Quill - December 2008 - (Page 7) Letters to the Editor To the editor: The September cover story, License To Conceal, is a clear example of irresponsibility by Quill and those SPJ members who approve of sensationalism in journalism. Public records should be utilized by reporters to serve public purposes, not exploited to win prizes, generate community reaction or attract self-serving attention for the publication. Interestingly, Quill’s story focus seems to be on cautioning reporters and editors to be prepared with an example of some high purpose being served if they plan to run lists identifying thousands of concealed weapon permit holders No wonder public reaction is outrage and people are riled up to support closing public records. What public purpose is served by journalistic fishing expeditions of this type? I’ve been in this business — and an SPJ member — for 46 years. I recognize this is the “we do it because we can” type story and not one we do because it is right. Perhaps it is motivated by an editor’s personal anti-gun bias, but does that make it “news”? If there is some news value in running lists of concealed carry permit holders, then Vermont editors apparently have little news judgment, letting more than a half-million names go unpublished year after year. Everybody of age in Vermont is a Concealed Carry Permit holder unless he has disqualified himself by virtue of a past conviction or court order. Yes, that’s right, since 1793, every Vermont resident has the unfettered right to carry a concealed weapon, and it’s no big deal. Perhaps our newspapers should be publishing names from the census tracts. SPJ ought to be criticizing these types of nonstories and should not be providing formulas for creating “news” out of lists and turning the public against the freedom of information so many of us worked so hard to gain over many years. C. Peter Jørgensen Publisher, Fire Apparatus magazine Tunbridge, VT 05077 To the editor: The publication of that John McCain article (in September 2008) without an accompanying piece on the same subject by Barack Obama is outrageous and casts a pall over the ethical standards of our organization. The tepid editor’s note stating Obama had not responded to a request for a similar article isn’t enough. The article, which I doubt was actually written by John McCain, is little more than a piece of political campaign literature. While McCain condemns “campaigns seeking to ‘control the message,’” his campaign did that very thing in regard to exposing Sarah Palin to press interviews. That McCain article has done Quill irreparable harm as well as affecting the reputation of SPJ. Sincerely yours, Hal D. Steward t Sigma Delta Chi Foundation Board of Directors 2007-2008 Steve Geimann, president Bloomberg News Robert Leger, vice president Arizona Republic Irwin L. Gratz, secretary Maine Public Broadcasting Network Howard S. Dubin, treasurer Manufacturers’ News, Inc. Dave Aeikens St. Cloud Times Ann Augherton Arlington Catholic Herald Clint Brewer The City Paper Fred W. Brown Retired, Denver Post David E. Carlson University of Florida Al Cross Institute for Rural Journalism & Community Issues Todd Gillman Dallas Morning News Jay Evensen Deseret Morning News Alex Jones Joan Shorenstein Center on Press, Politics and Public Policy Bill Ketter CNHI Sue Kopen Katcef University of Maryland Sally Lehrman Santa Clara University Jane Kirtley University of Minnesota Al Leeds Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service Hoag Levins AdAge.Com Dori J. Maynard Maynard Institute for Journalism Education Gordon “Mac” McKerral Western Kentucky University Sue Porter Scripps Howard Foundation Russell Pulliam Indianapolis Star Neil Ralston Western Kentucky University Kevin Z. Smith Fairmont State University Founded in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that those who carry on the tradition of a free press are prepared for the challenge. Its goal is to support the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and to serve the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism. Where young journalists meet. Log onto www.spj.org/genj.asp and do something for yourself today. DECEMBER 2008 Quill 7 http://www.spj.org/genj.asp http://www.AdAge.Com http://www.spj.org/genj.asp
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