Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Michael Putney, a news reporter all reporters should learn from

I have been a reporter in Miami for 5 years. I have learned a lot, but I have so much to learn and Michael Putney is one of those reporters we all learn from. We all need to watch him and really pay attention to his questions and way of reporting.



Twenty years ago the Miami Herald named Putney "the unofficial dean of South Florida’s TV journalists." Michael Putney was born in New York City and spent his childhood in St. Louis and Berkeley, California.

After high school, he attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, worked as a radio reporter and then radio news director and editor at the Columbia newspaper.

In 1970, Putney moved to Washington, D.C. and worked for The National Observer as a reporter and national feature writer. After the Observer, he worked briefly for Time magazine. Later that year the Miami Herald hired him to write for Tropic. And ever since 1981 Putney returned to broadcasting as a reporter and later an anchor for WTVJ.

In 1989, Putney joined WPLG Channel 10 as the station’s senior political reporter and host of the Sunday morning newsmakers/interview show, “This Week in South Florida.”

Local and national politicians visiting South Florida are regularly invited to appear on Putney’s show. A weekly paper once wrote, “It’s no use declining his invitation — Putney will tell that to his viewers, who will then wonder whether the person has something to hide.”

After almost 45 years as a journalist, all reporters should watch his stories and learn from him.

An interesting blog called Miami Beach 411 http://www.miamibeach411.com/ recently asked Putney about his most memorable stories and favorite haunts and enjoyed reading it so much that I would like to share their interview with my followers. Here it goes:

Can you tell us some of the more memorable stories you’ve covered?
Most memorable stories include the Mariel boatlift, the Liberty City riots, Elian Gonzalez, Joe Carollo stabbing Maurice Ferre in the back, moderating the debate between gubernatorial hopefuls Bill McBride (who whiffed) and Jeb Bush (who didn’t) and the 2000 election debacle.

Who are some people, in your opinion, have had the greatest impact on South Florida?
Biggest players in South Florida over the last 30 years include Fidel Castro, Jorge Mas Canosa, Bob Graham (and his wife, Adele), Jeb Bush, banker Harry Hood Bassett, Miami Herald publisher Alvah Chapman, Donna Shalala, Wayne Huizenga, Judge Gerry Wetherington, Merrett Stierheim, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. There are many more, but those names come to mind.

Is there anyone in South Florida who you’ve wanted to do a story on or interview but never had the chance?
I’d sure like to sit down with Steve Ross, new owner of the Dolphins and what’s the name of that stadium he owns?

Name some of your favorite neighborhood haunts.
Neighborhood haunts include George’s in NOBE (north Miami Beach vs. North Miami Beach), Barrio Latino in Aventura, Michy’s on Biscayne Blvd., and a delightful newcomer, Petit Rouge on Biscayne at about 124th Street.

A close friend or relative is visiting Miami for the first time. You’re going to take them on a leisurely Sunday drive. Where do you take them and what stops do you make along the way?
If the visitor was under 30, we’d cruise down Ocean Drive; over 30 we’d walk down Lincoln Road. If eco-minded, the lighthouse at Cape Florida on Key Biscayne.

An old friend who you haven’t seen in years is overnighting in Miami and you’re taking him/her to dinner. Where do you go?
If they didn’t know Cuban food, probably to Versailles, which is very consistent. Also cheap. The Peruvian fare at Adriana’s in Surfside is delicious. I also like Surfside’s Cafe Ragazzi. For a big plunge, Capital Grill or the restaurant at the Delano. For no-glitz intimacy, good food and lower prices, Petit Rouge.

What is your favorite in-town weekend getaway?
An ideal weekend might include tennis in the morning at North Shore Park (excellent public courts), a stroll on the beach (I particularly like Bal Harbour), an evening concert by the New World Symphony at the Lincoln Theater, followed by dinner at one of the many good (but not great) al fresco restaurants on Lincoln Road where people watching is the best in the world.

What are your favorite local websites?
I like this Random Pixels guy quite a bit and rely on Bob Norman’s Daily Pulp for juicy political stuff.

Favorite guilty pleasure.Oreos out of the machine at work. Pretty lame, huh?

And finally, what newspapers do you read up there in Aventura?I read The Miami Herald (hanging in there despite steep cuts), the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and glance through the Sun-Sentinel. Used to read the Daily Business Review but it got too expensive. And I can see Cuba from my house.

