(Welcome visitors from Michelle Malkin, Mudville Gazette, and other blogs I may have missed. After you read this post, you can go here for more about the N&O's liberal bias. If you'd like something lighter, you might try: Sen. Kerry sure makes a lot of demands.)
Raleigh News & Observer news editor and blogger Melanie Sill and I have had a few back-and-forths regarding whether readers' complaints of liberal bias in the N&O’s news columns are valid. You can guess what each of us believes. But right now that’s not important.
What’s important is that Sill says she can’t find the Air America scandal story, so the N&O can’t even consider reporting on it. That was after other readers had alerted her to the story, and I had e-mailed her regarding a post which included the following paragraph:
Sill responded at her blog and by e-mail.The scandal has been widely reported in all New York City newspapers except the liberal Times. For instance, here and here. National newspaper columnists have reported on it. Here’s Mark Steyn’s column. Bloggers have reported, with Michelle Malkin and Ed Morrissey on top of the story every day. I just Googled “Air America loan scandal” and got more than 330,000 hits.
Here's Sill’s blog post in full:
Re Air America complaints
Here's Sill's e-mail response in full:Here's a brief response I've sent a couple of email correspondents who accuse The N&O of liberal bias for not publishing a story on financial questions they have heard about involving Air America, the national radio network heard in the Triangle on WCHL-AM in Chapel Hill, and a charity in the Bronx. Here's what I said: "We've checked our news services in recent days and do not find this story... if a story is reported and distributed we will look at publishing it."
Blogs can draw attention to overlooked stories, and perhaps that's the case here. We'll keep looking.
Well, obviously I failed to get my message across. But let’s move on.John,
I'll repeat this brief response on the blog... we've checked our news
services repeatedly and do not find this story. In searching blogs I
find repeated references but no original reporting. Thus I'm not
certain at this point what "story" exists on Air America, but if a
story is reported and distributed we will look at publishing it. I'd
point out that this is an example of conspiracy theories without basis.
You accuse me and The N&O of bias -- where is any evidence of this?
Best regards,
Melanie Sill
Can any of you help Editor Sill who will "keep looking" but is "not certain at this point what 'story' exists on Air America?"
Raleigh's News & Observer is one of the two largest daily circulation newspapers in North Carolina (The Charlotte Observer is the other). The N&O is part of the McClathey news chain. So any help given Sill could have a big impact.
Readers - bloggers - journalists - please help.
I'm glad Sill is blogging and dialogues with readers. Many MSM execs won't.
Here’s the link to her blog. Her e-mail is: msill@newsobserver.com
Thanks,
John
14 comments:
If she can't find the story, she should consider hiring OJ to do it once he finds the real killer.
I've done what I can to help her, to wit:
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/editor/index.php?title=re_air_america_complaints&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1#comments
08/10/05 at 15:34
"if a story is reported and distributed we will look at publishing it."
Do you have Lexis Nexis by any chance?
1. I WUZ ROBBED TOO : FRANKEN, The New York Post, August 9, 2005 Tuesday, All Editions; Pg. 87, 256 words, JOHN MAINELLI
2. STATE PROBES 'KID' LOAN TO LEFTY RADIO, The New York Post, August 6, 2005 Saturday, All Editions; Pg. 2, 494 words, DAVID SEIFMAN in New York and FREDRIC U. DICKER in Albany
3. LEFTY-RADIO KID CLUB PAID EXECS BIG BUCKS, The New York Post, August 5, 2005 Friday, All Editions; Pg. 2, 470 words, TOM TOPOUSIS
4. LIB RADIO LOSES EXCUSE FOR LOAN-REPAY DELAY, The New York Post, August 4, 2005 Thursday, Sports+Late City Final; Pg. 2, 243 words, TOM TOPOUSIS
5. PAY UP, LEFTIES! CHARITY CALLS IN LOAN, The New York Post, August 3, 2005 Wednesday, All Editions; Pg. 8, 392 words, TOM TOPOUSIS
6. The Unlikely Journey Of a Typographer and Striker, The New York Sun, August 2, 2005 Tuesday, NEW YORK; Pg. 3, 973 words, ANDREW WOLF
7. Franken Unaware Of Ex-Colleague's Alleged Loans, The New York Sun, August 2, 2005 Tuesday, NEW YORK; Pg. 3, 496 words, By DAVID LOMBINO, Special to the Sun
8. RADIO MAN CATCHES ATIC, The New York Post, August 2, 2005 Tuesday, Sports+Late City Final; Pg. 5, 239 words, TOM TOPOUSIS
9. Funds of a Bronx Youth Group Allegedly Lent to Air America, The New York Sun, August 1, 2005 Monday, FRONT PAGE; Pg. 1, 1201 words, By DAVID LOMBINO, Special to the Sun
10. BAD 'AIR' DAY - LIB RADIO LOAN INK, The New York Post, July 30, 2005 Saturday, All Editions; Pg. 7, 442 words, JOHN MAINELLI and DAVID SEIFMAN
11. KEY KIDS, SENIOR PROGRAMS SAVED CITY STEPS IN FOR TROUBLED CLUB, Daily News (New York), July 26, 2005 Tuesday, SPORTS FINAL EDITION, SUBURBAN; Pg. 1, 355 words, BY BOB KAPPSTATTER DAILY NEWS BRONX BUREAU CHIEF
Comment from: J. Stuart [Visitor]
08/10/05 at 15:41
"if a story is reported and distributed we will look at publishing it."
