By Steve Reinbrecht
The Reading Eagle published most of a letter I wrote to question
its news judgment in covering local health stories.
I pointed out its front-page story about Caron’s plans for a 20-bed, $10 million addiction center, and asked why the newspaper has virtually
ignored efforts to start a community health center in the city to serve
thousands of poor people.
After I e-mailed my letter to the newsroom, editor Jim Homan
called me.
“I can’t use the portion where you’re questioning our news
judgment,” Homan told me, even though that was the point. “The publisher will not allow that.”
Here’s the part they took out:
I don’t understand
the news judgment here. Why does the paper feature a boutique center that I
expect will serve mostly wealthy people, perhaps from all over the country or
world, rather than something that will more effectively improve the health of
the entire community?
In his column Sunday, managing editor Harry Deitz writes about how unnamed critics so misunderstand the news business.
“Our simple agenda is to make our community a better place
to live,” he writes.
But by ignoring the real issues, the paper shows that its simple
agenda is actually making money and pleasing the Establishment by avoiding
controversy.
“This job isn't easy,” Deitz says. “In fact, it's darn hard,
because we can't please everyone all of the time. In fact, we can't please some
people at all. That doesn't mean we won't continue to try.”
But the paper should not be trying to PLEASE anyone. If it
follows the Society of Professional Journalists’ code of ethics, the top
priority is courageously seeking the truth.
! And the truth is, Reading residents have important health
needs, but Reading Hospital is not doing much in response.
! The truth is, Reading is set to have another knucklehead
mayor, but nobody asks why the city is so destined.
! The truth is, economic development efforts in the city have
failed miserably, but the same old economic developers keep their jobs, year
after year.
! The truth is, a young black Exeter Township man was murdered
last summer, but the newspaper has never followed up on the crime and its effect
on the community, though when a rich white woman gets killed by her horse, it’s
front-page news.
! The truth is, the Reading School District spun into a maelstrom for years, but we’ll never find out why or who was to blame so that it won’t
happen again.
! The truth is, the county has turned on its new $67 million emergency-radio
system, but we haven’t heard how it’s working.
! The truth is, there are huge amount of crime data available, but we never learn about the trends here in Berks.
Deitz: “With that opportunity [to have a significant,
positive and lasting impact] comes responsibility. We need to never let our
egos get in the way of fairness.”
! The truth is, the newspaper's leaders are such babies they won’t run my entire letter questioning
their news judgment.
Deitz: “We must never forget whom we serve. We must never be
influenced or controlled by others who have their own agendas. If those things
happen, it's time for a change.”
The newspaper is controlled by the Establishment, whose message is, "Everything is good in Berks County because we old white men know what we are doing so you don't have to worry."
Well, it IS time
for a darn change. Wouldn't it be best for most people around here if actual journalists – and it employs many -- somehow take over the
Eagle to return it to its proper role in Berks County?
No comments:
Post a Comment