Give peace a chance
On Friday, I got several complaints about our front page story on the anti-war demonstration to be held today. They think our conservative inclinations have affected our news judgment. Go figure.
I think that your paper could have done a better job of describing "The World Can't Wait" than simply saying they have ties to the Revolutionary Communist Party. I believe that many people will read that sentence and feel that it is a "smear job" aimed, along with the accompanying threat of violent "biker" counter protests, at lessening the turnout at the peace rally.
Another wrote: So, how many of your advertisers called and said the paper better put the word out about the Eagles group gathering or they'd yank their ads? It's the only thing I can think compelled your staff to waste so much ink on a story that is clearly doing its best to make certain the anti-war protest doesn't get too much "positive" advanced press. Anti-war protests ALWAYS get counter demonstrators. There's no need for your conservative buddies on the paper to put out the word for them to show up.
In further conversation with that writer, she told me she was being sarcastic with the advertiser crack. (No advertiser called, either.) Truth is, I wish we hadn't affiliated the group with a Communist party on its first reference, but it's not untrue or inaccurate. Writer Joe Killian post on his conversations here.
In any case, I don't know if our story had any effect on attendance today, but about 300 anti-war protesters showed, and 150 counter protesters.No violence, either.
Comments (5)
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but about 300 anti-war protesters showed, and 150 counter protesters.No violence, either.*John Robinson
And who counted them? And why is that so important?
Are you dealing with another million man march to prove that numbers make a impression that democracy works?
Posted on April 22, 2007 9:47 AM
I seem to recall discussion some months back when the newspapers FAILED to point out that the rally in Washington, DC, had 10,000 anti-war folks and 30,000 counter demonstrators.
I see in every article about this gathering that the numbers are very specifically stated.
I guess when you're anti-war and outnumbered 3:1 it's not as important to liberal news outlets as when you're anti-war and outnumber the opposition 2:1.
Posted on April 22, 2007 11:22 AM
The only point I was making with the numbers is that the anti-war supporters believed that our coverage would discourage their numbers from turning out and encourage counter protesters.
Maybe, jaycee, we've learned?
Posted on April 22, 2007 1:44 PM
What we know is not so much reality, but the perception of reality. And most of that is formed by the news media. Everything we know about events which we don't witness we learn from the news. The manner in which that news is reported generally determines how we perceive or think of an event.
Posted on April 22, 2007 4:29 PM
Far out, man.
Posted on April 25, 2007 1:05 AM