"The media often uses social issues to mount their high horses, seeking some holier-than-thou high moral ground. In the case of what happened in Cleveland, however, the response is justified"
Respectable news organizations should not bend their standards for access. It’s a decision that damages their reputations as independent, first amendment protected members of the free press.
Make talent your bottom building block of the programming pyramid and encourage them to be ambassadors of your station’s brand while building their brand within your system.