Rick Sanchez (journalist)

Ricardo León Sánchez de Reinaldo (born July 3, 1958)[1][2] is a Cuban-American journalist, radio host, and author. He is an RT America contributor, and was previously a columnist for Fox News and Fox News Latino,[3] and a former correspondent for Spanish language network Mundo Fox.

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Sánchez and the second or maternal family name is de Reinaldo.
Rick Sanchez
Sanchez at Jeff Pulver's 140 Characters Conference – June 2009
Born
Ricardo León Sánchez de Reinaldo

(1958-07-03) July 3, 1958
Guanabacoa, Cuba
Occupationanchor/correspondent
Spouse(s)Suzanne
Children4
WebsiteOfficial website of Rick Sanchez

After some years as the lead local anchor on Miami's WSVN, Sanchez moved to cable news, first as a daytime anchor at MSNBC, later at CNN, where he began as a correspondent and ultimately rose to become an anchor. On CNN, he hosted his own show Rick's List and served as a contributor to Anderson Cooper 360° and CNN International, where he frequently reported and translated between English and Spanish. Sanchez was fired from CNN on October 1, 2010, following controversial remarks he made on a radio program.[4] In July 2011, Sanchez was hired by Florida International University, to serve as a color commentator for radio broadcasts of the school's football team.[5] Since October 2018, he has hosted News with Rick Sanchez on RT America.[6]

Early life

Sanchez was born in Guanabacoa, Cuba, a township of Havana, and emigrated to the United States with his parents at the age of two.[7] He grew up in Hialeah, Florida, a suburb of Miami, and attended Mae M. Walters Elementary School, Henry H. Filer Middle School, and Hialeah High School, graduating in 1977. Sanchez accepted a football scholarship to Minnesota State University Moorhead and transferred to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis on a CBS/WCCO Journalism Scholarship in 1979.[8]

Of his childhood Sanchez has said: "I grew up not speaking English, dealing with real prejudice every day as a kid; watching my dad work in a factory, wash dishes, drive a truck, get spit on. I've been told that I can't do certain things in life simply because I was a Hispanic."[9] He prefers to be called Rick Sanchez rather than use his birth name. He said in a newscast in 2009: "I want to be respectful of this wonderful country that allowed us as Hispanics to come here, and I think it's easier if someone's able to understand me by Anglicizing my name."[1]

Career
Sanchez representing CNN at the 140 Characters Conference in 2009

Sanchez began his broadcasting career at WCCO's satellite sister station KCMT (now KCCO-TV) in Alexandria, Minnesota, while still in college. He was hired at then-NBC affiliate WSVN (formerly WCKT) in Miami in 1982 and became a weekend anchor shortly thereafter. In 1986, Sanchez left WSVN for CBS affiliate KHOU in Houston[10], then two years later, he returned to WSVN and began an afternoon anchor position with the station, which would switch its affiliation to Fox the following year.[11] Sanchez was hired at MSNBC in 2001.[12]

In 2003, Sanchez left MSNBC to return to the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale TV market, where he hosted a local talk show on WTVJ. Sanchez later anchored on then-WB affiliated WBZL (now WSFL) until he joined CNN in 2004. He won an Emmy Award in 1983 for his series titled When I left Cuba.[7]

On CNN, Sanchez filed domestic and international reports. For eight months, in the interim between Paula Zahn and Campbell Brown, he anchored Out in the Open at 8 p.m ET. On January 18, 2010, he began to host his own two-hour show in the afternoons, Rick's List, where he invited viewers to share their opinions and questions via social media. His use of social networking tools to create a citizen-driven news program was recognized by the Newseum in Washington, D.C.[13] After the cancellation of Campbell Brown's show, Sanchez again took over the 8 p.m. EST slot with an evening version of Rick's List, which continued until the premier of Parker Spitzer.

