Rep. Doty complained to the News Council after the paper published a March 2 story, “Local GOP objects to Doty’s support of gas tax hike.” The Record’s editor and general manager, Tom West, approached Doty for comment “on the gas tax,” but did not tell him it would be used in a news story about Doty’s support of a transportation bill. In an effort to balance a press release issued by Republican leaders in the district, West rewrote the press release to include comments from Doty and the county engineer, as well as additional background information.

Doty complained he was misled by the paper because he did not know the context in which his comments would be used. West argued that he did not have a responsibility to tell Doty what the story was about in advance. Doty “gave good answers to the questions I asked him,” said West, “and they were reported accurately in the printed article.”

The News Council affirmed the paper’s position, voting 12-4 that the paper’s actions were appropriate.

“[If I were in West's position], in hindsight I would have told Rep. Doty that I was calling for a response to the Republican press release,” said media member Jim Pumarlo. “Having said that, I’m fine with the story, I think it’s balanced. Readers were clearly aware that Republicans were leveling this charge and Doty was responding to that.”

News Council members agreed that the information added by West was accurate, and added to the overall balance of the story. “Rep. Doty came off as the real good guy of that story, he seemed well informed and statesman-like,” said public member Heather Harden.

Media member Jeremy Iggers disagreed. “[The press release] was a partisan attack on Doty,” said Iggers. “How could you not tell him what he was responding to?”

Doty also complained that an editorial written by West was inaccurate to commend both Doty and a Republican colleague for work on a zoo funding bill. Doty said he was “on his own” this past year in seeking funding for the Pine Grove Zoo in Little Falls, Minn. and felt it was unfair to include Sen. Paul Koering (R-Fort Ripley) in the praise. West said that before publishing the editorial, he called Koering, who acknowledged less involvement in the bill, but said he helped get it through the state Senate.

The News Council denied Doty’s complaint, and voted 12-4 that the paper had an appropriate basis for giving both politicians praise in the editorial.

“In order to uphold this complaint,” said media member Dave Beal, “you would have to prove that Sen. Koering played absolutely no role in the passage of this bill, and I don’t think there is evidence to prove that.”

A majority of Council members agreed. “I am satisfied Mr. West fulfilled his responsibility to check the facts in his editorial when he called the senator,” said public member Harden. “After the editorial appeared, those who disagreed with Mr. West’s editorial wrote great letters to the editor explaining their viewpoints.”

The following news outlets ran the above news release or cited an Associated Press summary: Morrison County Record, Hometownsource.com (ECM Publishers), KSTP-TV, WKBT-TV, WCCO-TV, and Grand Forks Herald.

12:15 p.m., August 21, 2008

Hamline United Methodist Church – St. Paul, Minn.

Minneapolis (Aug. 20, 2008) – The Minnesota News Council will convene Thursday, August 21 to consider two complaints against the Morrison Country Record by state legislator Al Doty (DFL-Royalton).

Rep. Doty complained to the News Council in April about the Morrison County Record, a weekly newspaper in Little Falls, Minn. Rep. Doty said the paper approached him for a general quote “on the gas tax,” but did not tell him it would be used in a news feature that critiqued his support of a transportation bill (“Local GOP objects to Doty’s support of gas tax hike,” 3/2/08). Record editor and publisher Tom West disagrees that Doty should have told what the story was about in advance. Doty “gave good answers to the questions I asked him,” West wrote, “and they were reported accurately in the printed article.”

Rep. Doty also complains that an editorial written by West was inaccurate to commend both Doty and a Republican colleague for work on a zoo funding bill (“Zoo funding worthy of praise,” 6/1/08). Doty says he was “on his own” this past year in seeking federal money for the Pine Grove Zoo in Little Falls, Minn. and feels it was unfair to include Senator Paul Koering (R-Fort Ripley) in the praise. West has said that before publishing the editorial, he called Sen. Koering, who acknowledged less involvement in the bill, but said he helped get it through the state Senate.

At the hearing, the Minnesota News Council will hear presentations by Rep. Doty and the Morrison County Record; the Council will then issue a determination. The event is free and open to the public and media coverage is invited. Documents relating to the case are available upon request.

