News chief faked storyFormer WCSC news director admits he made up slander tale By Prentiss Findlay (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Former WCSC-TV News Director Donald Feldman testified Friday in a jury trial of a lawsuit that seeks to hold his ex- employer liable for his smear campaign against attorney Elizabeth Murphy. Feldman admitted in court that he created a bogus story about Murphy slandering attorney Sandra Senn on July 23, 1999, during a Delta flight from Charleston to Atlanta. Feldman, who was in first class on the flight, made up a tale of a woman in the coach section who talked loudly and drunkenly while describing Senn as a bad mother and an immoral woman. He said he never saw the woman, but while describing the conversation to Senn by phone from Atlanta, she concluded it had to be Murphy because of the history of Murphy gossiping about Senn, Feldman said. Feldman offered testimony that conflicted with Senn's testimony Thursday. She said Feldman wanted a romantic relationship, and offered to take her to the Emmys. He said they were just friends. Senn said she was "mortified" by a letter Feldman sent to Murphy on July 26, 1999, on WCSC stationery in which he threatened legal action by the TV station's attorneys because of Murphy's salacious remarks about Senn on the flight. Feldman said Senn dictated the letter to him by phone based on his description of what he said Murphy said on the flight. WCSC and Senn believed the story about Murphy until it became apparent that Feldman couldn't prove that Murphy was on the flight. Feldman said WCSC had an interest in protecting Senn's reputation because she was a panelist on the station's "Carolina Gang" talk show that began in early 1999. The show reflected a new Jefferson-Pilot Communications Co. mandate for WCSC to attract a more affluent and educated audience, he said. It was an attempt to expand Channel 5's core audience of white blue-collar workers and blacks, which had made the station's news program No. 1 in the ratings year after year, he said. Senn's role on the show was to present the view of a conservative Republican woman. Feldman said Senn called him repeatedly to complain about Murphy trashing her reputation. Feldman worried that the situation would affect the credibility of the Emmy-nominated "Carolina Gang." He discussed the situation with his bosses and was told, "Do what you have to do to protect the franchise," Feldman said. Feldman said he wrote the letter threatening legal action against Murphy just to calm down Senn but didn't plan to send it. He said he didn't know how it got to Murphy's law office. Senn drafted a proposed out-of-court civil agreement with Murphy based on the Delta flight story that Feldman made up about Murphy. When the case first went to trial in 2003, a county jury ordered Feldman to pay attorneys Elizabeth and Christopher Murphy $9 million — money they stand little chance of collecting. The Murphys also sued Channel 5 and Jefferson-Pilot, but Circuit Judge Thomas Hughston tossed out that portion of the case before it went to the jury. The South Carolina Court of Appeals ruled in 2005 that Hughston made a mistake when he issued a directed verdict absolving the two companies of liability for Feldman's actions. It was the jury's job to weigh the evidence and make that call, the appeals court stated. The new jury trial, in its fourth day Friday, provided new perspective on Feldman's 12-year stint raiding company coffers while helming the top-rated news show in town. He said he used most of the stolen money for expenses such as sending then-sports anchor Warren Peper to the World Series. Embezzled funds also financed on-the-scene coverage of the Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines, he said. "No one questioned why I was spending my own money on WCSC news. Management knew that I was flying news teams around out of my own money," Feldman said. He said some of the money also was used by him for personal expenses. Feldman siphoned company money from 1988 to November 2000, when he was led out of WCSC in handcuffs. In testimony Friday, he described blank invoices he kept in his desk that he filled out for fake newsroom expenses. He testified Friday under a grant of immunity from further prosecution. His guilty plea in 2001 to three counts of mail fraud led to a three-year prison sentence that he has served. Feldman came to WCSC as assistant news director in July 1985. He quickly rose to news director. He described a jet set life that included frequent weekend trips to Los Angeles to care for his elderly parents and trips to North Platte, Neb., home of his father-in-law. He said he inherited $700,000 from his parents after their death. The jury trial under Circuit Judge Markley Dennis continues Monday. Murphy's attorney, John Parker, said WCSC anchor Debi Chard might be called to testify Monday. Reach Prentiss Findlay at pfindlay@postandcourier.com or 937-5711. |
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Posted by Mayor on September 8, 2007 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don Feldman made up news. When there was none to report he simply put his crew out there to make something up. Time and time again in the late 90's he fabricated all kinds of s---! He was the greatest. He ripped Jefferson-Pilot to the tune of millions. I'm okay with that because they have ripped off millions from a lot people. Don would not tolerate the ability of a Raphael James, he'd just make up something so they wouldn't have to air his ignorant diatribe. Let me see, Warren Peper or Raphael James doing Talkback? What do you think? Warren Peper sucks but he is way better than Raphael. I've probably misspelled Raphael every time but he still would be jobless if Big Don interviewed him. Don made Channel 5. They are a sinking, old, true to the city newcast............
