A bit more on Erin Logan

Don Wheeler

For several weeks the most popular post in TSBP has been I feel bad for Erin Logan .  Noting that, it seemed like a good idea idea to look for "what happened next.  (As far as I know, the commercial media around here hasn't bothered.) 

Local coverage does tend to do best on this blog - still I'm a bit surprised by the persistence of this story's popularity.

As you'll recall, Ms. Logan was involved in an ugly domestic incident with Chris Zorich - a former Notre Dame and Chicago Bears lineman - sports hero to some.  She allegedly engaged in some bad behavior towards law enforcement officers as well. Her employer, NBC affiliate WNDU-TV, responded by firing her immediately.

The original post came about because I became very annoyed with the support the station got for its precipitous action as well as the way Ms. Logan was pilloried by many in the community.  All this appeared to be unencumbered by the thought process - as the Car Guys like to put it.  Adding to my skepticism is that fact that guys like Zorich are untouchable in our area.  One look at his regional sports pedigree tells you he wouldn't even need to ask for favors - favors would come unbidden.

The only suggestion I'm making, just to be clear, is that balance and process seemed absent prior to pronouncement of judgment.

Starcasm.net decided it might be interesting to see what happened after the original incident. Starcasm  reported back in June that WNDU had deleted their own story about the Logan firing and that charges against Erin were dropped.  Didn't hear much about that, did we?

The deleted entry:

It is with deep regret that we report this next story.

One of our own, Reporter/Anchor, Erin Logan was arrested early Thursday morning for being drunk, disorderly and resisting arrest. Ms. Logan was in front of a Mishawaka home after an incident happened inside. She was approached by police and refused to cooperate.

As a result of the incident, Ms. Logan is no longer employed by WNDU.

Ms. Logan has a new gig in New Bedford MA.  I wish her well.

I feel bad for Erin Logan

Don Wheeler

I don't know what was going through her mind in the wee hours of Thursday morning.  From what is public record, her conduct towards police officers merely trying to do their jobs seems reprehensible.  Erin Logan wasn't even all that drunk - per the reported BAC of 0.11.  That would not seem to explain it.

But I'm not one to measure a person's worth on the basis of his or her worst moment, so I'm a bit annoyed at all the sanctimonious piling on of Ms. Logan and the lauding of her immediate firing by WNDU.  The station needs to do what it needs to do, I guess.  But I'm a bit surprised that they wouldn't want to do a bit of at least an in-house investigation first.

You may remember that WSBT anchor Debra Daniel had her own alcohol fueled problem some time back.  That station suspended her, but allowed her a process to redeem herself.  I'm guessing the road wasn't all that easy, but Ms. Daniel managed the passage.

To be clear, I don't know that WNDU's decision is wrong.  I do know Erin Logan was a good reporter.

As a school board candidate in 2008, I was very discouraged by the lack of local media coverage.  One bright exception was Erin Logan and WNDU.  She reported from a debate held at the South Bend Public Library downtown, and interviewed each of the candidates after the event (and there were a lot of us).  She asked quality questions and all the interviews were posted on the WNDU website for citizens to review.  One can debate whether she was after a good show - or to provide a service to the community.  I don't happen to care.  Both things happened.

So I hope Ms. Logan can move on from this ugly incident, learn what ever lessons are to be learned from it, and pick up the pieces. And I wonder why so many of us are so ready to pillory others who have a lapse of judgment and/or conduct.  What does that say about us?