U.P. Breaking News Bulletin – 12-10-17 3:40 a.m. ET
WLUC TV-6 and other U.P. media allegedly covered-up the sentencing of a major northern Michigan radio executive – with TV-6 even briefly posting a story that was taken down without explanation clearly violating ethics in journalism
News ethics questioned involving WLUC TV-6 and other Upper Peninsula media – after the alleged coverup of the jailing of an prominent Upper Peninsula radio executive based in the Soo
By Greg Peterson
Upper Peninsula Breaking News
Owner, News Director
906-273-2433
(Upper Peninsula of Michigan) – Critics are questioning the credibility of WLUC TV-6 News in Marquette, MI – as well as numerous Upper Peninsula radio stations – in what some claim was a series of events involving threats and an Upper Peninsula news media coverup – all over the jailing of a northern Michigan radio executive.
At issue is a story posted by WLUC on the jailing of William Curtis Gleich III – who owns 17 U.P. radio stations.
WLUC posted a story on about the sentencing of Bill Gliech, the 52-year-old co-owner of Sovereign Communications based in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Gliech resides in Boyne City, MI.
That story was taken down without explanation – a violation of many broadcast standards and ethics – especially if WLUC bosses bowed to pressure from a fellow media executive to have the story killed.
Gliech co-owns 17 U.P. radio stations including WYKX-FM and WDBC-AM in Escanaba, WNBY AM/FM in Newberry; – and WSUE Rock 101 and WSOO COUNTRY 105 in Sault Ste. Marie, MI.
Will WLUC TV-6 News try to regain some sense of credibility by fessing up and addressing the issue?
Why was the story not reported by other U.P. media including TV, radio and newspaper?
U.P. Breaking News has long investigated the provincial clannishness of the U.P. media – that are lapdogs vs watchdogs.
In fact, the last sentence in the story that disappeared was that TV was awaiting comment from Sovereign Communications. Wonder what that comment was?
U.P. Breaking News was able to recover a “cached” version of the original story as it appeared briefly on – “Upper Michigan’s News Source” WLUC TV-6 that has studios in Negaunee Township, MI:
The text of the WLUC TV-6 disappearing story:
CHARLEVOIX, Mich. (WLUC)- The Owner of Sovereign Communications, the company that currently operates 17 radio stations is the Upper Peninsula, is currently lodged in Jail in Charlevoix County.
William Curtis Gleich III was sentenced on November 10th to 9 months in jail for operating a vehicle under the influence, 3rs offense.
He must serve five months forthwith and then has 36 months of probation.
If he violates probation, he must serve the last four remaining months in jail,
Sovereign Communications purchased two Escanaba radio stations earlier this year, WYKX-FM and WDBC-AM.
WLUC-TV6 has reached out to the company for comment but has not heard back at this time.
Wikipedia:
Sovereign Communications, LLC is an American radio broadcasting company which owns 17 radio stations in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with offices in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The company is owned and operated by William C. Gleich and Tim Sabean.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_Communications
U.P. Breaking News was only able to find one Michigan news outlet with the courage to publish the story – but leaving out his radio empire:
The Petoskey News reported Gleich’s sentence in a Nov. 15, 2017 court column noting recent court actions including Charlevoix County 33rd Circuit Court.
The following cases were heard recently in Charlevoix County’s 33rd Circuit Court:
— William Curtis Gleich III, 52, of Boyne City; driving while intoxicated, third offense felony: serve to 270 days in jail with credit for one day served; 36 months probation, pay $2,858 in fines and costs
Upper Peninsula Breaking News by Greg Peterson 