3/15/02

LC020315

JESS>> ON LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT --

IT'S THE AMERICAN NEIGHBOR FEW AMERICANS EVER SEE IN PERSON. WE'LL VISIT CUBA AND FIND OUT HOW THAT NATION IS CHANGING IN SPITE OF FIDEL CASTRO.

SAUL GONZALEZ>> CUBAN HOSPITALITY IS ALL THE MORE REMARKABLE WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT THE AUTHORITIES DON'T REALLY LIKE IT WHEN LOCALS MIX WITH FOREIGNERS.

JUAN>> IF A COP SOMETIMES SEE YOU TALKING WITH SOME FOREIGNERS OR WALKING BESIDE SOME FOREIGNERS, THEY STOP YOU. THEY WANT TO TAKE YOU TO THE POLICE STATION AND FINE YOU FOR JUST TALKING WITH A TOURIST.

JESS>> WE'VE MET THE NEW MAYOR OF COMPTON, THE ONE WHO CARRIES A GUN BECAUSE HE SAID HE HAS THREATS FROM HIS POLITICAL ENEMIES. TONIGHT WE'LL MEET THE MAN WHO GOT OUSTED FROM THE MAYOR'S SEAT -- HE SAYS TEMPORARILY -- OMAR BRADLEY. TONIGHT HE TELLS HIS SIDE OF THE STORY AMID NEW ALLEGATIONS OF SCANDAL AT COMPTON CITY HALL.

PLUS A LOOK AT JOURNALISM IN AMERICA. THERE'S A LOT OF NEWS OUT THERE, BUT WHO'S REALLY PAYING ATTENTION?

>> WHAT IF YOUR LITTLE PEACE EXPERIMENT WHILE YOU'RE SINGING "KUMBAYA" DOESN'T WORK AND INNOCENT PEOPLE DIE AGAIN? HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?

JESS>> IN THE CABLE NEWS WARS, THE CHANNEL THAT SIZZLES IS BEATING THE ONE WITH HARDNOSED REPORTING, BUT DOES THE PUBLIC LOSE IF SENSATIONALISM WINS?

THESE STORIES AND MORE STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

JESS>> GOOD EVENING, I'M JESS MARLOW. VAL ZAVALA HAS THE NIGHT OFF.

WE'RE STARTING TONIGHT WITH A TRIP TO CUBA, A PLACE THAT REMAINS A BIT OF A MYSTERY EVEN THOUGH IT LIES BARELY NINETY MILES OFF THE FLORIDA COAST. AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, CUBA IS STILL FIRMLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF FIDEL CASTRO AND DEMOCRACY ON THE ISLAND REMAINS A FOREIGN CONCEPT. BUT A WHILE BACK, SAUL GONZALEZ JOINED THE GROWING RANKS OF AMERICANS WHO ARE TOURING CUBA AND, AS YOU'RE ABOUT TO SEE, HE FOUND PLENTY OF PEOPLE THERE WILLING TO TALK ABOUT THE THINGS MOST CUBANS DO NOT HAVE AND THAT'S FREEDOM.

SAUL>> HAVANA. I TRAVELED HERE HOPING TO FIND A CITY THAT ENCHANTS AND I'M NOT DISAPPOINTED. AS YOU WANDER ITS NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU REALIZE HAVANA IS ONE VAST OPEN AIR THEATER WHERE THE BEST FLOOR SHOW IN TOWN IS WHAT YOU SEE ON THE STREETS. IT'S A CITY OF SPLENDOR AND TROPICAL DECAY, A STAGE FOR THE RAUCOUS, THE SENSUAL AND THE DELIGHTFUL.

I'M IN HAVANA WITH NO SET PLANS AND NO FORMAL ASSIGNMENT, JUST A WILLINGNESS TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR LIVES IN THE COUNTRY SO CLOSE TO AMERICA, YET SO LITTLE UNDERSTOOD.

THE BEST THING ABOUT HAVANA FOR THE FIRST-TIME VISITORS IS THE WARMTH OF THE PEOPLE. AROUND EVERY CORNER, DOWN EVERY STREET, THERE SEEMS TO BE SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING. YOU CAN HAVE MORE GREAT CONVERSATIONS WITH COMPLETE STRANGERS IN ONE AFTERNOON HERE THAN YOU CAN ALL MONTH BACK IN L.A.

LIKE NELSON, FOR INSTANCE, A MUSIC PRODUCER WHO, SHORTLY AFTER A CASUAL MEETING, INVITED ME OVER TO HIS HOUSE TO LISTEN TO HIS FAVORITE BANDS AND GIVE ME SOME CUBAN DANCE POINTERS.

