Schwarzenegger - Turn Off Spanish-Language TV
FULL DISCLOSURE: I
have been a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists off and
on for more than a decade. I worked for two Spanish-language television networks for a total of seven and a half years.
Speaking at
an event organized by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, California
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger reportedly
"drew
gasps from some of the 700 people in the audience by suggesting that
undocumented immigrants "have got to turn off the Spanish-language
television" programs in order to learn English."
I thought
one reaction cited in the LA Times article was particularly on target
"Cecilia Alvear, a former TV news producer, was only half kidding when she
said, "What? And give up my telenovelas?"
The LAT
failed to note some worthwhile background to the Governor's statement. Namely,
Schwarzenegger gladly took large contributions from former Univision CEO, Chair
and controlling shareholder A. Jerrold Perenchio.
Perhaps he shares conservative concerns about Univision´s new owners and the network´s citizenship and voter registration drives.
UPDATE:
The Modesto
Bee provides additional background on the irony of the Governor's request to
turn off Spanish-language television. The article highlights Schwarzenegger's
Spanish-language Web site, Hispanic media outreach and provides additional
details on the contributions of former Univision CEO A. Jerrold Perenchio's to
the Governor.
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