Staffer changed byline to Gayzalez with FAGGOAT tag fired

[left-of-center2012]

Santa Barbara paper fires staffer who changed byline to ‘Gayzalez’ with ‘FAGGOAT’ tag

The Santa Barbara News-Press says it has fired the staffer who altered a young reporter’s byline to make a gay slur.
“The person involved is no longer an employee at the News-Press,” Director of News Operations Don Katich told MyNewsLA.com on Wednesday.

On Christmas morning, the paper where Paul Gonzalez has worked as a crime reporter almost three years inexplicably changed his byline to “Paul Gayzalez” with the further alteration of ‘NEWS-PRESS WRITER” to “NEWS-PRESS FAGGOAT.”

The apparent slurs didn’t go unnoticed.
A Santa Barbara website called edhat (possibly standing for “Every Day Happenings Around Town”) shared reader outrage.

The site included a photo of the byline and said: “This is beyond inappropriate! How does this get past the editor and what professional news press would do this to their accomplished employee. No matter who wrote that at SBNP, it’s not funny or a joke. And it’s Christmas! Beyond disgusted right now.”

Contacted Tuesday morning by MyNewsLA.com, Gonzalez said: “The only comment I want to make is that that wasn’t an edit that was made by me.”
Asked whether he’s seen anyone else’s byline changed in the paper, the UC Merced graduate said: “Not to my knowledge.”
Other than that — and confirming his reportorial assignment and time with the paper — he said: “I’m not going to answer any questions on this matter.”

On Wednesday, the paper printed an apology, saying: “The News-Press has taken immediate and swift action with this employee; we do not tolerate any form of harassment in the workplace. We apologize to our readers.”

News editor Katich told the San Francisco Chronicle that Gonzalez was the victim of a hateful act.
“It was a very poor decision made by an employee who is no longer in a position to make that same mistake,” Katich was quoted as saying, but not naming the offender.
“The employee is represented by the Teamsters,” he added. “There is a process we are obligated to follow when it comes to discipline or termination. The employee is no longer in the building.”

The online version of Paul’s story didn’t include the byline change. Instead, it misspelled his name as Gonzales.

[ryan_cats]

1. What an utter d***

That is the kind of thing that ensures he never works again in that line of work.

It is almost 2018, not 1966?

[left-of-center2012]

2. Sadly, I'm often shocked ...

... by the prejudice and stupidity of people who are supposed to be adults.

[Loki Liesmith]

3. He did this to himself?

Why?

Bath salts?

[left-of-center2012]

4. No, he did not do this to himself

"The Santa Barbara News-Press says it has fired the staffer who altered a young reporter’s byline ..."