[FILM CLIP]

THEN THERE WAS [EMALIA]. CIGAR LOVER, GRANDMOTHER AND A DEVOUT PRACTITIONER OF SANTERIA, CUBA'S AFRO-CARIBBEAN RELIGION. A FEW MINUTES AFTER ASKING HER FOR DIRECTIONS, SHE WAS SHARING A SANTERIA PRAYER WITH ME IN HER LIVING ROOM.

[FILM CLIP]

CUBAN HOSPITALITY IS ALL THE MORE REMARKABLE WHEN YOU REALIZE THAT THE AUTHORITIES DON'T REALLY LIKE IT WHEN LOCALS MIX WITH FOREIGNERS. THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT BOTHERED JUAN, A STUDENT I MET WHILE WALKING ALONG HAVANA'S SEAWALL.

JUAN>> IF A COP SOMETIMES SEE YOU TALKING WITH THE FOREIGNERS OR WORKING BESIDE THE FOREIGNER, THEY STOP YOU. THEY WANT TO TAKE YOU TO THE POLICE STATION AND FINE YOU FOR JUST TALKING WITH A TOURIST.

ALBERTO KORDA>> I PUT MY FACE OUTSIDE FROM THE WINDOW AND SAY, "CLINTON, I AM HERE. HOW ARE YOU?" (LAUGHTER)

SAUL>> ONE MAN I MEET IN CUBA WHO CAN DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING HE WANTS IS ALBERTO KORDA. HE'S A BON VIVANT IRREPRESSIBLE WOMANIZER AND ONE OF HIS COUNTRY'S MOST FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS, AN ARTIST WHO'S WIELDED HIS CAMERA IN THE SERVICE OF SOCIALISM.

ALBERTO KORDA [INTERPRETED]>> DURING CAPITALISM, MY PASSION WAS FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY. IT ALLOWED ME TO HAVE A DECENT LIFE, TO EAT, TO EARN MONEY. AND AFTER THE CUBAN REVOLUTION, I HAD THE GOOD LUCK TO BE NAMED THE PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHER TO FIDEL CASTRO FOR TEN YEARS.

SAUL>> KORDA MAY NOT BE A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN AMERICA, BUT YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN HIS MOST FAMOUS PHOTO. IT'S THE PICTURE THAT HANGS IN HIS LIVING ROOM OF CHE GUEVARA, AN IMAGE THAT WAS ONCE AN INTERNATIONAL ICON OF REVOLUTION.

ALBERTO KORDA [INTERPRETED]>> IT IS NOW CONSIDERED THE MOST REPRODUCED PHOTO IN THE HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY.

SAUL>> IN RECENT YEARS, HOWEVER, THE CHE PHOTO HAS INCREASINGLY BECOME MORE POPULAR AS A CAPITALIST MARKETING TOOL, PROMOTING CONSUMER CONSUMPTION INSTEAD OF POLITICAL MILITANCY.

SAUL>> YET KORDA ISN'T AGAINST DABBLING IN A BIT OF CAPITALISM HIMSELF, LIKE SELLING AUTOGRAPHED COPIES OF HIS FAMOUS CHE PHOTO FOR $500 A POP TO VISITING AMERICANS. THE DEAL REPRESENTS A FUNDAMENTAL AND IRONIC FACT ABOUT CUBA'S CONTEMPORARY ECONOMY. IN THIS BASTION OF SOCIALISM, AMERICAN DOLLARS RULE. THE QUESTS FOR DOLLARS HAVE MADE JOBS IN CUBA'S TOURIST INDUSTRY THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER IN THE COUNTRY. WHAT A CUBAN DOCTOR EARNS IN A MONTH, A POOLSIDE WAITER CAN EARN IN TIPS IN A SINGLE AFTERNOON.

CUBA CERTAINLY HAS MUCH TO BE PROUD OF, LIKE LITTLE STREET VIOLENCE, AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT'S VIRTUALLY ELIMINATED ILLITERACY AND HOSPITALS AND HEALTH PROGRAMS THAT ARE AMONG THE BEST IN LATIN AMERICA.

SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO SHINE A LIGHT ON CUBA'S PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, CAN BE FOUND IN THIS BUILDING WORKING IN A THIRD-FLOOR APARTMENT IN HAVANA'S CHINATOWN. THEY ARE CUBA'S SMALL COMMUNITY OF INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED ENEMIES OF THE STATE BY THEIR GOVERNMENT. THIS LIVING ROOM IS THEIR NEWS ROOM. FORBIDDEN TO HAVE COMPUTERS AND TYPEWRITERS, STORIES ARE WRITTEN OUT ON LEGAL PADS AND THEN READ OVER THE PHONE TO A CONTACT IN MIAMI WHO PUTS THE PIECES ON THE INTERNET. THE GROUP'S LEADER IS JORGE OLIVERA, EDITOR OF HAVANA PRESS.

