New Mexico Daily Lobo
URL: http://www.dailylobo.com/index.php/article/2010/03/tactless_journalism_turns_community_loss_into_scandal_
Current Date: Mon, 21 May 2012 05:58:38 -0600
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Tactless journalism turns community loss into scandal
Editor,
I am writing this letter at a time when so many at the University of New Mexico are still reeling from the news of the two members of our community taken away from us, Professor Hector Torres and Stefania Gray.
I am not writing to apply any sort of blame or judgment on the Lobo for its coverage of the horrific event, nor to offer up my praises. I would rather discuss my sentiments on the matter later, after the shock of the event has had time to diminish from our University. I write because I want to remind, not just the Lobo and its staff, but everyone, that though we are a large body, UNM is a community, and that as a community we need to take the time to care for one another. The coverage by the Lobo of the murder was, in my opinion, objectifying of the victims, sensationalist in its presentation and insensitive to the UNM family that knew and loved these two people.
Now before you remind me that to cover the news is the job of UNM’s newspaper, please take some time to think about this. What happened was not a scandal that involved a handful of people we do not know. This was the ripping out of two lives intertwined in our community, people who worked with us each day and touched all of us.
I could take time to say who I think was wrong on the Lobo’s Web page in the discussion of this and who I think was right, or even criticize the approach of the article, but none of that would be helpful and none of that would speak the issue that we need to look at now.
The loss of Hector and Stefania was one felt by us all. We, the members of the UNM community, the members of this family, lost two people from our numbers. These are not facts, cold and simple to be accounted for. These are the lives of people who need to be honored. Yes, I say need and I mean it, but let’s be clear; that need comes not from them, nor from the violence that was done to them, but from those of us who remain, from those of us who still feel the empty space they left.
We need to remember who these people were and what they meant to us all, not allow their deaths to be something that can simply fill a block of text. Yes, the Lobo has every right to report the story. I would even go as far as to say that it has a mandate to report such things, but it has a responsibility as part of our community to remember the amount of respect and delicacy that this loss we all have suffered requires in its handling.
R. Allen Baros
Graduate student
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15 comments
Steve Chavez
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Lobo coverage was perfect including on their online “breaking news.” They did not disclose their names ahead of the APD diclosure but they did give a hint but that hint didn’t help 99% of us who didn’t know anyone in the Chicano Studies department. I don’t even know where that department is much less know any student or professor in it.
The Lobo surely knew that there would be those who criticized no matter what so they were careful, respectful, and timely in their disclosure of the names. There was no opinion either but only facts.
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You see, I watch the media in these types of events but mostly TV news. I’m sure all of us have seen the news crews, with cameras, knocking on the doors of mother’s who just lost their son asking, and begging, for an interview so they can say “Only on Seven.” NOW THAT’S SICK! I call up the media reporter and ask if they would allow cameras into their home to be interviewed when they lose a loved one.
How about this?: “How do you feel about the loss of your son in this horrific accident where he was decapitated, his arms caught in the steering wheel, and his legs mangled inside the transmission?” We’ve all seen it!
Was the Lobo reporting anything close to that? NO! After seeing the pictures of both victims in the news, I don’t recognize either one but I feel a loss like everyone else here at UNM.
Great reporting Lobo!
Miek
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People die, and who do I get mad at, not the murderer, but the newspaper that reported it.
You need to get your priorities straight, man.
David Korostyshevsky
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Just because this filthy scum of a human who murdered these two deserves to die for his crime does not justify the newspaper’s irresponsible reporting. See MY opinion piece for why. The commentators here are totally missing the point
Miek
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Maybe not. Maybe you’re missing the point. The lobo didn’t do anything more than any other news source. They didn’t release the names until APD had, and other than an EXTREME minority, no one could figure out who it was until the proper time.
We see murders on the news EVERY DAY. You don’t complain about that, but when one affects you directly, then, and only then it’s ‘irresponsible’! you know, I found out who it was IN CLASS. BY MY PROFESSOR. Was that irresponsible too?
