My buddy Valarie Garner is on a toot about a couple of Virginia Landmark newspapers (including one published in Roanoke) failing to report a story about a reporter in the Norfolk paper's office who was physically attacked. The paper made the conscious decision not to write about the attack and sent a memo to its staff about it.
National news outlets found out and reported it. It has been on the talk news cable channels most notably and has had a lot of exposure. Still no report from the two papers owned by Landmark. Interesting story, though hardly earth-shattering and hardly a surprise. Newspapers traditionally have been hard put to report on themselves, especially when the news was bad. No surprise there. They are exempt from news coverage. I remember one case where the local paper did, indeed, report on a newspaper news story and quoted the publisher as saying she had no comment.
The RTimes had a field day with my misfortune last year. My picture was published three times with accompnying articles, one on the front page. You even commented on it on this blog Dan (fair game). At the same time one of their own veteran and well known reporters was going through the same exact proceedings, and does anyone recall reading about their guy in the Times? When I asked the reporter covering my case about it they said "we covered it, and he was removed from one of his assignments". Lame....
ReplyDeleteSame way when folks were let go from the paper, no mention yet if a TV station or business reduces staff it gets covered. Selective journalism
ReplyDeleteAnon: All journalism is selective. The RT has a pattern which is far more sinister, though.
DeleteWell, Carole wrote: Valerie,
ReplyDeleteSorry to disappoint you, but this is no case of corporate collusion to “stifle” news. I’ve had no conversation with anyone at the Pilot or Landmark corporate to cover (or not cover) this story.
We just judged it on its face — a report of a simple assault on the other side of the state — and passed.
It’s now been turned into a political football, which makes it fodder for O’Reilly but still not “news” we feel like we need to report.
Carole Tarrant
Editor
The Roanoke Times
Separate from any absurd conspiracies you allege, I'm a little confused as to why you say there's "[s]till no report from the two papers owned by Landmark." A cursory search on pilotonline.com brings at least two recent news stories on the attack, not to mention the several editorials they've written:
ReplyDeletehttp://hamptonroads.com/2012/05/police-seek-twitter-data-beating-pilot-journalists
http://hamptonroads.com/2012/05/16yearold-charged-assault-two-pilot-reporters
http://hamptonroads.com/2012/05/column-pilot-stands-handling-attack-staff-members
Doug -- Here's the story about the veteran sports reporter receiving a DUI you can't remember them writing: http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/288759
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't reported until May 1 in a PilotOnline opinion piece that I linked to. That is what started the ball rolling on why the Pilot news department did not report it when it happened on April 14. The local WAVY TV picked up on it and so did O'Reilly. O'Reilly made it a racial issue (reverse since victims were white). Then had a producer (Watters) visit Norfolk and do some interviews. He then went on the Factor saying Norfolk was a "racial powderkeg.' That upset Norfolk officials and Cuccinelli who was blamed by O'Reilly for not getting involved. Hence Cuccinelli went on O'Reilly and confronted him. That is the long and short of it. If the Pilot had reported it (it would have only had to be a few lines then the fact that it was still under investigation) this would not have escalated. The opinion (editorial staff) is separate from the news and I guess you could say that was sure true in this case with Michelle Washington.
ReplyDeleteThanks for helping me make the point anon. Four sentences buried? Do you see why I or most likely no one else saw it? Again, in my case; three articles, three pictures, one front page, a reporter at every court hearing. Anon, my deal is almost over, and I took full responsibility, and I went to jail, and I lost my job as the extensive coverage revealed. The other case? No further coverage after the initial four sentences. I took responsibility and still do....just saying the coverage is selective. Isn't that the same thing you said in your first post?
ReplyDeleteAnd lastly Anon, if you're going to post on issues as personal as this, especially with those who are up front enough to bare it all to make a point, you should have the courage to do the same.
ReplyDeleteAnon: I agree with Doug. Where's your courage? You seem to have a lot to say, are willing to say it, have some points to make and have not one single ball left. Sad.
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