JORGE OLIVERA [INTERPRETED]>> WE ARE A COUNTRY THAT NEEDS TO HAVE ACCESS TO FUNDAMENTAL LIBERTIES, FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION, FREEDOM OF THOUGHT, FREEDOM TO PURSUE FAITH, THE RELIGION THAT WE WANT, THINGS THAT DO NOT EXIST AND HAVE NOT EXISTED IN THIS COUNTRY FOR FORTY YEARS.

SAUL>> THESE JOURNALISTS LIVE WITH THE THREAT OF INTIMIDATION, PRISON TIME AND EVEN PHYSICAL ATTACK.

JORGE OLIVERA [INTERPRETED]>> IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. LOOK, JUST COINCIDENTALLY, LAST SATURDAY ONE OF OUR REPORTERS WHO WAS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE OUTSIDE OF HAVANA SEEING HIS OWN SON WAS ATTACKED BY A GROUP OF POLITICAL POLICEMEN. THEY HIT HIM, THEY TOOK HIS MONEY, HIS WATCH, EVEN HIS SHOES, LOOKING FOR DOCUMENTS.

>> WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE, SOMEONE HAS TO TELL IT. IF NOT ME, THEN SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS A HISTORIC TIME WHEN PEOPLE HAVE TO STRUGGLE.

SAUL>> CUBANS KNOW THAT THE WORLD WHICH SURROUNDS THEIR ISLAND IS CHANGING AT A BREATHLESS PACE AND THEY MUST SOMEHOW FIND A WAY TO CHANGE WITH IT. IT'S A CHALLENGE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY WILL NO DOUBT CONFRONT WITH THEIR CUSTOMARY GRACE AND RESILIENCE.

JESS>> SAUL'S TRIP TO CUBA TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO THE 9/11 TERRORIST ATTACKS. BUT IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT SURPRISED MANY BY OFFERING WORDS OF CONDOLENCE TO THE U.S. AND CUBA REMAINS IN THE NEWS AS THE SITE OF THE AMERICAN MILITARY COMPOUND IN GUANTANAMO, THE PLACE WHERE SUSPECTED TALIBAN AND AL QAEDA FIGHTERS ARE BEING DETAINED.

MONDAY ON LIFE AND TIMES, A CRISIS OF FAITH. WE'LL HEAR FROM LOCAL CATHOLICS WHO BECAME VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY THE CLERGY.

>> THEY'VE CIRCLED THE WAGONS, THEY'VE PROTECTED EACH OTHER, THEY'VE KEPT ALL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS SILENT AND I THINK THAT'S WHY MORE ABUSE HAPPENS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THAN IN OTHER INSTITUTIONS.

JESS>> WE'VE BEEN CALLING IT THE TALE OF TWO MAYORS. ONE CARRIES A GUN, THE OTHER SAYS HE WAS A VICTIM OF A CROOKED ELECTION. THEY'RE BOTH FROM COMPTON, A CITY THAT'S NO STRANGER TO POLITICAL CONTROVERSY. LAST WEEK, COMPTON'S NEWLY-ELECTED MAYOR, ERIC PERRODIN, TOLD US ON THIS BROADCAST THAT IT'S TIME FOR SOMEONE TO SWEEP THE TOWN CLEAN OF SCANDAL.

ERIC PERRODIN>> I'M A DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND, IF I TAKE THAT HAT OFF, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

VAL>> THAT'S THERE'S CORRUPTION IN --

ERIC PERRODIN>> -- THERE'S A LOT OF CORRUPTION IN THE CITY OF COMPTON. WE'VE HAD, I BELIEVE, FOUR COUNCIL PEOPLE SENT TO PRISON WITHIN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS.

JESS>> DO YOU THINK THAT'S THE END OF IT?

ERIC PERRODIN>> I THINK, IF THE PROPER AUTHORITIES WILL DO THEIR FULL INVESTIGATION, I THINK SOME MORE PEOPLE WILL PROBABLY BE INDICTED.

JESS>> SOME MORE INDICTMENTS COMING DOWN?

ERIC PERRODIN>> YES. I THINK THE CITY NEEDS A CLEANSING.

JESS>> ONE OF PERRODIN'S MAIN TARGETS HAS BEEN THE FORMER MAYOR OF COMPTON, OMAR BRADLEY. TONIGHT BRADLEY GETS TO TELL HIS SIDE OF THE STORY AND TO RESPOND TO A NEW ALLEGATION THAT HE TOOK EXPENSIVE TRIPS PAID FOR BY A COMPANY THAT DOES BUSINESS WITH THE CITY. ALSO JOINING THE DISCUSSION, OUR MAN ON POLITICS, KERMAN MADDOX.

KERMAN>> THANKS, JESS.

