Fired Reporter Suing University

0

This goes back to our March 27 story (Reporter Gets Fired After Lawmaker Complains). 32 year old Jacqui Helbert says she was fired from her job as a reporter at WUTC after a lawmaker complained she did not properly idenitify herself as a reporter. The Nashville Scene reports the suit was filed Thursday with Helbert asking for, reinstatement, apology, education and training about the laws violated, lost wages, harm for the emotional distress from the retaliatory firing, reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs, and any further relief appropriate to the circumstances,” up to $1 million in damages.

Helbert was reporting on a state transgender bathroom bill and believes the lawmakers did not like her report and put pressure on the University that they would cut funding to the radio station, and that’s why she was fired.

The university and two employees, senior associate vice chancellor of marketing and communications George Heddleston and associate vice chancellor of marketing and communications Chuck Cantrell, are named as defendants. Helbert says, “Clearly I believe I was fired for reporting a story of important public interest that did not sit well with lawmakers.”

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here