06-05-2009/Update: 06-08-2009 EX-KCTV PRODUCER SUES OVER T-SHIRT AND CONVENTION ISSUE The Maynard Institute Web site announced that a former female producer at KCTV5 is suing the station: "Francelle R. Watson, a former producer for KCTV-TV in Kansas City, has sued the station, alleging race, age and gender discrimination, Scott Lauckreported Monday for Missouri Lawyers Media. "According to the lawsuit, News Director Regent Ducas wore a shirt bearing obscenities directed at women, Hispanics, gays and blacks. . . . Watson also said she was denied a chance to attend the 2008 Unity Convention, a once-every-four-years gathering of black, Hispanic, Asian and Native American journalists associations, but that two white employees were sent instead." Watson is 49." Nadia Pflaumm, investigative reporter at the Pitch, provided additional details, including noting the meeting that upset Watson when Ducas allegedly wore the offensive t-shirt was actually held in 2004. Watson, a 21-year employee at KCTV5, was terminated by station in April 2008. "Watson claims she's suffered loss of past and future income and benefits, humiliation, embarrassment, mental distress, harm to reputation and severe career disruption, and seeks a jury trial to recover an unspecified amount of damages," according to Pflaumm. BLC has been told by a source that Watson's memory of the t-shirt might not be totally accurate. An insider who saw it confirmed it was totally inappropriate for a newsroom. However, the offending apparel only featured the F-word all over it and not any racial epithets as Watson claims in her lawsuit.
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