A San Francisco news anchor has been suspended indefinitely after a dispute over the coverage of the Gabby Petito case.
Frank Somerville, an affiliate for KTVU, wanted to point out the disparity in coverage for missing white women compared to that of missing women of color. According to Mercury News, Somerville wanted a segment on Petito to include a tagline highlighting the extraordinary amount of coverage the case received.
Somerville was told by management that his tagline suggestion was “inappropriate.” The anchor, who is the father of an adopted Black daughter, pushed back. The source who spoke to the outlet did offer any other details regarding the conversation.
Petito, 22, was reported missing earlier this month while on a cross-country camping trip. Her body was discovered in Wyoming last week. An arrest warrant has been issued for Petito’s fiance, Brian Laundrie. Laundrie has not been cooperative with authorities and is now missing.
He has a valid point! 16 year old cheerleader #TymeahJames has been missing since she was last seen around noon on 9/24 at Hiram W. Johnson Senior High School. She missed the football game and two shifts at Taco Bell and hasn’t been heard from by anyone since 9/24. Despite the fact she has no history of disappearing or acting out Sacramento law enforcement REFUSED to let Tymeah’s mother file a missing persons report until today!! Pretty blond missing girls get 24/7/365 national media coverage within an hour of showing up late while pretty black, Asian, Native American & Latina girls get ignored until their remains are found! #DoubleStandardForMissingGirls
#FindTymeahJames