Monday, December 31, 2007
Whatever happened to Fox 4’s Rebecca Aguilar?
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Suspended Fox 4 reporter Rebecca Aguilar
DALLAS — (In an ongoing miscarriage of justice that defies reason, Dallas-based Latina reporter, and my friend, Rebecca Aguilar is starting the new year still under suspension from her FOX News station. Her crime? Doing her job. The following is a column I wrote distributed by Hispanic Link through Scripps News Service.)
There was nothing extraordinary about the news footage showing a neatly dressed female reporter, umbrella in one hand, microphone in the other, calmly standing between the open car door and the unseen driver behind the wheel in the middle of a sporting goods store parking lot.
In fact, if the sound had been muted, you would have wondered what was so newsworthy about it. There was no mad chase or a microphone thrust in a face or even the subject trying to slam the door shut to get away from the reporter.
The reporter was just doing her job: asking hard questions of a man who, in separate incidents in the span of just three weeks, had killed two people who were burglarizing his machine shop and welding business, which also happened to be his home.
The reason why the reporter was questioning the man now was because he had called her to tell her that he was buying a new gun to replace the one the police took away from him after he killed the second intruder.
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Because of that infamous interview, the reporter, a 26-year, award-winning industry veteran, received an indefinite suspension from her station.
What was the big deal?
The big deal was that the man was 70 years old.
The old showbiz adage: Never work with animals and small children evidently extends to senior citizens, too. That's the only rational explanation for the initial torrent of public hostility that rained down on Dallas-based, Fox News affiliate reporter, my friend Rebecca Aguilar.
Dallas viewers, bloggers and media critics swarmed in vilifying Aguilar for the interview when it first aired. They have taken her questions out of context to paint her as a cold-hearted journalist.
They have been especially quick to focus criticism on Aguilar for asking this two-time shooter: "Are you a trigger-happy kind of person? Is that what you wanted to do, shoot to kill?"
They conveniently disregard how she balanced her hard line of questioning by following it with the sympathetic: "So basically you were scared for your life?"
The last thing Aguilar expected after such a routine interview was that her professional career would be at risk
It has been more than two months since Aguilar was suspended from KDFW TV. At first, only Aguilar was disciplined but when red flags were thrown by her supporters as to why she was singled out from a team of superiors who authorized the story for broadcast, other reprimands were dished out -- two weeks later. The managing editor for that segment received a 3-day suspension, while the editor was suspended for two days and the cameraman got a write-up that went into his file. They all went back to work, or never left, except Aguilar.
The question needs to be asked. Why?
Media analysts, fellow industry colleagues and even the online site of the eminent journalism school, the Poynter Institute, have all chimed in with their analyses of Aguilar's interview and their disbelief at her station's extreme disciplinary measure.
All agree that the interview was "very even-handed," and she treated the subject with "respect."
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In a Poynter Online interview with Forrest Carr, news director at WFTX-TV in Cape Coral, Fla., and a 2002 Poynter Ethics Fellow, said, "My thoughts are that her conduct toward the shooter was not as her critics described it. Her words were polite. Her demeanor was professional. Her questions, which set off the critics, were for the most part appropriate."
So, why all this continued hostility?
It might have something to do with the fact that the shooter is white.
A quick scan of the latest comments and blog entries show that what started out as the public's knee-jerk reaction to a routine story that had a sympathetic perpetrator has evolved into the latest example of a backlash against Hispanics stemming from the emotional immigration debate gripping the country.
Comments such as, "They should check this Mexican reporter's green card. She is most certain an illegal." or "I say send this guy down to our border to help out with national security. Maybe if he was there we wouldn't have to put up with unbelievable people like Rebecca Aguilar," are indicative of what is transpiring in this country and fueling a story that ceased being newsworthy a long time ago.
It's one thing for Aguilar's station to listen and respond to its viewers' wishes, but her continued suspension only endorses a racially charged extremist viewpoint and trivializes the career of an individual who was honored just last year as the National Association of Hispanic Journalists' "Broadcast Journalist of the Year."
At this writing, both sides have hired lawyers.
In the meantime, Aguilar is left to wonder what she did so wrong in this one interview, singled out from the thousands she conducted throughout her career, that has jeopardized her professional future.
