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About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 1980)
i opinion ABC’S of bad journalism If one were given the choice of either viewing a major political event or a fictional movie based on a non-fiction book, what would one watch? Through the years, television news has decided to cover the events rather than show a movie so the public did not really have a choice. Networks have always considered the major political events (such as debates) more important than “entertainment”. Well, now it seems one of the three major networks is making a major editorial change to coyer major movies before significant political events. In case the reader is not aware of the events covered in this editorial, one need only to look as far back as last week to the Presidential debates involving Independent John Anderson and Republican Ronald Reagan. Incumbent James Carter chose not to debate the two candidates. Whether or not the President made the ethical decision not to debate was right or not is not the subject of this editorial. The subject is ABC’s refusal to cover the event as it happens and instead show the 1978 theatrical film “The Midnight Express.” The President’s decision not to appear, however, is the major reason the network did not consider it “A Presidential Debate.” The Network said “In our view, a forum that includes the challengers but not thè Incumbent is not a presidential debate.” Yet, how often do major candidates for the highest and most important job in the land get together in front of the American public to discuss the issues that are pertinent to the future of this country? If the American public is lucky enough, maybe once in four years. Ignoring live coverage of an event such as this is bad journalism and is why many people do not take television news seriously. The argument that television skims over important news can now be backed by the argument that television ignores important news to show a more important event such as “The Midnight Express.” To add insult to injury, ABC had a special on the debate after the local news at 11:40 p.m. When most Americans are asleep and have to get up that Monday morning to go to work. The Midnight show went until after 12:30 p.m. Just where are ABC’s priorities? What do they consider more important, a major news event that almost demands live coverage or a “based on true story” movie (and not a very good one at that)? Had either of the candidates made a major slip during the debate, ABC would not have been able to broadcast it until 11:40 p.m. Not that the press is looking for gaffs, but the future of this country is at stake. Some consider ABC’s move to not broadcast the debate a precedent. I think not. It displays a continual growth of apathy (there’s that word again) in this nation. The growing “None, of the above” attitude that plagues our country is due more to the ignorance of the candidates and their vast differences than to a like or dislike of the candidates. Viewing choice is terrific as long as the choice is between “Shogun”, “MASH,” and “20/20.” However, debates between the presidential candidates are more than significant enough to demand live coverage. ABC’s decision not to cover the debate is bad journalism because it ignores a significant event. I wonder if ABC’s President is voting for “None of the Above,” too. News coverage of events such as this are „ imperitive. The idea of networks saying, “Let’s let NBC cover the second debate (if there is one) and we show a movie,” is a terrible idea. There may not even be a second debate between candidates. What also must be included in this argument is the known fact that the networks compete with each other for ratings. Ratings means money. If ABC were covering the first debate, NBC might decide to draw as many people away from the debate as possible by showing “Gone With The Wind” as an alternative to it. That is not productive programming. Ballot measure 6 devestating flee, using • average statewide which provide much of the' property tax figures, showed education to the handicapped, that local income for schools would see their available would be reduced by 45 per operating revenue reduced by cent and for community col 28.4 percent and their property leges by 55.6 percent. Because tax revenue reduced by 58.6 schools and community col percent. “Since the Oregon Constitu leges receive revenue from state and federal sources, that tion requires that the state pro would mean available vide a system of common operating revenues would be schools, the operation of our reduced by 29.4 percent for elementary* and secondary schools and by 24.2 percent for schools and community col leges would essentially become community colleges statewide. a state government function,” County education districts, Duncan said. “Local control of education as we enjoy it today would be lost.” Duncan said in his annual State of the Schools address, delivered Thursday in Portland, he joined with Office: Trailer B Telephone : 656-8400, ext. 309,310 editor: Thomas A. Rhodes Governor Atiyeh’s call for the assignment editor: Matt Johnson; news editor: David Hayden; defeat of ballot measure 6. arts editor: Michael L. Rose; feature editor: Steve Lee “I believe Oregon voters will sports editor: Rick Obritshkewitsch; photo editor Duffy Coffman oppose the measure and keep staff writers: John Baker, Linda Cabrera, Ed Coyne, Richard Green local control—and local financ Jim Haynes, Tom Jeffries, Benjamin Munhall, staff photographers: Ramona Isackson, Sue Hanneman ing— of public education and typesetter: Kathy Walmsley artist: Lynn Griffith other local government ser advertising & business manager: Dan Champie vices in their hands,” he said. adviser: J. Faraca FRANKLY SPEAKING ... by phil frank “Ballot Measure 6 would devestate public education in Oregori,” State School Superintendent Verne A. Dun can said today. “The figure released today by the Legislature Revenue Office shows that the measure would reduce the local participation in school finance by more than 50 percent. The ballot measure would force massive state aid and would reduce local control of education.” The Legislative Revenue Of- ¿print Page 2 © COLLEGE MEDIA SERVICES box 4244 Berkeley. CA. 94704 Clackamas Community College
