Bad Press

Thanks to Jayson Blair, Howell Raines and several of their colleagues at the New York Times, it would be relatively easy to compile a Times-only list for this year's report on the worst moments in American journalism. But as another famous, unindicted co-conspirator once said, "it would be wrong." Well, OK, maybe it wouldn't be wrong. I mean, just look at the year that was on West 43rd Street: Blair's serial fabrications. Raines' arrogant reign and forced resignation.

Three years ago, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. collected $54 million from Deutsche Bank in a settlement over unsound loans that contributed to a spectacular California bank failure. The deal might have made big headlines, given that the bad loans contributed to the largest payout in FDIC history, $13 billion. But the government cut a deal with the bank's lawyers to keep it quiet: a "no press release" clause that required the FDIC never to mention the deal "except in response to a specific inquiry.

Kim Jong Eun, newly anointed as North Korea's next leader, is quickly learning one of the oldest axioms of power: Heavy lies the crown. Just days after tens of thousands cheered as the youngest son of Kim Jong Il stood on a podium with his ailing father at a lavish military parade in Pyongyang, bad press is already besieging the future ruler. In the first public signs of discord, Kim Jong Eun's older half-brother has questioned the family's hereditary transfer of power. Kim Jong Nam told Japan's TV Asahi that he is "against third-generation succession," adding , "I think there were internal factors.

When Bell's all-new five-member City Council was sworn in four months ago, the members vowed a complete overhaul of the city: New leadership. New start. But the council is having little luck. After a monthlong search, officials have not received a single application from a candidate to lead the city. Besides city manager, other top leadership positions also remain vacant, including police chief and planning director. For months, Bell could not find an accounting firm that was willing to audits its books until the state controller stepped in and encouraged a firm to do the work.

The "Today" show's Deborah Norville says that the furor about her appointment as co-anchor last fall helped her realize what was truly important in her life. Writing in the October issue of Guideposts magazine, a widely read, paid-circulation inspirational publication, Norville describes her shock and surprise at the flurry of negative press that greeted her promotion to one of television's plum positions.

California companies say they won't deal with suppliers who use forced labor to dig out gems for jewelry or sew buttons on clothes. But they won't support legislation that would force them to divulge what they're doing to monitor their suppliers' workforce practices. A bill by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) would require retailers and manufacturers with annual revenue of at least $100 million to post on the Internet what they're doing — or not doing — to ensure that no one in their supply chain violates human rights.

When Joe DePinto finds his early-morning inbox packed with foreign emails, the chief executive of 7-Eleven Inc. knows his segment of "Undercover Boss" has aired in some distant land. "Most mornings when I wake up, there will be 12, 15 emails waiting in my inbox," says DePinto in his headquarters office in the Dallas Arts District. "The mornings that I've got 40 or 50, I know it's shown someplace else, like Korea, England or Australia. " It's a phenomenon the 48-year-old CEO couldn't have imagined when his marketing staff corralled him into doing a pilot episode of a reality show a little more than a year ago. He initially told 7-Eleven Chief Marketing Officer Rita Bargerhuff she was nuts to suggest it. But on Feb. 21, 2010, the world saw a scruffy-faced Joe DePinto, a.k.a.

I just read your article about the Dominican Republic ["In League With Baseball, Beaches," Oct. 5]. So often we get bad press. It is nice to see a good, straightforward article. I've lived here five years and can't imagine living elsewhere. D.M. Gunter Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

In spite of much bad press lately, Messrs. Jordan and Barkley should be given credit for showing the rest of the world that communism is alive and well--in that they represent an American society which is, at times, classless. I'm waiting for this dream to end. CHRIS HANKS Costa Mesa

David Friedman ("Southern California-Bashing at Its Gloomiest, Paid For by Its Victims," Opinion, Aug. 2) bemoans the recent planning forecast issued by the Southern California Assn. of Government because of its bad press value. It's been my experience, however, that one must keep both open and focused ahead to avoid driving into the ditch. Ignoring and covering up problems will not make them go away. The truth is that Los Angeles simply cannot supply entry-level employment or social support systems for 6 million more of the world's poor by the year 2010.

