I'll concede that my City Pages colleague was uncharacteristically sloppy
with the facts in the recent story on Peebles. But before Mr. Brandt served
up his gratuitous condescension ("Reporting is more than repeating what
people tell you. You have to check it out--if you want to get the story
straight."), his post indicated that he has received "numerous" phone calls
from folks unhappy with Peebles. He also struts his knowledge that not just
three out of four, but five out of seven people in the district's
communications system have quit since Peebles was hired. Given that Peebles'
abrasive style is an increasing topic of conversation in the halls of both
the schools and administrative buildings of the MPS (and, increasingly,
among MPS parents), I'm sure he is aware of a lot of other things.
So, is the subject of Ms. Peebles' impact on operations and morale within
the district, not newsworthy? To what extent is she being autocratic and to
what extent might she be being smeared? And what about the dramatic
limitations on who and what reporters can access from this "public" school
system?
Journalism is more than getting the story straight. You have to pass on what
you've learned to your readers--if you want to be an effective reporter.Britt Robson City Pages employee Lyndale ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Brandt" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 10:36 PM Subject: [Mpls] School Board Member Dennis Shapiro posts: > School Board Member Dennis Shapiro posts: > > The Peebles story in City Pages includes without correction a couple > > of rumors that are going around like crazy. To correct: > > 1. The windows were frosted BEFORE Supt. Peebles was hired. > 2. There is no 90-day probationary period in law nor in her contract. > > Brandt from out of state: > I can confirm what Shapiro says from my own investigations. The > windows were frosted under Jennings. And I've read the Peebles contract > and corrected numerous callers who tried to tell me there is a 90-day > probation. And there was a third error. It's not three out of four > communications staffers for the district who have quit. It's five of > seven. > > Reporting is more than repeating what people tell you. You have to > check it out--if you want to get the story straight. > > > Steve Brandt > Staff writer > Star Tribune > Phone: 612-673-4438 > Fax: 612-673-4359 > 425 Portland Av. > Minneapolis, MN 55488 > REMINDERS: > 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > > For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html > For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract > ________________________________ > > 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 REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ 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
