As unhinged as social media gets, this is pretty much why so many end up trusting it over traditional media. The internet broke the veil of commercial reporting/journalism - media in general. Broke the trust on accepting public personas and not being suspicious of them behind the scenes. Sell out reporters/journalist/artists/etc are like scabs to labor strikers
The news reporter wanted a feel good puff piece regardless of how inappropriate it is. The interviewee wanted to report the actual news.
The company that owns that NBC affiliate wanted a feel good puff piece. I doubt she had a say in the matter.