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KPRC 2's Daniella Guzman breaks silence after ticket controversy
KPRC 2 anchor Daniella Guzman publicly apologized to viewers Thursday, breaking her silence after a station investigation into free tickets she accepted from the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation.
After roughly a week off the air, Guzman returned to the anchor desk alongside Sofia Ojeda during KPRC 2's 5 a.m. newscast. After the morning headlines, she delivered a little more than a one-minute statement acknowledging that she had violated station policy.
"I'd like to say something personal," Guzman began.
She said she accepted tickets to two events from a family friend and "viewed them as personal gifts" at the time. However, she acknowledged she failed to disclose them as required by KPRC's policies.
"I did not disclose them as required under station policies, and for that I was wrong, and I'm sorry," Guzman said. "Looking back, I understand that I should have done so, and I see how my actions have impacted my credibility as a journalist, and I take full responsibility for that oversight."
Guzman said KPRC conducted "a thorough review" and that she fully cooperated throughout the investigation.
"I respect the station's standards and the importance of maintaining the trust of our viewers and my colleagues," she said.
She also revealed she donated the cash value of the tickets to a local nonprofit.
"I've donated the cash value of those tickets to a local nonprofit organization that will impact Houstonians in need directly," Guzman said, adding that she remains committed to the integrity that has guided her career at KPRC.
"I am truly sorry," she said. "Your trust means everything to me, and I will continue working every day to earn it."
The apology comes after records obtained by The Texas Voice showed Guzman allegedly received complimentary tickets through the Harris County Sports and Convention Corporation, the public entity that oversees NRG Park.
The records indicated she received three tickets to a June 17 FIFA World Cup match between Portugal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as four tickets to an April 22 Bruno Mars concert. The station later confirmed it had opened an internal investigation, and Guzman was taken off the air while it reviewed the matter.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daniella Guzman (@daniellaguzmantv)
Last week, KPRC Vice President and General Manager Sean McLaughlin said the station takes "matters regarding potential conflicts of interest very seriously" and was conducting a thorough and fair investigation.
The controversy sparked widespread debate among viewers over whether accepting complimentary tickets, particularly to events a journalist is not covering, should result in disciplinary action. Journalism ethics experts previously told Chron that the issue extends beyond whether a gift influenced coverage and centers on maintaining public trust and avoiding the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Thursday's on-air statement marked Guzman's first public comments since the investigation became public. She concluded her remarks by apologizing again before the station went to a commercial break.
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