It's a thought on the minds of a lot of us.
Pegasus News content partner: Latina Lista. You can find the main site for Latina Lista, which includes national news and views, podcasts, the store and more here.
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Comments
Peter Stawicki Verified
Ms. Trevino -
I have seen the interview several times. It was far from even handed. Ms. Aguilar stood between James Walton and his open car door blocking him from leaving and she asked far from even handed questions. Her follow up "So, you were scared for your life?" was not sympathetic in any way.
Ms. Aguilar was out for a sensational story and she was going to get it any way she could and she thought that she could get a sound bite from him by introducing the "bloodthirsty" comment.
I spent several years as a reporter for the Oklahoma News Network. I know what you do and what you say to get the reaction that I want from someone I'm interviewing. Ms. Aguilar's means of doing so did not work. Not because Mr. Walton was a 70 year old man but because he was not a blood thirsty killer like she was insinuating that he was. Mr. Walton had instead been defending his property from the constant threat of break in. Property he not only operated a business from, but also lived at.
The practice Ms. Aguilar employed is very commonly practiced by the reporters at Fox 4. Becky Oliver and the other "Investigative Journalists” pull the same accusatory tactics when Sweeps Week comes around. It just turns out that this time her tactics didn't work.
Ms. Aguilar's editor should have been smart enough to pull the story especially as it really wasn't that strong a piece to start with. The editor failed to do that and now the face of the story has to take the fall. Thats all there is to it.
By the way, I searched the Internet for local comment on this story. When Ms. Aguilar's name is Googled several major columns appear. After spending a few minutes reading, I found many criticisms of the piece but not one that makes mention of Ms. Aguilar's race. The only mention of race comes from Jesse Diaz at LULAC, an organization that continues to make a name for itself by being controversial.
As far as I can tell, bad reporting and poor editing had to blame for Ms. Aguilar's suspension. Racism has nothing to do with it and by throwing down the race card your just attempting to use one more inflammatory tactic that will go no where and benefit no one.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Rawlins Gilliland Verified
Ms. Trevino; As a loyal fan of yours and a card carrying Anglo supporter of toda Latina in Dallas culture; and I might add a peripheral media person in my own right: I saw Rebecca Aguilar's interview and was appalled and immediately let Fox 4 know among others. I will not dissect split second by split second frames in that ‘breaking news story’. But suffice that this man lived there---it was both his home and business which was not mentioned, and this man had been through this terror before shortly before. On and on we could debate this. But if for one second you think I will allow myself and others who cried foul when that piece ran, to be dragged into another ‘this is proof everyone hates Hispanics’, your answer is No Way, Jose.
The appalling thing, other than Aguilar’s interview standing in front of this man, bullying him like a dominatrix, after showing his face on camera despite his fears of retribution; his tearful cries that even in the service he had never had to kill someone….yes, the grievance too should be that Aguilar should not be taking the hit alone while her superiors and team go unscathed. True, she was given the green light, and when the tsunami hit the Fox 4 powers that be, they let her hang in the wind and blow away per normal in corporate America where superiors are quick to cash in on your triumphs, disown you when it gets dicey. Been there, know that. BUT, that is anecdotal and that unresolved point in no way makes Aguilar’s a cause celibre for racial hatred. There are ample examples of that for real without making her ugly piece to be a shroud of honor. (Exhibit A: The current com-box posting following DMNews ‘Texan of the Year’.)
I wish the best for Aguilar, and hope her career rebounds successfully, and that the atonement, if any is needed, is ultimately shared openly at headquarter studio level by all involved.
Happy New Year. Feliz Ano Nuevo.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Mike Orren Staff
Rawlins, where does the DMN have comments on Texan of the Year? I don't see it? Link?
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Rawlins Gilliland Verified
It has been an absolute blog torrent for 2 days. Go to DallasMorningViews blog. Then scroll down to several threads. Beginning top going down:
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Mike Orren Staff
http://dallasmorningviews.beloblog.co...
http://dallasmorningviews.beloblog.co...
http://dallasmorningviews.beloblog.co...
The last link appears broken, perhaps because the DMN's system can't handle that many comments?
