John Culea, spokesman for Supervisor Bill Horn, bluntly criticized media accuracy in its coverage of the supervisor and its competence in general Thursday night at a panel sponsored by the San Diego Society of Professional Journalists.
Whatever I write can’t possibly match the experience of seeing Culea dissect the media, including challenging a Nazi comparison made to Horn. So I’m going to link to a video clip of Culea speaking. Click on the photo to view the YouTube video of about 5 1/2 minutes.
John Culea, spokesman for Supervisor Bill Horn, dissects media coverage at an SPJ panel discussion Jan. 20. Click on photo for YouTube video.
Three other public information officers were on the panel with Culea, a former TV news anchor for many years on Channel 8. (UPDATE: Thanks Jim Sills, who reminded me of this in the comments!)
They were Ronald Powell, spokesman for the Port of San Diego; Maria Velasquez, spokeswoman for the San Diego Housing Commission; Kim Edwards, spokeswoman for UCSD Health Sciences. SPJ has brief bios of the four.
In a particularly dramatic moment, Culea challenged a description of how Horn appropriated county money for an anti-abortion event, said by J.W. August, managing editor of KGVT-10 news. Culea read from the transcript of August’s remarks, made on KPBS’s Editor’s Roundtable, hosted by Gloria Penner. One of the offending quotes:
“And that, you know, I’m thinking of that and it’s like Hitler youth has a fundraiser and they have a run and the run is Hitler youth run and they give – they raise money and then they’re able to fund the Hitler youth group.”
The segment in which Culea discusses these remarks begins at 1:10 in the video.
In the audience watching all this, I was flabbergasted. And while I personally like J.W. August, I think that comment was wildly inappropriate. One doesn’t have to be against abortion to think so: I support Roe v. Wade as the least worst legal way to deal with abortion. But the Nazi comparison is false and inflammatory.
To be fair, J.W. did say immediately afterward that he was not comparing the group, Life Perspective, to the Hitler Youth. But that’s exactly what he had done.
August was in the audience while Culea was talking, and the video briefly pans over to him.
Christian conservatives have good qualities (gasp!), said the late Cathy Seipp, who grew up among them.
Culea also alluded to the political tension between Horn, a conservative, and journalists, who mostly are left-leaning. As a journalist who happens to be a Libertarian (and thus also outside the left-leaning journo bloc), I can sympathize with both sides. But the onus lies on journalists to reduce the political tension. We are supposed to be curious, not dismissive, about people different from us. If only journalists gave conservatives the same respect they give illegal immigrants (PDF), we’d all be better off.
I’m not saying Culea is right about all Horn’s disputes with the media. Some journalists I respect think the supervisor plays fast and loose with the truth and perhaps the law. Not being a Hornologist, I can’t go beyond what’s published and what Horn says in his defense.
But even if the worst rumors are true, likening Horn’s machinations to those of a genocidal would-be global dictator, one of the most evil people in history, strikes me as just a trifle exaggerated.
Culea also criticized the North County Times, my employer. I don’t mind that at all. While I can’t speak for my editors, it’s my sense they don’t mind either. If we can’t take the criticism, we shouldn’t be in journalism. I applaud and respect Culea for his candor — and by proxy, Horn, his boss, for giving him that freedom to speak. (The candor may be partly due to Culea’s retirement in November, which he announced at the panel.)
Union-Tribune blooper from Google cache. Click image to enlarge.
On a lighter note, the panelists discussed reporter bloopers — howling errors and false statements. The Port District’s Powell cited a recent doozy: a San Diego Union-Tribune story described Steve Padilla as being sworn in as a port commissioner. (Padilla was removed several hours later in a bizarre turn of events).
“The story that ran in the Union-Tribune said he was sworn in with his wife and kids in attendance,” Powell said. “Now anyone who knows Steve Padilla knows — he’s gay! And he was sworn in by his partner. There were no wife and kids there! And that was in the lead to the story!”
Powell said he called up a Union-Tribune editor to ask for a correction.
“I said, hey, where do you want me to start on this one?” as the SPJ audience guffawed. “Was that person even there, who wrote the piece? And the person wasn’t there!”
The corrected Union-Tribune story is here.
Here are other video clips I took of the event:
Journalists turned public information officers describe how they’ve built trust, or learned to distrust, their former colleagues in the media.
Journalists turned public information officers discuss what it was like for them to change roles.
Journalists turned public information officers discuss their dealings with newbie or unprepared reporters.
(DISCLAIMER: This article represents my opinion, and not necessarily that of my employer, the North County Times).
Comments 15
John Culea was a successful TV news anchor for many
years on Channel 8. His fans still remember his class
and good humor in that role.
He left TV to work for Supervisor Bill Horn and has done a
brilliant job in an often challenging job, as Brad’s superb
analysis and review confirms again today.