Firing from CNN

On September 30, 2010, Sanchez was interviewed on Sirius XM's radio show Stand Up With Pete Dominick. Sanchez's interview occurred on the final day of his show in the 8 p.m. time slot, and he was reported to be angry about being replaced by CNN's new Parker Spitzer talk show[14][15] as well as the occasional jokes made at his expense on The Daily Show:

It's not just the Right that does this. 'Cause I've known a lot of, you know, elite Northeast establishment liberals that may not use this as a business model, but deep down when they look at a guy like me, they see a guy automatically who belongs in the second tier and not the top tier. ... I had a guy who works here at CNN who's a top brass come to me one day and say,... 'You know what, I don't want you anchoring anymore. I really don't see you as an anchor. I see you more as a reporter. I see you more as a John Quiñones....' Did he not realize that he was telling me, 'When I see you, I think of Hispanic reporters'? 'Cause in his mind, I can't be an anchor. An anchor's what you give the high-profile White guys, you know? So he knocks me down to that and compares me to that, and it happens all the time. I think to a certain extent Jon Stewart and Colbert are the same way. I think Jon Stewart's a bigot.[14]

After Dominick questioned him, Sanchez retracted the term, "bigot," and referred to Stewart as "prejudicial" and "uninformed,"[16] but he defended feeling discriminated, saying, "He's upset that someone of my ilk is almost at his level" and that Stewart is "not just a comedian. He can make and break careers."[17] When queried on the issue of whether Stewart likewise belonged to a minority group on account of his Jewish faith, Sanchez responded:

Yeah, very powerless people. [laughs] He's such a minority. I mean, you know, please. What—are you kidding? I'm telling you that everybody who runs CNN is a lot like Stewart, and a lot of people who run all the other networks are a lot like Stewart. And to imply that somehow they, the people in this country who are Jewish, are an oppressed minority?[14][15]

A day after his remarks,[18] CNN announced that Sanchez was no longer employed with the company.[14]

Certain accounts suggest Sanchez's departure was motivated by other reasons. CNN president Jonathan Klein, who was a supporter of Sanchez and had given him increased air time,[19] was fired just one week before Sanchez, leading some to believe that Sanchez's firing may have been motivated by other reasons in addition to the comments.[20] A contributor to New York magazine wrote: "The rumor that Sanchez was already on his way out in the wake of former CNN president Jonathan Klein's ouster from the company has been circling the Sanchez story."[21]

During his time at CNN, Sanchez once called President Barack Obama a "cotton-picking president", a remark for which he apologized, explaining that he had grown up in the South where the phrase was a colloquialism. He had also falsely attributed quotes to Rush Limbaugh, for which he also later apologized.[22]

Despite his firing, upon leaving CNN, Sanchez said, "I want to go on record to say that I have nothing but the highest regard for CNN and for my six wonderful years with them. I appreciate every opportunity that they have given me, and it has been a wonderful experience working for them."[23]

Apology for comments

In the days after the incident, Sanchez apologized several times. In an appearance on Good Morning America, Sanchez told George Stephanopoulos: "I said some things I shouldn't have said. They were wrong. Not only were they wrong, they were offensive." He added, "I apologize and it was wrong for me to be so careless and so inartful. ... But it happened and I can’t take it back and, you know what, now I have to stand up and be responsible."[24]

Sanchez personally apologized to Stewart. He released a statement expressing regret for his "inartful" comments, adding "I am very much opposed to hate and intolerance, in any form, and I have frequently spoken out against prejudice."[23][25] On October 20, 2010, Jon Stewart told Larry King that Sanchez should not have been fired for what Sanchez said in the radio interview; Stewart called the firing "absolute insanity",[26] and stating that he was not "personally hurt".[27]

In a letter to Abraham Foxman, the head of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Sanchez apologized once again, writing, "[T]here are no words strong enough for me to express my regret and sorrow over what I said. It was offensive, and I deeply, sincerely and unequivocally apologize for the hurt that I have caused. I tell my children that when they make a mistake, they should take responsibility, atone and work to repair whatever they have done. ... I cannot undo the offense or controversy I caused; all I can do is to try and learn from this experience and strive to become a better person."[28]

Sanchez and Abraham H. Foxman at a Yankee Game together on May 11, 2011

Following a meeting with Foxman, Foxman said Sanchez can now "put the matter to rest", adding that he hoped Sanchez can now move on with his life and work.[29]

