Channel 8 anchor in story on trend (Newscasters changing from Anglo to ethnic names)

Las Vegas Review-Journal ^ | 1-27-06 | Norm Clarke

[Nevadan]

re: Is she another one of those reporters who speaks with perfect, accent-free, English until she gets to her name, which she pronounces with an exaggerated accent?

If I remember correctly, the female anchor on the movie "Bruce Almighty" did exactly that.

[Mannaggia l'America]

newscast with Dave Courvoisier beginning Monday

Mr. Courvoisier obviously changed his Anglo name to a more ethnic French name....

[MortMan]

Journalistic ethics - the decision making process on how to charge the expense account for seventeen happy-hour martinis (and not feel guilty).

[rabidralph]

From an oil tanker.

[timsbella]

Funny, he may go back to Friedman when he "rediscovers" his roots.

[July 4th]

Julie Banderas on FOX News did this too.

[devane617]

Get use to it...you have W to thank. Here in Dallas the highest rated TV station/News is Hispanic. If you watch the traditional stations NBC,CBS,ABC you will see a bug shift to Hispanic readers. I am also noticing more Spanish language commercials on English stations. Thanks W for destroying our beautiful America.

[Aquinasfan]

Changing names like Jerry Rivers to Geraldo Rivera?

Hehehe... It's a long and glorious tradition!

[Aquinasfan]

Considers? Either you are part or you are not.

Come on, get with the program! Reality is whatever you want it to be. Just close your eyes and wish reeeeeeeaaaaal hard...

[bwteim]

Inquiring minds want to know, will Courvoisier pronounce his name "French style" just like Alex Trebek when there is a Gallic phrase or name in a clue or answer?

[originalbuckeye]

I remember this article from before. There is a newscaster out here who goes by the name 'Gordon Tokumatsu' whose real name is Gordon Gary. If I remember correctly, he decided to use his maternal grandmother's name to sound more ethnic. He does look vaguely Asian but not much. At the time, I was floored at the blatant hypocrisy of this type of manipulation. Apparently it is pretty common and treated out here with a wink and a nod.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Like the Seinfeld episode where Jerry has a blind date with girl named 'Chan' but she isn't Chinese...she tells him it used to be 'Chanstein or something.' Mrs. Costanza gets phone advice from Ms. Chan, but then won't heed it when she meets her in person and she isn't Chinese.

[bwteim]

You are welcome.
Three minutes thought would suffice to find this out; but thought is irksome and three minutes is a long time. - - A.E. Houseman
Either that, or a Google search...;)

[devane617]

Oh the HORROR!! That small dot of breast cancer is no reason to complain! Get it???

[timsbella]

Take heart, if you ever visit Quebec that's how they feel about the English.

[commish]

At the time, I was floored at the blatant hypocrisy of this type of manipulation. Apparently it is pretty common and treated out here with a wink and a nod.

What these "journalists" are doing is completely legal. The law specifically reads that it applies to anyone with an ethnic SURNAME, the actual ethnicity of the person does not matter as long as thier SURNAME meets the criteria.

Definately the epitome of hypocrisy, but at the same time they are just using the system that the government put in place.

[hispanarepublicana]

I have to say that if I were an on-air personality, I would take on a different name than my "real" last name just to keep the stalkers and freaks away from my front door.
I would probably reach back for a family name from the past just to make it "meaningful" for me rather than "fake". So, if that name were Chan, or Epstein, or O'Reilly or Garcia, that's what I would use.

[bwteim]

It was on tv last night:
ESTELLE: Long Island?!?! I thought I was gettin' advice from a Chinese woman!!
DONNA:I'm sorry..?
ESTELLE: Well! Then, that changes everything!
GEORGE: What?!
ESTELLE: She's not Chinese; I was duped!!
GEORGE: So what?! She gave you advice; what's the difference if she's not Chinese?!?!
ESTELLE: I'm not taking advice from some girl from Long Island!! [goes into kitchen]
GEORGE: [chases her] Wait a minute! You're--now you're getting a divorce because she's from Long Island?!?!
FRANK: [from the living room, standing, shouts after them] You want a divorce?!!? You got one!!!