When Joe DePinto finds his early-morning inbox packed with foreign emails, the chief executive of 7-Eleven Inc. knows his segment of "Undercover Boss" has aired in some distant land. "Most mornings when I wake up, there will be 12, 15 emails waiting in my inbox," says DePinto in his headquarters office in the Dallas Arts District. "The mornings that I've got 40 or 50, I know it's shown someplace else, like Korea, England or Australia. " It's a phenomenon the 48-year-old CEO couldn't have imagined when his marketing staff corralled him into doing a pilot episode of a reality show a little more than a year ago. He initially told 7-Eleven Chief Marketing Officer Rita Bargerhuff she was nuts to suggest it. But on Feb. 21, 2010, the world saw a scruffy-faced Joe DePinto, a.k.a.

For years, Michell Anne Kimball of San Diego considered breast augmentation but worried about the health risks. Three years ago, the 47-year-old decided the time was right, consulted with a plastic surgeon and, after four more months of pondering, received silicone implants. She loves them, she said. And she continues to agonize over them. "Are these things safe or not? Are we ever really going to know?" Though modern breast implants have been around for decades, questions of safety continue to plague augmentation even as the artificially enhanced bosom has become common.

Kim Jong Eun, newly anointed as North Korea's next leader, is quickly learning one of the oldest axioms of power: Heavy lies the crown. Just days after tens of thousands cheered as the youngest son of Kim Jong Il stood on a podium with his ailing father at a lavish military parade in Pyongyang, bad press is already besieging the future ruler. In the first public signs of discord, Kim Jong Eun's older half-brother has questioned the family's hereditary transfer of power. Kim Jong Nam told Japan's TV Asahi that he is "against third-generation succession," adding , "I think there were internal factors.

California companies say they won't deal with suppliers who use forced labor to dig out gems for jewelry or sew buttons on clothes. But they won't support legislation that would force them to divulge what they're doing to monitor their suppliers' workforce practices. A bill by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) would require retailers and manufacturers with annual revenue of at least $100 million to post on the Internet what they're doing — or not doing — to ensure that no one in their supply chain violates human rights.

The staff at Promises, the Malibu rehab center known for its luxurious accommodations and Hollywood clientele, is well versed in the perils of cocaine, methamphetamines, alcohol and prescription drugs, but these days, the tony facility finds itself bedeviled by a different toxic substance: snark. Thanks to relapsing starlets and rehab stays that seem more public relations strategy than medical decision, many who read the tabloids have come to regard celebrity rehab as a joke, and Promises, with its $54,500-a-month price tag and roster of famous and not-always-sober alumni, makes an easy punch line.

Re "McCain found to get more bad press," Oct. 23 So the Pew Research Center found that there are more negative articles regarding the McCain camp. Is this surprising, when the McCain camp resorts to name-calling rather than discussion of the issues? Republicans should stand up against this type of campaigning. I wish more Republicans had the guts to express publicly what many say privately -- that a major reason Republicans and independents are turning away from the McCain ticket has to do with the character of the campaign itself.

I would like to take George Bush to task for his remark that he was going to fight the Democrats, "it will seem like they've engaged a couple of pit bulls" (Part I, Aug. 18). As a dog lover, surely he could have used a different remark. Haven't these dogs had enough bad press? Surely they could fight man to man. ROBERTA SMITH Oxnard

Re "McCain found to get more bad press," Oct. 23 So the Pew Research Center found that there are more negative articles regarding the McCain camp. Is this surprising, when the McCain camp resorts to name-calling rather than discussion of the issues? Republicans should stand up against this type of campaigning. I wish more Republicans had the guts to express publicly what many say privately -- that a major reason Republicans and independents are turning away from the McCain ticket has to do with the character of the campaign itself.

Media coverage of the presidential race has not always been glowing for Barack Obama, but it has clearly been negative for John McCain, according to a survey of newspaper, Internet and television news since the political conventions. Slightly fewer than a third of the stories about Obama were negative, whereas more than a third were positive and about the same number were neutral or mixed.

I just read your article about the Dominican Republic ["In League With Baseball, Beaches," Oct. 5]. So often we get bad press. It is nice to see a good, straightforward article. I've lived here five years and can't imagine living elsewhere. D.M. Gunter Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic