And I want to call out first the newspaper in Durham, North Carolina, "The Durham Herald-Sun," who, to this day...(LAUGHTER) ... has not written a single editorial critical of the way in which Mike Nifong proceeded. If "The Durham-Herald Sun" had bothered to stand up and demand proper processes, the presumption of innocence, and doing things the way our Constitution provides, do you think Mike Nifong would have rolled forward?Unintentionally confirming the wisdom of Cooney's remarks, the Herald-Sun, this morning, published two editorials. One was entitled "Too Scary to Imagine." A denunciation, at long last, of Mike Nifong's misconduct? Not exactly--a routine discussion of climate change.
Instead, they published editorials talking about how bad all the lacrosse players were, and that the lacrosse players should have to prove their innocence, and that, in addition to the crimes that night, there was a crime of a cover-up. And you will not see a word of apology from them.
In fact, as recently as two weeks ago, they were still publishing what they knew were lies, and repeating them.
The other editorial theorized, "Love yourself, Durham. You've got good reason." A day after the state's AG characterized Durham's DA as a "rogue prosecutor" and noted how its police department violated basic procedures, the H-S wrote about the Forbes rankings of "Best Places for Business and Careers" to assert that "although Durham residents may occasionally suffer from bouts of low self-esteem, there is much to love about our town."
The editorials continue the H-S pattern throughout the case: relentlessly spin facts in Nifong's favor, and then when the facts are overpoweringly negative, simply ignore them.
"Love yourself, Durham?"
ReplyDeleteWow. That's funny, especially
if you use another word for
"love."
Mac
Personally, I find that that Herald-Sun headline a felicitous companion to what is obviously their journalistic credo:
ReplyDelete"F*ck Yourself, Truth".
Significantly, the Herald Sun also has an article with calls for Nifong's resignation, so even the Snooze Room has abandoned him:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-838304.cfm
While I am sure they would love to distance themselves from their boy, just think how humiliating it must be for them to include the following quote in one of their own stories:
"If the Durham Herald-Sun had bothered to stand up and demand proper processes, the presumption of innocence and doing things the way our Constitution provides, do you think Mike Nifong would have rolled forward?" asked Jim Cooney, Seligmann's attorney.
http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-838303.cfm
As a newspaper guy, all I can say is: "Wow."
ReplyDeleteGenerally, complaints about an editorial page's stance boil down to simple differences in opinion.
This, however, was a ringing indictment of a newspaper that failed not only to meet its obligations as a community watchdog, but resolutely defended the indefensible.
The Durham Herald Sun's coverage of this hoax disgusts me. It will forever be used in journalism courses as a worst case example. I live in Durham and I subscribe to the N and O and that will never change. The comments on the HS website calling the tone of the press conference as "bitter" and "I told you so" were uncalled for and blatantly false.
ReplyDeletePeople who pay for the H-S are supporting a form of cancer.
ReplyDeleteCome on, people of Durham, do the right thing and cancel your subscriptions to the the H-S today. There is nothing of value there that you can't get from another forum, oftentimes for free. You really can live just fine without it.
There's plenty of "love" to be had in Durham as evidenced by the multiple recipes of baby gravy revealed in this case...although technically some of it might be "Raleigh's "love",but hey, can't we all just get along?
ReplyDelete"...the H-S pattern throughout the case: relentlessly spin facts in Nifong's favor, and then when the facts are overpoweringly negative, simply ignore them."
ReplyDeleteThese are well known tactics of the Old media (no longer mainstream)that have always been used.
Time magazine’s 1938 man of the year, Adolf Hitler was quoted as saying: “the great masses of the people will more easily fall victims to the big lie than the small one." The old media loves the big lie.
The old media cares nothing about the truth, they only care about marketing their product and will use whatever means possible, including deception.
We are witnessing the decline of the old media as it is being knocked off of it's powerful throne by blogs such as this!
Great work!
I just went to the Pulitzer web site, and it appears that Professor Johnson is not eligible for a Pulitzer Prize in journalism despite his yeoman's work here:
ReplyDelete"Entries for journalism awards must be made from material published by a United States newspaper—in print or online—that appears daily, Sunday or at least once a week during the calendar year."
Unless (and this is the lawyer in me talking) we can characterize DIW as a "newspaper", it looks like Professor Johnson is ineligible.
I think that is truly sad, since, in my view, Professor Johnson's work excelled that of most if not all of the "newspaper" journalists covering this case.
But, there is a Pulitzer Prize for "Letters" (i.e. books). I am looking forward to it.
