The lack of professionalism by some people who deal with the media sometimes seems funny. Of course, that doesn’t apply if you are a reporter just trying to do your job.

The organizer of the Keene Pumpkin Festival in New Hampshire saw her event dramatically shift from a fun-filled family affair into a full-blown out-of-control riot where police were forced to take action.

She was not pleased with the mayhem—or anyone reporting on it.

In its 24th year, the Festival had 140 people arrested last year. Dozens were arrested this year, fires started, cars were overturned and 20 were hospitalized, according to Yahoo (Link).

Organizer Ruth Sterling violated so many fundamental media relations guidelines that one would be hard-pressed to list all of them.

Tops on the list would be “Never, ever attempt to stop a reporter from doing his job by grabbing the microphone in the middle of his report.” A close second would be to never, ever to threaten a reporter. Blocking a camera shot might come in third.

Credit to reporter Jared Goodell of Cheshire TV for letting viewers know Sterling was totally out of bounds. He continued to report despite her ridiculous actions, as reported by TV SPY (Link).

“So if you think that inciting these people is a good idea, I am going to pull the plug on you,” said Sterling on the air. “Because you are here as a guest of Keene Pumpkin Festival and I assigned you this spot.”

“Right now Ruth Sterling who is the festival coordinator is on site here, uh is being uh, well, she’s not letting me do my job and to report to you. She would not like me to tell you what is going on at Keene State College,” said Goodell as Sterling attempted several times to take away his microphone.