Mai Martinez, who just yesterday got promoted to weekend anchor, starts her new gig tomorrow at Chicago’s CBS station WBBM. But columnist Robert Feder from the Sun Times sees the move as the station’s way to appease Hispanic activists, who were upset with Antonio Mora’s demotion from the 10 pm anchor slot.
In his column today, he questions whether “pressure to promote ethnic diversity” trumped “merit and experience in the naming of a weekend news anchor at WBBM-Channel 2,” saying Martinez “was promoted over at least five other capable insiders,” insinuating she got the spot because she was “the only Hispanic in the running.”
“It’s probably no coincidence that Channel 2 announced the move during Hispanic Heritage Month — just two days before its broadcast of “Viva Mexico! From Little Village,” the 26th Street Mexican Independence Parade.”
