Channel Surfing
by Laura Nachman
Bucks County Courier Times
October 4, 2004

According to newsroom sources, reporter and weekend evening anchor Joe Vazquez was fired from WCAU Friday because a news intern complained about the reporter's behavior while on a story.

Last week, Vazquez was covering a story at LaSalle University about the school basketball players who were accused of rape.  While riding around campus, according to those familiar with the situation, Vazquez and a news photographer engaged in "locker room type banter" that offended the male intern.

The intern, who is a student of LaSalle, went to station management, who suspended the photographer for a week and fired Vazquez, citing "unprofessional behavior."

Though Vazquez could not be reached for comment, friends of Vazquez's said that Vazquez told them he would never disrespect a crime victim and the intern mistook the "lighthearted banter."

In an email, the agent of Vazquez, Betsy Mueller wrote:

"Joe is disappointed about parting ways with NBC-10 News, however, he wants to thank the viewers of the Delaware Valley for welcoming him into their homes for the last 2-and-a-half years. He is proud of the work he has accomplished while working at WCAU-TV and he is especially grateful for the overwhelming support he has received from his former colleagues."

A WCAU spokesperson would only say that Vazquez is on longer an employee of WCAU by mutual decision.