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Marisa Anonymous
I've read these same arguments about Rebecca but never did this guy forcibly push Rebecca away, try to slam the door or do anything to indicate he was actively trying to get away.
His past behavior indicates that he's not afraid to use force. He may regret it but he's not afraid to use it, whether it's defending his property or himself.
In all honesty, her reporting was mild compared to consumer reporters or Dateline ambush reporters who go after people who are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty.
Yes, the man cried. If he was 30-years-old or a black or a Latino 70-year-old would he evoke this same kind of sympathy? Unfortunately, the record shows otherwise.
I hate pulling the race card because I think it devalues an argument when it's used if it's not justified but as I've seen in the comments sections of different sites, race has unfairly seeped into this argument.
When I look at Rebecca's reporting, I honestly don't see everything that she is being accused of.
Is it just me? I don't think so if journalism ethics experts from Poynter agree with me.
So, while I understand your empathy with the man, I don't understand how anyone can still say Rebecca deserves the treatment she is currently getting from the station.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Peter Stawicki Verified
Marisa, I think the force shown when an intruder breaks into not only a business but also a home during the dark of night, will likely not be equal to the force used to conclude an uninvited and unwelcomed interview by a member of the press. Why do we have to raise the issue of race at all. I would feel the same way about any person of any age and any race who was a victim of home invasion and was forced to take the same actions to defend their life and possessions.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Rawlins Gilliland Verified
Uno: Marisa, if that's as good as you can get using the power of journalistic persuasion, after all your experience and resume’, then pity. I mean, yes, consumer affairs people are worse or at least routinely as bad. So we expect a seasoned and respected journalist like Aguilar to be channeling Becky Oliver?
Dos: Whether you want to see this, here’s the deal; it wasn’t just a band of Bubbas that rose from their recliners when that piece aired; people like me who are left of center social liberals were left gagging. If you cannot see how to understand why, then there is yet a second reason for me to deliver well-meaning professional condolences. I find your ‘she did nothing unusual or wrong’ piece almost as guileful as Aguilar’s spot.
Tres: Whether you see this or not, you are the one, not those of us offended, who is showing bias bordering on the jingoistic here. God knows by now we get your main point. She was a Latina! Meaning a Woman AND Hispanic! That man was white! Now, am I supposed to think for a second that if this was a black reporter and a Latino male being ambushed, your spin wouldn’t be a very different tarantella? Just a wild guess but I betting so.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
CastleHills Anonymous
I saw the piece, and I just don't see what all the fuss was about. Sure, she could have been a little bit easier on him. Big deal. Everyone makes a mistake once in a while. She made hers, let's give her a break and move on. She's been a very fine reporter outside this one interview.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
William Addington Verified
Well I have not read all the comments on this story and did watch some of the commentary online by outside sources including bloggers "enraged" as they can get, me being a blogger as well. I am ready for the lawyers to hash this out because while I agree that Miss Aguilar needs to be reinstated I just see too many people stuck in the mud on their opinion. The only thing thats going to save this situation is who has the best lawyer and I am rooting for Miss Aguilar's side in this case and hope she gets compensation.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Mike Orren Staff
I'm a bit of mixed minds on this one. The point that I think Rawlins and pstawicki are missing or at least minimizing is that Aguilar's punishment so far exceeds that for the others involved. Clearly there has to be a reason for that. Or more likely, in this never black and white world, a number of reasons.
Now I'm not the least bit privvy to the details of this matter, beyond what's been reported in the press. But there are any number of possible reasons why Aguilar was singled out. The list might include any combination of:
Point is, the public can't know right now, given the available facts, why Aguilar has not been reinstated. But it is crystal clear that her punishment has been different from that of her colleagues. On that point, I have to 100% agree with Marisa.
So the other question is the why -- Marisa puts forth one theory here. It's an interesting and not implausible theory, but nor is their anything dispositive in the argument. Although there is anti-immigrant rhetoric in some postings on the interwebs, there's no smoking gun pattern of Fox discriminating against Hispanic reporters. It might be dead-on, or her ethnicity might be a red herring. Unfortunately, at this stage, neither side is likely in a position to share the facts that would prove or disprove this theory.
