The headline on a front page Montgomery Advertiser story this morning was so bland that I almost skipped it. I'm glad I didn't.
There is a shortened version online, but thankfully I still subscribe to the Sunday edition, so I was able to read it all.
Those who made it past the headline would learn that GOP Candidate for Governor Bradley Bryne had accepted money from PACS that had received...or soon thereafter received... money from gambling interests.
Yes, Mr. Byrne does say there is a need for a ban on PAC to PAC transfers. Every candidate that I know of, and every legislator I have heard asked about it takes the same position, yet session after session bills to ban PAC to PAC transfers die.
But back to the headline. Perhaps it should have read something like
Byrne took PAC money that appeared tied to gambling"
or, maybe better:
Byrne says PAC money not from gambling"
My newspaper headline writing experience is truly minimal (though not nonexistent), and I am aware that there are only so many words you can use in so much space, dependant on the typeface and font size.
Advertiser Reporter Sebastian Kitchen does a thorough job of reporting a complex story. He'll be the first to tell you that reporters don't write the headlines, but whoever wrote this one did a disservice to the story and, frankly, a favor to Mr. Byrne.And perhaps part two of today's MMMM helps explain the headline?
A couple of weeks ago ABC News announced massive cuts..something like 20% of their newsgathering staff. A year ago it was CBS and some of their affiliate stations laying off staff. Newspapers, of course, have led the way for this lemming-like charge off the cliff. The Advertiser and other Alabama newspapers have faced significant layoffs.
On other programs, wrong tapes run. "Live shots" fail. Network broadcasts start to look like something you might see produced by a skeleton weekend staff in market #200.
But the most significant result won't be as easy to see as an incorrect graphic or a wrong video. It will be the slow reduction in the news being generated through the vetting process editors provide, especially in newspapers, since they originate much of the news. More stories will be "breaking" on Twitter and Facebook and places like this blog, and I don't say that as a positive.
What sources will be left for news consumers to trust?
(UPDATE:The 2010 Pew Report on the State of The Media is out this morning.]
(The Monday Morning Media Memo is a regular feature of this blog.]
This tactic (denial) seemed to work for Bob "Wiley" Riley: "Byrne denies gaming interests"
ReplyDeleteA more creative use would be: "Byrne ha$ gaming intere$t$"
Of course, the equally colorful and truthful, "Byrne gambles forked tongue" would be just as good.
The more accurate, "Hypocrite Byrne speaks," would be appropriate as well; while the "Is Byrne hypocrite?" would also suffice.
But then, "Lying bastard speaks" would probably be more appropriate.
Of course, "Candidate denies his mother is a dog" is accurate, truthful and would probably never be published.
Why not?
Byrne has been consistent since the beginning - he has never knowingly accepted gambling money. He has always supported the PAC-to-PAC ban - and until we have it, it will continue to be impossible to track donations!
ReplyDeleteTim, with the highest and all due respect, I frankly don't see the point of this post. I did in fact read the article this weekend and the whole point of it (to me at least) was that Byrne -- perhaps one of the longest and most vocal supporters of a ban on PAC-to-PAC transfers -- himself had trouble figuring out if he had inadvertently received any gambling money through the crazy process. Having some editorial experience from my college days, I personally would think that your suggested headline is more biased than the original. Glad to see it got cleared up though, as I don't wish to see gambling money in ANYONE's coffers.
ReplyDeleteAs you mentioned, Tim, great story by Sebastian. I do however disagree with your take on the headline. Sebastian apparently did some homework - a task many Alabama reporters have forgotten - and got in touch with the PAC's administrator who confirmed that Byrne received his money before the gambling money was dumped into the PAC.
ReplyDeleteBefore, during or after... it makes no difference.
ReplyDelete"Hello, Joe? I just wanna' let you know we're going to transfer _$X_ into your account after the Nursing Home Folks call so nobody'll be suspicious."
See how easy the low road is?
The HIGH ROAD is to NOT TAKE ANY PAC money.
See you there! (or not)
Warm breeze - try getting elected in Alabama without taking PAC money. It's impossible. That's why the legislature should put the issue to bed once and for all by passing a ban on PAC to PAC transfers.
ReplyDelete