why we must hold @KUSINews accountable: a thread

KUSI prides itself on being the go-to local station and gets involved in the community through its high school football coverage and Alarm Clock Pep Rallies, in which the station goes to one high school a week during football season and holds a school-wide rally on game day.

However, KUSI is notorious in the local community for being biased and spreading misinformation. Their coverage is unethical and misleading. In a vulnerable time with a global pandemic and ongoing protests for BLM, we need local media leaders we can trust. KUSI is not that.

KUSI News is owned by the McKinnon family, who has donated thousands upon thousands of dollars to Republican candidates and committees.

Additionally, KUSI has time and time again proven their unprofessionalism.

In September 2019, reporter Ed Lenderman yelled at a man while covering a protest, saying, “I’m Ed Lenderman, I work for KUSI. Get out of my face, a**hole. … You keep walking, you (inaudible) moron.” https://twitter.com/SDUTdyer/status/1174359991437774848

Jan. 2020, reporter Dan Plante escalated a fight on air with a La Mesa business owner. KUSI proudly promoted the violent video. This is after Plante was brought back to KUSI following speculation he was fired back in 2011 for racist remarks he made on air.

June 2020, reporter Kacey McKinnon posted an IG photo holding a “Women for Trump” sign at a Donald Trump boat parade, showing clear biases. She is also a relative of the owners of KUSI. Weatherperson Mark Mathis commented “YES!!!!!” on her post. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBYfdSOjJYq/ 

These are only three examples of the harm @KUSINews is doing in our community. These examples are simply a small drop in a bucket of reckless practice. We cannot allow this to be the example in our local schools.

KUSI News’ attempt to appear as a wholesome community news station despite its irresponsible and harmful impact is only going to continue unless we take action.

We cannot allow KUSI News to enter our high school campuses and inherently politicize the children of San Diego.

We demand San Diego County high schools stop allowing @KUSINews to hold pep rallies on campuses and embed their biases into our youth.

take action: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/488/599/493/stop-allowing-kusi-news-to-politicize-our-youth/