About the Minnesota News Council

The Minnesota News Council was created in 1970 to promote fair, vigorous and trusted journalism. It presents complaints about accuracy and fairness to news organizations, holds public hearings to consider unresolved complaints and conducts public forums aimed at fostering trust in journalism. The News Council has 24 voting members, half of them journalists, half laypersons. The hearing process is voluntary; the Council’s determinations are advisory and carry no sanctions.

# # #

Tony Sheda, of Wrenshall, Minn. complained that the KBJR-TV broadcast, “The War At Home” (Nov. 27, 2007) sensationalized the death of his son Adam, a staff sergeant recently returned from Iraq. The story was the first in a two-part series about the emotional effects of war on returning soldiers.

The News Council voted 9-8 to uphold a complaint that it was unfair to use Adam Sheda as an example in a story about post-traumatic stress disorder. The Council also voted 10-7 that it was unfair for KBJR to report that, “It’s been said that [Adam] Sheda may have had a death wish based on a posting he made on his MySpace account.”

KBJR Station Manager, Dave Jensch, said the story was based on a suggestion from a Minnesota Military Assistance Council representative that the station should help raise awareness about the issues veterans face when reentering society.

“The Sheda story was covered by all media outlets, and was the best example of veterans experiencing emotional wounds,” Jensch said. “It wasn’t about PTSD. Our story never said that Adam Sheda suffered from PTSD; we could never have known that.”

Adam’s death was a high profile story for the Northland community. Council members agreed that it did serve to draw attention, but questions arose over whether it was a good example for the broadcast.

“I appreciate the story because we don’t do enough to show what these young men do in Iraq,” said public member Elizabeth Costello. “I’m just not sure that Adam was the best example to show the kinds of problems soldiers are experiencing.”

The News Council also voted 17-1 to uphold a complaint by Richfield City Manager Steven Devich against KSTP-TV.

Devich complained that the KSTP feature story “Richfield residents frustrated over noise” (April 20, 2008) used excerpts from a letter he wrote to a Richfield resident in a manner that was misleading. The story on noise ordinances suggested that Richfield government officials were not attentive to the needs of their constituents in this matter.

Richfield’s mayor was interviewed to give the city’s side of the story, which seemed to contradict the letter from Devich.

“If I would have been contacted by the reporter to explain what the letter meant, KSTP’s viewers would have understood that the city, the middle school and the community were working together to try and resolve the problem,” said Devich. “This type of story destroys our [the city’s] credibility.”

Representatives from KSTP did not attend the hearing, but in a written statement said that, “Contrary to Mr. Devich’s allegations, our story was neither misleading nor one-sided. We represented the city’s side by interviewing the Mayor of Richfield.”

“Certainly KSTP had a right to do this story, and to use Devich’s letter,” said public member Noelle Hawton. “The story featured the upset citizens and statements from the mayor, but there was definitely a view missing.”

Links to coverage of hearing:
AP, City Pages, Duluth Budgeteer News, Duluth News Tribune, KARE11, MPR/NewsCut (KSTP), MPR/NewsCut (KBJR), Star Tribune, WCCO-TV

Glass, who was elected to the school board in November, complained that an editorial column, “Beware of dirty tricks during the campaign season,” unfairly mischaracterized his campaign as “nasty and misleading,” and included comments he made prior to becoming a declared candidate for school board. Glass also complained that the timing of the publication was unfair – the paper was published the weekend prior to the election – because he could not offer a rebuttal before Duluth citizens went to the polls.

“Newspapers have a basic right to express political opinion, provided they label it as such,” Duluth Budgeteer News editor Jana Peterson told the News Council. “The column did not introduce any new information, something that newspapers try to avoid immediately before an election – that’s part of the reason we don’t allow any political letters to the editor that week.”

The News Council voted 10-3 to deny a complaint that it was unfair for theBudgeteer News to publish an opinion column accusing a candidate of dirty tricks, without giving him a chance to respond.

On the question of whether it was unfair for the paper to publish a column that included statements that Glass made prior to becoming a declared candidate for school board, the News Council unanimously responded it was not unfair.

The News Council also voted 12 – 1 to deny a complaint that it was unfair for theBudgeteer News to publish a column that characterized Glass’ campaign as “nasty and misleading.”