Thanks again Professor Johnson for your excellent work.
The Hurled-Scum should be the recipient of the Wendy Murphy Award. They are made for each other.
ReplyDeleteWhy would Prof. Johnson want to receive a Pulitzer?
ReplyDeleteLike the Nobel Peace Prize, it has taken on a mantle of dubious distinction.
Jackie Wagstaff called... She wants to know if she is still the most insane person in Durham.
ReplyDelete"In fact, as recently as two weeks ago, they were still publishing what they knew were lies, and repeating them."
ReplyDeleteLegal jargon for Defamation !! I can only hope the HS gets sued for such.
BDay
The wendy Murphy award...thats funny
ReplyDeleteIn today's Herald-Sun article on the dismissal, the following line appears:
ReplyDelete"Nifong is scheduled to stand trial in June before the Bar for alleged prosecutorial misconduct and faces a possible loss of his law license."
If I'm not mistaken this is the FIRST time the Herald-Sun has not included "exoneration" in the list of possible outcomes for Nifong's hearing.
I posted yesterday afternoon on three quotes from the New Observer (http://savkobabe.blogspot.com/2007/04/some-people-just-dont-get-it-do-they-in.html) - 2 of which were utterly indefensible and stupid and 1 which was sensible and intelligent.
ReplyDeleteThese people have so invested themselves in the lie that to accept truth would shake the very foundations of who they are! And THAT, my friends, is pathetic.
I,for one, am happy to bid Durham and Duke goodbye and let them go to h^^^ in their own basket.
ReplyDelete"Love yourself, Durham"???
ReplyDeleteWell, as recently as a couple of months ago, many Durham residents still believed that Crystal Gail Mangum was telling the truth. No one in the Durham community, as far as I know, had condemned Chan Hall's infamous statement (the lax-convictions-as-reparations theory) publicly. It would seem that Durham is a self congratulatory bastion of racist, bigoted harmony. So, sure, Durham, go ahead and love yourself, but I wouldn't let anyone else know that you're doing it.
Why would Prof. Johnson want to receive a Pulitzer?
ReplyDeleteLike the Nobel Peace Prize, it has taken on a mantle of dubious distinction
Exactly. Pulitzer committee consists people like gang88 members. If you illegally expose national secrets, fake memos or otherwise help terrorists or racists you have a shot. At least you should advance The Liberal Cause. It is far more likely that Duff Wilson or H-S wins the Pulitzer prize for reporting "the wider meta-narrative of race, gender and inequality in GWB's Amerika".
In a ludicrous bid to not take sides and therefore anger black and guilty white lib readers (and thus drive his circ numbers even lower than they are now), Ashley, his reporters and his edit page wound up defending the indefensible.
ReplyDeleteWhether or not he might have been troubled by Nifong's conduct is immaterial, really; his motive was for Durham to eventually come together for one big, smelly group hug, reagardless of how racist, illogical, emotional and unreasonable many of the huggers are.
Group therapy is not the mission of a good newspaper, let alone its edit page. Naming names, kicking @ss and holding officials' feet to the fire is.
Short and sweet: Ashley wants to be loved, not respected. He's doubtless found there's none of the former in Durham, and consequently he'll receive none of the latter.
Deklan Singh said...
ReplyDelete"Love yourself, Durham"???
Well, as recently as a couple of months ago, many Durham residents still believed that Crystal Gail Mangum was telling the truth. No one in the Durham community, as far as I know, had condemned Chan Hall's infamous statement (the lax-convictions-as-reparations theory) publicly. It would seem that Durham is a self congratulatory bastion of racist, bigoted harmony. So, sure, Durham, go ahead and love yourself, but I wouldn't let anyone else know that you're doing it.
this comment is evidence of your own ignorance and bigotry, and it's far worse than anything happening in Durham.
OK, I've read your blog a long time but never posted.
ReplyDelete"Love yourself, Durham"?
That's just comical. Are they saying they (the HS) shouldn't feel guilt for their own behavior? Sounds to me like they're feeling sorry for themselves.
As someone related to the prior Herald-Sun administration, it really is a shame to see what the bozos from Paxton have done to the paper. John Cole would have had enough cartoon material for a book had he not been run out of town.
ReplyDeleteThe reporters would have been unleashed to discover the truth, rather than parrot Mr. Ashley's shiny, happy people version of journalism.
Unfortunately, it was left to the N&O to do the job of Durham's newspaper.
Nice Blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks for interesting article.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting site. Blog is very good. I am happy that I think the same!
ReplyDelete