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-
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