August 19th, 1991
Determination 88: Dr. Morris Kurtz v. St. Cloud Times
Dr. Morris Kurtz appeared, as did Don Casey, executive editor of the St. Cloud Times. The complaint involves a claim of unfair comment in a newspaper editorial.
Complaint Denied
November 29th, 1990
Determination 87: Terrance Lappin v. Snoose News
Complainant, Terrance J. Lappin, appeared on his own behalf. Editor Steve Eide of Snoose News, submitted an 11-page written response to Lappin’s complaint. The issue raised in this proceeding is the fairness of an “editorial cartoon.”
October 18th, 1990
Determination 86: Lao Family Community v. Twin Cities Reader
Appearing on behalf of the Twin Cities Reader were D. J. Tice and Ruth Hammond. Appearing for the complainant was Nkajlo V. Vangh, president and chairman of the board of Lao Family Community, who was accompanied by Stephen Young. Other persons from the Hmong community were also present.
August 30th, 1990
Determination 84: Charles Jones v. Tri-County Record
Charles H. Jones, the grievant, was present, as was Myron J. Schober, editor of the Tri-County Record. Jones’ complaint raises issues about the newspaper’s handling of letters to the editor and the newspaper’s policy with respect to religious columns.
August 29th, 1990
Determination 85: WAMM & Women/Work/Welfare v. KARE-TV
In February 1990, KARE-TV, Channel 11 ran a three-part series depicting abuses in the state welfare system by welfare recipients. At the time, certain remedial legislation was being proposed in the legislature. The general thrust of the series was that large sums of welfare funds were being lost because of fraudulent claims by recipients and that the public authorities were devoting insufficient resources and personnel to investigate the fraud. Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) filed a complaint with the Council, claiming that the program contained factual inaccuracies. As the basis for its complaint, WAMM relied on a two-page fact sheet prepared by the Department of Human Services entitled “Corrections to False or Misleading Statements in KARE 11 Welfare Fraud Series.”A Question of Standing: On occasion, the Council may sponsor a forum to discuss a media topic; in this setting, the question of standing does not arise. When, however, the Council hears a particular charge against a particular newspaper or television station, the Council generally requires that the complaining party have standing, i.e., some immediate, direct personal interest which is adversely affected by the news story. The requirement of standing gives some assurance that both sides of the dispute will be adequately presented and represented; that the issues will be well-defined; and that due process is accorded the party against whom the complaint is made.
June 15th, 1990
Determination 83: Lifespring, Inc. v. KARE-TV
Charles Ingrasci, Director of Corporate Affairs for Lifespring, and Janna Krammer, director of its Twin Cities program, appeared for the complainant. Janet Mason, News Director, accompanied by Bernie Grace, reporter, and Thomas Tinkham, attorney, appeared for KARE-TV. The complaint centers around issues of accuracy and fairness, of deceptive newsgathering, and of sensationalism in the television series reporting on complainant’s program. More »
June 15th, 1990
Determination 82: DEFFBAM (Ferret Fanciers) v. WCCO-TV
The complaint is that Channel 4 inaccurately, and hence unfairly, characterized the domestic ferret as a wild animal, essentially untamable and dangerous. Appearing on behalf of the complainant were its president, Joel Johnson, and its strategic coordinator, Randy Sellers. Channel 4 declined to attend.
September 28th, 1989
Determination 79: Candidate Raymond Ploetz v. Circulating Pines
Raymond Ploetz, the complainant, appeared on his own behalf; Andrew and Grace Gibas, co-publishers and editors, appeared for the Circulating Pines.
June 2nd, 1989
Determination 77: Scott Vreeland & Cedar Riverside Community Group v. Star Tribune
Scott Vreeland presented his grievance and the Star Tribune was represented by Tim McGuire, managing editor; Mike Finney, deputy managing editor; Lou Gelfand, reader representative; and Mike Kaszuba, reporter.
Scott Vreeland, chairman of the board of the Cedar-Riverside Project Area Committee (PAC), a neighborhood governing body of elected, unpaid members, complained that an August 4, 1988, article about the neighborhood in the Star Tribune was “bad journalism.”
August 5th, 1988
Determination 75: United Black Front v. Star Tribune
Ron Edwards appeared for the grievant. Tim McGuire, managing editor, Peg Meier, reporter, and Lou Gelfand, reader representative, appeared for the Star Tribune. About 20 visitors attended the hearing. Those speaking on behalf of the complaint were Mahmoud El-Kati, Carol Ann White, Dr. James T. Shelton, Jusef Mgeni, and Nellie Stone Johnson.