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Re: Email to CBS News outlet in Dallas Texas



Hi all:

Anyone intent on disputing the questionable balance in news coverage in any media 

outlet [whether print or electronic] should determine who in the organization is 

fulfilling the assigned and vital role of "Ombudsman". This individual has the 

responsibility to investigate any situation where a reader or viewer feels there 

has been bias in news reporting.



As an example, I was able by getting the ear of the Ombudsman at the Boston Globe 

in one case [after the reporter said its not his job to correct even blatant 

errors of fact], to be given space for an op-ed column [vs. a 100 word brief 

letter-to-the editor] once I clearly documented the nature of both factual errors 

and errors of emphasis-clear deficiencies and bias in Globe reporting. The case 

involved a front page, banner headline, above the fold, inflamatory story about a 

stolen 2 microcurie Co-57 button source which led to the Massachusetts State 

Police to seal off a square mile of South Boston. A medical technicians car had 

been stolen and when his toolbox was found emptied, THE COBALT SOURCE WAS 

MISSING!!



Front page Boston Globe photos showed the Mass. State Police running around with 

Civil Defense survey meters looking for a trivial Co-57 exempt quantity radiation 

source [ a few micro-R at one foot] the police could never have seen even if they 

were standing on top of the source, while the Boston Globe reported that anyone 

handling this "cobalt radioactive source" could suffer radiation sickness and 

radiation burns!!!



Also, as a general rule while using 4 letter expletives [for what the deficient 

reporting may resemble in content or odor]  may make the writer feel better in 

criticizing some example of biased news coverage, it will only get the editor or 

reporter [who will never ever correct their even blatant error of fact], 

irritated and your letter tossed, and especially an e-mail instantly deleted.



Stewart Farber, MS Public Health

[203] 367-0791

==============

4/28/03 9:19:12 AM, Maury Siskel <maurysis@ev1.net> wrote [in part]:



>Subject:         Nuclear waste site in West Texas and trucks on highways

>     To:         krldeditor@cbs.com

>

>Gentlemen,

>Unfortunately all you mention is the nuclear waste site, the implied

>danger of trucks traveling beside us on the highways, and the Sierra

>Club interview explicitly touting the dangers of such trucks on the

>roads.

>

>How about some balance in your so-called news?.................  You can and 

usually do a much better job than this kind of

>crap.

>

>Sincerely,

>Maury Siskel







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