Ron Fineman's ON THE RECORD

BURBANO GETS FINE AND PROBATION

As you may recall, KTLA entertainment reporter Mindy Burbano was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in West Hollywood. She was also charged with driving with a blood alcohol level of .08, and with reckless driving. Her case was set for a jury trial, but last month she reached a plea bargain with the LA District Attorney's office. She agreed to plead "no contest" to reckless driving, and in return the more serious charges were dropped. A spokesman with the DA's offices tells me that sort of deal is typical for a first time misdemeanor DUI case.

As her punishment, she will be on 24 months summary probation, she'll have to do 40 hours of community service, and she had to pay a 250 dollar fine. I sent an email to Burbano about this case, but she declined to respond.

AMNESIA ABOUT JACKSON

This has to have been the worst year Jesse Jackson ever had since becoming America's best known civil rights leader. We learned that he fathered a child out of wedlock. He admitted that he left off the name of his mistress and employee, Karin Stanford, in his tax returns for the Citizen Education Fund. Some suspected that when the fund paid for her moving expenses after she left her job, that Jackson was using non-profit organization money to help keep his lover quiet. More questions emerged this year about whether Jackson is a shakedown artist, what with companies he threatens to boycott giving money to Jackson's groups. Jackson certainly still has defenders, and the money he got Toyota to pledge to spend on minority businesses shows he still has some power. He is clearly a polarizing and controversial figure.

My point is, how can you cover a story about a Jackson birthday/Rainbow-Push celebration, and not mention any of that? KCAL's Dave Clark managed to accomplish that last night. Granted, the star of the event was Barbra Streisand, who was given an award by The Rainbow-Push Coalition. In fact KABC and KNBC did very short stories about the event, and emphasized Streisand being honored. But since KCAL devoted a full blown package to the event, you'd think there should be some reference to the kind of year it has been for Jackson. Certainly conservative media critics would suggest that the likes of Jerry Falwell would probably not get the same treatment in a similar situation. And I'm afraid they would be right. Clark also editorialized that money donated to Rainbow-Push is going to a good cause. I would suggest that is an opinion many viewers might disagree with. Right or wrong, it was an opinion, which reporters should not be expressing.

HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED!

Remember when that guy shot himself to death on live TV after a freeway chase a couple of years ago? Remember all of the hand-wringing from local TV stations? They were going to make sure nothing like that ever happened again on live TV. Yes, there was even talk about showing chases on a tape delay. Soon after that incident, I remember KCAL cutting away from a chase when a car began riding on its rims and sparks began to fly. No live death and destruction for KCAL. They didn't want to take the chance of showing something people actually want to see, but might complain about seeing anyway.

Welcome to the world of 180 degrees. Last week KCAL was showing a chase, when the anchors told chopper pilot Larry Welk that they were going to go to a commercial break. Right at that point, the chase got a little wild. Sylvia Lopez then said "this is too dangerous to go to the break." So they stayed with it. But what a change from "too dangerous to show" to "too dangerous not to show."

Clearly the current policy is the the one which most TV viewers prefer, and I appreciate that Lopez was being perfectly honest about the way it works. Too bad all the local news directors couldn't have been that straight forward after the chase/suicide. Of course I'm not so sure we might not see the same reaction of a couple of years ago if another chase ends equally graphically on live TV. But you have to admit that pendulum didn't take too long to get back to the other side. It probably lasted on the conservative side...what? about a month?

SPANN AND WALKER

When KCBS showed the video of CIA Agent Mike Spann talking to John Walker, they called it "exclusive." Yet, when KABC showed the same video, they didn't. I know the word "exclusive" has been so abused over the years, it has little meaning anymore. But it's still worth noting who is willing to make the false claim, and who isn't. KCBS did drop the "exclusive" on their 11pm.

I also wanted to pass along a curious bit of writing from KCBS on this story. Harold Greene read that a "cameraman taped Spann as he questioned American Taliban fighter John Walker." In the same story, Greene also said "Spann reportedly tried to get Walker to talk to him." If Spann questioned Walker, which the tape showed, why would they say that Spann reportedly tried to get Walker to talk to him?

I remain amazed that a Los Angeles anchor can consistently have so much trouble correctly saying the right words, and still be a Los Angeles anchor. In one this week, KCOP's Lauren Sanchez said that Gary Condit was "filling" papers, instead of "filing" papers. In talking about a Sikh who was the victim of a vicious hate crime, Sanchez called him a "Sheik observer." And finally, instead of correctly saying that "security is touted as virtually 100 percent foolproof," she said that security is "toted." She reminds me of the kicker in football who puts excitement into the extra point. When Sanchez reads, you never know what to expect.

On Monday, we talked about a chase in Hollywood in which a man climbed onto the hood of the car, covering the windshield. KCOP had video of police talking to the man later, and we could hear him say that he couldn't sleep because of the noise. They also had video of him falling/jumping from the car. They also were the only folks I heard report that this guy was a stuntman...which actually makes a lot of sense when you realize what he did.

KABC's Bryan Jenkins was reporting a gas price war, and described it as "a war of sorts for the hearts and minds of consumers." Geeze...they're just trying to increase business. It's not about your heart or your mind, but about your wallet.

I wanted to let you know about a film review web site from OTR reader Steve Marshall and his wife Patty. As you may recall Steve is professional TV sitcom writer, who was the subject of one of our Friday interviews. Their current review is "Ocean's Eleven" and I think you'll find it good reading. You can go to www.lol-book.com/pop5.htm

After not checking my PO Box for two weeks, I figured I was bound to see a little something from readers. The box was more full than I had ever seen it. I was hopeful. Too bad that about ten pieces of mail were for Fred and Naomi Haber. Who are they? All I know is they are the folks who used to have my PO Box. There were also two pieces of mail for the Delfino brothers. I assume they must've had the box too at one time. The only thing for me was a hard copy of the latest letter from Cheryl Carson's lawyer. And you won't be surprised to know that he neglected to put in a check.

When I began asked for contributions, I knew most people wouldn't pay another for something which is free. Human nature, I suppose. This all does make me most grateful to those of you who have contributed. And as always, I welcome all readers, paying or otherwise. Since I started soliciting for contributions back in August, I will certainly maintain OTR at least until then. At that point, I can re-evaluate and decide if I should make it a paying site, keep it the way it is, cut back on the issues, or give it up. It's way too early to know which way to go. But I figure I should keep you up to date on my thinking. If you'd like to contribute.... the PO Box, and the PayPal logo are at the top of the page.

By the way, Fred...if you're reading this, Robert and Ginny Apgar from Boca Raton send their holiday greetings.

I'm looking for your opinions on Geraldo's reporting in Afghanistan, as well as who you think should be playing Miami in the Rose Bowl.

We conclude our interview with LA Times TV writer Brian Lowry, who gives us his thoughts on minorities in TV, the all time best sitcoms...and more.

They are always welcome. You can reach me at BRUIN74@aol.com. Unless you say otherwise, I will assume your comments are for publication. Remember to include your first and last name.

Ron's disclaimer: Like all reporters I have opinions. I do the best I can to make sure that nothing I say here has any effect on my objectivity in covering stories.

OTR's main page IS PUBLISHED MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY. Letters are added Tuesday - Friday.