So, while I don't think Marisa's slam-dunked the case here, her theory is well worth exploring, particularly in light of the increasing importance of and divisiveness in issues related to Hispanics and immigration.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Rawlins Gilliland Verified
I completely agree that Rebecca Aguilar's punishment exceeds the 'crime'. And I posted prior my belief that her co-hearts should have taken the spill along with her if indeed a fall was called for. I agree that others are every bit as bad. But even comparing apples and apples is pointless if the outcry is as broad as this one was....... Right wingers, gun enthusists, anti-gun crowds (that would be me), the works.......all cried foul.
All the points Mike makes I agree with completely. My quibble(s) with Marisa is her inability to understand why this segment was revolting to someone like me, and using others like Poynter to butress this argument. If someone can't see why this was distasteful, it's as pointless as trying to explain why something is (or isn't) funny. In other words, pointless.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
SonyaBlade Anonymous
LULAC is politically correct racism.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
chrisdanger Anonymous
To begin with: Im pretty much a middle of the road guy when it comes to my politics(fiscal conservative/social liberal), But I dont subscribe to the PC mafia when it comes to calling someone by a "class/ race label" pushed upon us by the so-called "Racial/Social Elite"(see: LULAC) They have a name for people like that, they're called "Nazis". In my book, we're all Americans, so its time to get rid of the labels and get on with living our lives.
Now, on to pressing matters. Ms. Agulliar commited what I consider a serious ethical breach when it came to her brand of "journalism" that day. Theres nothing wrong with going after a story, but there is a line that even reporters dont cross. Her lack of judgement was caught on tape, edited and viewed by the masses,who at the end of the day make the decision to give a station their business via ratings, which helps the station decide ad rates, target demos, ect. Its not only a smart business decision for the station to bench her, which will prolly be until her contract ends, but also one that will save the station from any potential legal ramifications that she may bring in the future with her roughshod style of reporting.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Peter Stawicki Verified
Mike -
The first possible reason you give is Anti-Hispanic Bias. As you claim to have some insight into the matter, can you please provide us with evidence that Fox 4 has brought this punishment for anything regarding race? If that is the case can you provide us with other evidence showing that in the past Fox 4 has discriminated against someone within their organization because of their Hispanic heritage? If you can, I will be the first one down at Fox 4's offices picketing as well as providing the National News organizations with story material in order to best punish the Fox 4 corporate management
I can find nothing what-so-ever about this case that points in one way or another to the race of the reporter.
This is a clear cut case of a reporter making bad choices. Why the punishment has gone on so long could have to do with ANYTHING from her attitude when she was cited to a past history of bad reporting choices. As a National Sales Manager I have disciplined or fired several employees for the inability to take creative criticism regarding their job performance. It had nothing to do with race or even gender.
The bottom line is, this is an HR issue within the Fox 4 organization and the continued mention of race is nothing but inflammatory.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Andrew Laska Verified
Local TV news is a bloody, claws extended cat fight for ratings and attention.
Unless I see evidence to the contrary (and nobody has shown me any), almost any local story I see I will view through the lens of asking how it benefits the station showing it. Whether it benefits the community or even is factual is not the first concern for local TV news.
When I view Rebecca Aguilar's story, the first things that come to mind are not arm chair journalistic ethics and issues of fairness. They are questions about how the local TV news culture (quite possibly and implicitly) "encouraged" her to do the story the way she did.
If you are offended by her treatment of the shooter, or you are offended by the her treatment by Fox 4, please keep in mind that the piece in question is just a symptom of the local TV News culture. If you are offended by it, you ought to be offended several times every night if you are tuning in.
Andrew
PS: On the illegal immigration thing (and with a tip of the hat to Rawlins)... I am befuddled why PegNews didn't run a blurb on DMN's Texan of the Year and the reaction it seems to have gotten.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Mike Orren Staff
pstawicki: I claimed to have no special knowledge. And I only listed the Hispanic bias first because it was the issue on the table. My point (which I now realize can be made much more clearly and succinctly) is that there IS clearly a reason Aguilar is being punished more severely, BUT we don't know it is ethnic bias.