JESS>> MR. BRADLEY, ONE OF MR. PERRODIN'S CHARGES WAS THAT YOU WERE SEEKING $840,000 IN LEGAL FEES -- I MISSPOKE AND SAID $840 MILLION, BUT EARLIER WE HAD SAID $840,000, SO IT WAS QUITE CLEAR -- BUT IT STILL ADDS UP TO A LOT OF MONEY. HE SAYS THE CITY SHOULD NOT BE PAYING YOUR LEGAL FEES. WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THAT SITUATION NOW?

OMAR BRADLEY>> WELL, THE ACTUAL REVERSE OF THAT SITUATION IS TRUE. MR. PERRODIN COMMITTED CRIMES AGAINST THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE AND, IN FACT, THE CITY BY CHARTER AND CODE SHOULD NOT HAVE DEFENDED HIM. IN FACT, WHEN HE COMMITTED THOSE CRIMES AND WHEN MS. IRVING COMMITTED HER CRIMES, THEY WERE NOT ELECTED. THE CITY SPENT $1.4 MILLION DOLLARS TO DEFEND THEM. THAT WAS DONE BY THE CLERK AND THE CITY ATTORNEY WHO ARE COMPLICITLY INVOLVED IN THIS ELECTION SCANDAL. THIS IS WHY THEY MUST FIGHT ON EVERY END TO KEEP MR. PERRODIN IN OFFICE. IN FACT, THE CITY INVITED MY ATTORNEYS -- NOT ME, MY ATTORNEYS -- TO GET THE LEGAL FEES, AND I BELIEVE THAT IS THE STANDARD WHEN YOU PREVAIL IN COURT THAT YOUR ATTORNEYS SHOULD BE PAID.

JESS>> BUT THE CITY TREASURER SAID HE WILL NOT SIGN THE CHECK.

OMAR BRADLEY>> WELL, THE CITY TREASURER ALSO RAN ON MR. PERRODIN'S TICKET. SO IF WE LOOK AT THE ENTIRETY, WE CAN SEE THAT WHAT WE HAVE IS A MAN WHO'S THROWING MUD TO TRY TO KEEP HIS SUIT CLEAN. IN FACT, MR. PERRODIN, A DEPUTY D.A., HAD HIS CAMPAIGN FUNDED BY SHUG KNIGHT WHO WAS IN PRISON AND WHO WAS UNDER D.A. INVESTIGATION. SO HOW DOES A D.A. TAKE FUNDS FROM SOMEONE IN PRISON, SOMEONE WHO IS UNDER INVESTIGATION? FURTHERMORE, MR. PERRODIN, A FORMER COMPTON PD, SHOULD EXPLAIN WHY FOUR COMPTON POLICE OFFICERS WERE ON THE SCENE OF THE KILLING OF TUPAC SHAKUR AND BIGGIE SMALLS. YOU SEE, THIS IS A POLICE CORRUPTION CASE AND THEY CORRUPTED THE ELECTION PROCESS AS WELL.

KERMAN>> LET ME JUMP IN BECAUSE MR. PERRODIN, IN THE INTERVIEW LAST WEEK, MADE A NUMBER OF ALLEGATIONS. IN FAIRNESS, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THOSE. ONE OF THE THINGS HE SAID IS THAT COMPTON IS FULL OF CORRUPTION, THEY NEED TO CLEANSE THE CITY. YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT? YOU'VE BEEN THE MAYOR FOR A NUMBER OF TIMES. WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT A LOT OF CORRUPTION, WHAT'S HE TALKING ABOUT AND WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE?

OMAR BRADLEY>> HE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT HIMSELF. ON ELECTION DAY, JUNE 5, HE PULLED GUNS ON EIGHT FIREFIGHTERS. THOSE FIREFIGHTERS TESTIFIED UNDER SWORN OATH THAT HE PULLED A GUN OUT, THAT THEY WERE TOLD TO LEAVE TOWN BEFORE SUNDOWN. HE ALSO TESTIFIED THAT HE WENT INTO A PRECINCT, A FELONY, WITH A WEAPON. HE SAYS HE CARRIES A GUN, BUT A TEST OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT BACKGROUND WILL SHOW THAT HE HAS NO GUN PERMIT. SO WHAT WE HAVE IS A DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHO IS OUT OF CONTROL. WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT THIS THE WORST CASE OF POLITICAL AND ELECTION CORRUPTION IN THE HISTORY OF THIS NATION.

KERMAN>> LET ME ASK YOU ONE QUESTION --

JESS>> -- ON THE ISSUE OF GUNS, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT MR. PERRODIN SAYS SO WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE RESPONDING TO ON CARRYING A GUN.

