Funding concerns factored in Chattanooga public radio firing
NASHVILLE — University officials who fired a Chattanooga public radio reporter for not identifying herself in sessions with Tennessee lawmakers were worried about losing state funding if they didn’t take action, according to emails obtained by The Associated Press.
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga terminated Jacqui Helbert last month following her report about a high school gay-rights club’s visit to the state capitol. The club went to speak out against a bill requiring transgender students to use bathrooms corresponding to the gender listed on their birth certificates.
Legislators, including Republican Sen. Mike Bell, later complained they did not know they were being recorded secretly. While Bell said he doesn’t take issue with the substance of the report, he was upset about the circumstances.
“It’s not right for somebody to secretly record you, period,” he said at the time. “She should have identified herself.”