Determination 90: William McGaughey, Men’s Rights Association v. Star Tribune
William McGaughey, a member of the Men’s Rights Association, based in Forest Lake, complained that an April 21, 1991, Star Tribune article in which he was quoted was biased and that the reporter deceived him about its nature to induce him to grant her an interview. In attendance at the hearing were complainant William McGaughey, and Star Tribune staff: managing editor Tim McGuire, reader representative Lou Gelfand, and reporter Donna Halvorsen.
Background: The Men’s Rights Association was named as one of several groups advocating greater consideration for men by courts and social service agencies in divorce and custody cases and in those domestic violence cases in which men are victims.
McGaughey complained that the Star Tribune told him it wanted to do a story on men’s rights advocacy but that it actually did a negative profile of one advocate, George Gilliland, Sr. McGaughey further complained that the reporter exhibited bias by using a quote from him that unfairly made him look cynical and foolish, and the reporter willfully neglected to include information provided to her that would give credibility to men’s advocates’ arguments.
Media Outlet Response: Regarding deception, the newspaper said that, as in many cases, a story idea that starts out with one focus goes through a process of discovery that may shift that focus. When the reporter interviewed McGaughey, she was gathering information on men’s rights advocacy groups; by the time she was ready to write the story, Gilliland had emerged as a vivid symbol of male activities and as the focus. No deception was intended or committed, they assert.
The newspaper further said that neither the reporter nor the article was biased and that material McGaughey had wanted included in the article appeared to the reporter and her editors as unsubstantiated. They chose not to use it. The managing editor said he believed the editing process – with as many as five sets of eyes examining a story before publication – provided protection for readers, sources and the newspaper.
Determination: The Council voted unanimously to deny both grievances (bias and deception).
Tags: Star Tribune