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I may not remember much from college.
But one phrase uttered by my dear Professor Richard "Poopsie" Schwarzlose at journalism school is branded on my brain: conflict of interest. Even today, if there's ever a question, I think, WWPD: What Would Poopsie Do?
Well Poopsie probably wouldn't be happy with one Mirthala Salinas, the local Telemundo newscaster who, involved in an on-the-DL affair with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, was also cheekily reporting, "the rumors are true!" about the demise of the Mayor's 20-year marriage.
Now, after a three-week investigation, Telemundo is handing down their sentence: Salisnas is suspended for two months, without pay. Telemundo network president, Don Browne:
"We have determined that, while the content and accuracy of KVEA's newscasts were not compromised, our news policy standards with respect to conflict of interest were clearly violated."
Just desserts? I'm not so sure. She hasn't been fired. She still gets to come back. And by breaking one of journalism's cardinal rules, she not only tarnished her reputation, she took that station down with her. They would do well to distance themselves as far as possible from her. (The LA Times quotes an anonymous Telemundo executive who says everyone knew. Cameramen, producers, reporters...).
Maybe then that "conflict-of-interest" phrase would be seared into her memory, and those of Telemundo executives, as deeply as it is in mine... and Poopsie's.
Photo via Telemundo
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So she gets a little vacation, which she wants anyway, to stay out of the public eye. Then if she's back on air, the Telemundo ratings will shoot up just for her curiosity value, even among "anglos" who can't understand a word of her fast Spanish.
And, since she's even more ambitious and news-savvy than Monica Lewinsky was, she'll parlay her infamy into all kinds of lucrative gigs, friendships with semi-famous B and C-list types who'll want to be seen with her, since any P R is good P R...But she will never be taken seriously as a journalist (not that many of the rest have ethics any more, anyway, as shown by the tabloid style in which this story has been covered), and Telemundo's reputation is permanently tarnished.
The few exex who were also punished are just the tip of the iceberg there, apparently -- probably why they couldn't punish her any more harshly.
If the Mayor stays with her, no one will believe these two ever got together for love in the first place, but somehow got stuck together after they were caught, using each other. IF he leaves her, he can't be seen with any new women for a while, and he'll have to learn to be celibate.
Maybe now he can worry about our missing state transit funds, gangs and crime and anti-terror preparedness, the homeless situation...
The Mayor isn't involved with her anymore. Wasn't the reason why she broke the infidelity story in the first place was to get back at him for cheating on her (with yet another luvah)?
The Militant needs to run for mayor. He isn't getting *any* tail in his current occupation.
Mirthala Salinas deserves to be suspended. It is highly unethical -- both as a journalist and as a human being -- to be having an affair with someone while publicly reading the news of the demise of that person's marriage. Seriously, show a little backbone. Recuse yourself from covering that beat. Call in sick that day. Do what you have to do to maintain a shred of integrity.
But what about the management at KVEA? That angle gets a lot less coverage in the media. Those guys were suspended too. After all, they reportedly knew about the affair long before it went public. They allowed/encouraged it to continue so they could have a more of an "in" when covering Villaraigosa. Plus, I'm sure it didn't hurt Telemundo to have a little extra leverage while they were trying to win city approval for that big complex they want to build.
So the accuracy and integrity of KVEA's newsroom wasn't fundamentally compromised? Who decided that? Oh right, Telemundo did. And we all know how ethical it is to investigate yourself. Smells like bullshit all around.
She is a hot piece of ass.