News
Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
L.A. journalist flunks Ethics 101
By A TIMES EDITORIAL
Published July 14, 2007
There's undercover reporting, and then there's under-the-covers reporting. One is accepted in some journalism circles, while the other has no place in the news business. Telemundo, the Spanish-language television channel that is a sister network of NBC News, saw its credibility, the most important asset of a news organization, compromised because anchor Mirthala Salinas saw nothing wrong with dating Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa while covering his administration. We think the real story here is not another philandering politician but a news anchor who was blind to a blatant conflict of interest. This isn't a first for Salinas, who was placed on paid leave while the station investigates the relationship. She's also dated former California state Sen. Alex Padilla and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. Salinas claims that she disclosed the relationship to higher-ups and did nothing wrong. Oh, she only covered the mayor by day and dated him by night. Nothing wrong with that? She even reported the news of the mayor's breakup with his wife - without mentioning that she was the "other woman." This scandal is a news story by any standard. However, Telemundo should pick an anchor with some common sense to report it.
[Last modified July 14, 2007, 01:30:15]
Share your thoughts on this story
Comments on this article
|
by Bob
|
07/14/07 12:40 PM
|
|
My family has been involved with newspapers in Fla., Ga. and other states since The West Hillsborough Times in 1884. The quality of journalism has deteriorated to the point I'm almost ashamed to admit having been in the business. It ain't like it was
|
|
by Peter
|
07/14/07 10:41 AM
|
|
The Democrats in California should be proud of their mayor in LA for he has followed their inspirational leader in setting the example for sleez, i.e. John Kennedy and the entire clan. Pluralism and populism at its finest. LA has been gone down hill
|
|
by Susan
|
07/14/07 10:08 AM
|
|
And didn't Tom Tobin date the spokesperson for Bay (turn downtown into a mall) developer when he covered the company? Strong ethical policies make a company feel good about itself, but in practice the application is often personality-driven & flawed
|
|
by Susan
|
07/14/07 09:41 AM
|
|
The St. Petersburg Times didn't cover the failings of former St. Petersburg Police Chief Curt Curtsinger as they became news, and I believe it was because your cops reporter at the time was dating a police officer who was a Curtsinger advocate.
|
|
by DB
|
07/14/07 05:26 AM
|
|
And this surprises us how ...... ? You can't trust/believe anything you hear/read anymore - everyone is trying to get in your wallet and/or get/influence your vote only to get more of your money !
|
|
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Letter to the editor
