Is it the reporter of a newspaper who spins the news, or is it the editor who approves what a reporter writes?
Are Northwest Herald reporters told to write news stories a "certain" way? I guess if you are a reporter who doesn't write what your editor wants (or tells you to write), you probably don't last too long.
What was going on in yesterday's Northwest Herald article about the candidates for Associate Judge of the McHenry County Circuit Court? There are 15 candidates, and Woodstock attorney Bill Bligh edged out the pack in the eighth ("overall") question with 75.82% of opinionated responses replying “yes.” That question was, "Do you believe this candidate meets acceptable requirements for the office?” (What a softball question! What were the other questions?)
Who voted in that poll? Ballots were sent out to members of the McHenry County and Illinois State Bar Associations who practice in McHenry County and to any other attorneys who requested a ballot. Now that ought to have made it a valid survey! The article didn't report how many surveys were sent out or returned. The open seat on the Court will be filled by selection by the McHenry County Circuit Court judges.
What was "interesting" about the article is that Bligh's name didn't surface until the seventh paragraph in the story.
It was apparently more newsworthy that another candidate on the list, McHenry County Assistant State’s Attorney Thomas Carroll, was described as a "key witness against Bianchi..."
Why do I object to that? First, it has nothing to do with Carroll's being a candidate for a judgeship. Secondly, is Carroll a witness who stepped forward and said that his boss committed a crime and that he was there to make sure his boss paid for it? Or did Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan select Carroll as a possible witness against Lou Bianchi?
Throwing that description of Carroll into the article is a calculated and cheap shot at both Tom Carroll and Lou Bianchi. Does it reduce Lou Bianchi chances for a fair trial? Does it reduce Tom Carroll's chances for selection as Associate Judge?
The Northwest Herald is advertising for sales personnel right now. It describes itself as "McHenry County's premier provider of print and digital news and information, saying it relies on ground-breaking and innovative thinking to bring its audiences and advertisers together." Comments, anyone?
You never know who is interested…
3 months ago
3 comments:
I hate to kinda agree with SOME of what you've said here. Granted, Carroll's position in the State's Attorney's Office would only have been news for his position, and that he was leaving to attempt to become a judge. But the fact that he is or may be a witness in the trial is newsworthy too, but in this case, to a lesser extent I don't believe that if and when Bianchi goes to trial, it will be held in this county; too much publicity. The fact that Bianchi went to Rockford to try and stop the investigation tends to make me think that it may head that direction for a trial. I still do not have a problem with Tonigan continueing his investigating. Charges were brought, and now further checking would be needed to verify and get more "back-up" evidence to support the charges.
The Northwest Herald is in for a very expensive awakening. I have read their biased articles and their blatant misrepresentations of the facts. People like Bianchi, Salgado(s), MILLIMAN, Seipler and others are bound to have legal recourse against Lyons, Duchnowski, SARAH..., McCalaeb, Krug and Shaw Publishing. I am willing to bet the gears are in motion already.
Sorry 'YouDont' but that's not going to happen. Whatever they report or write would be considered reporting of what they heard or have been told-biased reporting has been a staple of the newpaper industry since it started. You have only to look locally at the Trib and the Sun-Times. People believe exactly what they choose to believe or read. A lawsuit would go no-place but into the toilet, much like some believe about Zane and Milliman, or Nygren. People, and the news, usually take sides with their beliefs. Spitting into the wind is a waste of effort.
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