West Virginia EBA pushes back on claims of retribution against reporter
CHARLESTON — The chairman of the board that oversees West Virginia Public Broadcasting denied claims from an employee that it had retaliated against her over reporting on the state Department of Health and Human Resources.
William File, the chairman of the Educational Broadcasting Authority, issued a statement Thursday night refuting claims from West Virginia Public Broadcasting reporter Amelia Knisely that she was let go on Dec. 20 from her part-time duties as a public health reporter over her news stories on DHHR.
“WVPB stands by its reporting on the DHHR and will continue to report on the DHHR in the future,” File said. “Most importantly, it should be noted that Knisely was never fired and as of the issuing of this statement she is still on the WVPB payroll.”
File’s statement was news to Knisely, who confirmed Thursday night that her keycard and e-mail had been deactivated. She was unable to comment further having not read File’s statement in full.
In a news story Wednesday, Knisely claimed that WVPB allegedly told her Dec. 6 she could no longer cover DHHR due to pressure from outgoing DHHR Cabinet Secretary Bill Crouch. Knisely filed a complaint with WVPB human resources Dec. 15 over the alleged interference.
Knisely began work as a WVPB part-time employee in September. According to File, Knisely was hired after being recommended by WVPB News Director Eric Douglas, but her employment would only last until a full-time health reporter could be hired. That full-time employee, Emily Rice, began work on Nov. 21.
“(Knisely) was clearly made aware that the position would be available until the full-time position was filled,” File said. “The full-time employee has completed her introductory period and along with others will assume the responsibility for reporting on the DHHR.”
But according to emails obtained by the Senate Clerk’s Office through a Freedom of Information Act request, Douglas had told communications officials for the House of Delegates and state Senate on Dec. 15 that Knisely would “serve a vital role in our legislative coverage.”
In a separate email that same day to legislative communications staff, WVPB Programming Director Eddie Isom stated that Knisely had no further assignments and would not need legislative press credentials. That same day, WVPB Executive Director Butch Antolini informed Douglas that “things had changed” with Knisely.
In an email Dec. 15 to Senate Communications Director Jacque Bland after he was informed of Isom’s interference, Douglas agreed with her assertion that the actions regarding Knisely were “gross and shady.”“While (Isom) was sending that letter, I was in (Antolini’s) office being told things had changed with Amelia,” Douglas wrote. “I don’t appreciate (Isom) going behind my back, but for now it is out of my hands. You don’t need to worry about credentials for Amelia after all. And you’re right, it does feel gross and shady.”
File does not address whether there was pressure to pull Knisely from DHHR coverage, though he claims that Knisely, after returning to work Dec. 14 after an illness, was instructed by Douglas to finish work on a pending TV news assignment on foster care involving DHHR.
Knisely’s final story on DHHR was Dec. 6 when Disability Rights West Virginia Legal Director Michael Folio briefed the Legislature’s Joint Health Committee on allegations of abuse and neglect at William R. Sharpe Hospital in Weston, as well as alleged interference by DHHR and Crouch to prevent DHHR employees from cooperating with DRWV, which serves as the federal watchdog for the care of people with intellectual and development disabilities.
“On December 6, 2022, Knisely authored another story concerning the DHHR and treatment of people with disabilities,” File said. “WVPB stands by the story and no retraction has been made.”
Another story by Knisely on Nov. 3 detailed a letter from state Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, to Gov. Jim Justice seeking a formal investigation into allegations by DRWV alerting lawmakers to alleged abuse of patients at Sharpe Hospital. Accusations by DRWV included physical and verbal abuse of patients and neglect. DRWV also accused DHHR of failing to provide court-ordered updates to the organization.
Crouch wrote a six-page letter to Antolini on Nov. 10 seeking a retraction of Knisely’s Nov. 3 story., alleging it contained multiple factual errors. WVPB stood by the story and gave Crouch a one-on-one interview to refute the claims in the story on Nov. 28. DHHR Communications Director Allison Adler did not address Knisely’s allegations of pressure on WVPB to take her off of DHHR coverage in a statement Tuesday.
“Former West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) Cabinet Secretary Bill J. Crouch requested a retraction to the original story via letter to Butch Antolini, which did not occur, but instead was provided an opportunity to tell his side of the story,” Adler said.
“It has been suggested that Antolini received pressure from the Justice administration and DHHR to retract both stories,” File said. “Neither of those stories have been retracted. Antolini also reported to the WVEBA executive committee that he was not coerced or pressured by anyone.”
File also acknowledged that Knisely did file an HR complaint on Dec. 15. File does not state what the nature of Knisely’c complaint was.
“In that letter she acknowledges that none of her work on the DHHR was edited or retracted by WVPB management,” File said.
Of news of Knisely’s allegations Wednesday resulted in an outpouring of support from long-time readers and supporters as well as other reporters. It also resulted in an editorial sent to media outlets Thursday morning from Blair.
“The actions this week by the DHHR and the management of West Virginia Public Broadcasting went too far, and it appears our Executive Branch has gone from largely refusing to cooperate with the media to actively undermining it,” Blair wrote. “I hope the Executive Branch disavows this blatant abuse of the First Amendment and holds the management of West Virginia Public Broadcasting responsible for it.”
Steven Allen Adams can be reached at sadams@newsandsentinel.com