SPJ DEFENDS WALD HONOR DESPITE ADMISSION OF KTLA'S "QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES."

As you know, I criticized the LA Chapter of Society of Professional Journalists for its decision to honor KTLA news director Jeff Wald as one of its Journalists of the Year. In Monday's issue, I pointed out three specific SPJ ethical guidelines which have been violated under Wald.

I have it on good information that SPJ board members were quite concerned with what I wrote.  I believe they were not aware of much of what I pointed out.  Still, their decision has been made, and SPJ President Tom Clanin sent me the following:

Questions and criticism can be leveled at virtually any nominee - particularly after the fact - and there's no denying that broadcast news executives confront difficult ethical choices every day in balancing traditional news values against the financial pressures imposed by a very expensive division of a publicly held corporation in a brutally competitive market.

That said, a majority of our board felt that overall, throughout the course of his entire career, Jeff Wald nevertheless has demonstrated a laudable effort to honor the journalistic standards embraced by SPJ and has made significant contributions toward maintaining and even improving the quality of television news in Los Angeles.

Wald was chosen in part because of his work with aspiring journalists at UCLA. I'm told that his students think very highly of him and that he spends time with them in KTLA's newsroom and elsewhere outside the classroom.

Our board did discuss whether honoring him would be giving some sort of implied approval of some of KTLA's questionable practices, but we decided we can't blame the employees for the policies set by their corporate owners. I don't know of any local TV station - or broadcast network, for that matter - whose news programs don't sometimes promote their entertainment programming or occasionally pander to outside interests. The decisions to put rating and profits above good journalism are made by the people in the corner offices, not by the news directors. I also can't blame Wald for the perceived bias of KTLA reporters.

Tom Clanin

President

Society of Professional Journalists Greater Los Angeles Chapter

Let's look at my specific complaints and Clanin's defense or lack thereof. There was the infomercial show which Lynette Romero and Mark Kriski co-hosted, which ran on cable outlets. Clanin simply avoids it...probably because it is ethically indefensible.  In the email which contained his response he said:

I don’t want to go into your specific accusations because I don’t have first-hand information and don’t want to discuss hearsay or comments from unnamed sources at KTLA.

Well if he cared to, he could get first hand information. If you are going to honor a man as an outstanding journalist, wouldn't you want to check out whether he is ethically challenged? What I wrote is not about hearsay. They are verifiable facts, along with my opinion, which is clearly supported by the evidence, that Warren Wilson is a biased reporter.  Interesting how the president of the SPJ says that's not the news director's fault.  I can't imagine a greater responsibility for a news director than to make sure his reporters are fair.

And what about the way KTLA runs WB promos as part of their newscast?  Well, as you read, Clanin claims "The decisions to put rating and profits above good journalism are made by the people in the corner offices, not by the news directors."

So a news director has no say in such issues? I contacted two major market news directors, and here is what they say.

ND#1 "Ratings, profits and good journalism should go together, and they do.  There is conclusive evidence that when offered superior news coverage, viewers watch and support the advertisers.  News directors sometimes need to remind their bosses of that."

ND#2 "I don't understand the head of the SPJ's comment...but I have a great working relationship with my GM.  She trusts the news management team to run the news department, but is also very helpful in an advisory role as we deal with a variety of issues.   But there is never a discussion about commercial or profit considerations when we talk about news coverage.  And quite frankly, our approach has always been if you practice good journalism the audience will watch and ratings will follow.  We're number one in every time period except 6-7am, where we're a strong #2.  We're also very into civic journalism that holds government and institutions accountable, reinforces many of the positive things happening in the communities we cover, while also going to great lengths to listen to our viewers.

I kind of get tired of this generalized view of local television news being about nothing but ratings and profits.  Yes, we are a commercial operation that is interested in making money.  But as journalists, we want the biggest ratings because that means we have a bigger platform and more throw-weight for our stories to have more impact. "

Also, one member of management at an LA TV station says the quote by Clanin does not apply to their news director, who has plenty of autonomy.

I sent Clanin's comment about the 'corner office' to  KTLA GM John Reardon, but as I would have expected, he has not responded.

