Local 6 has been riding Tony Pipitone’s "The Guetzloe Files" as its showcase sweeps series this month. Now, a supporter of the political consultant is trying to get back at the station.
Tag Archives: Tony Pipitone
Local 6 wins appeal to air Guetzloe files
A week later than planned, WKMG on Monday night was able to air a report relating to "The Guetzloe Files." Those are the documents that once belonged to political consultant Doug Guetzloe – files handed over to Local 6′s Tony Pipitone from a man who bought them from a storage facility after Guetzloe didn’t pay his bill. Guetzloe went to court to block the story — and succeeded until WKMG won an appeal on Monday. So, after all the hub-bub, what did the files show? That Guetzloe accepted money from Casselberry strip clubs to try to keep anti-strip club commissioners from being elected in the city. Guetzloe has denied ever accepting such money — but Pipitone produced the canceled checks to prove it and an interview with a strip club owner who confirmed the whole thing. More to come, we’re told. …
6 may not get to show Guetzloe’s files
If you’ve watched Channel 6 during the past two weeks, you couldn’t have missed the promos for Tony Pipitone’s report about what’s in the personal files of political activist Doug Guetzloe.
Since the station obtained the files, it’s been the most-hyped sweeps story — and it’s supposed to air on Monday’s 11 p.m. newscast. But it may not happen.
An Orange County judge is barring the station from airing any of the material it obtained from the personal files of Guetzloe, according to the Orlando Sentinel. WKMG plans to appeal the decision. "I’m confident we’ll prevail, and I’m confident the First Amendment will prevail," Local 6 GM Henry Maldonado said.
So, will the report air? You’ll have to tune in at 11 — which is just what WKMG wanted all along, files or no files.
6 fights subpoena, plus other stuff
Attorneys for Local 6 filed a motion on Monday to quash a subpoena seeking the Doug Guetzloe files from Problem Solvers reporter Tony Pipitone. WKMG GM Henry Maldonado said the station is fighting the subpoena to "protect our right to investigate." More from the Orlando Sentinel …
6′s Pipitone gets Guetzloe’s files
Just when it seems the strange saga of political consultant Doug Guetzloe can’t get any more bizarre, it does.
WKMG Dominates AP Awards
WKMG was the big winner when the 2006 Florida Associated Press Broadcasters awards were presented on Saturday night. Local 6 News won both first- and second-place awards in the Best TV Newscast and Individual Achievement categories, plus a first place in spot news.
The Jan. 11, 2005, WKMG newscast — featuring exclusive video of a fatal plane crash on Dubsdread Golf Course — was voted best newscast, edging another WKMG newscast from Aug. 2. Sky 6 pilot Dan McCarthy and photojournalist Chris Miller won the spot news category with the aerial video of the Dubsdread crash.
In the Individual Achievement competition, Tony Pipitone took first place with a composite of live, investigative and feature reports, while Local 6′s Erik von Ancken won the second-place award.
WFTV received a first-place award in Hard News Feature for Berndt Petersen’s "Lake County Cold Case." Channel 9 also picked up second-place awards for Sportscast, Public Affairs and Best Overall.
WESH received one award, for a Marc Rice photo essay with Kathy Marsh titled "The Chicken Man."
Orlando’s stations were competing in the AP’s large-market division, that also includes stations from Miami and Tampa.