ERIC PERRODIN>> THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM THE BRADLEY CAMP WHO HAVE BEEN SENT TO PRISON. THERE'S A LOT OF GANG MEMBERS AROUND HIS CAMP. I'M A FORMER POLICE OFFICER. I HAVE THE RIGHT TO CARRY A GUN.

OMAR BRADLEY>> HE DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO CARRY A GUN, BEING A FORMER POLICE OFFICER. EVERY FORMER POLICE OFFICER MUST APPLY FOR A GUN PERMIT. HE DOES NOT HAVE ONE.

KERMAN>> LET ME ASK YOU --

OMAR BRADLEY>> -- SECONDLY, AS IT RELATES TO EX-CONS AND GANG MEMBERS BEING A PART OF MY TEAM, ANYBODY THAT CAN TAKE EX-CONS AND GANG MEMBERS AND GET THEM INVOLVED IN POLITICS AND CIVIL AFFAIRS SHOULD BE APPLAUDED, NOT CONDEMNED. I'M DOING BETTER THAN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THEY'RE NO LONGER BREAKING INTO HOMES, THEY'RE NO LONGER SHOOTING PEOPLE, THEY'RE NOT LONGER GANGBANGING. NOW THEY'RE OUT THERE TRYING TO RAISE VOTES, RAISE THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF PEOPLE AND, FOR THAT, MR. PERRODIN THINKS I SHOULD BE IN PRISON. MOREOVER, ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT HE SPOKE OF AND THAT HE'S SPEAKING OF CURRENTLY, MR. PERRODIN BEAT ALMOST INTO A COMATOSE STATE WITH A BILLY CLUB IN A COMPTON JAIL CELL. THIS IS WHY HE DOESN'T WANT THAT STORY OUT.

KERMAN>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT ANOTHER ALLEGATION. HE SAID THERE ARE MANY FORMER MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL WHO HAVE BEEN INDICTED AND SENT TO PRISON. HE MADE A STRONG ALLEGATION THAT MORE INDICTMENTS ARE COMING DOWN THE PIKE. WHAT'S HE TALKING ABOUT AND YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

OMAR BRADLEY>> UNLESS HE'S TALKING ABOUT HIMSELF, I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT, BUT I CAN SAY THIS. AS A DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, SHOULD HE BE TALKING ABOUT DISTRICT ATTORNEY CASES? ISN'T THAT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST? AND THEN WHY HASN'T THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY ARRESTED HIM FOR GOING INTO A PRECINCT WITH A GUN, WHICH HE OPENLY ADMITTED TO IN COURT?

KERMAN>> CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION, OMAR, ABOUT THE IMPACT ON COMPTON AS A WHOLE? YOU'VE BEEN IN COMPTON A LONG TIME. YOU WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL THERE, YOU'VE GOT A REPUTATION, YOU'VE BEEN AROUND. WHAT IMPACT HAS THIS ELECTION CRISIS HAD ON THE CITY OF COMPTON AS A WHOLE?

OMAR BRADLEY>> WELL, BECAUSE HE PROBABLY ONLY REALLY GOT 1,300 VOTES, THERE WERE 5,200 PEOPLE THAT VOTED FOR ME THAT WERE TOTALLY DISENFRANCHISED. NO ONE EVEN KNOWS WHO ERIC PERRODIN IS.

JESS>> LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT THE THING WE BROUGHT UP EARLIER, AND THE L.A. TIMES REPORTED ON IT ALSO, THE SUGGESTION THAT YOU AND FORMER COUNCILWOMAN, MARCINE SHAW, AND YOUR FAMILIES TOOK TRIPS TO CHINA AND AFRICA PAID FOR BY THE MAN FROM HUB CITY DISPOSAL WHO WON THE TRASH-HAULING CONTRACT, A NO-BID CONTRACT.

OMAR BRADLEY>> THE TIMES ALSO SAID THAT HE HAD NO FACTS AND NO PAPERWORK TO DOCUMENT HIS ALLEGATIONS, SO WHY WOULD THE TIMES EVEN PRODUCE AN ARTICLE LIKE THAT? I BELIEVE IT WAS PRODUCED SO THAT YOU COULD ASK ME THESE QUESTIONS ON THIS SHOW.

JESS>> WELL, COULD WE HAVE AN ANSWER TO THE QUESTION?

OMAR BRADLEY>> THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS, THE CITY PAID FOR US TO GO AND, IN MR. PERRODIN'S CAMPAIGN PAPERWORK, HE CRITICIZED ME FOR GOING TO AFRICA AND CHINA ON THE CITY'S TAX DOLLARS. NOW HE TURNS AROUND AND SAYS SOMETHING ELSE. THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION IS THAT YOU HAVE A PROLIFIC PREVARICATOR WHO TAKES MONEY FROM CRIMINALS AND HE'S A D.A. HE CARRIES A GUN WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND YOU INTERVIEW HIM LIKE HE'S A SAINT.