Of course Wald is answerable to his boss. And I certainly have seen things in LA TV that have the fingerprints of the GM on them. It just seems to me as if Clanin lets Wald off awfully easy.  He's not just an "employee," he's the news director!  Just laying KTLA's "questionable practices" on the desk of the GM without any complicity by Wald just doesn't cut it as far as I'm concerned.  

Clanin also has side-stepped my question about KTLA's habit of identifying criminal suspects by race and ethnicity, even when there is no detailed description and sometimes no description. Does the corner office control that too?

And what about some of the dress and behavior we've seen over the years from Mindy Burbano? Does Wald have no control over that either?

I'm not saying Jeff Wald is the worst guy in the world. (KTLA's news is probably the least sensational in LA). But I am saying that if you are going to name someone as a Journalist of the Year, he should have a much better track record than Wald has. That person should really be outstanding.  My guess is that many people on the board realize they've made a mistake, but are not inclined to withdraw the honor. I can understand that.  Clanin, as president and spokesman, is in a difficult position. I'm sure the SPJ meant well, but obviously must be more scrupulous in checking out their honorees. They must realize that when they honor someone who violates their own ethical guidelines, such a decision hurts their credibility.  And for The Society of Professional Journalists, I would say credibility should be very important.

UPDATE ACCOUNT

My thanks to those of you who checked the Update Account Box on the menu above, and re-subscribed after realizing your one year subscription was up.  To those of you who didn't read Monday's issue, I am asking those of you who have not renewed in the last few months to check to see if it may be time to re-subscribe. You'll know because it will say you have  - negative days left.  If you've subscribed or renewed earlier this year, no need to worry about it.   There is a glitch in the system which has allowed folks to keep reading even after their subscriptions ran out.  By the same token, some people have re-subscribed but kept their old password and login, which would also show -days. If you've re-upped, I'm obviously okay with you. I expect everyone can remember if they've subscribed recently, or about a year ago.

Also, when you do re-subscribe, please drop me an email to let me know. Because the system obviously is flawed, that will help me make sure your new subscription gets through correctly.  Thanks!

EXCLUSIVE?

Bill O'Reilly yesterday referred to Rita Cosby getting an exclusive interview with Jermaine Jackson. Yes, the same Jermaine Jackson who was recently interviewed by Barbara Walters and by Larry King. I do believe Bill was spinning.

WHO CARES?

KABC's Marc Brown read this tease:  Scott Peterson's mistress is pregnant - so who's the father?"   Why would anyone care?  Were they trying to suggest that maybe it was Peterson?  When the story came around, we found out that the father is.....her boyfriend! Boy, I'm glad we found out about that.

A GOOD TEASE

So many teases are bad ones, it's nice to be able to point out a good one. This was video of a guy who had been attacking cars with a Samuri sword. The line on KNBC was "be glad you were nowhere near this guy." The reason I like that tease line is because the video was from another country. So often teases will let you think that something was local when it wasn't. This time they came right out and told the viewer, and did it in a way that involved  the viewers. Well done.

SEEMED JUST A LITTLE ODD

In all the recent Michael Jackson coverage, KCAL's Mia Lee did a background story on the Jackson investigation. It seemed a little odd because it was also Lee who made a Michael Jackson child molesting joke on the air several years ago.  I would think most anchors would've gotten in big trouble for that. But as far as I know, Lee got away with it.

STRANGE WRITING

On KTLA, the lead-in said that Latino groups "believe" that Arnold Schwarzenegger was behind the repeal of the illegal immigrant driver's license law. They believe?  Is there any doubt?  Even the story by Warren Wilson called it a "swift victory" for the governor.

IT WAS ALREADY TARNISHED

When the news came out last week that Charles Lindbergh had fathered three children in an out-of-wedlock relationship, KNBC reported "The reputation of an American hero, a bit tarnished tonight."

I assume the writer and maybe anchor Chuck Henry didn't know it, but Lindbergh's rep was tarnished many years ago, with his sympathies toward The Third Reich before the war.  He did not think the US should get involved to stop Hitler, and he made statements that were both anti-Semitic and racist.

Here is one quote from him:  

Who:  Lynette Romero

Where: KTLA

What:  Dennis Kucinich

Romero put the accent on the first syllable of Kucinich instead of the second one.   An LA anchor should know better.

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