Like many of us who have dated checks or letters “2005″ since Jan. 1, The Anniston Star dated the first two pages of the Escapes Section on Jan. 12 as “2005.”
The news staff was impressive in its coverage of the train crash in Lincoln (Jan. 18). Jenny Bone Miller and Ben Cunningham wrote the front-page story and a sidebar, with additional articles by Joseph Lord, Brandy Warren and Tyler Greer. There was a dramatic photo by Bob Crisp, of The Star’s sister paper, The Talladega Daily Home, and a helpful map by David Bone. There were three more articles the following day and others during the week.
The Star acted quickly to correct an error in a news story. The story, by Warren, (Jan. 27) said that U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers latest election was 2002, rather than 2004. The mistake was compounded by a headline that read, “Rogers wants another four years in U.S. House.” He probably does, but he is currently running for another two-year term. The error was corrected in the next day’s paper.
There were some other headline problems:
- In a Sports Section front a subhead referred to “Meka Garrett, from Slidell, La., now playing basketball for Cleburne County High School (Jan. 9). However, the story is about Meka Bennett, and that name is used all through the story.
- The headline on a story about Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon referred to him as a “Palestinian leader” (Jan. 9).
- An Insight Section subhead said, “State needs local sentencing to … ease prison overcrowded” (Jan. 15).
- A subhead on a story about the opening of a new entrance to McClellan read, “Officials hold Sumerall Gate ceremony at 10 a.m.,” misspelling the name of a familiar McClellan gate (Jan. 30).
News and advertising are both essential to newspapers, but advertising material is usually clearly labeled to distinguish it from news. Apparently, something went wrong on Jan. 25. Three pages of an advertising section headed “Bridal How To” were separated and ran in news sections, two pages in the Region Section and one in the Your Table Section. Such material is usually grouped together, often in a special section. It is normally labeled Produced by the Marketing Department of The Anniston Star. Not this time. There was nothing to separate it from news, except its style.
The story about Willie Smith was an appropriate tribute to a local man who has a permanent place in baseball history. By Bran Strickland, the story covered his unusual baseball career and included comments by those who played with him. It would have been interesting to learn more about his life since the end of his playing career in 1971. Readers learn that Smith coached at ball camps and worked for the City of Oxford. What was his job with Oxford? What about his family? (Jan. 18).
An entertaining story about two area dogs that competed in a national canine show in Tampa, Fla., by Lord, was carried in The Star, with photos by Kevin Qualls (Jan. 14). But what happened? How well did they do?
The Star’s new Capitol Correspondent, Brian Lyman, provided solid reporting on the current legislative session. His article on the debate over Gov. Bob Rileys proposed capital improvement plan included reactions from local legislators (Jan. 19). His story about a report on poverty gave data for Calhoun County, as well as the state and nation (Jan. 20).
However, his article on bills passed by the Alabama House (Jan. 18) did not include vote totals or the votes of local legislators. Only one was quoted. The story “Academic obstacle course,” about the possible transfer of state trooper training to McClellan, was vague about his sources. He used such phrases as “political watchers say” and “political scientists say,” but quotes only one, Dr. William Stewart, (Jan. 29).
A chart by David Bone illustrating the unemployment rates of the nation, Alabama and area counties couldn’t be read because the lines showing the state and Calhoun County rates appear to be the same shade of gray. The chart would be clear in color but does not work in black and white (Jan. 23).
There were some fine stories in Januarys papers:
- “An oasis in the heart,” about a Christian couple from India and their commitment to their faith, by Brett Buckner, with photos by Stephen Gross (Jan. 6).
- The amazing athletes from around the world who play for J.S.U., by Cunningham, pictures by Qualls (Jan. 10).
- The growth of Jacksonville, and its impact on city government, by Crystal Jarvis (Jan. 15).
- The lead cleanup agreement, making a highly technical subject understandable, by Warren (Jan. 29).
- The late Donald Ray Haney, who achieved his goal of becoming a published author, by Buckner, photos by Gross (Jan. 22).
- And some first-rate sports photography Three players fight for the ball as Pleasant Valley battled Sacred Heart (Jan. 17), and the Oxford girls basketball team celebrate a championship (Jan. 22), both by Gross.
