Mr.Lou Gelfand: (Star Tribune ombudsman Lou Gelfand writes a weekly column, based on reader complaints and comments)
After Rochelle Olson, poor article on Minneapolis City Council Member Natalie Johnson Lee, I want to know how many African-Americans, Asian-American, Chicanos/Latinos and American Indians work at the Startribune? What are their positions within this organization? How does this newspaper guard against biases from reporters like Ms. Rochelle Olson? Do you think Mr. Ron Edwards was correct when he called the Startribune the "Johannesburg Times"? ************************************************************** Council member in flap on ticket Rochelle Olson, Star Tribune Published August 16, 2003 Minneapolis City Council Member Natalie Johnson Lee said Friday she hasn't decided whether to pay the fine or formally dispute a police citation she received for blocking traffic and disobeying a police officer in her North Side ward. http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4045205.html EDITORIAL Star Tribune article unfair to Johnson Lee By: . . Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Originally posted 8/27/2003 The Saturday, August 16, article in the Metro Section of the Star Tribune, “Council Member In Flap On Ticket,” says as much about the questionable discretion, judgment, and latent and overt racism within the everyday practices of the Minneapolis Star Tribune as it does about the Minneapolis Police Department. On the face of the article, the image of [Minneapolis City] Council Member Natalie Johnson Lee is presented in the negative by the Star Tribune’s decision to utilize a photo of her wearing dark glasses. This was an instant downside symbolism of Johnson Lee. It is summertime, to be sure. However, to utilize that photo, in an instance of conflict with a police officer (in the article’s words, a Black woman and a White police officer) is a slur on her image. Furthermore, it shows very questionable judgment not only by the reporter, but also by the entire news management staff. This is further demonstrated by the presentation within the article of an irrelevant fact that is utilized to cast a specter of criminality and felonious behavior upon Council Member Johnson Lee by associating the federal conviction of former Council Member Joe Biernat with this incident. How this possible misdemeanor incident rises to the level of concern about Johnson Lee’s next election is remarkable. I have not read anywhere such “musing” on the part of reporter, news team, or news management regarding Governor Pawlenty and Attorney General Mike Hatch. This article is worse than “yellow journalism” — it is also dangerous, provocative, and evil. It is miles beneath any objective and decent journalistic standard. In my opinion, the Minneapolis Police Department has caused our city to ride terrible and gale-like winds with respect to police brutality and its treatment of African Americans, other racial minorities, and the mentally impaired. There is an admonition in the Holy Scriptures that says, “Sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.” This article typifies the regressive and degenerative cultural slide, institutional depravity, governmental failure, and the abandonment of minimal and once-cherished standards of human and civil rights in this city and state. The Honorable Natalie Johnson Lee should not block traffic. And she should be accorded the proper respect that all citizens have a right to expect and to receive. After all, she is a dignified and honorable elected official who represents the Fifth Ward and her city. Rev. William W. Smith Minneapolis http://www.spokesman-recorder.com Question and Posted by Shawn Lewis, Field Neighborhood -- __________________________________________________________ Sign-up for your own personalized E-mail at Mail.com http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup CareerBuilder.com has over 400,000 jobs. Be smarter about your job search http://corp.mail.com/careers TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