Here some more, from a quick, easy 2 minute Lexis Nexis search.
Please advise.
1. Air America listeners to the rescue?, The Oregonian, August 7, 2005, Sunday, PO-AIR-AMERICA-20050807, 782 words, By David Reinhard
2. The Air America scandal, Pittsburgh Tribune Review, August 7, 2005 Sunday, 786 words, Michelle Malkin
3. 'WISE' MAY GET BOOTED, The New York Post, August 5, 2005 Friday, All Editions; Pg. 2, 87 words, Tom Topousis
4. Why are hustlers silent on liberal radio scandal? , The Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), August 4, 2005 Thursday, Metro Edition, NEWS; SYNDICATED; Pg. 9-B;S, 675 words, MICHELLE MALKIN, CREATORS SYNDICATE
5. Big Fat Yawn, Investor's Business Daily, August 4, 2005 Thursday, SECTION ISSUES & INSIGHTS; EDITORIALS; NATIONAL EDITION; Pg. A12, 430 words
6. Robin Hood and Air America, The Washington Times, July 29, 2005 Friday, EDITORIALS; Pg. A22, 496 words, By THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Comment from: J. Stuart [Visitor]
08/10/05 at 15:47
Please also be aware absolutely none of these are blogs.
The New York Post
The New York Sun
Daily News (New York)
The Oregonian
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
The Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
Investor's Business Daily
The Washington Times
"if a story is reported and distributed we will look at publishing it."
IF a AND B then C
IF (a story is reported) AND (a story has been distributed) THEN (we will look at publishing it).
a has been established: The story has been reported.
b has been established: The story has been distributed.
THEN
c: I expect you will look at publishing it, forthwith.
Yes?
How about this:
Look, regardless of whether or not there's a story, I hate Al Franken because he researches stuff. Hence, let's take this case of an executive stealing money and create mountain such as making you ever forget the phrase molehill and implicate everyone who works for, listens to, or invests in Air America. What's that you say? Would I apply the same standard for Enron where you would blame all investors, benefactors, and shareholders? Shut up I say or I will tell Brent Bozell to accuse you of media bias!!
You know that the liberal media is a pathetic bunch.. and Sill just proves their idiocy once again.....
see ya
cathy : )
Isn't that how Woodward and Bernstein broke Watergate? By waiting for the story to materialize on the newswires? I thought the media prides itself in being seekers and defenders of the truth.
Worst. Excuse. Ever.
Look how her story has changed.
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/editor/index.php?title=good_shots_all&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1#trackbacks
"Thanks for all the interest: sarcasm and barbs duly recorded. Let me clarify: I found the same stories on Air America that you all mention a couple days ago in Internet searches and by using Factiva, a paid service we use for research. I've asked the Associated Press to move a story and mentioned the interest among some local readers. So far this investigation has been reported as a local story in New York. "
Really?
The Oregonian, that's a local NY paper is it?
Pittsburgh Tribune Review? Is that published in the Bronx?
The Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana), that's a Queens based periodical.
Investor's Business Daily: a Staten Island classic.
The Washington Times: Doesn't get any more Brooklyn than that one, not since the Brooklyn Eagle died.
Compare this:
"We've checked our news services in recent days and do not find this story"
to this
"I found the same stories on Air America that you all mention a couple days ago in Internet searches and by using Factiva, a paid service we use for research"
I am so confused...
