David Brauer wrote: I'd appreciate hearing from others, especially those who don't weigh in as regularly on these issues. Am I off-base in my defense...too defensive? If you feel this discussion is boring the list, please email me off-list. If your comments are wider in scope, I'll hang in here.
Mark Anderson replies: I did not read the article in question, so I am not judging based on what it said; only on the critiques by Jim Mork and Peter S., and the replies by David. David is definitely winning the war of words on this topic. Journalism is about explaining what you see and hear. Of course it is inherently biased to some extent, because no one can write down everything they experience. But a good journalist tries get beyond her initial preconceptions and see what's really happening. Jim and Peter never explained why she shouldn't have written the particular things she did. All I can guess is what David said -- that her experiences weren't p.c. enough for them. I presume that if Jim or Peter had done the story, they would have written their conclusions before visiting the island. Then journalism is just about finding evidence to match the conclusions. There was only one good critique made. Ms. Wooster claimed that the bloodshot eyes and smell of the people were evidence of drug use. As David said, smell is good evidence of alcohol use. Maybe alcohol was included in her comment about "drug use", but I doubt that she would have said drugs if she meant only alcohol. I don't see how bloodshot eyes and smells can be good evidence of drug use, other than alcohol. As the critiques said, several other explanations could explain what she saw. So either she had additional unstated evidence, or her comment exceeds her evidence. By the way, I am a little confused about the article. I didn't see anywhere on this List that explained which island was being talked about. I assume it is Nicollet Island? Nicollet Island is not part of the Southwest Journal area; so was the article in Skyway News? Mark V Anderson Bancroft TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