KERMAN>> LET ME GET BACK TO MY QUESTION ABOUT COMPTON BECAUSE, BEFORE THIS MOST RECENT ELECTION, COMPTON SEEMED TO BE REALLY TURNING A CORNER. UNEMPLOYMENT WAS DOWN, CRIME WAS DOWN, PEOPLE WERE INVESTING A LOT OF MONEY IN COMPTON --

OMAR BRADLEY>> -- WHO WAS THE MAYOR THEN?

KERMAN>> WELL, I WANT TO GET BACK TO THAT. BUT SINCE THEN, WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO IS, YOU KNOW, HAS ANYTHING GOOD COME OUT OF THIS "ELECTION CRISIS" FOR THE CITY OF COMPTON?

OMAR BRADLEY>> ABSOLUTELY. WE'VE PROVEN THAT THAT'S THE WORST ELECTION FRAUD SINCE FLORIDA. WE'VE ALSO PROVEN THAT WE ELECTED A MAN WHO ABUSES THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE WITH ALL THE SKILL OF A GOAT. THIS MAN COULD NOT BE MAYOR. I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND HOW HE PASSED THE BAR. THE WORD IS "THAT", NOT "DAT". WE NEED TO GET BACK TO REAL POLITICAL ISSUES.

DON'T ASK ME ABOUT FRIVOLOUS STATEMENTS MADE BY A MAN WHO CAN'T PROVE THEM. ASK ME ABOUT MY RECORD OF LEADERSHIP. IS MURDER DOWN SINCE I BROUGHT IN THE SHERIFFS? 43 PERCENT. IS CRIME DOWN? OVER 50 PERCENT. ARE PEOPLE SAFER? YES. IS RESPONSE TIME QUICKER? YES. IS THERE A MOBILE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM? YES. ARE THERE PLANS TO BUILD ENTERTAINMENT CENTERS? YES. IS THE HOTEL NOW OPEN AGAIN? YES. IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVED? YES. THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU SHOULD ASK A MAYOR, BUT INSTEAD --

JESS>> -- WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BECAUSE YOU ANSWERED THEM AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR TAKING THE TIME TO BE WITH US --

OMAR BRADLEY>> -- WELL, LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS. BUT INSTEAD --

JESS>> -- AND THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR IT. THANKS, OMAR BRADLEY. AND AS ALWAYS, THANKS TO KERMAN MADDOX FOR BEING HERE WITH US.

LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG
WWW.KCET.ORG
LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT
4401 SUNSET BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90027
(323) 953-5555

JESS>> IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT AMERICA SUFFERS FROM AN OVERLOAD OF NEWS OR, AT THE VERY LEAST, AN OVERLOAD OF CHOICES. THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE ON TELEVISION WHERE THE NEWS IS NEVER MORE THAN A CLICK AWAY.

>> "THE BEST NEWS ON CABLE."

>> "FOX NEWS CHANNEL, THE NETWORK AMERICA TRUSTS."

>> "YOU CAN DEPEND ON CNN."

JESS>> CRITICS SAY, IN SPITE OF ALL THOSE CHOICES, THE QUALITY OF JOURNALISM ON TELEVISION AND IN PRINT IS ON THE DECLINE. TONIGHT A VETERAN JOURNALIST WILL TRY TO TELL US WHY. HE HAS CO-AUTHORED A NEW BOOK CALLED "THE NEWS ABOUT THE NEWS". JOINING US NOW IS ROBERT KAISER, THE ASSOCIATE EDITOR OF THE WASHINGTON POST. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

ROBERT G. KAISER>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> WHAT PROMPTS THE BOOK?

ROBERT G. KAISER>> WELL, LEONARD DOWNIE, THE EDITOR OF THE POST WHO SUCCEEDED BEN BRADLEY IN THAT JOB, AND I HAVE BEEN WORKING THERE TOGETHER FOR 38 YEARS. WE RAN THE PAPER TOGETHER FOR SEVEN YEARS. I WAS HIS MANAGING EDITOR. AT THE END OF THAT TIME, I SAID I'D LIKE TO WRITE A BOOK ADDRESSING THE STATE OF OUR PROFESSION, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE NEWS BUSINESS IN AMERICA. HE SAID, "I'D LIKE TO DO THAT TOO."

JESS>> BOTH OF YOU RECOGNIZING THAT THERE'S BEEN A DECLINE IN THE QUALITY OF NEWS?

ROBERT G. KAISER>> YES, BUT ALSO THINKING THAT THAT'S NOT INEVITABLE, THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE, THAT IN FACT QUALITY JOURNALISM CAN BE VERY SUCCESSFUL, AND WE WANTED TO KIND OF RING AN ALARM BELL FOR CONSUMERS OF NEWS, YOUR VIEWERS AND OTHERS WHO CARE ABOUT WHAT THEY GET FROM THEIR NEWS SOURCES, AND TELL THEM BOTH WHY THEY'RE GETTING WHAT THEY'RE GETTING AND HOW IT COULD BE BETTER.

