Proving yet again that its lack of engagement in the race for house district 43 borders on is irresponsible, the Oregonian‘s website has named “Eddie Lewis” as the third contender in the race won earlier by Lew Frederick. The O’s brief article on Frederick’s selection has been updated and corrected, now, to name “Eddie Lincoln,” without any mention of the earlier error, but Google, and Twitterer @TaBarnhart catch them out:
As you know, I’m a terrible journalist with a lousy record on accuracy. So I’m hardly in a position to throw stones. But the O’s latest error compounds earlier problems with its reporting on this race, when they endorsed one candidate without even calling the others to find out what their policy positions might be. I really am appalled by the lack of focus on important local coverage in this instance. Especially given the O’s stated goals in a recent internal memo:
“Reveal how power is used, decisions are made and the impact on citizens.”; “Question and explore relevant issues in depth, and explain their substance and context.” “Serve as the center and catalyst for community conversations.”
Thoughts that occur to me, in response: How did today’s coverage do any of that? Why is anybody going to think you’re serious about these things, when you don’t show it?
“As you know, I’m a terrible journalist…”
I had to stop reading and go masturbate after reading this.
omg, thank god for comment #1. best thing i’ve read in days!
if the nation’s dying newspapers want to know how to save their asses, they might start with BECOMING REAL FUCKING JOURNALISTS. people will read quality work. the Merc proves that (he said, sycophantically)
(Also the first state-wide political race in Oregon history where all prospects were racial minorities, but we’re all too polite to notice this).
Perhaps. Although the O does note:
“The race of the person selected for House District 43, which has a large black constituency, wasn’t a factor as it was for the Senate District 22 seat because all three candidates selected by the nominating committee were African American.”
In its last paragraph. I’m not sure that race wasn’t a factor, more that race having been removed, there were other factors that became more prominent. But race, therefore, was a given, a sub-factor of a kind.
Someone in black studies needs to take it from here.