By Denise Tessier Nearly two weeks after it was reported elsewhere, the Albuquerque Journal on Aug. 31 finally noted that New Mexico’s nearest neighbor to the south has decriminalized most drug use in that country. This was reported not in a news story, but via “Mexico takes drastic steps on drugs” by non-staffer Jerry Pacheco, [...]
Entries from August 31st, 2009
Drastic problems on our doorstep deserve more coverage (Updated)
August 31st, 2009 · No Comments · Uncategorized
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Free Speech and "Different Standards"
August 26th, 2009 · 3 Comments · Uncategorized
By Tracy Dingmann When you think of “questionable tactics” and “over-the-top rhetoric” regarding the healthcare debate, are you outraged by the prospect of getting unsolicited emails from the White House? Are you scandalized by Congressmen demanding to know how much insurance executives are paid? Are you offended when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls unruly hecklers [...]
Eclipse-ing The Bad News?
August 24th, 2009 · No Comments · Uncategorized
By Tracy Dingmann One of the first things I learned in journalism school was this: When writing a news story that includes two diametrically opposing sets of facts, a newspaper reporter should foreshadow both in the first sentence (known in the business as the “lead).” That way the reader doesn’t get blindsided halfway through the [...]
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Journalism 101
August 23rd, 2009 · No Comments · health care reform
By Denise Tessier Today’s lesson: Never use the word “only” because it is inherently editorializing. Its use is a disservice to both the reader and the writer. An example of the latter is what Tracy has pointed out in her latest post. The headline “Only 600 Allowed Into Town Hall” makes it sound like someone at [...]
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Size Matters
August 21st, 2009 · 3 Comments · health care reform
By Tracy Dingmann Here’s a quick nitpick on something I saw in the Aug. 21 edition of the Journal. “Only 600 Allowed Into Town Hall,” reads the headline on a Metro & NM page story about Rep. Martin Heinrich’s health care town hall meeting that’s coming up Saturday at the University of New Mexico Continuing [...]
Tags:health care reform
Burying Bad News
August 19th, 2009 · No Comments · Uncategorized
By Denise Tessier The Albuquerque Journal “wants to get the word out” about a scam targeting its classified advertisers, according to a story in today’s edition (Aug. 19). Yet, the story about the scam was relegated to C-2, the last page of news copy in the C section, just before the Classifieds. Is this some [...]
Tags:classifieds
Legitimating Lies: This time it's the "deathers"
August 17th, 2009 · 3 Comments · Uncategorized
By Tracy Dingmann First the Albuquerque Journal editorial page gave cover to the “birthers.” Now the paper’s editorial writers apparently think the “deathers” have a point, too. Let me explain. In an editorial published Sunday, Aug. 16 called “Senate Right to Pull Death Consultations,” Journal editorial writers express support for Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley’s view [...]
Speaking of Cushy Jets
August 17th, 2009 · 5 Comments · Uncategorized
By Tracy Dingmann The Journal ran an editorial (subscription required) on Thursday, Aug. 13 with the unintentionally hilarious headline “Grounding Fancy Jets A Return To Reality.” Why so hilarious? Ask any former or current employee of the Albuquerque Journal (or the Albuquerque Publishing Company) and they’ll tell you why. For those who don’t have knowledge [...]
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Rove, Wilson and Iglesias: Unfolding Story Deserves Probing Coverage
August 13th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Uncategorized
By Tracy Dingmann There’s a huge story in our backyard…but you wouldn’t know it from reading today’s Albuquerque Journal. The U.S. attorney firing scandal involving David Iglesias, Heather Wilson, Patricia Madrid, Allen Weh, Pat Rogers, Pete Domenici and Karl Rove is one of the biggest stories to come down the pike in a long time. [...]
Tags:Alan Weh·David Iglesias·Heather Wilson·House Judiciary Committe Report·Karl Rove·Pat Rogers·Patricia Madrid·U.S. Attorneys Scandal
Playing Catch Up on the Bode Story
August 10th, 2009 · No Comments · Uncategorized
By Tracy Dingmann It took almost three weeks, but the Journal finally weighed in with a news story (subscription required) on the allegations made against Mayor Martin Chavez in a deposition taken in connection with a federal suit filed last spring by city aviation contractor John Bode. In an Aug. 10 copyrighted story by City [...]