You didn't find the story...but you did.
The story is only "reported as a local story in New York. " yet the papers from Oregon, Pittsburgh, DC and Louisiana all have material on it.
I am so very, very confused.
In searching blogs I
find repeated references but no original reporting.
Would it have been too much for her to CHECK THE REFERENCES?
JIC,
Can we surmise from Ms Sill's reply that the N&O no longer uncovers news-worthy stories on its own, but is only a republisher of someone else's stories. If this is the case, what does the news consumer need her(or the N&O) for?
That's why I turn to you guys. Thanks
John,
Here's my e-mail to her:
Ms. Sill,
I understand the N&O news staff is having difficulty finding out about the Air America scandal. Do you have any reporters on staff? Or do you just republish the news service feeds?
Just wondering.
Dave
Winston-Salem
Duh, for the funny papers and the sunday obits and weddings section.
Jeeze, what kind of southerners are ya'll?
On a more serious note, does the photo of MS on her blog look more and more like a deer on 40 at night?
-AC
Second e-mail to her editorship:
Re: the contention that the Air America story is a local interest story in New York only.
This Raleigh area station is part of the Air America network, per Air America website: Chapel Hill, NC - WCHL-AM 1360 AM. Additionally, WPEK-AM 880 AM in Asheville, NC is also part of the network. Not in your primary market, perhaps, but I would think within the area of interest.
It would seem that the N&O hasn’t always viewed Air America as a NYC item only. For instance:
April 15, 2005
A lefty wings it
Danny Hooley Staff Writer
CHAPEL HILL -- Minutes before his radio show started, Al Franken warmed up the Chapel Hill audience Wednesday like the seasoned showbiz pro he is. He pandered. "I can't be here without mentioning the Tar Heels," he said. "And without saying just how badly Duke sucks." That, of course, earned him thunderous laughter and applause. The near-capacity crowd at UNC's Union Auditorium kept up the enthusiasm for three hours. More
April 10, 2005
Franken relishes role as agitator
Danny Hooley Staff Writer Bio
Profile
If you think rap wars can get ugly, try following talk radio battles. Conservative Bill O'Reilly calls liberal Al Franken "vile" and refers to him as "Stuart Smalley," the hilariously neurotic self-help cable-access host Franken created for "Saturday Night Live." O'Reilly, host of Fox News' "O'Reilly Factor" and "The Radio Factor," once said that if this were the old days, he and Franken would settle
Is it only news when it’s a fluff piece and not when there is every appearance of a financial scandal involving a radio network with local affiliates?
wow. amazing. Five years ago, I would have taken this blog with a grain of salt. The amazing thing is five years ago, my mere presence here would normally allow Ms. Sill to label me as a gap toothed, flannel wearing, Ford F-150 stompin' woodchuck....oops! UI live in the bluest state in the Northeast! Vermont!!! It's amazing that the sources cited here are uncovered via Google by an uneducated hillbilly like me yet Ms. Sill cannot!! Correct me if I'm wrong, but she's the journalist, RIGHT????????
I would guess that the excuse the N&O would use here is that none of the wire services the paper subsribes to have moved anything about the Air America scandal, and that it's not a big enough story to justify assigning a staffer to investigate a story 750 miles away.
If that's true, then aside from the New York Times and its non-coverage, questions need to be asked to the folks over at the Associated Press as to why they have moved nothing on the story, either on their New York State wire or on the national circuit -- and the AP does have access to their member clients' stories, which include the New York Post, Daily News and New York Sun.
A story on the AP wire or one of the competing services would be available to papers and other media outlets around the country, and would fully eliminate the "We have no source" excuse. But search right now for the name "Franken" on the AP database turns up only a story on "Caribbean News Briefs" which only includes a guy with the same last name. do a search of the AP database for "Piquant" and you get a recipe feature on Italian vegitarian cooking.
Hey John. Don't you need XM radio to hear Air America in Raleigh? How many people who read the Observer listen to Air America?
Its not a story of local interest. People buy local papers for local interest. Thats why they limit their national/internation coverage. Otherwise they are competing with the Times.
There is a WAR in Iraq. Israel is leaving Gaza. The Iranians are building nukes. There are bigger National/Internatational stories.
I know it hard to miss a chance to fault liberals just because more important stuff is going on. What I can't believe is that you would critisize Jesse Helm's old paper for its liberal bias.
Cindy Bravo
cindbrv@lycos.com
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