JESS>> TELEVISION JOURNALISTS WILL OCCASIONALLY SAY THE BIG PROBLEM IS COMPETITION AND ALSO THE FACT THAT EVERYTHING IS NOW PROFIT-DRIVEN.

ROBERT G. KAISER>> YES, AND THAT'S TRUE. BOTH THOSE THINGS ARE TRUE. ON THE OTHER HAND, IT SEEMS TO BE QUITE RELEVANT THAT THE BEST NEWS SHOW ON NETWORK TELEVISION, WHICH I WOULD SAY IS "60 MINUTES", YEAR AFTER YEAR MAKES ENORMOUS PROFITS AND DRAWS A HUGE AUDIENCE. QUALITY PAYS IN JOURNALISM. THAT'S ONE OF OUR ARGUMENTS.

JESS>> IS THE SAME TRUE WITH THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS?

ROBERT G. KAISER>> I THINK IT IS. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES IS ONE OF THE PAPERS WE CITE IN OUR BOOK AS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY AND IT'S ENORMOUSLY PROFITABLE. SO IS OUR WASHINGTON POST. SO IS THE NEW YORK TIMES.

JESS>> AND THERE HAVE BEEN THE CONCERNS IN THE NEWSROOM THAT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, AS THERE ARE IN NEWSROOMS AND TELEVISION IN THIS COMMUNITY, THAT BY BEING SO PROFIT-DRIVEN, WE'RE MAKING CONCESSIONS THAT WE REALLY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO MAKE.

ROBERT G. KAISER>> WELL, OF COURSE, THAT'S RIGHT. EVERYONE IN L.A. KNOWS THE STORY OF THE STAPLES CENTER SCANDAL. THAT WAS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.

JESS>> RIGHT.

ROBERT G. KAISER>> I MEAN, EVERYONE HERE OUGHT TO KNOW THAT THEIR LOCAL COMMERCIAL TV STATIONS GAVE UP COVERING SACRAMENTO YEARS AGO, TRADED IN THEIR SACRAMENTO BUREAUS FOR HELICOPTERS, SOMETHING WE WROTE ABOUT IN THIS BOOK TOO. ABSOLUTELY TRUE, THAT THE DRIVE FOR PROFIT HAS OFTEN TAKEN MANAGERS AND OWNERS TO THE DECISION THAT THEY SHOULD SQUEEZE THEIR NEWS DIVISIONS TOO SHARPLY.

JESS>> AND YOU SAY WE CAN TURN THIS AROUND? WHAT WOULD YOU DO IN LOCAL TELEVISION NEWS TO TURN IT AROUND?

ROBERT G. KAISER>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE EXAMPLES AROUND THE COUNTRY OF HIGHER-QUALITY LOCAL TV NEWS THAT HAS DRAWN A BIG AUDIENCE.

JESS>> BUT SOME THAT HAVE FAILED. (LAUGHTER)

ROBERT G. KAISER>> AND SOME THAT HAVE FAILED. IT'S A MIXED BAG. BUT WE HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT THE PROPRIETORS OF THESE LOCAL STATIONS OUGHT TO RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH AUDIENCE THEY'RE LOSING. THE RATINGS AND THE VIEWERSHIP OF LOCAL TELEVISION NEWS HAS GONE WAY DOWN JUST IN THE LAST TEN YEARS.

JESS>> HAS IT BEEN FRACTIONATED BY THE VARIETY OF CHOICES THE AUDIENCE NOW HAS?

ROBERT G. KAISER>> OF COURSE, OF COURSE. THE FACT THAT YOU SHOWED IT COMING INTO THIS SEGMENT. THE PROLIFERATION OF CABLE ALTERNATIVES AND OTHERS MEANS THAT IT'S MUCH HARDER TO DRAW THE HISTORICAL AUDIENCE THAT THE NETWORK AFFILIATES, FOR EXAMPLE, USED TO BE ALWAYS EXPECTED TO GET.

JESS>> ALL RIGHT. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOMETHING HERE. THE NEWSHOUR RECENTLY ANALYZED THE CONTENT OF CABLE NEWS CHANNELS AND THEY FOCUSED ON THE BIG RATINGS WINNER OF LATE, FOX NEWS, WHICH SOME CLAIM HAS A CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL AGENDA. HERE IS A BRIEF PART OF TERRENCE SMITH'S REPORT.