[Attaboy to Brad. NO ONE else is doing this
type of media analysis in San Diego. ]
Anyway, my hat is off to one of the Good People in this often
crazy business, Mr. John Culea.
I haven’t had a chance to review the Culea clips yet, but I do remember when JW made the idiotic Hitler remark on the radio. You’ll recall that CityBeat broke the story of Horn’s illegal grants to Life Perspectives and we’re the ones who hammered the hardest on him.
But Hitler? That’s just stupid.
JW should acquaint himself with the Godwin’s Law abd Reductio ad Hitlerum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reductio_ad_Hitlerum
I’ve always lived by the rule that once you compare someone to Hitler, you’ve pretty much ruined the debate. The exception is if you are actually talking about genocide.
I would like to remind people that JW August essentially stole CityBeat’s story on this one and passed it off as his own team’s reporting. So between that and Hitler, this is an example of journalism at its worst. Just my opinion, of course.
And for the record–while CityBeat does support a woman’s right to choose, the issue with Horn’s grant wasn’t whether it was pro-life or not, but rather that it used public dollars to support a scripture-based education program mostly for private religious schools, and this element was concealed in the grant application documents approved by the rest of the board of supervisors. Another issue, which we didn’t fully get into the piece, is whether the information on the reproductive cycle was age appropriate for kindergarteners, which might’ve been shocking to even pro-life parents.
My experience Culea has never been negative. It hasn’t exactly been anything extraordinary either, but for the most part he’s always provided a written response to our inquiries.
Brad, many thanks for bringing coverage of this forum to Rostra readers. As a veteran (!) former broadcaster who also spent time representing elected officials and public organizations, the cavalier attitude and the egregious errors of fact relayed to the audience by the panel shocked me. I would have been fired for lesser offenses. The many journalists doing good work in San Diego should take their peers to the woodshed for embarrassing them with such a lack of professionalism.
Let me also use this post to offer comments on another part of the dialogue at this forum. John Culea informed the audience that due to being misquoted repeatedly, Supervisor Horn would only issue answers to questions from reporters in writing, with rare exception. Culea also mentioned there were several reporters Supervisor Horn would no longer respond to at all. Several journalists in the audience howled in protest, saying as an elected official Supervisor Horn had no choice but to respond to reporters.
The last time I checked, interviews with journalists were still optional in the United States. The First Amendment guarantees the freedom NOT to speak if one chooses. Voters can judge for themselves whether they feel shut out of the political process by not being able to hear from Supervisor Horn via the news media, but giving interviews isn’t a requirement for holding elected office.
Media gatekeepers better figure out fast they are becoming optional. News coverage isn’t the only way to communicate with voters. Culea described how Supervisor Horn gets his say on his own website. Thanks to online and social media, you have unfiltered access to your constituents. They can balance this information versus more critical coverage from opponents. And in many cases, voters have MORE access through the ability to have a dialogue online with their elected representatives. Many of you reading now have engaged in Twitter conversations with officeholders.
Media coverage provides value through verified, sourced information and analysis, with assertions that can be independently proven. This is what differentiates it from other forms of communication with built-in bias and a lack of vetting. Introducing undisclosed bias, errors of fact, and disrespectful name-calling puts true journalism on an even playing field with the most extreme published views parading as “news.”
It pains me to see the waters muddied in this way. Journalism is a noble and honored profession. Is there still room for it?
= STANDING OVATION =
…for our Gayle, very well said on all counts.
Horn’s position is not unprecedented… I can recall at least one local elected official in the 1980s who refused
to speak with the old ‘Newsline’ publication owing to a perceived left-of-center bias.
Gayle, do you remember the incomparable Harold Keen? When he wanted to express a personal opinion (usually liberal) , he did so in San Diego Magazine. But when he was doing straight News for Channel 8, or the magazine, he had TOTAL ACCESS to everybody, GOP or Demo, owing to his personal integrity and attention to detail.
EVERYBODY trusted that man, because of his high personal standards. He passed in 1981 and is to San Diego journalism what Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan or Gayle Sayers are to their respective sports.
I’m not sure what you’re saying, Gayle. Are you advocating a world where the main media is one paid for with taxdollars, controlled by the government leader?
If Horn’s stopped answering questions from us, it’s because he’s afraid to incriminate himself, plain and simple.
Back in New Mexico in 2008, we had a Republican Senate primary where it came down to a moderate Republican (Rep. Heather Wilson), who never granted interviews, and a purist conservative (Rep. Steve Pearce), who was willing to face the press–including the so-called liberal press–head on and answer the hard questions. Who do you think won our liberal newspaper’s endorsement? And who do you think won the primary?
