The best reporting comes from “boots on the ground” – when a reporter tells the story of an incident from the perspective of someone who is actually there when it happens. A good news report (or feature story) places the action in context.
Unfortunately, this is fast becoming a lost art. Too many individuals writing for the media (I won’t call them reporters) simply act as stenographers and turn a story into he said/she said.
When a story is written without any first-hand knowledge, the reader has no way of knowing what actually happened or what was actually said. When a writer isn’t present, he or she cannot set the story into a framework which, in turn, deprives the reader of any perspective. The reader is left with no choice but to assume the reported incident happened in a vacuum.
Oregon is one of the few states that allow reporters to sit in executive session. By law, reporters must not divulge any discussion related to the agenda items. However, any discussion or actions unrelated to the agenda topics may be freely reported.
Why is it important for reporters to be present? Because of incidents like the recent story in The World with the inflammatory and incorrect headline “Threats and fist shaking in Lakeside chamber.”
Why do I say incorrect? Because I was there and, contrary to the statement attributed to Councilor Eubanks, no fists were in evidence.
Eubanks called Mayor Ed Gowan a ‘bastard’ loudly enough to be heard clearly at the back of the room. The mayor reacted by standing up suddenly to confront the seated Eubanks. In that process he knocked against Eubanks’ chair. Far from acting intimidated, Eubanks was laughing through the exchange.
Councilor Elaine Armstrong immediately suggested that Eubanks file a complaint with the Sheriff.
Some will blame Gowan for ‘over-reacting’. Most of those will never have attended a meeting in Lakeside.
Those who have been regularly attending city council events know that this was simply the latest in a long line of derogatory and demeaning comments made to and about the Mayor by Eubanks. It is no secret that Eubanks, with the vocal support of Armstrong and her cohorts, wants to be Mayor.
For more than two years, informed and aware Lakeside residents have been vigorously countering the actions of a small group of people, including some City employees, current (Eubanks, Armstrong etc.) and former elected officials (Chrysta Swift, Rod Schilling etc.) who have or are actively working to undermine the democratic process and sabotage the wishes, will, and interests of the majority of Lakeside voters.
This small power bloc was able to operate with little or no oversight or accountability for years. They have retaliated with anger at any attempt to hold them accountable for their actions which have included secretively passing an ordinance that openly violated the constitution and repeatedly and blatantly violating the Public Records and Open Meeting laws of the state of Oregon.
It was this group that began talking of recalling Mayor Gowan within 48 hours of the election, which he won handily. It was this group that rushed to file manufactured complaints against the Mayor and selected councilors before they took office.
The World regularly features articles about Lakeside that lack context. Many of them contain inaccuracies. The World has an established history of reporting statements made by interviewees as fact, without further confirmation.
As a long-time journalist, I know that the standards are set (or not) at the top. Perhaps The World could consider actually sending staff to the meetings. Then, instead of furthering someone’s agenda via stenography, The World could accurately report what happened.
