By Kate Callen
In the news profession, journalists are supposed to be fired for breaching ethical standards. They are not supposed to be fired for upholding them.
Terence Shepherd is suing his former employer, KPBS, for doing just that. In a lawsuit filed in May in Superior Court, Shepherd, who was KPBS News Director from August 2021 until September 2025, alleges he was terminated for wanting to comply with rules set down by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The incident in question was KPBS Reporter Alexander Nguyen’s TV news report of a September 17 event at Encinitas City Hall protesting the tactics of U.S. Immigration, Customs, and Enforcement (ICE).
The lawsuit states, “Shepherd became aware that [Nguyen] had apparently staged a protest scene about which KPBS was reporting. One of the protesters that [he] staged behind the live shot [carried] a placard that prominently displayed ‘FUCK ICE.’”
Believing that a display of the word “FUCK” would violate FCC rules governing broadcast content, Shepherd alerted KPBS Chief Content Officer Nancy Worlie. He wanted to audit Nguyen’s past work. Worlie “vehemently disagreed” and said that Shepherd was “grossly overreacting.” Soon after, he was fired.
Before this happened, Worlie had a high opinion of Shepherd. Here are excerpts from her 2025 review of his performance:
“I want to commend Terence for his newsroom stewardship. He maintains high standards and is committed to serving our audiences in the best way possible. … [His] participation in the process to develop the Shared Values and follow-through in weaving these themes into the weekly news managers meetings has been excellent.”
Where to begin? Let’s start with this: PBS and its affiliates are squarely in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, which has decimated funding for public broadcasting. The FCC wants to go further, arguing that PBS “underwriting announcements” are prohibited commercial advertisements. Why give Trump’s minions an excuse for further persecution?
Aside from FCC rules, reporters follow principles established by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). Like doctors and lawyers, we believe our work is a public mission and we have a responsibility to stick to the facts.
That means we report news events as they happen spontaneously, and we don’t try to warp them to advance ideological agendas.
The SPJ Code of Ethics includes this:
“Avoid political and other outside activities that may compromise integrity or impartiality or may damage credibility.” And this: “Deny favored treatment to … special interests and resist internal and external pressure to influence coverage.”
KPBS News has long been criticized for giving favored treatment to special interests that align with reporters’ political biases. In October 2024, I wrote a Rag post, “KPBS ‘Public Matters”: A Reality Check,” that tracked how Andrew Bowen “has been an advocacy journalist who consistently promotes YIMBY positions and dismisses or ignores divergent viewpoints.”
Does the Rag report the news through a progressive lens? Yes, and we’re up front about that. Much of our content, like this post, belongs in the category of “news commentary” that includes analysis and interpretation.
We cover news events, but we don’t orchestrate them. And honestly, we wouldn’t need to. The Faulconer and Gloria administrations have been a 16-year all-you-can-eat news buffet where we start every workday by thinking, “They’ve done WHAT?”
A hearing in the Shepherd lawsuit is scheduled October 23. We’ll be there.
This made me laugh out loud:
“We cover news events, but we don’t orchestrate them. And honestly, we wouldn’t need to. The Faulconer and Gloria administrations have been a 16-year all-you-can-eat news buffet where we start every workday by thinking, ….”
Frank, I agree, Kate’s great description was a laughable visual for me too.
And, I agree with Kate in regard to Andy Bowen’s biased opinion about NIMBY’s, and he’s an avid cyclist, so his opinions, and published comments on those issues are also biased.
Including a podcast where he wants to actuallyremove freeways so that ther’s no noise where the 163 goes north from downtown.
“Does the Rag report the news through a progressive lens?” Yes, albeit a certain outdated, elder Gen X/Baby Boomer liberal lens. <— fixed that for ya ;-)
Hey Jeff, some of us are small “d” democrats, others democratic socialists, others see themselves as progressive stalwarts, and others as common sense civic activists opposed to fraud, corruption and disrepect. How do you see yourself, pray tell. For myself, I survived Nixon (barely), Reagan, both Bushes and now this fascist. Where do you stand, dear Jeff, on the question of having a fascist in the White House?
Frank, I don’t support Trump or his policies, never have and never will. He is doing untold damage to our country and our world.
I find it strange that this is the second time I’ve commented on your blog in a critical manner, and both times you have tried to insinuate that I am conservative.
I support bike lanes, housing, workers, ranked choice voting, a true multi party political system and plenty of other progressive causes.
Don’t take it personal Jeff… Frank has a bad habit of making assumptions of people if they’re not witty enough in the comment section.
Thanks Jeff, at least you’re not a trumpist, but you continue to question our progressiveness.
As an elder, I asked AI ‘what characterizes Millenials and Gen Z?’
(Not necessarily assuming, Jeff, you fall in one of these periods)
Result———
Millennials (born 1981–1996) are characterized as the first generation to come of age with the internet, bridging the analog and digital worlds. They value flexibility, work-life balance, and purpose-driven careers, often prioritizing experiences over possessions. Having entered adulthood during economic uncertainty, they are notably debt-averse in their later years but remain optimistic about systemic change, preferring text-based communication and platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn.
Generation Z (born 1997–2012) are digital natives who grew up with smartphones and social media, expecting seamless, mobile-first experiences. They are highly socially conscious, diverse, and anxious about the future, placing a premium on mental health resources and authenticity. Gen Z prefers visual and ephemeral content (e.g., TikTok, Snapchat), values entrepreneurship and side hustles, and expects rapid career advancement and clear work boundaries.
How did that shot of the obscenity worded placard even get on the air (I assume it did)? And what was the lag time between the story airing and Shepherd deciding to terminate the reporter? Unless Nguyen was an MMJ (his own photographer) the photog could have also raised the ethical question. This story should have never aired as it was.
They doubled down on the Bowen way by bringing on YouTube YIMBY Jake Gotta last year. Sad decline at KPBS.
America would be better off if there was no FCC. It’s only purpose seems to be to make sure that the nasty word that begins F and ends with K is never transmitted to the tabernacle of television
Did you that in Catholic Ireland, as well in Britain, the F word is not the hig deal it is in the The Land of the Sacred First Amendment. In the USA. too many people are afraid to speak their minds and enjoy the art of bluster, because with bluster, there will be gaffes. And gaffes can get you fired
Former KPBS news director Terence Shepherd is suing his former employer following his departure from the public broadcasting outlet earlier this year. KPBS, with studios at San Diego State University, is San Diego’s affiliate for Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR).
In a lawsuit filed in San Diego Superior Court, Shepherd said he was terminated after reporting to his bosses about how Alexander Nguyen, a KPBS reporter, had “apparently staged a protest scene about which KPBS was reporting.” The news story, aired on KPBS on Sept. 17, 2025, included the appearance of a derogatory word that was part of Nguyen allegedly staging the protest scene. Times of San Diego https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2026/07/12/marketink-ex-news-director-sues-kpbs-over-2026-termination/?utm_source=newsshowcase&utm_medium=gnews&utm_campaign=CDAqKggAIhA87kTpYeRdiPAmQ_libZ8cKhQICiIQPO5E6WHkXYjwJkP5Ym2fHDDP56EF&utm_content=rundown