by momgot2kids Sun Nov 02, 2008 1:47 am
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2008/10/the-casey-antho.html
The Casey Anthony-Jose Baez hugs: How big a deal?
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When is a hug just a hug or an ethical lapse or the focus of over-the-top reporting?
The latest news in the Casey Anthony story -- hugs between the suspect and her attorney, Jose Baez -- was getting dramatically different intepretations Friday.
"No way, Jose," WFTV-Channel 9 anchor Bob Opsahl said in opening the 5 p.m. Friday news. "Now hugs have him in trouble." Anchor Martie Salt added: "Lawyers are never supposed to touch their clients, especially like this." It was all rather breathless.
WFTV's Mary Nguyen reported that Baez and Casey Anthony "were too friendly during their visit" and an officer had to separate them. WFTV reported that Baez said he didn't know the rules and pleaded with a guard not to write up the hugs. The guard wrote that Baez was "upset as he hugs all of his clients."
Videotape of their "intimate meetings" have been recorded over, Nguyen said, and "their potentially damaging alleged love tapes are not available."
"Alleged love tapes?" Jail officials saw no romance in the hugs.
"Despite the report that aired on one local TV station, there is no public record to support that these two incidents were anything more than social hugs or comforting hugs," jail spokesman Allen Moore said in an e-mail.
Moore repeated the "social hug" comment on WOFL-Channel 35. Moore told WKMG-Channel 6 that Baez had been nothing but cooperative and professional when approached on the issue. WKMG reported that jail officials consider it a closed matter.
But a viewer had complained to the Florida Bar about Baez's behavior after seeing WFTV's initial hug report Thursday night. The Florida Bar could revoke his license, Nguyen added.
WFTV's promotional machine wondered how much worse it could get for Baez. "The Florida Bar is on his case. The damage this could do to Casey's murder trial. All new at 6," an announcer said.
Earlier, on WFTV's noon news Friday, anchor Vanessa Echols said, "Tonight at 5, startling descriptions of the hugs and how intimate they were from our exclusive sources."
But the information didn't sound that startling or intimate.
Back at 6, WFTV opened its newscast with Opsahl asking: "Is it attorney-client privilege or friends with benefits? The news of Casey Anthony's possible relationship with Jose Baez is out."
Wow.
Opsahl added that Channel 9 was first station to report on the Baez-Casey Anthony hugs that suggest the two "may be getting too close for comfort."
I'm not sure there's much reason to boast about this story.
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