer to home, a KHOU staffer says Diaz has launched an internal investigation, quizzing everyone as to what they knew about McClinton's action and when they knew it.
McClinton followed a colleague out the door.
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"Our general manager is playing Kenneth Starr right now," says the staffer, who likens the atmosphere in the KHOU newsroom to an emotional earthquake, with aftershocks like the Scott suspension continuing to keep everyone on edge.
After the walkouts of two high-profile employees and the resignations of others, says the source, "it was just awful in there yesterday. If I were a manager, I would say, 'What's going on here, guys? Let's look at ourselves, see what we are doing.' But their first reaction was, 'Who can we blame for this.' "
Former news director Goldberg agrees. "You don't blame the producer. You've got to look at how and why they got to that point to start with. If there's blame, that's where it should rest."
McClinton is chagrined that what she had planned as an individual gesture is damaging other people.
"A lot of arrows are flying, and there are a lot of good people who are getting hurt just because they are in the way of the flying arrows," says the former anchor.
"I am done. I have left. I just don't want anybody associated with me to get hurt." Scott's attorney says McClinton has offered financial support to help the producer through the suspension period, an indication she feels some responsibility for getting Scott in hot water with management.
If KHOU's management has learned anything from the McClinton public relations debacle, it was not apparent last Friday after a meeting between Diaz, Devlin, executive producer Willie Walker and Scott. Despite her insistence that she did not cooperate with McClinton, producer Scott was suspended by Diaz for an additional week without pay and was put on probation for a year.
According to Scott's attorney, he and his client regard the action as an attempt to pressure Scott into resigning.
As the shaken woman rose to leave, Diaz told her, "Okay, let's put this behind us as soon as possible."
You wish, buddy.
The Insider is always ready, willing and able to receive news tips. Call him at (713)280-2483, fax him at (713)280-2496, or e-mail him at insider@houstonpress.com.
