After some crime took place in my neighborhood, a Fox 10 TV reporter named Steve Krafft (and a photographer that was with him) stood in my apartment complex and took pictures through my window into the inside of my home. I had no idea who they were. When I asked them if there was a problem, Mr. Krafft said he was with the media and asked me if I wanted to do an interview. (Since it seems no one has told them, it might be worth noting that creeping outside of people's homes and taking photos without their permission is not only inappropriate, but also an ineffective way to try to build rapport with someone you're hoping to agree to an interview.)
At first, Mr. Krafft refused to identify himself. When I asked him who his manager was, he made up the name Eric Gibson. Then he said he wasn't sure who his manager was, and that he certainly wouldn't tell me. It's not unheard of for reporters to conceal their identity or that of their bosses when, perhaps, their life is in danger, but doing so to dodge accountability for their own misbehavior reflects poorly not only on the station but also on the profession as a whole.
Mr. Krafft's boss' name is Steve Levi--posting this as a public service in case anyone else is looking for the elusive "Eric Gibson" that doesn't exist. To make matters worse, Mr. Levi wasn't much help at all. He called to offer a pseudo-apology and was not only rude and condescending but also lied multiple times about what took place. At first, he said that his staff did not have a camera, and then insisted that he meant a "news camera." He made an excuse for Mr. Krafft's refusal to identify himself by saying that "everyone knows who he is" (say what?). He pointed out that media is allowed on the property with permission of the property manager, implying that there was permission, but then admitted that the property manager hadn't given him permission. He then pretended that they'd actually gotten permission from a resident they were interviewing. However, none of my neighbors said they gave Mr. Krafft permission to be on the property, and none of them were interviewed. (If they were, perhaps Mr. Krafft would have had his "news camera" out so he could get high def video footage into the inside of my home rather than still photographs.)
I checked to see if Fox 10 had a code of ethics on their website, and wasn't surprised to find out they did not. Unethical, unprofessional, and dishonest behavior is typically top down, and speaking with Mr. Levi made me realize why Mr. Krafft and friends think they can act like stalkers with impunity. It's too bad nobody at Fox 10 has the decency to tell them that people have a right to not be photographed inside their own home. read more