Jewish outreach

In late 2010, Orthodox Rabbi Shmuley Boteach held a public event at Manhattan's Carlebach Synagogue with Sanchez, and commented: "Our community has enough problems without looking for anti-Semitism where it doesn't exist. Rick Sanchez was humiliated and his reputation dragged through the mud. ... The Jewish religion says that a man's most cherished possession is his good name. Rick deserves the opportunity to reclaim his." Sanchez and Rabbi Boteach spoke for nearly two hours.[30][31][32]

In 2011, Sanchez visited Israel as part of an ADL-sponsored trip for Latino journalists.[33] Sanchez spoke at the ADL's National Executive Committee Meeting in 2012,[33] where Sanchez recounted, "the long and unexpected voyage ... [and] personal journey that led me to a man I now call a friend: Abe Foxman, who has led me to know myself and led me to grow in unexpected ways."[34]

Football announcer

On July 27, 2011, The Washington Post reported that Sanchez had started a job as a radio announcer for Florida International University. Starting in September 2011, Sanchez provided analysis of the FIU football team.[35]

Return to cable news

Rick Sanchez returned to cable news as a columnist on Fox News Latino in September 2012. Sanchez was offered a short term employment with the website.[3] Since joining Fox News Latino, he has appeared on the Fox News Channel as a contributor. He also started as a news contributor for MundoFox at the end of 2012.[36]

Sanchez began hosting a new show on RT America in October 2018.[37]

Radio

In 2013, Sanchez returned to South Florida with a weekday show on Clear Channel affiliate WIOD 610 AM radio. Replacing Todd Schnitt in afternoon drive time, Sanchez did a stint on a morning show, that led into The Rush Limbaugh Show. Due to low ratings, Sanchez is no longer on the radio, as of October 2015.

Sanchez also actively posts video segments "In All Honesty," often reflecting the Latino-American perspective, alongside journalist Ruben Navarette on social media platform MOSH.[38]

Private life

Sanchez and his wife, Suzanne, have three sons and one daughter: Ricky Jr.; Robby; Remmington; and Savannah.[8]

DUI incident

On December 10, 1990, Sanchez, driving home, struck a man who jumped into the path of Sanchez's car. The man became paralyzed after being hit.[39][40]

Sanchez was not charged with causing the accident. Police administered blood tests just over an hour after the accident, which showed that the victim had a blood alcohol level of .235%, more than twice the legal limit in Florida, while Sanchez's blood alcohol level was .15%, one and a half times the legal limit in Florida.[40] Sanchez was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and pleaded no contest.[41]

gollark: You could hire some Razetimes to work on specific fields I guess.
gollark: No, it is a recipe for agreement, thus good.
gollark: You could form a Razetime Council and dictate all world affairs.
gollark: There would be Razetime messaging apps and Linux distributions and backpacks and laptops.
gollark: Why? You would get good, optimal products.