Andrew: Reason we didn't run a blurb on Texan of the Year? Partly because we were on a skeleton crew o'er the holiday and it didn't catch our notice until late. Even so, I'm not sure that the DMN edit board deciding anything is newsworthy. Big reaction, lots of comments -- We've already covered (and will continue to cover) immigration news vigorously, but to me this is a non-event.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Matt Anderson Verified
I'd think a good reason she's punished more severely is that she's the one that badgered an old man. The only thing I absolutely think her producers got wrong was allowing his face to be shown in the story, even when acknowledging that he asked that it not be. The producers didn't make a mistake in asking or allowing her to cover the story. I don't even think it's a real problem that they aired the interview (with the caveat above) -- at that point, he'd already been hounded by their reporter, and the damage was done. Only Aguilar had the poor taste and bad judgment to harass an elderly crime victim, and it's fitting that she's getting punished more than the others. Nothing to do with her race.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Peter Stawicki Verified
Mike, my apology. I misread your comment about inside knowledge. Sorry.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Scott Doyle Verified
I haven't seen the interview so I won't comment on that...but this has me scratching my head:
The reason why the reporter was questioning the man now was because he had called her to tell her that he was buying a new gun to replace the one the police took away from him after he killed the second intruder.
This dude randomly called a news reporter to let her know he's getting a new gun? Sounds fishy.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Scott Doyle Verified
Apparently the vid Mike posted in the linked thread is no longer available.
Now I'll never be able to cast interweb judgment. =(
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Chad Jones Staff
Naturally, KDFW pulled the video from YouTube, but there are still big portions of it here: http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=6905
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
chrisdanger Anonymous
FOX4 is trying to save face in this whole deal, the only way it'll happen is if shes and others of her ilk (Becky Oliver)are canned.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
EdWeirdness Anonymous
I'd accept that the suspension was justified. Talk about goofy questions? "Shoot to kill"? Why else would anyone shoot at someone who potentially might kill them? Shoot simply to let them know your home? Shoot to piss them off? Shoot to let them know your armed and that they now have limited options if they expect to "get away"? I'm skeptical that disclosing the shooters age (this goes for all media) did anything more than endanger this man. Arguably, there is a "fastest gun in town" mentality among some of the thugs in our community. Letting this criminal element know, that even though he's armed, he's still an old dude, only jeopardizes this man's safety. Certainly there are some morons out there who think "taking care of this old dude" will somehow polish their street credit. Iresponsible reporting? Most certainly. That Texas legitimately subscribes (we even passed a law stipulating to the fact) to the "castle doctrine", a doctrine that the majority of Texans support, seems to indicate that the reporter was pursuing an agenda having little to do with an elderly gentleman's legal right to defend himself and protect his property. I'm mortified why Rebecca wouldn't have chosen to speculate more appropriately about the "mentality" of a segment of our society that, even with an abundance or reportage regarding previous shootings, still thought "robbing this guy was a good idea". I know, they probably thought that the old guy got so much bad press the last time he "justifiably" shot someone, he probably wouldn't defend himself again. Wouldn't it be more productive to question the crime and the criminal intellect, rather than a law abiding citizen who, under our law, took acceptable steps to defend himself and his property? If nothing else, this approach might have helped stem the seeming tide of idiots willing to rob a house where the owner has already shot someone. The whole point of Texas Castle laws, and further back, our concealed carry license policies is to place doubt, even fear in the mind of criminals that there actions might have unexpected consequences, and thereby deter such criminals from acting? Reporters need to keep their "anti" anything agenda's in the car when their reporting. Give us the news and stop trying to slant everything emotionally. I really can't see any purpose that would have been served by interviewing the shooter that wouldn't have been served by just reporting the actual facts. We don't interview police officers after every shooting. We don't ask if they were "shooting to kill". I'm not certain how prudent it would be to have police officers who's agenda was to shoot only to intimidate or wound. Personally, it's my view that it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that robbing some dude who's already shot someone's ass for trying to rob him, might not be the wisest choice. I daresay that a community that becomes known for having residents who believe in self defense and defending their property might tend to run off the criminal element entirely. If the news media had made this fact foremost in their reportage, more would be thugs might pause to rethink the trajectory their life is following. The shooter did nothing wrong and should be commended for his courage. Rebecca perhaps should consider another career, one more suited to her personal agenda.
10 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
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