DNews editor under pressure
Politicians used to follow Ben Franklin's advice to "Never argue with a man who buys his ink by the barrel." But the power of Internet blogging is allowing a spat between the Deseret News, the state's second-largest paper, and several powerful legislators to escalate into something ugly.
Most recently, Sen. Sheldon Killpack, slammed DNews political editor Bob Bernick:
Most recently, Sen. Sheldon Killpack, slammed DNews political editor Bob Bernick:
Simply put, Bernick claimed that “legislative leaders” intended to take on the [referendum] law. The only problem with this claim was that it was not true. It was not merely a prevarication; it was not run-of-the-mill media bias; it was not even an inaccuracy.Senate President John Valentine, right, waded into the fray earlier this week.
It was a lie.
When facts spill out that give citizens a misleading impression of our work on their behalf I believe we have a right - maybe a responsibility - to offer further perspecRep. Steve Urquhart, who has been relentlessly blogging on the DNews' alleged printing of fabrications, explained the roots of the dispute. Apparently, he says, the Tribune beat the DNews on a story because the Trib had a more broadly worded request for government documents. The DNews, Urquhart says, retaliated against the Legislature's staff:tive. In actuality, we let it slide most of the time but the current situation seems to be moving beyond the accidental slip-up . . . .
John Fellows, legislative general counsel, explained the situation to Lee Davidson of the DNews, when Davidson called in a dither. Davidson exploded that Fellows “knew what they wanted.” . . .Now, a former Republican apparatchik is calling on DNews editor Joe Cannon, right, (who previously was state GOP chairman) to sack Bernick.
Davidson threatened Fellows, saying that his refusal to relent to the demands of the Deseret News would “constitute a declaration of war.” Fellows told him to redraft his request.
Immediately thereafter, the DNews hit the Legislative Office of Research and General Counsel (LRGC) with an unprecedented number of records requests, many of them dealing with – you guessed it – personnel issues involving LRGC.
When the GOP Legislators you worked to elect avoid talking to your political editor, but are more willing to talk to your liberal competitor, you have a problem.
4 Comments:
It will be interesting to see how Cannon and the DNews react. I think they should simply ignore the blogs and blither, give the ugly politicians the finger and get on with their work.
Journalists are threatened all the time. It goes with the job. Bernick is salty, having reported on Utah politics and politicians a long time.
If Cannon lets him go, then the News, the church, which owns the News, and all the great journalists who have fought stupid politicians, are for naught.
Bernick - just extend the middle finger of either hand or both and point them in the direction of the legislature.
Georgia-
Fighting "stupid politicians" with outright lies is hardly an appropriate way to dissent. And Bernick's story was just that: A lie.
I support getting rid of duplicitous politicians, but I'm an equal opportunity man: If a journalist lies to me, he needs to be held accountable as well.
Urquhart's observations on Lee Davidson couldn't be more on target. Shoddy reporting and half truths. Bernick and Davidson should both take a hike.
Let's see if Cannon has the balls (no pun intended) to fire them.
Just wait. Bernick will be "called" to serve a mission in some nice, distant place. Maybe Guam, or Tvilisi.
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