Tag: journalism

Beyond Belief: Horoscopes, Halloween and Witch Hunts at a New Mexico Daily ~ Episode 15

~ Tripping Raul

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:13 — 8.4MB)

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In the podcast episode titled “The Cost of Belief: Horoscopes, Halloween, and Witch Hunts at a New Mexico Daily,” host Tripping Raul discusses her experiences working at a New Mexico newspaper under a publisher whose extreme religious beliefs heavily influenced workplace dynamics and editorial decisions.

The episode starts with Raul setting the scene of her past work environment where the publisher, a self-proclaimed born-again Christian, imposed his radical beliefs on the staff. This included banning horoscopes from the newspaper, labeling them as “satanic,” and unreasonable firings based on minor infractions or personal beliefs contrary to his own, such as firing a reporter for being Wiccan and another for decorating her desk with mini pumpkins for Halloween.

Raul shares her ordeal of being falsely accused of selling colleagues’ names to headhunters and subsequently being fired. This accusation, she notes, was a fabrication by some members of the management as a pretext to terminate her, reflecting the toxic and oppressive workplace culture fostered by the publisher.

Despite the challenging environment, the situation took a turn when Raul, after her dismissal, decided to help her wrongly terminated colleagues by providing testimony and filling out paperwork for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). This initiative eventually led to the EEOC reaching a settlement with the publisher, which benefited Raul financially, helping her clear debts, support her family, and complete her education.

Tripping Raul concludes the episode by reflecting on the unexpected outcome of her actions, emphasizing the importance of staying true to one’s principles and the potential rewards of doing so. She also notes the death of the publisher at the age of 62, marking an end to his controversial influence over the newspaper.

Throughout the episode, Raul intersperses her narrative with broader commentary on the state of journalism, noting the challenges posed by the shift from print to digital media, the impact of social media, and the ethical dilemmas journalists face today.

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Sheriff’s Missteps and the Non-Cold New Mexico Murder Case ~ Episode 14

~ Tripping Raul

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:25 — 8.6MB)

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In this episode of “Journalism 101 with Tripping Raul,” host Tripping Raul reflects on a harrowing case from her days as a beat reporter. The case involves the disappearance and murder of 17-year-old Sandra, whose case Raul covered right before being fired from a daily newspaper in Northeast New Mexico.

Raul starts the episode by recalling the initial call from Sandra’s mother, Darlene, who was desperate because the local sheriff’s department dismissed her concerns, suggesting Sandra had likely run away. Raul contacted the sheriff, who maintained the stance that Sandra was a runaway despite the mother’s insistence otherwise.

For fear of bad publicity, the sheriff reluctantly started to investigate the disappearance.

The narrative takes a grim turn when Raul mentions that Sandra’s body was eventually discovered by a shepherd in a secluded area, not by law enforcement. The sheriff admitted that Sandra had gone to a restaurant to apply for a job, where she was last seen accepting a ride home from an unknown individual. This ride ended tragically when Sandra was kidnapped, attempted to be raped, and then strangled.

After the body was discovered, the sheriff posited that the murderer was a transient who had killed as he passed through town after taking a low-qualified job. He likely then left town to kill again, the sheriff said.

Raul discusses the lack of resources in the mid-1990s to link crimes nationally, which affected the investigation. She expresses her initial hope that revisiting her research would reveal a solved cold case. However, she finds out that the murderer was indeed captured after she had left the town, and contrary to the sheriff’s belief, he was not a transient but a local man named Timothy Allen. He had a violent past and had admitted to giving Sandra a ride on the day she disappeared.

Raul ends the episode emphasizing the critical importance of swift action in missing persons cases, citing statistics from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. She reflects on the crucial role the media played in bringing attention to Sandra’s case, which she believes helped to recover the body sooner and with dignity.

The episode concludes with Raul hinting at possibly discussing her firing in more depth in the next episode, leaving the listeners with a teaser for future content.

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Racism? Really? WTF is Wrong with People? ~ Episode 10

~ Tripping Raul

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:29 — 8.7MB)

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The focus of this episode by Tripping Raul is on the importance of journalism in shedding light on societal issues, particularly racism. The episode begins with a poetic introduction about the role of journalism, followed by Tripping Raul sharing her reactions to a New York Times article detailing an act of racism during a condo sale in Virginia Beach. The article impacted Raul deeply, evoking tears and reminding her of a distressing incident during her tenure as a newspaper editor, where she received an anonymous complaint about the racial representation of children in the newspaper’s holiday coverage.

Raul expands on her extensive experience covering various news beats, from accidents to murders and even cannibalism, while emphasizing her commitment to truth and justice which she attributes to her upbringing and spiritual beliefs. She recounts her decision to address the racist anonymous letter publicly through a column, despite it being against her usual policy, due to her strong stance against racism and her desire to maintain her health by not harboring anger.

Throughout the episode, Raul reflects on how phrases and approaches to racial issues have evolved, critiquing past terminology like being “color blind” and highlighting the importance of acknowledging and celebrating diversity. She also delves into a personal anecdote about a city council meeting where her journalistic integrity was questioned, illustrating the complexities of covering sensitive issues and the judgments journalists can face.

Concluding the episode, Raul ties back to the New York Times article, relieved that the victim of the racist act was able to purchase the condo despite the discrimination she faced. She expresses frustration that such racism still occurs and condemns the broader societal tolerance for hate and discrimination, fuelled by political figures. The episode ends with a call to action, encouraging listeners to share their thoughts and stories about journalism and advocacy, emphasizing the ongoing need for vigilance and improvement in media representation and societal justice.

Listeners are invited to engage further through email and social media, promising more episodes that blend serious journalistic pursuits with lighter, enjoyable content. The episode is a powerful testament to the role of the press in combating racism and promoting a more inclusive society.

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Resources