Nannygate

On Thursday, Feb. 21, at 5 p.m, WRAL aired the story of a woman who had put a hidden camera in her home to record what was going on with her twin infant boys while she was at work.  What she saw remotely from her computer at work – rough treatment by the nanny – sent her flying home.  She fired the nanny, called police, and ultimately contacted us.

Initially, the Cary police told us there would be no charges – right before we aired the story and then again five days later. However, this past Thursday, they apparently re-evaluated that decision and sent the tapes to the Wake County District Attorney's Office to let them decide whether or not charges are warranted. There's no doubt the national media attention and pressure played a role in how this situation played out.

Our radio station, Mix 101.5, is also taking an interest in the story in a creative way. They are giving away nanny cams to their listeners this week.

When we report on a murder, for example, the audience rarely identifies with the story. Murders are aberrations that rarely happen to average people. But this story is getting an emotional reaction from parents across the country that work and depend upon caregivers to watch their children during the day. It touches a nerve because we want to believe our children are safe, but this reminds us that we don't always know the truth.

Ultimately, like every news story, this one has a life that will dwindle and fade from the public's consciousness as other issues take center stage.  But few stories ever get to this level of public discussion, and I believe that it's a productive discussion, one that parents need to have, and one that may in the long-run keep more children safe.

For now it is still a hot topic.  Chances are if you ask someone at the grocery store: "Did you see that nanny-cam video?," they will know what you're talking about.