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Media Scope
Nearly Nude Photo Spread Works for LA AnchorThe difference, with a big-market distinction, is full frontal nudity on the Internet. That's where the line is drawn -- at least for now, at least in the Youngstown television market.In Los Angeles, KTLA's early morning news anchor, Sharon Tay, barely covered her nipples for an above-the-waist nude shot published in Razor, a men's magazine. The picture is the most revealing shot in a photo spread that also showed the newswoman wearing a halter top and posing in a sexual position on the station's anchor desk."There's a difference between appearing attractive and fostering the impression you have just stumbled in from a night of clubbing, which can be especially disconcerting on an early-morning newscast," complained Brian Lowry, media columnist for Variety, in a column published for Broadcasting & Cable.Lowry's laments, of course, made no difference. KTLA promotes Tay, who has been with the WB affiliate 10 years, as one of its brightest stars. "A role model in the Asian and Pacific Islander communities of southern California, Sharon Tay extends her position and professionalism into the community on a regular basis," states the station's Web site.Which brings us to Catherine Bosley, who resigned in December as WKBN-TV's morning news anchor after pictures and video of her nude dance last April at a Florida bar were widely circulated over the Internet.One of Bosley's biggest fans, so much so he's created a Web site devoted to getting her job back, is a Youngstown truck driver who served in three branches of the armed forces and finds her exile from WKBN-TV downright un-American. "I strongly believe in democracy and freedom -- the freedom to do what you want to do as long as you're not hurting anyone else," begins Jon Deniro. "Miss Bosley's story really troubles me for a couple of reasons. She's apparently a sweet gal who's getting railroaded out of a job," he says, "but on a larger scale, it's what's going on in our country. Your employer can ruin your life for something you did on your own time, and I find that very disturbing."Deniro says he's never met Bosley, but he did talk to her after she became aware of his Web site, www.boycottwkbn.com, and contacted him.Although his Web site has drawn, as of this writing, just 1,528 visitors, a response Deniro admits is disappointing, he still hopes to organize a viewer boycott and use the site to bombard advertisers with angry e-mails."This whole thing is insane," he says. "Miss Bosley did something foolish but should that ruin her career? WKBN should have stood behind her and not cast her off. Ten years of loyal service to the station means nothing? They could have had her break the story herself -- viewers would have loved it -- and the whole situation would have been diffused, long since over with and no big deal."Last week, during a guest-host appearance on WNCD-FM, Bosley told listeners she is now the marketing director for Mammovans, a Boardman medical-imaging network.Her lawsuits settled against Web sites selling videotapes of her nude dance, Bosley says she is now at "closure. I can't reveal the terms of the settlements but I can guarantee you if anybody tries to sell a video of me they won't be selling it for long."A return to WKBN-TV highly unlikely, Bosley says she is "surprisingly happy with my new job. I feel like I am really helping people, and it's a very nurturing and compassionate environment."Meantime, in Los Angeles where TV news is more "Hollywood" than anywhere in the country, KTLA's anchorwoman is preparing for roles in a television movie and on cable TV programs. Is anyone surprised?Visit Sharon Tay's Web site: www.sharontay.comDo you have a comment or question about the MidMay Media Scope column? To send a message to Andrea Wood, click here."