No he didn’t! Antonio Villaraigosa’s bimbo eruption
Yesterday’s Los Angeles Times ran a story about a Telemundo news correspondent who has been assigned to cover politics, local news and the city’s mayor for the last year and a half. Turns out she’s been covering him closely. REALLY closely. As in she’s-the-reason-he-no-longer-wears-a-wedding-ring closely.
The story dutifully consulted experts who explained it’s something of a faux pas to sleep with sources. In the Times article, Telemundo defended its correspondent, one Mirthala Salinas.
It was a bad day for journalism, as well as a bad day for people who were excited about L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa as a rising Democratic star. The bright, charismatic leader’s carefully cultivated family image was awfully persuasive, at least to California newcomers like myself.
But Villaraigosa’s, shall we say, Clintonian shenanigans are no minor matter; it turns out he’s done this sort of thing before and obviously wasn’t smart enough to learn from his mistakes.
As for female journalists sleeping or romancing with sources: it’s bad enough when you see it depicted in movies – Blood Diamond is only the most recent example. It’s even worse in real life, turning reporting professionals into professional love interests.
Comments
Telemundo’s not defending her.
Comment by KateCoe from Fishbowl LA — July 5, 2007 @ 7:57 am
Well…...
From LA Times
Telemundo executives defended Salinas and noted that she had been moved in August 2006 from her political beat to cover general assignment stories and serve as a backup anchor.
“Mirthala Salinas is one of our most respected reporters and a great professional,” said Manuel Abud, Telemundo’s general manager in Los Angeles. “Telemundo is fully committed to journalistic excellence. Every day we strive for the highest standards of journalistic ethics and make every effort to protect our objectivity and avoid possible conflicts of interest.”
Comment by Ken deBeer from Spring Valley — July 5, 2007 @ 10:22 am
Take a look at ERS News—the LA Times quote is really old. www.ersnews.com
Comment by KateCoe — July 5, 2007 @ 10:30 am
Less than two days is really old? The only official statements from Telemundo are the ones I posted.
I have read that report. As I post this NOTHING has been done publicly by Telemondo.
You maybe correct in the end, but for now you are only assuming Telemundo will act.
I will wait and see. As with Tony V, one must verify
instead of believing what we are spoon fed.
Comment by Ken deBeer from Spring Valley — July 5, 2007 @ 10:49 am
BTW with her past relations with several powerful Hiapanic politicians, it is possible Telemundo likes he inside scoop/access.
Comment by Ken deBeer from Spring Valley — July 5, 2007 @ 10:53 am
Telemundo called her “a great professional?”
She covered a story with which she was personally involved. That’s the nadir of journalistic professionalism. At my organization one would be canned for that.
Comment by Johnny Mac from New Orleans — July 5, 2007 @ 3:29 pm