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Fox back on school's TVs

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By DENNIS JOYCE

djoyce@tampatrib.com

Published: October 21, 2009

TAMPA - A morning news radio show blasted Hillsborough County schools Tuesday after learning in an e-mail that Fox News Channel was dropped from televisions at a school in Brandon.

"Honestly, I obviously would be just as mad if they couldn't get CNN," said Jeff Fisher, producer of "AM Tampa Bay," which broadcasts from 5 to 9 a.m. on WFLA, 970 AM, a Fox News Radio affiliate.
Fox News Channel was off the air briefly at McLane Middle School, a school district spokesman said, but not because school leaders are critical of the channel, which the White House has labeled "a wing of the Republican Party."

It turns out Fox was the only national news channel available at McLane when Principal Frank Oliver arrived on campus, said Steve Hegarty, school district spokesman.

Oliver directed the technical staff to add the other channels, not take away any, Hegarty said. But in making the switch, Fox disappeared, he said.

Was it a mistake?

"That certainly wasn't his intention," Hegarty said. "When it was learned that Fox had been left off, it was put back on."

The e-mail quoted by "AM Tampa Bay" said a teacher at McLane liked to watch Fox News Channel after school while grading papers, Fisher said.

Fisher would not provide a copy of the e-mail or identify the sender, because it was second- or third-hand information from "a friend of a friend" of the station. The sender, he said, was not involved in the events at McLane.

The story spread after the teacher's son posted an item on Facebook, Fisher said.
Hegarty said he did not know why Fox News was the only national news channel shown at McLane. Local news shows also were shown through a TV system available for teachers to use in classrooms.

The flap involving McLane comes on the heels of a growing dispute between the White House and Fox News Channel over coverage of President Barack Obama and his initiatives.

Editor Dennis Joyce can be reached at (813) 259-7604.

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