In the wake of the NAACP’s 42nd annual Image Awards on March 4th, disgruntled LA journalist Eric Chambers (pictured) has shared a long, scathing March 11th open letter sent to organization chair Roslyn Brock and CEO-president Benjamin Todd Jealous.

Chambers, producer-host of Saturday program The Jazzspel on The Word Network, bemoans the lack of proper promotion by Fox for this year’s awards show. But his real beef is with the official accreditation publicist for the event, powerful LA PR entity the Lippin Group. Writes Chambers:

The Lippin Group is NNF: not Negro-friendly and in my estimation need some serious diversity training. How does the NAACP hold the biggest black Hollywood event of the year, and the black press not be credentialed? Or just a select few. I’ve spoken to several press members whom were denied and are as hot as fish grease over this!…

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Is it still a big deal in today’s Hollywood when an actress slated to appear on screen opposite Johnny Depp (in next year’s The Rum Diary) officially comes out of the closet? Absolutely.

At last night’s celebration of GLAAD’s 25th anniversary at Harmony Gold in Hollywood, Amber Heard (pictured, left) proudly walked the red carpet with partner Tasya van Ree as she has done before. But this time, she added an exclusive caveat via, appropriately enough, website AfterEllen.com.

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Mirthala Salinas, the Telemundo newscaster and power-dater, has been placed on leave, pending an internal investigation.

What’s to investigate? Is there a shortage of Journalism 101 textbooks?

Telemundo has her statement that Babelfish renders as

I am going to cooperate with the station and esteem its commitment to carry out a complete revision of this situation. I trust that when all the aspects are analyzed, it will be clear that I behaved appropriately.

Salinas might want to give former FOX sports reporter Carolyn Hughes a call.

Mickey Kaus sees ratings gold for a Salinas special. Is Jessica Alba available?

The LA Times sends Sam Quinones and Maria La Ganga to Boyle Heights to get the locals’ reax.

Daniel Guss points out the changes at the official website–photos of the wife and kids replaced by Bill Clinton and Magic Johnson–sends the wrong message.

Mayor Sam–not to be held up by verification–speculates about another girl friend, and Salinas’ previous married boyfriends.

In the meanwhile, here’s a brain-teaser.

Remember when Villaraigosa went to Rosa Parks’ funeral, on the Ameriquest corporate jet?

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