Getting the Band Back Together (Patreon)

Cleveland’s WJW announced yesterday that they have brought back a number of familiar faces to staff their I-Team. 

Former WOIO Investigative Reporter Carl Monday joins former WKYC Investigative Reporter Tom Meyer and former WJW  Investigative Reporter Tom Merriman as “contributors” to WJW’s I-Team. 

The station says that “These three legendary investigative reporters will join Bill Sheil, Peggy Gallek and Ed Gallek on Cleveland’s top investigative reporting team.” 

Now, since the 3 are labeled “contributors” that basically means they are getting paid a stipend by the station. It will still be interesting to see how much work they do, or if this is more of a ratings stunt?  

“Experience matters. Especially when it comes to investigative reporting. We are thrilled to welcome back Tom, Tom and Carl, who along with  Bill, Peggy and Ed,  make up the Mount Rushmore of investigative reporters in Cleveland TV News history,"  says Fox 8 News Director Andy Fishman. 

It is also interesting to point out that Tom Merriman left WJW about a decade to join a local law firm and now has started his own practice, that includes advertising his firm on WJW. 

So, could there be a conflict of interest with this new arrangement? 

This is the soundbite that the station used from him. When it comes to the landscape, Tom Merriman, managing partner at Merriman Legal, said,  "Citizen journalism is emerging more and more. And I feel like I'm a citizen journalist. To have the platform of the I-Team to hold the powerful accountable is a great privilege."

Hmmmm? I see a big fuzzy line with this one. 

Stay tuned…