Everyone Does It Says Fired Nexstar Anchor

You have heard the story before, another Journalist Fired Over Social Media Missteps. FTVLive reports on them over and over.

In what has become an all-too-common cautionary tale for media professionals, another television journalist has lost their job due to activity on a personal social media account. The incident underscores a stark reality in the industry: social media has likely cost more on-air talent their careers than it has ever helped them secure a position.

Former WKRN (Nashville) Anchor Nikki Burdine was fired after seven and a half years with the station for promoting a perfume brand on her social media pages. On her new podcast, Burdine admitted she had received free products from DIME Beauty and provided a promotional link to her followers, a clear violation of her employment contract which prohibits such endorsements.

Burdine was candid in acknowledging her mistake. "They did have cause. I did breach my contract. Let’s clear the air. I’m not saying I’m innocent," she stated, confirming that the station's actions were justified based on the terms of her employment.

The "Everyone Does It" Defense

Despite her admission, Burdine attempted to normalize her actions with a defense that misses the entire point of journalistic ethics. "Everyone kind of does it," she claimed on her podcast. "It’s just like, don’t be a jerk about it. Don’t be obnoxious about it. You know?"

But no, Nikki, not everyone does it. And real journalists certainly do not.

This justification reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the ethical lines that separate journalists from paid influencers. A journalist's credibility is their most valuable asset. Engaging in paid or in-kind endorsements—whether on-air or on a personal Instagram page—creates a direct conflict of interest and erodes the public's trust. It blurs the line between impartial reporting and paid promotion, compromising the integrity of both the journalist and the news organization they represent.

While Burdine claimed two of her colleagues received warnings for similar behavior without being terminated, that doesn't excuse the initial breach of ethics. For journalists, the rules must be clear: their platforms, public or private, cannot be for sale.