Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2001 09:08:18 -0700
From: Tavares@ALUM.MIT.EDU ("C. D. Tavares")
Subject: Re: AZ Daily Star:
To: AZRKBA@asu.edu
At 12:38 AM -0700 6/17/01, you wrote:
> Link good for today (Sunday) only:
> http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/10617sunletrpckg.html
>
> Anyone know who from the "community" attended this forum?
> --
> Ted Louis Glenn (tlglenn@azstarnet.com) http://www.azstarnet.com/~tlglenn/
> Tucson, Arizona, United States
I see absolutely nothing about a forum on that webpage, but I have to
assume you're talking about this:
Reply-To: "Kenneth Rineer" <rineer@QuixNet.net>
From: "Kenneth Rineer" <rineer@QuixNet.net>
Subject: FACT Report - Are changes in reporting by the Arizona Daily Star
on the horizon?
Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2001 06:08:00 -0700
Firearms Action Committee of Tucson
P.O. Box 27321
Tucson, Arizonqa 85726
(520) 740-9387
June 17, 2001
FACT Participate in Forum to point out the error of the Arizona Daily Star's
Ways
Myself and two other members of FACT participated in the Arizona Daily
Star's forum which was designed to point out the error of the Star's ways
when it comes to reporting on the issue of firearms.
Now, we'll see what happens. Will there be any changes? Thus far, no.
But, we'll give them time now that they have their "action plan" written.
May I suggest a group of individuals get in contact with the Arizona
Republic and suggest they do the same?
Happy Fathers Day fathers!
Sincerely,
Ken Rineer
President, FACT
Tucson, Arizona Sunday, 17 June 2001
Reader Advocate
Gun enthusiasts should see changes in news coverage
By Maria Parham
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
The Star took a deep breath last month before submitting itself to the kind
of close scrutiny normally reserved for medical examination rooms.
In a public forum, 17 invited community members and another dozen people who
heard about the opportunity joined Star editors and reporters in a frank
discussion about one topic - how we cover issues involving guns.
The participants, with interests in gun ownership and gun control as well as
those with no specific point of view, helped pinpoint our ailments and
offered remedies.
We embarked on this carefully planned meeting as part of the Associated
Press Managing Editors National Credibility Round tables. Each of the 55
participating papers - from tiny to titan - took on issues as diverse and
controversial as religion, education and race relations. We've all been
learning from each other, too, as the papers report their round table
findings.
Managing Editor Bobbie Jo Buel chose issues involving guns because she knew
readers questioned our ability to be unbiased. The paper has editorial
stances that favor tighter regulation of gun ownership and business policies
that prohibit the advertising of private gun sales. Advertising, the
editorial sections and the news section pride themselves on their
independence, but that doesn't necessarily mean the separation is clear to
outsiders.
The trick in making this kind of forum work was to discuss how fairly the
Star covers issues, not debate guns, gun laws or the second amendment. And
that's what the participants did as they advised us to: Stick to the basics
of reporting, making sure you get your facts straight without letting any
personal bias show. Know your topic and find knowledgeable sources. Balance
stories with both points of view near the beginning of news stories.
Finally, write more stories on recreation sports using firearms.
Based on what we heard, the Star's action plan includes:
* Developing a formal course in firearm basics. Crime and court reporters,
photographers, copy editors, team leaders and others in the newsroom who
wish to participate will get a hands-on introduction to firearms, proper
terminology and major laws involving guns.
* Analyzing content to identify bias. We are undertaking an in-depth review
of hundreds of articles published in the past three years that mention
firearms, with a view toward identifying bias and finding ways to prevent it
in the future.
* Revising of publication and style guidelines. A senior editor and a copy
editor have been assigned to review our use of firearms terminology in news
stories, to make necessary revisions and to establish new style guidelines
where none exist.
* Creating an expert-source directory. A directory of firearms experts is
being developed and will be added to our electronic resources file for use
by reporters.
* Increasing outdoor sports coverage. The staff is exploring ways to provide
more stories about recreational activities includin the shooting sports.
It is easy to look at these as things we could have told ourselves. But it
is a good exercise to hear it from the people who matter most - our readers.
Think of it this way: You may know that you need to lose 10 pounds and
exercise, but it helps when the advice comes from your doctor.
--
Tavares@alum.mit.edu | http://home.earthlink.net/~cdtavares | RKBA!
If you thought Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy was the poster boy for eminent domain abuse, wait until you meet Claire Gaudiani. A academic and former president of Connecticut College, she justifies her actions in New London as the pursuit of "social justice." She likes to compare what she is doing to the work of Jesus and Martin Luther King. (As Dave Barry would say, we are not making this up.) She is also unapologetic about the use of eminent domain to force people from their homes and businesses. As she puts it, "Anything that's working in our great nation is working because someone left skin on the sidewalk." She is a real-life Ellsworth Toohey.
--SCOTT BULLOCK, INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE