Wally,
The problem is that integrity and professionalism have been publicly, and unfairly, impugned by a baseless accusation.
What you are suggesting is that Dick can make an unsubstantiated, sensationalist allegation in the public domain, but that those slandered on national TV, seen by thousands, should take it up with him privately and just suck it up.
That means that in the public domain, the (baseless) accusations go unchallenged. It's akin to the accused admitting guilt for a crime that they did not commit. With no rebuttal, the great unwashed will accept what is offered by Channel 7 as 'truth.'
In your world, one side of the house is granted free-rein to accuse, while the other side is muzzled, and tarred, with no recourse to a just hearing.
I doubt that those on here that have been unjustifiably slighted will just bend over and agree with such warped logic.