A Mankato State University professor complains that the Star Tribune failed to contact him for a story on problems in the Indian Studies program that quoted a student accusing him of arbitrarily changing her grade.
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.
The City, Inc. is a social and educational community service organization working with troubled inner-city youth and their families, particularly in the African American and American Indian communities in Minneapolis. On October 7, 1989, the Star Tribune published an article titled “The City Inc. and The Way survive criticism.” The complaint is twofold:
That the article gives an inaccurate and racially insensitive portrayal of The City.
That a representative of the organization is misquoted as making a racist remark.
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.”
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.
Appearing at the hearing for grievant Medtronic, lnc., were B. Kristine Johnson, vice president of corporate affairs, and Raymond J. Dittrich, vice president and general counsel. Other Medtronic representatives present were William E. Drake, vice president, deputy general counsel and secretary; Celia K. Barnes, director of public relations; and James G. Foster, vice president, Medtronic Blood Systems. Appearing for the Minneapolis Star and Tribune were Tim J. McGuire, managing editor, Robert J. White, editorial editor, and Lou Gelfand, readers’ representative.
On May 12, 1986, the Minneapolis Star and Tribune published an article about a new county land-bidding policy which repealed the city’s right to bid competitively on tax-forfeited, blighted properties. A city councilman was quoted as displeased with George Grant, the complainant, who had outbid the city on a house the city had wanted to purchase. The article portrayed Grant as a landlord troublesome to the city.
Thereafter, when the newspaper’s reporter contacted Grant for his side of the story, Grant gave an interview which resulted in an article published May 20, 1986, with the headline, “Ex-legislator spurned politics, farming to become controversial city landlord.” Grant claims this article is unfair, biased, and fails to tell his story.
Ronald Edwards, president of the Minneapolis Urban League, complained that an analysis article in the newspaper was inaccurate, “jaundiced” and misrepresented the Urban League position on the issue of the appointment of Mary Emma Hixson as head of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department.
Bruce Brisbine, Vice President and General Manager of Spectrum subscription television, complained that an error damaging to Spectrum, which appeared in a popular local sports column, should have been corrected in or near the column. Brisbine also alleged a conflict of interest on the part of the column writer, who is also employed by a Spectrum business competitor.
Mark S. Rubin, assistant county attorney for St. Louis County, complained that the newspaper unfairly and improperly published the name and city of residence of a complaining witness in a criminal proceeding for swindling when the witness, suffering great personal embarrassment, objected. Rubin brought the grievance on his own behalf and on behalf of one of the victims of the swindle, a 55-year-old woman from Brooklyn Center.