By Robert Haugh
As the felony perjury trial gets closer for indicted Vice Mayor Anthony Becker, more information is coming about about what happened behind the scenes.
It was discovered in evidence submitted for the trial that Silicon Valley Voice reporter Carolyn Schuk extensively edited a press release for Becker.
Schuk helped Becker put out a release that attacked the Civil Grand Jury and their report on the day that it was published.
According to sources Becker tried to cover up Schuk’s help by deleting text messages with Schuk. But it was discovered by the prosecution when they subpoenaed Becker’s communication.
This is not the first time that Schuk made a serious violation of journalistic ethics and professional standards.
In February, 20023, Santa Clara News Online printed a Special Investigative Report that revealed Schuk was the real author of a draft letter to the City Council that Becker claimed he wrote.
At a Council meeting months earlier, Becker publicly said that he wrote the letter when he was questioned about the authorship.
Schuk would not comment on the 2023 story. The SVV has not issued an apology for the breach of journalistic ethics or publicly reprimanded Schuk.
Schuk has been criticized throughout her career for crossing ethical lines.
In 2017, San Jose Inside took Schuk to task for violating conflicts of interest when she wrote stories about her non-profit organization without disclosing the relationship to her readers, another serious violation of journalistic standards.
[…] has violated journalistic ethics by writing memos for Becker, and then writing stories related to […]
[…] term on the City Council started in 2020. He has been controversial, dishonest, and frequently […]
We should all re-read the May 2023 article Grace Hase wrote (Mercury News). It is pretty objective and fact based. “Anthony Becker admitted leaking a confidential grand jury report…”
Becker is trash. He is an unethical, corrupt, lying, slanderous fool. Looking forward to seeing his position of authority vaporize forever. Tick-tock. October 28th is coming fast.
“Santa Clara Councilmember Anthony Becker admitted leaking a confidential grand jury report about the city’s cozy relationship with the San Francisco 49ers and asked a campaign volunteer to blame the leak on Mayor Lisa Gillmor, according to transcripts of the investigation obtained by this news organization.”
“During a March 29 grand jury hearing, Santa Clara Councilmember Suds Jain — one of Becker’s allies on the council — said that the councilmember had called him two to three weeks earlier and admitted that he had leaked the grand jury report to Carolyn Schuk, an editor at the hyperlocal news outlet the Silicon Valley Voice.”
https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/05/19/documents-santa-clara-councilmember-anthony-becker-admitted-to-leak-tried-to-frame-mayor
I need to agree with Matt Dillon here – Carolyn Schuk’s job is to report what she finds newsworthy. It’s not a journalists’ job to determine legal/political conflicts. While she may have got ahead of herself, she has a quid pro quo relationship with an elected official and she used it to her advantage. Not great but his is the reality.
This is only to be expected. Sadly.
What is the excerpted document graphic from? I tried to look for you mentioning a source but could not find it.
After Late Night Council Meetings
In the a darkened corner where the lights are low,
Sits Carolyn Schuk, stealing the show.
With a glass in hand and mischief in her grin,
She’s looking for “stories” tonight,
Let the fun begin.
I came to San Jose specifically to follow my calling as a journalist. I was staff and an editor for the Spartan Daily for 5 semesters, published with the Business Times, Billiard Journal and other publications.
Woodward and Bernstein were my national heroes an Phil Trounstine at The Merc was my local one.
Now thanks to hacks like Schuck, I am embarrassed to mention my degree and aspirations.
Mr. Dillon,
How can you respect anyone as a journalist when that person has a history of dishonesty, clear lack of ethics, and questionable judgement in her friends (i.e. Becker)?
Every company I’ve ever worked for would have fired her long ago.
Well, i disagree. Carolyn has worked with many Bay Area repoetera and been respected.
She haa done well.
I think she is not right on some things, right on othera.
Wow! Hope you have more tidbits like this leading up to the Trial of the Year keeping us all salivating and excited about what’s ahead for Mr. Becker and his friends.
My fear is so much of this is just going un noticed by the local voters.
I know the local “rags” are bought and paid for by the 40whiners, so I really can’t expect them to do anything morally or ethically correct.
What we need the S.F. Chronicle / Examiner, SF Gate to do some more in depth stories. Funny / coincidence, but that’s the same City that use to be home to these “Carpet Baggers”.
I’m pretty sure no one at San Francisco City Hall is asking for them to come back.
To quickly change our path, here is a cheat sheet to who supports the residents, and who we should vote for.
Early voting starts as early as Oct 20th…
If not registered, now is the time!!
Bob O’Keefe City Clerk (All of us)
Cory Morgan Chief of Police (All of us)
Satish Chandra Council D1 (Near Stadium, will replace Kathy Watanabe)
Teresa O’Neil Council D4 (My District. I have to get rid of Kevin Park)
David Kertes Council D5 (Suds Jain, has got to go)
Kelly Cox. Council D6 (Across the street from me, Becker is gone, so please don’t waste any votes on any other candidates running against her)
Thanks Burt Field
Beecker deleted the text. I respect and happily regard Carolyn as a good journalist.
Just regard Becker and Jain as slugs.
And she’s still a reporter? And the City Council still has kept Becker on the Council rather then take a leave. WTF! Members of our City Council , some or all of you are just sleezy.
I agree and support Mr. Field’s recommendations. But for the record, I respect Carolyn’s work as a journalist. I disageer with her thoughts about Lisa Gillmor, and do not regard Suds Jain or Becker as worth anything. I think Carolyn is free to do what she wants as Mr Haugh, who I do not respect, is free to write what he says. Freedom to write to me is uiniversal. Haugh has done well to inform readers of some important facts. Mr Vartan and Mr Field make the community better. That is my standard. I think thet carolyn and weekly have value. Becker and Jain have none
If you follow the local politics, just some are sleezy. Like the 49er 5.