Two South Florida Spanish-Language Television Anchors Made Political Contributions

A prominent Spanish-language television anchor, Alina Mayo Azze of Univision's Miami station, should be added to the list compiled by MSNBC's Bill Dedman of more than a hundred journalists who have made political contributions since 2004.

According to the Federal Election Commission database of individual contributors, Ms. Mayo Azze contributed $1,000 to the U.S.-Cuba Democracy Political Action Committee in June, 2005. (Or at the very least, a contribution in that amount was made in her name.) The PAC's treasurer is Gus Machado owner of a Ford dealership in Hialeah, Florida. I do not know if he currently buys time on the Univision station where Mayo Azze is employed.

If you go back before 2004, then you can add Telemundo network morning show anchor José Diaz-Balart to the list as well.

It is no secret that José Diaz-Balart's family is heavily involved in politics. His father was a Congressman in Cuba. His brothers Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Mario Diaz-Balart are both members of the United States Congress. According to the FEC, José contributed $1000 to Mario's campaign during his first run for Congress in June, 2002. (Or, as above, at the very least a contribution in that amount was made in his name.)

That José Diaz-Balart faces potential conflicts of interest when it comes to covering politics is a long-established and well-known fact. And that a South Florida Spanish-language television anchor has strong feelings about U.S. policy towards Cuba should surprise no one in Miami. Still, even obvious facts are worth reporting. Particularly since plenty of other Cuban American journalists have seen fit not to make political contributions.

For the record, I went to school with a younger brother of Ms. Mayo Azze and I worked the weekend shift with José Diaz-Balart at WTVJ for two years. That was a long time ago, in both instances.