RUTHFULLY YOURS

Last month, we told you about Larry Conners, a veteran St. Louis reporter who was fired after he alleged that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may have unfairly targeted him following an interview he did with President Barack Obama. Now, weeks later and after much silence, Conners is opening up about the odd purported details of his ongoing battle with his former employer, KMOV-TV.

If you’ll recall, the local television outlet dismissed the reporter, claiming that his IRS comments would give an aura of bias — something that the station said would be a potential barrier to providing “accurate and unbiased reporting.”

In a Facebook post published on Sunday, Conners shared what he said are the latest developments surrounding his battle with KMOV-TV.

Following his departure, the journalist claims that the outlet wanted to settle the situation. But rather than come up with terms amiable to both parties, Conners charges that the station did quite the opposite.

To ensure that the situation moved smoothly, the former reporter said that he went out of his way to make no “disparaging remarks” about the company or its management. After negotiations went south, though, he’s now speaking out.

To begin, he highlighted the minuscule pay he was given following his departure.

“At the time of my termination, after 27 years with Channel 4, 38 years in St. Louis, 50 years in broadcasting, KMOV essentially gave me a 2 week severance check,” he said.

That’s only the beginning, though. KMOV is allegedly offering the reporter no cash settlement and is saying that he cannot work in St. Louis broadcasting for a full year (the ban, according to the reporter, would also include radio). This would essentially mean that Conners would not be allowed to work for any outlet in the area, rendering him unable to make a living doing the work he has engaged in for the past five decades.

“This keeps me from providing for my family in my chosen line of work for one year,” the reporter wrote in his Facebook post. “As my wife said — I wouldn’t do that to my worst enemy (if she had one).”

Conners also shared that his lawyer filed an injunction on Friday to try and prevent his former employer from preventing him to work for other local stations.

“Why would any human being want to keep someone from earning a living to support his/her family?,” he asked at the end of the post.

Photo Credit: KMOV-TV

On his Facebook page, supporters showered the former reporter with praise and encouragement, urging him to continue his fight.

“Larry stand up and do what you do best,” wrote one fan, who also encouraged him to launch his own news station. “I stand with you Larry! Everyone I have spoken to think KMOV is so off base!! Shame on them!,” wrote another (see all of the responses to Conners’ announcement).

It’s not clear how the situation will be resolved, but it seems the reporter is prepared to fight back against his former employer.

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