It looked like KSTP TV had a juicy story on its hands Friday morning. A tipster reported that a major grocery-store chain in the Twin Cities was advertising a Black History Month special with discounts on items like collard greens. A reporter worked on a story throughout the day - but it didn’t air Friday. Nor is it expected to ever air. The rumor around the newsroom spread like wildfire: The sales department had killed it.

Not so, said news director Lindsay Radford. On Monday, she explained what happened. The grocery store (we’re going to leave its name out, because I haven’t seen the original campaign, which appears to have been killed) didn’t return calls in time for the deadline. Perhaps more importantly, when the station contacted the NAACP and offered to show them the ad, a representative told them that the story didn’t rise to the level they needed to make time for.

Radford did confirm that she told her bosses about the story (”It’s a courtesy when you’re doing a story that might tick off a major advertiser”), but that she got zero pressure from them to kill or alter the story.

Radford said the fact that the story is now old and that there wasn’t any concern from a leading civil-rights organization means it’s unlikely that the story will ever air. I’m sure the rumors will continue to fly and some will doubt Radford’s account, but in my dealings with her, there’s nothing to suggest that she would out and out lie to a reporter. And whatever you think of KSTP’s product, it’s hard to argue with the Hubbard’s on-air integrity.

UPDATE: My fellow journalist, the esteemed David Brauer, has unearthed the actual flier in the question at minnpost.com. It is indeed Rainbow Foods, which I didn’t want to report until I had seen the ad in question. It’s more blatant than I thougth it would be and makes me wonder why this story didn’t push forward. At the same time, I should point out that Friday afternoons in a newsroom are not the ideal time to report news. Lot of people you need for comment are gone or are eager to get out the door. Then, by the time Monday comes around, a story can feel stale, especially if the ad is no longer in circulation. Mind you, this isn’t an excuse, but a reality. A lot of times there’s not so much a conspiracy behind a failed story as there is a lack of resources and gumption. (That goes for both KSTP and the NAACP.)

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