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You lost someone, sure. You want to rage, fine. But the lobo didn’t do anything more than ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER IN THIS COUNTRY would. So I think your rage is misplaced.
Peace
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This article hints at a valid point that should be addressed. Indeed the murders of two people from our communmity should be acknowledged with care and respect. The reason why the daily lobo didn’t put enough emphasis on the lives of these people, in respct to their deaths, is not a problem with one journalist but of the entire society.
It seems that if a person gets murdered, the immediate response is to murder the murderer. This is not solving the problem but enforcing it. To stop the murdering of people, we all need to love each other. Plain and simple, without love between us there will always be hate.
lyss
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well said,Peace, well said.
David Korostyshevsky
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In response to Miek’s new post, I am no less outraged when other papers do the same thing. How do you know that I don’t write them angry letters as well? In this case, I am familiar with the circumstances, so I took action in this case for sure!
My rage is not misplaced! I believe that all news coverage of this kind of sensational and irresponsible nature should outrage all decent and reasonable people, regardless of what newspaper prints it!
Straightlook
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Is there any doubt that the University of New Mexico is the “most troubled” university in America?
Whether ironic or not the consistent and frequent events of negative energy that plague this campus I believe is indicative of the UNM attitude as a whole.
This is just a terrible institution plain and simple!
docsavage
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I am sorry, Mr Baros, I’ve looked and I cannot find the scandal you reference. To the contrary the one and only scandal remains Mr Montoya.
Miek
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Well, it doesn’t enrage me. Murders are a fact of life these days. Guess I’m not decent or reasonable then. It’s called not dating psychopaths. I must be in the minority.
hey david, why don’t you fly on over to rotten.com and see some real sensationalism! Or if that’s not up to par for you, why don’t we just roll out the censorship!
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I like to know about the troubled individuals in our lives. This way they are less of a threat. Ignoring and abstaining from it is just another way to get yourself killed.
Peace
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It is our perceptions that rule our actions.
If we perceive the entire world to be filled with nasty, rotten and despicable people, we will treat all people as such.
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Who should be the judge of any person but their own?
R. Allen Baros
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I’m an oversensitive dumbass with a political agenda!!!!!!!!!
R. Allen Baros
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I had not planned to respond to any part of this thread. I had spoken my 2 cents and was happy with that but the most recent post bothered me a bit. It is noted to be my me, but it is not in fact by me. I would first of all invite the writer above to do a bit of research, had this person, they would have learned that I am an English student, and so would never offer such a simplistic view of my own ideals, not to mention the overused exclamation point. Second, I would like to invite the above poster to do a bit of thinking, which is needed not considering the two we have lost were thinkers. Your comments are both in bad taste and really speaks to nothing more than the fact that you did not bother to think out what you were doing or (perhaps more importantly) why. If you want to be angry about what I wrote, I’d say you have that right. More than that, I’d say you should let me know and we can discuss it either on here, via email or in person if you would like. I won’t however bother with poorly done comments with no base. I may have a political agenda, but you may rest assured that I did not express it here. I did not mean to offend anyone with my comments but I won’t offer any sort of apology for them either; they are what I think.
I want to thank David Korostyshevsky for his comments and his letter, both I think were appropriate for this discussion.
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Allen Baros
R. Allen Baros
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Clearly yourself, with such a superlative command of syntax and the English language, would recognize a parody played for laughs when you see one. Or must there be more technobabble inserted into my post to make it seem more legit? Because in all honesty, some people post on the internet for laughs because they recognize the futility of hammering away their opinion on a keyboard.
R. Allen Baros
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Clearly, you’d best learn this lesson early before you spend countless nights crying over how someone- somewhere on the internet decided to roast you alive for their own amusement.
That said, you are clearly a moron. Don’t lose any sleep, now. Just accept that fact and live life to the fullest as morons do.
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