References
  1. "14 Americans Killed in Afghanistan; Fighting the Flu; Wayward Pilots Talk". CNN Newsroom. CNN. October 26, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2017. SANCHEZ: My real name is Ricardo Leon Sanchez Deyrenalo (ph)...
  2. Leon, Luis Leonel (May 10, 2016). "Rick Sánchez, a 90 millas en AméricaTevé". Diario Las Americas. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
  3. "Rick Sanchez Returns... On Fox News Latino". TV Newser. 2012-09-25.
  4. "Rick Sanchez: Jon Stewart A 'Bigot', Jews Run CNN & All Media". Huffington Post. 2010-10-01.
  5. Neal, David J. (July 27, 2011). "Rick Sanchez's next gig: FIU football announcer". The Miami Herald.
  6. "American journalist Rick Sanchez will be leading the release of evening news on RT America | tellerreport.com". Retrieved 2018-11-08.
  7. "Anchors & Reporters: Rick Sanchez". CNN. Archived from the original on September 21, 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  8. "Getting To Know....Rick Sanchez". All Things CNN. March 12, 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  9. Stand Up With Pete Dominick.com.
  10. Cook, Ruth (November 24, 1986). "Magazine article on Rick Sanchez misses the mark". The Miami News. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  11. Jicha, Tom (October 18, 2009). "5Qs: Rick Sanchez, always in the news". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  12. Eggerton, John (April 11, 2001). "MSNBC signs Sanchez". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  13. Rick Sanchez Blog Profile Archived January 24, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  14. Madison, Lucy (1 October 2010). "Rick Sanchez Out at CNN After Saying Jon Stewart a Bigot, Suggesting Network is Run by Jews". CBS News.
  15. Walker, Hunter (1 October 2010). "CNN anchor fired after Jon Stewart rant". MSNBC. Archived from the original on 3 October 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  16. Steve Krakauer (October 1, 2010). "Rick Sanchez Calls Jon Stewart "A Bigot"; Says CNN Is Run By Jews". Mediaite. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
  17. Dolak, Kevin (October 3, 2010). "Stewart Jokes About Sanchez' Firing". ABC News. Retrieved September 29, 2016.
  18. "CNN's Sanchez fired after calling Stewart a bigot". Associated Press. 1 October 2010. Archived from the original on October 8, 2010. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
  19. Stelter, Brian (October 1, 2010). "CNN Fires Rick Sanchez for Remarks in Interview". New York Times. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
  20. Pazienza, Chaz (October 5, 2010). "Some Rick Sanchez Insights From A Former CNN Producer". Business Insider. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  21. Tiku, Nitasha (October 6, 2010). "Rick Sanchez Apologizes, But Fox News And MSNBC Are Still 'Not Interested'". New York. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  22. Maerz, Melissa (October 2, 2010). "CNN's Rick Sanchez fired after calling Jon Stewart a bigot". Los Angeles Times.
  23. Bell, Melissa (October 6, 2010). "Rick Sanchez's apology transcript for 'inartful comments'". Washington Post.
  24. Kate McCarthy (October 8, 2010). "Rick Sanchez on 'GMA': Jon Stewart 'Classiest Guy in the World,' 'I Screwed Up'". ABC News.
  25. David S. Morgan, Rick Sanchez: Jon Stewart Is "Classiest Guy in the World", CBS, October 8, 2010.
  26. Posted on 10/22/10 at 10:27am Juan Williams fired, Rick Sanchez fired: National Public Radio (NPR) and CNN face public backlash for respective actions, Comtex News, October 22, 2010.
  27. Jon Stewart Tells Larry King CNN Shouldn't Have Fired Rick Sanchez, Mediaite.com, October 21, 2010.
  28. "Rick's Letter to Abe Foxman of the ADL - Friends of Rick Sanchez - Get the Whole Story". friendsofricksanchez.com.
  29. Ron Kampeas (March 16, 2011). "Foxman: Sanchez can put controversy 'to rest'". Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
  30. Boteach, Shmuley (January 17, 2011). "Shmuley and Rick in a Public Discussion". Shmuley Boteach.
  31. Mark Joyella (January 3, 2011). "Ex-CNN Anchor Rick Sanchez Has "Friends," Would Very Much Like New Gig In 2011". Mediaite.
  32. Glynnis MacNicol (January 14, 2011). "RICK SANCHEZ: I Didn't Even Know Jon Stewart Was Jewish". Business Insider.
  33. "Jewish Security In America; The Iranian Threat To Israel; And Religious Freedom In America Discussed at ADL National Meeting in Palm Beach, FL". adl.org.
  34. "My Remarks to the ADL's National Executive Committee". Rick Sanchez. February 12, 2012.
  35. Yahr, Emily (July 28, 2011). "Former CNN anchor Rick Sanchez lands job as football announcer". The Washington Post.
  36. Tanzina Vega (November 13, 2012) Rick Sanchez to Join News Team at MundoFox New York Times. Retrieved December 14, 2013
  37. "Veteran broadcaster Rick Sanchez goes primetime on RT America". RT International.
  38. MOSH (June 8, 2016). "In All Honesty #2 - Can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Latino - but apparently the media can". Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  39. Rhor, Monica (October 6, 1991). "Accident Linked By Fate Pain Remains For Anchorman Rick Sanchez And Carpenter Jeffrey Smuzinick One Year After Wreck". SunSentinel. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
  40. Rhor, Monica (October 6, 1991). "Accident Linked By Fate Pain Remains For Anchorman Rick Sanchez And Carpenter Jeffrey Smuzinick One Year After Wreck". SunSentinel. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  41. "Miami Herald Archive Search Results". nl.newsbank.com.
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