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Channel 8 anchor in story on trend (Newscasters changing from Anglo to ethnic names)
Las Vegas Review-Journal ^ | 1-27-06 | Norm Clarke

Posted on 01/27/2006 7:19:40 AM PST by Nevadan

KLAS-TV, Channel 8's new anchor, Denise Valdez, was included in a 1996 Los Angeles Times story about a trend among newscasters who changed from Anglo to ethnic names to take advantage of federal affirmative-action rules designed to benefit minorities.

The practice was questioned, the Times said, by news professionals and minority activists, "who argue that it cheapens the concept of affirmative action and raises troubling issues of journalistic ethics."

Valdez, who worked in San Antonio and Dallas before going to KNBC in Los Angeles, acknowledged to the Times that she had changed her last name for professional reasons, saying it was "advantageous in this business."

She said she considers herself part Latina, and "I'm sure I'm one of many people who have done it." She added that it was "not something I want to broadcast to the public."

Valdez, who fills the vacancy left by the death of Polly Gonzalez in a traffic accident, will co-anchor the noon broadcast with Gary Waddell and the 4:30 p.m. newscast with Dave Courvoisier beginning Monday.

Bob Stoldal, vice president of news at KLAS, did not return calls for comment by deadline.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; US: Nevada
KEYWORDS: affirmativeaction; hispanics; namechange; newscasters; workplace
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To: MediaMole

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.


21 posted on 01/27/2006 7:34:10 AM PST by Nevadan
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To: Nevadan
newscast with Dave Courvoisier beginning Monday

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


22 posted on 01/27/2006 7:34:41 AM PST by Mannaggia l'America
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To: faloi

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


23 posted on 01/27/2006 7:35:20 AM PST by MortMan (There is no substitute for victory.)
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To: AppyPappy

From an oil tanker.


24 posted on 01/27/2006 7:38:00 AM PST by rabidralph
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To: Right Wing Assault

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


25 posted on 01/27/2006 7:38:11 AM PST by timsbella (Mark Steyn for Prime Minister of Canada!)
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To: Nevadan

Julie Banderas on FOX News did this too.


26 posted on 01/27/2006 7:39:14 AM PST by July 4th (A vacant lot cancelled out my vote for Bush.)
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To: Nevadan
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.
27 posted on 01/27/2006 7:39:21 AM PST by devane617 (An Alley-Cat mind is a terrible thing to waste)
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To: timsbella
Changing names like Jerry Rivers to Geraldo Rivera?

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

28 posted on 01/27/2006 7:40:13 AM PST by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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To: frankjr
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...

29 posted on 01/27/2006 7:41:47 AM PST by Aquinasfan (Isaiah 22:22, Rev 3:7, Mat 16:19)
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Comment #30 Removed by Moderator

To: Mannaggia l'America

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?


31 posted on 01/27/2006 7:42:44 AM PST by bwteim (Begin With The End In Mind)
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To: Nevadan

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.


32 posted on 01/27/2006 7:43:33 AM PST by originalbuckeye
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Comment #33 Removed by Moderator

To: BallyBill

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.


34 posted on 01/27/2006 7:44:28 AM PST by PennsylvaniaMom (Pittsburgh is going to the SuperBowl...here we go!!!)
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To: timsbella
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...;)

35 posted on 01/27/2006 7:45:15 AM PST by bwteim (Begin With The End In Mind)
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To: Javelina

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


36 posted on 01/27/2006 7:46:51 AM PST by devane617 (An Alley-Cat mind is a terrible thing to waste)
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To: Javelina

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


37 posted on 01/27/2006 7:49:02 AM PST by timsbella (Mark Steyn for Prime Minister of Canada!)
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To: originalbuckeye
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.

38 posted on 01/27/2006 7:53:02 AM PST by commish (Freedom Tastes Sweetest to Those Who Have Fought to Preserve It)
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To: commish

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.


39 posted on 01/27/2006 7:55:42 AM PST by hispanarepublicana (Chuck Cooperstein is a tool.)
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To: PennsylvaniaMom
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!!!

40 posted on 01/27/2006 7:55:45 AM PST by bwteim (Begin With The End In Mind)
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