[Vision2020] Letter to the Editor!

[Rob Keenan]

While I'm always happy to see people happy to see their names in print, I
have to wonder about the effectiveness of writing to one news organization
about the capabilities and practices of another. It seems a little awkward
to me, like calling AT&T to complain about Verizon.

And just because your letter wasn't published doesn't mean the editorial
board wasn't paying attention to your concerns. Murf takes all of the
letters very seriously, and regularly voices his concerns about the issues
the readers raise to the other members of the editorial board.

If you're really concerned, I'd suggest phoning Steve McClure and sharing
your thoughts with him. Sometimes a phone call goes a lot farther than an
e-mail ever could.

ROB
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dale Courtney" <dmcourtn@moscow.com>
To: <vision2020@moscow.com>
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2003 3:04 PM
Subject: [Vision2020] Letter to the Editor!


> Hey! The Argonaut ran my Letter to the Editor when the Daily News
wouldn't!
>
> See: http://hercules.argonaut.uidaho.edu:16080/current/opinion4.html
>
> At this point, I have more respect for the Argonaut than for the Daily
News
> (which isn't saying much).
>
> Best,
> Dale
>
>   _____
>
> Editors failed to get the facts straight
>
> Dear editor,
>
> The Daily News editors decided to run a headline story based on
information
> from an incorrect, inflammatory and anonymous flier. That article Oct. 11
> contained the following: Sanchez "decided to research the Christ
> Church-sponsored conference in February that features the authors
discussing
> history and slavery." You have to wonder how much research Raul Sanchez
did
> when he does not even know what the topic of the conference is. Perhaps
for
> him and the Daily News, research means relying on an anonymous flier?
First,
> the History Conference is not, nor has it ever been, about slavery. See
the
> following:
>
<http://www.christkirk.com/HistoryConferences/9thHistoryConference/Topics.as
> p> www.christkirk.com/HistoryConferences/9thHistoryConference/Topics.asp.
> Second, there has never been any intent to give a defense of slavery. And
> finally, it is not a UI conference. On Oct. 15, the Daily News editors
> issued the following "qualification" in Accuracy Matters: "The conference,
> sponsored by Credenda/ Agenda, will cover the topics of revolution and
> modernity. Incomplete information appeared in the Daily News."
>
> However, not only was the information provided incomplete, it was
factually
> incorrect. Further, the article was carried subsequently in the Lewiston
> Morning Tribune and The Idaho Statesman - they also carried the incorrect
> information.
>
> The Associated Press's "Code of Ethics"
> (www.apme.com/about/code_ethics.shtml) lists journalistic standards for
> accuracy, integrity and independence? In it, the AP says that a "newspaper
> should guard against inaccuracies, carelessness, bias or distortion
through
> emphasis, omission or technological manipulation. It should acknowledge
> substantive errors and correct them promptly and prominently."
>
> Creating news is more a tactic of the National Enquirer than of reputable
> newspapers. We should all guard against spinning and twisting the news so
> that it agrees with our biases and prejudices.
>
> Dale Courtney
> Moscow
>