A reporter for WUTC-FM was fired this past week after local lawmakers complained that she did not state she was a reporter during a meeting between the politicians and a group of high school students from a Gay-Straight Alliance Club.

"It was glaringly obvious who I was," reporter Jacqui Helbert told CBS News. She notes that she had her NPR press pass hanging around her neck as well as large radio equipment such as headphones and a 22-inch large fuzzy microphone she used to record the politicians as they spoke with the students.

"I even had to fumble with all my equipment to shake Bell's hand," Helbert said, referring to Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville.

“It would be hard to miss her with what she was wearing,” said Cleveland High senior Patrick Pyott.

The meeting between the politicians and the students concerned Tennessee's bathroom bill, which was killed before it made it out of the Senate Education Committee.

Helbert's story aired on WUTC on March 9 and 13 and was posted on the station's website. After the story aired, lawmakers complained that they were not aware Helbert was a reporter and as a result the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga fired her.

“We believe the newsgathering process must be conducted in a manner that instills trust in the public,” the statement from the school read. “Failure to do so undermines journalistic credibility just as much as inaccurate information. We strive to maintain the faith of our listeners and the community we serve.”

Helbert claims that she "never concealed her intentions or bulky radio equipment," but admits she never verbally identified herself as a journalist.

“I don’t recall anyone having recording gear at all, or anyone looking or feeling like a reporter,” said Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland, another politician in attendance. “I was meeting with kids. These were young children.”

“It was a very personal and candid discussion, and I never would have shared some of the things I did if I thought it was going to be used for broadcast. I have no recollection of anyone who looked like they were recording anything.”

Helbert's story was removed from WUTC's site and some believe it was because the lawmakers in the meeting threatened to cut funding to the school if the piece wasn't pulled.

“The situation is no small matter because lawmakers are meeting with UTC officials very soon to talk about funding — UTC gets state funds, of course, and lawmakers like Brooks and his colleagues may be able to cut funding, or might threaten to, if something UTC-relate[d] has raised their ire,” said WUTC news director Mike Miller.

“If the politicians can threaten to withhold money from the University and control the reporters, it totally discounts having (the) press,” Helbert said.

In Helbert's termination letter the review of the situation concluded that she was fired for not properly identifying herself as a journalist.