Daybreaker: KBTV's Jim Walker LOVES to "Facebook"

Social media is the gift that keeps on giving.

Take Facebook, it's a magical place where you can update all of your "friends" on your innermost thoughts. Gems like, "pizza is the new chicken wing" or "so glad that genital herpes flare-up has subsided."

Things you probably should've kept to yourself.

Take this little back-and-forth.

A KBTV viewer emailed station head, Chris Pruitt, a note about the evening newscast. Here is the full text:

"Mr. Pruitt,

I recently moved to SE Texas and love the area! My priority is to learn all I can about my newfound community. That's where your station and the others come in. I truly love Sheldra on the anchor desk. Her warmth and wit invite me in and make me feel connected! She is a gem! I truly wish I could say the same about her co-anchor. Mr. Walker, though physically attractive, doesn't excude (sic) the same warmth or sense of caring. I get the feeling "it's all about him." That suspicion recently was confirmed for me when a co-worker introduced me to his Facebook page. I don't know why it angered me to the point of writing to you. I don't even know why I care. I guess it's because I believe you truly could have a great station that makes the community the center of its mission rather than a body building circuit boy anchor who seems more concerned about having the public adore him. My point is simple. I want to fall in love with your station, but I just can't. Thanks for listening."

Pruitt pens a short, but courteous note back. No harm, no foul.

The fun comes when someone (wonder who?) alerts lead anchor, Jim Walker, to the viewer letter. An avid Facebooker, Walker immediately heads to the internetz to flog the unsuspecting writer. Nevermind the fact that the viewer says IN HER LETTER that she has seen (and has access to) his Facebook page.

Walker updates his "status" to read:

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Once Walker lets the "catfight" outta the bag, the pile on begins. Walker's pals load up on the woman, tossing around words like "d*****bag" and "b***h." Walker, himself, does the most damage.

He says this during the exchange:

"This woman, yes, woman-probably a bible thumbing b**ch from around here, claims she was offended. She is probably the same type that stands on her toilet, looking over her fence, calling the police because her neighbor is swimming in his backyard pool in the nude."

No he di'int!?!?!!?

A "friend" of Walker's chimes in: "she just wanted a piece of your hot bod but is pissed off cuz she wants what she can't have!"

To which Walker responds, "probably not too far off. Either that or her husband said he do me! lol."

Shut your mouth!!!!?!!?!?

OMG! So HI-larious, Jim! Can we talk? Along with every other teenager in the world, we're also on Facebook. It's fine and all -- kind of the 21st Century equivalent of an endless high school reunion. But you are the lead anchor of a network news affiliate; you hold a position of trust and power in Southeast Texas. Would Wolf Blitzer ever call someone a "b**ch" on his Twitter page? Doubt it.

Regardless of whether this woman has an agenda or not (and she very well might have), you need to take the high road. Why? 'Cause it's your job. We know that there are folks on your "friends" list that have NEVER met you, don't know you and shouldn't have access to your ultra-personal musings (does anyone really have 1,651 close pals?). You might want to consider being, um, a bit more selective. You could set up two accounts: one for personal use and another for FOX4 fans.

Futhermore, the hypocrisy of it all. During the exchange, Walker says that he's "floored by the small people out there who wouldn't dare have the b*lls to approach me in person." Isn't attacking someone on your Facebook page (who reads your site through a third party) a rather indirect way of handling a confrontation? We're just sayin'. A better reaction might have been to invite her to the station, give her a tour and introduce her around. Oh, that's right; making fun of her on Facebook is a ton easier.

Walker moves on from his cyber therapy session, but not before the damage -- and quite a bit -- has been done.

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In the end, the woman who started this whole imbroglio writes another note to Pruitt:

"My intention was just to offer my opinion. It wasn't to rile Mr. Walker. I am sure he is quite capable--if not always accurate. I've learned from co-workers that Mr. Walker and his fans seem to think I called him an "airhead." Please check our earlier correspondence. That word never appeared, but words that have appeared since then in reference to me are "b**ch", "jealous b**ch", "Bible thumbing b**ch", "sill (sic) overweight b**ch", "Shoot'r in the head", and several other acts I won't dare mention. Since accuracy and discretion are not held in high regard at your station (as evidenced by the following Facebook string on the matter), I can assure you that neither my family nor my spiritual loved ones will be taking you up on your offer to check out your 'entertaining' morning show."

Could she have had an ulterior motive? Perhaps. She did send this string of correspondence to the CEO of KBTV's parent company, Nexstar, as well as the head of Nexstar human resources and an investment firm with a large stake in Nexstar. It was also sent to The Beaumont Enterprise newsroom (which is how we got wind of it).  She obviously did her homework.

Heck, anyone could find out. After all, the woman’s letters have to go into KBTV’s public file -- an FCC requirement.

The bottom line: treat social media with kid gloves, you just never know who might be reading.

GO AHEAD, "FACEBOOK" THESE

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