WCIA controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
Back to profile4 entries
2021
Abigail Metsch social-media controversy
Reporter Abigail Metsch was terminated after a viewer complaint about an Instagram image referencing her station affiliation escalated into a broader industry and corporate controversy.
2021
Champaign shooting report controversy
WCIA faced strong criticism after a report about the shooting deaths of officer Chris Oberheim and Darion Lafayette displayed a family-provided image that viewers considered an inappropriate memorialization of Lafayette. The station apologized on air and stated that the report failed to meet its standards. Subsequent management changes and a public discussion of editorial reforms followed.
2021
WCIA apologizes for airing image of alleged cop killer with angel wings
Company response
CBS affiliate WCIA apologized for airing an image depicting Darion Lafayette, who allegedly killed a police officer, as an angel. The station's director also apologized to the officer's family and took the story down, according to the family member quoted in the article.
Company response
Apology — WCIA
WCIA began its feature story on Lafayette with a family member saying, “He’s the most compassionate person who you will ever meet in your life, if you ever knew him.”
Source excerpt
WCIA also apologized on social media, saying, “Reporting stories of this nature are complicated and emotional for everyone involved—for the families and friends of the deceased and the wounded, and for the police department. An event like this has a direct impact on everyone in our community.”
Oberheim said she called WCIA to complain about the story, and “the lady blew me off, and I said, ‘(you) guys have disrespected our family and I want a call back from a director.'” According to Oberheim, WCIA director Richard Flesch called her back within an hour and apologized repeatedly before taking the story down.
CBS affiliate WCIA has apologized for airing an image Friday that depicted Darion Lafayette — who died after allegedly killing police officer Chris Oberheim and wounding another officer in a shootout in Champaign, Illinois — as an angel.
2005
Use of government video news releases
The New York Times reported that WCIA had aired numerous U.S. Department of Agriculture video releases without clearly identifying them as government-produced material. The station said the segments were used in its agricultural news service.