Posted by exorcist_pencocky on September 8, 2007 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lets not forget another moment of brilliance, some years back, when a young, Lie 5 News reporterette went to a sporting goods shop across from The Super-K store, in The City of North Charleston, to do a news story. She came out front to show a gun she claimed to have purchased. They then proceeded to a local gun shop off of Dorchester Road, in the City of North Charleston. She came out front to show a gun she claimed to have purchased. They then proceeded to the city of charleston and interviewed the police chief, asking his thoughts on how easy it was to purchase guns in the City of North Charleston. After that the story may have ended as just another successful attack piece, on the "EVIL" City of North Charleston, by the city of charlestons' news media.
I believe it was the next morning, on a local talk radio show that a caller commented to the host about the story.
He asked a simple question "Why wasn't the reporterette in jail for violation of federal laws limiting purchases?"
Caller after caller asking the same thing and soon Lie 5 News admitted the truth and she was fired.
Posted by MooMoo on September 8, 2007 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pencocky I remember that story but can't remember who the reporter was...
Feldman was quite the character in his heyday. Very manipulative. Livin' the highlife, no one could figure out how he seemed to afford such a lavish lifestyle. I knew many who benefitted from his "generosity"...
Posted by preachlove on September 8, 2007 at 6:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mayor - speak for yourself; I think Mr. Rapheal James is doing a great job. You said "Don made Channel 5" - yes he did; he made stuff up for Channel 5.
Posted by bluebird on September 8, 2007 at 7:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like Ch. 5's ego got the best of them. What company would turn a blind eye to alow a low level manager to puff up his chest at their expense just because he's good at boosting the ratings. He should never have been able to steal millions...and paying thousands out of pocket for trips wasn't a dead givaway that there was a fox in the hen house? With all that pocketed cash couldn't he have just bought a blond bombshell?
Posted by bluebird on September 8, 2007 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mayor...Warren Peper was a classy guy straight from the lowcountry. I loved his "I'm your neighbor" style...and those great suits he wore while walking up and down the sidelines waiting to talk to the winning coach. Warren did a good job transferring from sports to news...If I recall correct...the other stations followed Warren's lead...Ch.4's Dean Stephens came off the sports set to the anchor desk sometime thereafter.
Posted by beemz on September 8, 2007 at 9:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i think they both are very articulate men. also very good at their jobs.one is on channel 5 the other channel 2 and yes i watch them both...
Posted by bluebird on September 8, 2007 at 10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dean works for Ch.4
Posted by beemz on September 8, 2007 at 10:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know i was talking about warren pepper working for channel 2.
Posted by beemz on September 8, 2007 at 10:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i did not mention dean only raphael and warren.
Posted by peper_fan_4_life on September 9, 2007 at 12:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Warren Peper is a true class act! How dare anyone question his ability and integrity. This guy worked himself up right out of college and was loyal to Channel 5; way before Don Feldman came to the station. He is clearly the best Local News Anchor and repeatedly won Best Sports Anchor with Charleston viewers in the Charleston City Paper. Warren is a class act and should be treasured. In this market; look at how many sports and news anchors have come and gone! They simply, as Warren used to say, "Get outta here." All for "big bucks!" Warren is top notch with his news reporting and is still the best sports anchor, if needed, out of the 3 stations. Give this man his due credit! Over 30 years in the same market; when he could have "jumped ship" for a bigger payday! Now that folks; is loyalty! WCBD should be commended for picking him up as the lead news anchor. Pep- we are keeping it where it is-Watching you on News Channel 2. Keep up the great work!
Posted by bluebird on September 9, 2007 at 6:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well spoken ..fan 4 life...Pep could have been gone a long time ago...what's the name of his protege that left and is still working at CNN Sports?
Posted by peper_fan_4_life on September 9, 2007 at 8:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
bluebird- believe you are talking about Mark Morgan. He is now at ESPN
Posted by bluebird on September 9, 2007 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You know your lowcountry sports crew! Ch.5 had a girl Sports Anchor Venitia Rae...what ever happened to her?
Posted by peper_fan_4_life on September 9, 2007 at 8:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
bluebird- You have a memory of an elephant! Venitia Rae is covering Sports for 1110 AM WBT- 99.3 FM in Charlotte, NC. She went on to bigger markets in Augusta, Albany, Pittsburgh, and even in Wheeling, West Virginia. It must be noted; Warren could have "jumped" to much larger Markets and to Cable Sports but remained loyal to the "Lowcountry" and we could trust the news from people we know! Look now at the other stations, Channel 5 Sports Director- Craig Birnbach here a few years- gone for Oregon and now WCIV's Sports Director Josh Morton- "jumping ship" for a bigger payday. I must say; Warren is a class act and you do not find loyal employees like him nowadays.
Posted by bluebird on September 9, 2007 at 9:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
peper_fan_4_life....Does my old school side show to much??? You obviously have done your homework..keep up the good job on tracking former lowcountry TV anchors. My point is Peper has been good to 5 and they threw him out with the trash. Shame on ch 5!!!
Posted by peper_fan_4_life on September 10, 2007 at 10:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
bluebird.......you are right about the way the station has treated people. Even Keith Nichols was pretty much shown the door; years before his illness. Only thing that saved him was a new guy in town that was unstable and sent emails to his old employer! What a winning team!