Mr. Courvoisier obviously changed his Anglo name to a more ethnic French name....
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.
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.
Mr. Courvoisier obviously changed his Anglo name to a more ethnic French name....
Journalistic ethics - the decision making process on how to charge the expense account for seventeen happy-hour martinis (and not feel guilty).
From an oil tanker.
Funny, he may go back to Friedman when he "rediscovers" his roots.
Julie Banderas on FOX News did this too.
Hehehe... It's a long and glorious tradition!
Come on, get with the program! Reality is whatever you want it to be. Just close your eyes and wish reeeeeeeaaaaal hard...
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?
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.
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.
Oh the HORROR!! That small dot of breast cancer is no reason to complain! Get it???
Take heart, if you ever visit Quebec that's how they feel about the English.
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.
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.
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