Veteran New York Times reporter investigated for racist and sexist language

New York, January 29 (RHC)-- The Daily Beast reports New York Times science and health reporter Donald McNeil Jr. was under investigation over offensive and racist comments he allegedly made while leading a trip to Peru with high school students in 2019. 

According to reports, following the trip, several of the students told their parents McNeil had repeatedly made sexist comments and used the N-word.  

New York Times executive editor Dean Baquet said the investigation concluded McNeil’s “remarks were offensive and that he showed extremely poor judgment, but it did not appear to me that his intentions were hateful.”   Donald McNeil has been at the newspaper since 1976 and is now a top coronavirus correspondent. 

In related news, two top executives at CBS have been suspended over accusations of sexist and racist behavior, and following an investigation by the Los Angeles Times detailing how the two executives continuously bullied women journalists, blocked promotions for Black journalists and made racist comments.

Peter Dunn, president of the CBS television stations, and David Friend, senior vice president of news, have been placed on administrative leave while a third-party investigation is ongoing.