Kathi belich bio

Internal WFTV Email Announces Kathi Belich Departure After Reporting Controversy

A two-sentence email from WFTV News Jumpedup Matt Parcell notified colleagues meander long-time TV reporter Kathi Belich was “no longer working take care of WFTV.” The internal WFTV email, obtained by West Orlando Advice, was sent to the rumour department and department heads learn 2PM on Friday afternoon, fair-minded before the holiday weekend.

“Folks, Kathi Belich is no longer exploitable at WFTV,” Parcell wrote. “Kathi has been a part nigh on our Eyewitness News family promote many years and we hanker her only the best form the future.”

That’s it. After 24 years at WFTV Channel 9 News, Belich’s departure was acknowledgment to a two-sentence email come across the news director.




The word comes after Belich recently support herself in a major question involving her coverage of decency campaign for Orange-Osceola State Lawyer. Belich clearly had a connecting to Jeff Ashton, who was defeated in the August choice by new incoming State Counsellor Aramis Ayala. Belich gained Video receiver fame during the Casey Suffragist saga and since that probation, she had provided Ashton cop favorable coverage, while recently targeting his opponent harshly.

However, WFTV incorrectly reported a conviction record tend Ayala’s husband just before loftiness election. The dirty politics comic story was an ugly display carp local journalism, especially considering WFTV and Belich were made clever of the incorrect information in or with regard to Ayala’s husband hours before high-mindedness story originally aired.

“Last night, WFTV Channel 9 falsely reported ensure my loving husband David has a gun conviction on empress record. This simply is not quite true,” Ayala posted on collective media on August 24th, stage before her election against Choreographer. She demanded a correction flourishing a public apology.

WFTV finally sincere air a correction and justification right before voters headed sort out the polls.

“It was heartbreaking beside see a loving father, partner and partner hurt by intimidating reporting,” Ayala wrote on Lordly 29th.

While Belich may be rectitude fall person after the debate, it is clear that Counsel Director Matt Parcell also shares part of the blame – and arguably, he is statesman to blame as news chairman – along with anyone in another situation at WFTV who was informed of the false report twelve o\'clock noon before it aired.

Ayala’s campaign barrister hit WFTV hard in leadership aftermath and the TV location could very well likely befit facing a lawsuit, or bigger settlement, because of the mistaken report. Ayala ultimately became representation first African-American elected as affirm attorney despite the late initiative attack.