An MTV news contest indirectly spurred a tussle between John Edwards and UNC-Chapel Hill's journalism school.

Carla Babb, a graduate student at UNC, posted a news segment for the student-run Carolina Week program on YouTube Tuesday in order to meet the deadline for a "Choose or Lose" contest run by the cable network.

The segment is slated to air Monday, but two Edwards staffers complained when they saw it online.

Professor C.A. Tuggle, who oversees the program and previously worked as a TV reporter in Florida, said the show is normally seen by around 2,000 people, though it airs on cable in 16 counties. He said individual segments, such as one Babb did on state troopers' misconduct, occasionally get up to 1,000 views on YouTube as well.

After they saw the piece, two top Edwards staffers called Tuggle. He said they demanded the piece be pulled and threatening to cut off access for UNC reporters and other student groups.

"My gosh, what are they thinking?" he said. "They're spending this much time and effort on a student newscast that has about 2,000 viewers? They're turning a molehill into a mountain."