Univision’s media relationship with L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is under scrutiny, after a report on ERS News revealed the Spanish-language network was sending him questions ahead of time for his weekly segment, “Villaraigosa a su lado.” However, the questions were represented to the public as impromptu-unscripted questions.
ERS obtained copies of emails sent from KMEX-34’s executive producer and the station’s VP of news, to Villaraigosa’s deputy press secretary, Diana Rubio, in which they include advance questions for upcoming segments. The report points out other news staff was very aware of the practice of sending advance questions to the mayor and that “according to sources familiar with the situation, the mayor’s office exerted extensive influence and sway in insuring the Mayor was not put in any light other than a favorable one, something Univision accommodated routinely.”
Providing questions in advance to an interview subject is considered to be inappropriate and goes against the practice of ethical journalism.