For those who missed it, ‘City Beat’ ran a COVER photo in
May, 2010 of Purple Heart-winner Bill Horn being flushed
down a toilet. Accompanying caption, “Flush Bill Horn.”
http://www.sdcitybeat.com/sandiego/article-7749-flush-bill-horn.html
That MIGHT make an elected official, of any political party,
skeptical about dealing with that same publication. LOL
Author
(Dave) Maassive,
Gayle isn’t advocating any such thing. If you read her comment in context and to the end, you’ll find she thinks the media being shut out by politicians is a bad thing. She also thinks the media have brought this on ourselves, by our arrogance and cluelessness about the Internet era. I think she’s right.
SD CItyBeat’s experience with Culea/Horn is different. As you wrote:
“My experience Culea has never been negative. It hasn’t exactly been anything extraordinary either, but for the most part he’s always provided a written response to our inquiries.”
Culea’s willingness to respond (albeit in writing) to SD CityBeat’s inquiries, speaks in favor of the professionalism of both parties. After all, CityBeat is ideologically opposed to Horn and has accused Horn of illegal activities — and the supervisor STILL keeps the door open.
So I have to wonder what worse things did the other media outlets do so that Horn won’t talk to them at all. And I also surmise that SD CityBeat is more careful with its facts than the other media Horn is boycotting.
Perhaps Horn is more comfortable talking with a known ideological opponent than an opponent who disingenuously claims to be impartial.
See Mr. Fikes’ post for a continued discussion…
http://sdrostra.com/?p=12278
Editors Roundtable is editorial—for the non journalists, there is a difference between editorial positions and reporting on issues
Of course, cable news networks will sometimes mix and mingle editorial with news reporting—but I don’t. .
Editors Roundtable deals with……take a guess
I wish the blog had at least detailed the Horn policy of BLACK LISTING REPORTERS–particularly when it involves a government agency. My remarks on Hitler youth were over the top, I admit, but where is the conversation over a government entity that decides who should get information and who should not. That doesn’t strike you as peculiar behavior in a democracy?
If a reporter screws up a story, deal with it–talk to the boss, make sure the reporter knows how you feel–and why.
I don’t have any problems with John speaking his mind –he has every right to do so but I have problems with black listing reporters who don’t report what Horn & staff consider the truth. John should be opposing this sort of behavior, not supporting it.
I do regret being unnecessarily inflammatory regarding the web sites of the Christian youth camps. When I reviewed them, they reminded me of Hitler Youth propaganda. I was offended by what Mr. Horn was attempting to do. But that is no excuse, I should have kept that thought to myself.
jw
And please do see Mr. Fikes’ post for my response which answers Maasive’s request for clarification: http://sdrostra.com/?p=12278 Sorry to be so obtuse. It must have been happy hour.
More from Gayle…
http://sdrostra.com/?p=12278&cpage=1#comment-93686
Author
Glad to see JW show up in the comments, and apologizing for the Hitler Youth comparison. That’s one bone of contention I hope is resolved.
As a journalist, I certainly don’t like to see people getting shut out from getting questions answered by elected officials. However, the voters are the ultimate arbiters of whether such behavior stands or falls. And the voters have repeatedly stood with Supervisor Horn.
Perhaps now the discussion can shift to the reasons Horn is not responding to certain reporters, and how that can be changed. As they say, sunlight is the best disinfectant . . .
There may be someone with less credibility in San Diego journalism than JW August, but good luck finding that person. The news he has produced at Channel 10 has the same relationship to reality that Roadrunner cartoons have to life in the American Desert. He proved that again today by repeating the Hitler Youth camp slur.
Well JW, I see that you claimed that your comments were over the top, but I do not see an apology to those you may have offended including Supervisor Horn and Life Perspectives.
Since you are so bent on pointing out how others should act, maybe you should take a long look into the mirror and hold yourself up to the high standard that you expect of others.
Bill Horn is not a government entity, he is an elected official. Yes, he can choose to whom he gives information. Last time I checked there were no rules that said an elected official has to treat all reporters fairly. Quite frankly, I think anyone would treat those reporters who have been fair, respectful and honest better than those who have been insulting and demeaning.
You need me to start a collection for a mirror?
While I do not know you or Horn personally, it sounds like you do not like his set of rules for the media and so you want to take it out on him publicly. That does not sound too professional in my humble opinion.
Brad –
Sorry, I only just now finished watching the Culea videos (most of them at least) and returned to this post to see your comment.
Yeah, I couldn’t help but notice that Culea never mentioned us in his presentation (unless I missed it). For the most part, he’s always been responsive.
After the initial stories regarding Life Perspectives, Culea stopped forwarding us Horn’s written responses. Channel 8, however, was kind enough to share them with us.
Darrell Issa might even be worse than Horn on this issue. They recently cut CityBeat off, not because of anything in our reporting, but because they didn’t like something my editor said on Editor’s Roundtable. That’s just petty and, frankly, hypocritical for a guy who’s touting transparency.
Dave