“All newspapers, weekly or daily, editorialize right before elections,” said media member Reed Anfinson, owner and publisher of the Swift County Monitor-News, a weekly paper in Benson. “Our columns provide a summary of what’s happened during the campaign season – we have the opportunity to say ‘here’s why we support this candidate.’”

Media member Karen Boros was concerned about the timing of the publication. “There was no chance for the attacked person to respond,” noted Boros.

“It felt unfair when it happened to me,” said public member Tom Forsythe recalling an experience similar to Glass’, “but, I do think it’s appropriate for a paper to editorialize prior to an election.”

Glass said the News Council’s discussion of the issues was interesting. “I just wish there would have been time to respond to the column,” he noted.

Vote:

All three complaints were denied by a majority vote.

1. Was it unfair for the Duluth Budgeteer News to publish a column accusing a candidate of dirty tricks without giving him a chance to respond?

The Council voted 10-3 that the column was not unfair on this count. 

Concurring: Anfinson, Bahan, Beal, P. Berg, Fladung, Forsythe, Johnson, Pastner, Wyatt, Zdon 

Dissenting: Boros, Schild, Sokolowski

2. Was it unfair for the Duluth Budgeteer to publish a column that included statements that Mr. Glass made prior to becoming a declared candidate for school board?

The Council voted 13-0 to deny the complaint with the feeling that it was fair to use earlier statements. 

Concurring: Anfinson, Bahan, Beal, Boros, P. Berg, Fladung, Forsythe, Johnson, Pastner, Schild, Sokolowski, Wyatt, Zdon

3. Was it unfair for the Duluth Budgeteer News to publish a column that characterized Mr. Glass’ campaign as “nasty and misleading?”

The Council voted 12-1 to deny the complaint.

Concurring: Anfinson, Bahan, Beal, P. Berg, Fladung, Forsythe, Johnson, Pastner, Schild, Sokolowski, Wyatt, Zdon

Dissenting: Boros

News Council Reflections:

Tom Forsythe, a public council member, wrote:
It was a bit unfair, but that is something we have to accept to protect and defend the right of the newspaper to editorialize. I would hope that the newspaper does not interpret my vote as a full vindication of their decision to editorialize precisely the way they did, but I defend their right to do it.

Al Zdon, a public council member, wrote:
It was well within the boundaries of fair comment.

Steve Schild, a media council member, wrote:
This was a tough case. I’m not voting to dictate what a newspaper cannot write, but I cannot fully endorse a process that makes it hard for any party to respond to criticism or attacks. Having said that, I too fear any decision that could have a chilling effect on a paper’s content.

After a Sept. 18, 2007 meeting, the Woodbury Bulletin published an editorial, “Councilman’s Antics Were Unnecessary,” and a similar letter to the editor that were critical of Afton City Councilman Joe Richter. The pieces allege that Richter treated another city councilmember disrespectfully during a dispute that occurred at the meeting.

“The Woodbury Bulletin portrayed me in a false light,” said Richter. “They took some facts and exaggerated them in duration and intensity in an effort to develop a false representation of me and what transpired.” The Woodbury Bulletin did not attend the hearing, but Editor Bob Eighmy told the Council that the paper stands behind its Sept. 26 editorial.

The Bulletin wrote that Richter “went into something of a tirade” and “took 20 minutes to argue his point,” after another councilmember made a request to have resident comments from a supplemental information packet read aloud. The editorial also stated that Richter was “waving his nameplate” in front of councilmember Nick Mucciacciaro’s face.

News Council members viewed video footage from the Sept. 18 Afton City Council meeting, and unanimously agreed that the editorial did not accurately portray Richter’s conduct. They expected to see theatrics, but only identified a few moments of lively give and take between Richter and Councilman Mucciacciaro.

In its deliberation of the second complaint, the News Council members discussed the standards of accuracy and fairness used in newspaper opinion pages. Public member Colin Sokolowski asked if editorials should be held to a higher standard of accuracy than letters to the editor. “There is a higher burden on editorials to ‘get it right,’” said media member Steve Schild, a journalism professor at St. Mary’s University.

“What I felt when I read the Woodbury Bulletin editorial was that I wanted everyone to know, ‘That is not me; that is not what happened!’” said Richter. “The News Council provided me with a forum where my real voice could be heard.”