TERRENCE SMITH>> AT THE CORPORATE LEVEL, FOX DENIED THAT IT IS RIGHT OF CENTER, ASSERTING THAT ITS PRODUCT IS FAIR AND BALANCED. BUT ANCHOR, BRIT HUME, CONCEDES THAT FOX SAW AN OPENING WHEN IT LOOKED AT THE OTHER CHANNELS.

BRIT HUME>> SURVEYS HAVE SHOWN GOING BACK, YOU KNOW, AS LONG AS YOU AND I CAN REMEMBER, THAT PEOPLE HAVE PERCEIVED A LEFTWARD TILT IN THE BASIC COVERAGE THAT THEY GET ON TV NEWS FROM EVERYWHERE. THEREFORE, WE BELIEVE THE MARKET -- OR IF WE COULD DO A MORE BALANCED PRODUCT, PEOPLE WOULD BE ATTRACTED TO THAT IF WE COULD JUST LET THEM KNOW ITS OUT THERE.

JESS>> IS THAT JUST WISHFUL THINKING?

ROBERT G. KAISER>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT BRIT HUME IS TALKING ABOUT THERE IS OPINION, NOT JOURNALISM. YOU AND I BOTH KNOW WHAT THE COUNTRY NEEDS ARE FACTS, NEWS. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR THESE ARGUMENTS BETWEEN LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES. MOST AMERICANS AREN'T LIBERALS OR CONSERVATIVES. THEY'RE PRACTICAL PEOPLE. AND IT'S OUR ARGUMENT THAT GOOD JOURNALISM GIVES PRACTICAL PEOPLE THE GOOD INFORMATION THEY NEED TO CONDUCT THEIR LIVES, TO HOLD THEIR POLITICIANS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE, AND SO ON.

JESS>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT OPINION AS OPPOSED TO ANALYSIS?

ROBERT G. KAISER>> WELL, YES, BUT I'M ALSO TALKING ABOUT OPINION AS OPPOSED TO REPORTING, FINDING OUT THE STUFF THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HAVE FOUND OUT.

JESS>> BUT YOU DO SUBSCRIBE TO THE NOTION THAT WE DO NEED SOME ANALYSIS TOO --

ROBERT G. KAISER>> ABSOLUTELY.

JESS>> -- AND THAT DOES GET INTO THE AREA OF OPINION, I GUESS.

ROBERT G. KAISER>> OF COURSE, BUT IT CAN BE DONE IN A WAY THAT'S FAIR AND NOT TENDENTIOUS. YOU'VE DONE IT ON THIS PROGRAM. YOU ANALYZE A COMPLICATED SITUATION, BUT YOU ALSO IN THE PROCESS SHOW THAT THERE ARE TWO OR MORE SIDES TO THE QUESTION. THAT'S GOOD ANALYSIS.

JESS>> DOES IT CONCERN YOU THAT PUBLIC TELEVISION DOESN'T HAVE THE PUBLIC SUPPORT OR CERTAINLY THE FEDERAL SUPPORT THAT IT MIGHT HAVE?

ROBERT G. KAISER>> WELL, I HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT GOVERNMENT SUPPORTING JOURNALISM. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN QUEASY ABOUT THAT.

JESS>> WE ALL WERE, BUT BBC, I GUESS, HAS BEEN ONE RESPONSE TO IT.

ROBERT G. KAISER>> IT HAS, AND THAT'S A GOOD SYSTEM BECAUSE THERE THE CITIZENS PAY FOR A TV LICENSE. IT GOES TO AN INDEPENDENT BODY WHICH THEN DISPENSES IT TO THE BBC. BUT NPR IS A REALLY HEARTENING EXAMPLE TO ME.

JESS>> ABSOLUTELY.

ROBERT G. KAISER>> NPR LISTENERS SIT DOWN AND WRITE OUT A CHECK TO BUY GOOD JOURNALISM. THAT PROVES TO ME THAT QUALITY CAN PAY.

JESS>> IT'S LIKE A SUBSCRIPTION TO THE WASHINGTON POST. (LAUGHTER)

ROBERT G. KAISER>> EXACTLY.

JESS>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

ROBERT G. KAISER>> THANK YOU.

JESS>> OUR THANKS TO ROBERT KAISER FOR BEING WITH US. THE BOOK IS "THE NEWS ABOUT THE NEWS: AMERICAN JOURNALISM IN PERIL" BY LEONARD DOWNIE, JR. AND ROBERT KAISER.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. YOU CAN LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE FOR TRANSCRIPTS AND STREAMING AUDIO OF RECENT SHOWS. YOU'LL FIND THEM AT KCET.ORG. NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

TO REACH US AT LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT, CALL 323-953-5555. SEND US AN E-MAIL TO LIFEANDTIMES@KCET.ORG OR LOG ONTO OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.KCET.ORG TO SEND MESSAGES OR DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS OF TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.