Newspapers often publish year-end features in late December, and The Star was no different this year. There were two appropriate packages in Sunday’s Star: “Best read stories online in 2007,” and “The year in pictures 2007.” The best-read list was interesting, but readers were given little information.
How many stories were there about each news event, and how many people read them (Dec. 30, 1A)? The description of how online readers were counted was confusing. “The Star counted unique page visits from a single computer in a day.” That didn’t make much sense to some readers.
The winning photo in The Star’s “Picture of The Year” contest was highlighted on the front of the 12-page photo section (Dec. 30, Section C). Readers did learn how many votes were cast in the contest (more than 2,500) and the winning percentage (39 percent). No vote totals were given for the other pictures in the contest.
The section, edited by Tosha Jupiter, included 64 photos from The Star during 2007. The display of camera work was impressive. But it would have been more effective if information about the places and dates of the photos were included, and if the people photographed were identified.
Stories need balance
A basic principle of news reporting is that a story about a public issue should report all points of view, not just one side. The Star’s story on a pre-filed bill that would make it easier for workers to sue companies over exposure to toxic chemicals did not meet this standard (Dec. 13, 1B).
Current law requires that suits must be filed within two years of the alleged exposure. The proposed legislation would give workers more time to file after the effects of exposure developed.
The story, by Markeshia Ricks, provided 12 paragraphs of arguments in favor of the bill by three persons. The only reference to another opinion was, “Attempts to reach a spokeswoman at the Alabama Business Council were unsuccessful Wednesday.” Perhaps another business leader could have been reached or the story could have been delayed until a Business Council representative was contacted.
Fire coverage thorough
Coverage of a fire that destroyed an Oxford home and sent five people to the hospital was good breaking news reporting (Dec. 21, 7A; Dec. 22, 1A). The stories, by Todd South, gave the basic facts the day after the fire, with action photos by Steve Gross. The second-day story included interviews with family members and the heroic actions of an unidentified man who dragged two people to safety. The reporting was interesting and thorough.
Complete reporting needed
A continuing problem with The Star’s coverage of local news is that too many stories are not complete. Relevant information is left out. Many stories could be much better with just a little more information an additional telephone call, another question asked. This problem is as much about editing as reporting.
Some examples:
A story, by South, quoted a spokesman for the Anniston Chemical Agent Disposal Facility as saying that 97 percent of the danger to people off-site has been reduced. The article said that just 37 percent of the weapons that were stored at AAD has been destroyed. How can a 37 percent reduction in weapons mean a 97 percent reduction in danger? The numbers needed to be better explained (Dec. 16, 1A).
“Lofty ideas” was an interesting story about downtown living in Anniston (Dec. 3, 1A). The story, by Steve Ivey, reported a tour of loft apartments and comments by tenants. There was no information on how many downtown apartments there are and how many are occupied.
“RV park planned for Anniston” was an important business story (Dec. 6, 7A). The man behind it is Jim “Dandy” Cooley, who now operates the Dandy RV Superstore. But who is Cooley? Is he a longtime area resident? The story, by Dan Whisenhunt, noted that the park will be a franchise operation of Kampgrounds of America. Readers weren’t told where the corporate headquarters of KOA is located or how many parks it has franchised.
A story about the appointment of Jon Garlick as the Calhoun County mental health officer (Dec. 12, 1B) reported that Garlick has worked for the Calhoun County Sheriff’s office since 2002, but it did not say what his job was. The article, by Matt Kasper, did not describe his duties as mental health officer. If the position is not full-time, what else does he do?
Problem with pages
On Dec. 18, the same page was printed twice, once on Page 4A and again on Page 2B. The stories that should have been on 2B were left out. On that page the police blotter the listing of area thefts and burglaries was mislabeled as “Calendar.” In the next issue, The Star carried a front-page correction and reprinted the lost stories from the previous day.
