DN takes lessons from Fox in 'fair and balanced' coverage - PhillyBlog

Scoop0901 · #1 (**permalink**) 03-09-2005, 11:38 AM

It seems the Daily News is taking a page from Fox News in presenting fair and balanced news. I think the Philadelphia Journal used to do profiles like this on people, as well as attend all the Mafia funerals and run Page One photos of the mobsters all dudded up. This story just doesn't seem to do anything except try to paint a rosy picture of Cosby's accuser, showing how she is pure and can do no wrong.

Granted, I am not saying she is a liar, nor and I saying Cosby is not guilty. I just don't believe this story to be appropriate at this time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phila. Daily News

Posted on Wed, Mar. 09, 2005

Accuser described as outgoing, forthright, honest
source: http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/11087239.htm

By NICOLE WEISENSEE EGAN
weisenn@phillynews.com

ANDREA CONSTAND is strikingly beautiful, with long, curly red hair. Six feet tall. A smile a mile wide.

Her father is Greek, but shortened his last name once he moved to Canada. Her mother is Italian, niece of a World War II hero whom the Roman Catholic Church is considering for sainthood.

She was a driven basketball player who dreamed of playing for the pros from the time she was a little girl.

"I'm on a mission," she said in a 1997 interview before leaving for Italy to play on Canada's team in the World University Games. "First to help Canada do well, then to play basketball in Italy and finally crack a spot on a team in the WNBA."

But today, the 31-year-old woman has gained notoriety not for her successes on the basketball court, but for accusing Bill Cosby, her one-time mentor and Philadelphia's best-loved celebrity, of drugging and sexually assaulting her at his Montgomery County mansion last year. Prosecutors announced last month that they will not file criminal charges against Cosby, but Constand yesterday filed a lawsuit against him.

Although she has declined to speak to the Daily News, Constand's name and picture have been plastered on news pages and TV screens across the world.

|| snip || read the rest of the story at the above URL

chrissayer · #2 (**permalink**) 03-09-2005, 11:40 AM

Didn't the DN also do the same thing with the California lawyer who accused Cosby . . . only to find she not only had a skeliton in her closet, she had a whole boneyard.

Scoop0901 · #3 (**permalink**) 03-09-2005, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrissayer

Didn't the DN also do the same thing with the California lawyer who accused Cosby . . . only to find she not only had a skeliton in her closet, she had a whole boneyard.

I believe that story was done because she contacted the paper after talking with Castor. She wanted media attention to focus against Cosby to reveal his true nature, or something similar, IIRC.

chrissayer · #4 (**permalink**) 03-09-2005, 04:05 PM

But, I believe they ran her tale without doublechecking her background in any way.

She may have been telling the absolute truth . . . I just think the Daily News, and anyone else who ran her contentions, had egg on their faces when it turned out she had some major problems (both legal and professional) in California.

It's usually better to check some background to see what sort of reason the leaker has for the leak.

Scoop0901 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-2005, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrissayer

It's usually better to check some background to see what sort of reason the leaker has for the leak.

That's the first rule of journalism, and one rule that no one in the business can repeat often enough: VERIFY, VERIFY, VERIFY. There's an old quote from a now-dead editor from Chicago's City News Service. He used to tell his rookies: "If you mother tells you she loves you, check it out!"

chrissayer · #6 (**permalink**) 03-10-2005, 07:15 PM

And the other rule I used to tell young reporters - why is she saying she loves you.

Scoop0901 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-11-2005, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrissayer

And the other rule I used to tell young reporters - why is she saying she loves you.

When those words are spoken, they always want something! ;-)