After having read the interview that MiamiBeach411 http://www.miamibeach411.com/ did to Putney, I want to eat and visit some of the places he recommends and more importantly, I want to look up some of the people he mentions and I don't know. Definitely, there is something you just can't buy, learn at school, or acquire with youth and make-up and that is called experience. Something that Michael has and it shows.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

La pulga que cabalgó al tigre libro del periodista español Vicente Botín



Leer es vital para los reporteros y yo intento leer aunque el tiempo no alcance en tiempos de mucho trafico, facebook, twitter, internet y mil distracciones. Por ello me lei hace poco un libro que enseno mucha informacion elemental sobre la historia de mi pais, Cuba. Todo reportero por obligacion debe leer historia, aprender sobre ciencias politicas, relaciones internacionales y otros paises, pero en Miami todo reportero debe empaparse en la historia de Cuba.
Al corresponsal Vicente Botin lo habia visto con sus camisas rosadas reportando desde La Habana con el Morro de trasfondo para television espanola. Su sintaxis implacable y vocabulario perfecto habian hecho que lo admirarse como reportero. Ahora que me lei su libro me gusta aun mas. Aqui les incluire algunos de los datos que aprendi sobre Cuba leyéndolo.

Botín habla de lo que llama "El holocausto silencioso" (158) y añade que "Extraoficialmente, durante el año 2008 murieron 42 reclusos, 23 de ellos por falta de cuidados médicos y 11 por suicidio. En los 5 primeros meses de 2009 la cifra de fallecidos era de 18, 10 de ellos por suicidio" Hecho que Botín cita a Elizardo Sánchez llamándolo el "holocausto silencioso". Botín explica como en febrero de 2010, Orlando Zapata Tamayo, murió

Polémica entre alcalde y jefe de policía de Miami

Las cosas que se ven en Miami! Por ello es tan interesante ser reportera en esta ciudad. Hoy estoy reportando en referencia a las nuevas acusaciones hechas en contra del alcalde Tomas Regalado por supuestamente intentar en vano demorar la recogida de maquinas de juego ilegales. Primero fue el propio jefe de la policia Miguel Exposito, quien en dos cartas dijo que el alcalde habia intervenido pero no especifico en como exactamente, ni dio detalles exactos. Hoy El Nuevo Herald publica que el mayor de la policia de Miami, Alfredo Alvarez, tambien ha declarado que dos veces pidio el alcalde en vano que pospusieran la recogida de maquinas. Entrevistando hoy al alcalde tuve que preguntarle, sin pena, como deben hacer los reporteros si es esto cierto. El afirmo que le preocupaba que ello distrallese la atencion de las elecciones pero nunca intervino para que no quitaran las maquinas. Confirme que en efecto el propio alcalde habia recomendado al jefe de la policia para su cargo actual y ahora ambos estaban involucrados en tremendo estira y encoge. Cuando le pregunte si era cierto lo que el jefe habia dicho sobre el, en referencia a los 9000 dolares donados por los duenos de las maquinas a su campana para alcalde en el 2009, su respuesta fue que ello era cierto y el, Tomas Regalado, no lo ocultaba porque son records publicos como mismo la policia de Miami, su sindicato y todo, lo apoyo en su campana. Entonces Tomas no termina la frase y al que bien escuche no se le escape lo que los entrevistados dicen y tampoco lo que no dicen. Muchas veces sutil e interesante. En su momento la policia lo apoyo pero ahora que el rebajo sueldos y recorto beneficios a bomberos y policias, con tal de no aumentar los impuestos de los residentes de Miami, el alcalde no necesariamente tiene muchos devotos en las uniones de bomberos y policias.
Por otra parte estan los tiros de policias a civiles y el descontento de algunos como el comisionado Richard Dunn, a quien tambien entreviste hoy, que promete en la reunion de los comisioonados el 13 de enero le pedira a Exposito que renuncio y recalco otro tema que en medio de tanta polemica me resulto interesante, enfatizo en que estan buscando un policia hispano que sustituya al actual jefe. Varias veces repitio la palabra hispano y anadio que muchos intentaban mirarlo como un conflicto racial, pero no lo era. Dice que en los reportes habia casos en que la policia le habia disparado a personas en la espalda cuando estas huian.
En fin, el ano comenzo ardiendo en la ciudad de Miami, con problemas entre el alcalde y el jefe de la policia nada mas y nada menos.