Ummmmm......

Earlier this week, FTVLive told you that Melissa Marino, who worked as a Reporter at Nexstar’s WFLA (Tampa) for about a decade before signing off in November of last year.

But, for some reason, her Facebook still has WFLA in her handle. We also pointed out that she did what appeared to be a commercial for an app.

Marino reached out to FTVLive, saying this:

“The content you characterized as a “blatant commercial” was not a paid advertisement or sponsored post. I purchased the meal myself, and there was no commercial arrangement involved. I have attached the receipt for the app in question. I am in the process of updating my Facebook name to remove WFLA, and I have been careful not to post any sponsored content until that change is complete.”

Now, as you know, you can do a commercial or promo without being paid. Obviously, it is something you see often, especially from influencers.

Also, if you’re not a Journalist, you can do what you want, whether a company paid for it, or you paid yourself. But, when you are positioning yourself as working for WFLA, you have then crossed the line paid or not.

A Journalist does not give their opinion on a food app, a political race, or the war in Iran.

But, Marino wants everyone to know that she paid for the food. So, let’s set that record straight.

As for still having WFLA as part of her Facebook handle and her claim that she is, “in the process of updating my Facebook name to remove WFLA.”

You can change your Facebook name in a matter of seconds, just by logging into the app. We have done it and so have many others. You’re telling me after 5 months, you couldn’t find a minute to change your name?

My guess is, and this is only a guess, if she changes her name, she will lose her check mark. And MY GOD, we all know just how life altering that would be.