Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Media John de Leon: Stupid Fucking Credulous Hack of the Day
Posted by Dominic Holden on Tue, Apr 7, 2009 at 4:58 PM
First, the two opening paragraphs of a press release sent by federal prosecutors to local media yesterday:
Jerry R. Berkey, 36, of Seattle, Washington, pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. As part of his plea agreement Berkey and the government agree to recommend a sentence of between 87 and 108 months in prison when Berkey is sentenced on July 10, 2009, by U.S. District Judge Marsha J. Pechman.
According to the plea agreement, over the last five years Berkey organized various marijuana grows with other co-conspirators, paying for the plants and equipment, paying the rent at various grow houses, and distributing the marijuana to buyers. Berkey admitted he was involved with growing more than 4,000 plants at five different locations.
And next, the first two graphs of John de Leon’s story in the Seattle Times:
A 36-year-old Seattle man, who federal prosecutors say organized several marijuana grow houses in Snohomish County, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. Jerry R. Berkey faces a prison sentence of between seven years and three months and nine years when he is sentenced on July 10 in U.S. District Court in Seattle.According to a news release, over the past five years Berkey organized marijuana grow operations in suburban homes with several other people. He would pay for the rent, plants and would distribute the marijuana to buyers. The news release said Berkey grew more than 4,000 plants at five different homes in Lynnwood, Everett and Edmonds.
Sure, reporters rewrite press releases all the time. When a restaurant opens, horse is saved, or known thief is caught, the press release is swell: No one is advocating to ban restaurants, kill pets, or let thieves run free. But John de Leon knows this press release—the government's victory over a terrrrrible pot grower—is pure propaganda. Rewriting this news release without additional reporting is shameful (even if you admit parts are taken from a news release). Obviously, there's a side to this story missing from the article. We have every indication that prohibition of pot and alcohol is toxic to society. When media covers any other onerous, failed policy, we expect them to do more than mindlessly bucket-brigade information from the prosecutors’ keyboards into the newspaper. Pressuring a pot grower into a plea agreement that puts him in jail for years is wasteful, ineffective, and cruel. Sending people to prison for years does nothing to reduce drug abuse, cut crime, or save our kids. And tons of people are willing to poke a hole in this sort of press release—the ACLU of Washington, the King County Bar Association, and numerous national groups have departments dedicated to pointing out how futile our pot laws are. Pick up the phone and talk to one those people, and include one quote that acknowledges this announcement, sent to every news outlet in town, is polishing a turd of failed policy. Instead, passing off this one-sided gibberish as news makes John de Leon at the Seattle Times the Stupid Fucking Credulous Hack of the Day.
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2
Have you heard the latest 'slog legal trouble scandal'?
Dominic was looking out the window of his car and got a ticket for mooning.
Dominic was looking out the window of his car and got a ticket for mooning.
3
For fuck's sake, it's not like the article is parroting the typical law enforcement mantra that drugs are bad. It's merely stating the fact that this guy is getting sentenced for a crime he committed. Not every article has to address your pet issue, Dominic.
This is exactly the same thing. The reporter is reporting on something noteworthy: a convicted criminal is being sentenced. End of story.
Sure, reporters rewrite press releases all the time. When a restaurant opens, horse is saved, or known thief is caught, the press release is swell: No one is advocating to ban restaurants, kill pets, or let thieves run free.
This is exactly the same thing. The reporter is reporting on something noteworthy: a convicted criminal is being sentenced. End of story.
5
And, I don't get The Times at home. Was this "John de Leon’s story in the Seattle Times" or was it on a blog under police blotter?
'Cause, this reads just like every poice blotter I have ever read to see which one of my friends got arrested.
'Cause, this reads just like every poice blotter I have ever read to see which one of my friends got arrested.
6
I agree with ya kesh, it's a waste of breath to go after this one. It's a police blotter, not a feature article; unless Mudede's writing it there's no commentary. Every last post on that blog is a 4-sentence blurb, even the ones that don't deal with drug offenses.
Although the blog's billing as "The Times' criminal justice team looks behind the scenes and behind the headlines," is disingenuous, considering that the posts contain very little information that isn't in the headlines.
Although the blog's billing as "The Times' criminal justice team looks behind the scenes and behind the headlines," is disingenuous, considering that the posts contain very little information that isn't in the headlines.
7
Wait... it seems the offense here is simply that he recycled somebody else's story without adding anything to it.
Honestly, how is that different than anything reported here? I realize the Slog is not so much a reporting agency but a news aggregator (sp?).
So why is the Slog throwing stones at another news agency for doing the same thing?
The only thing here that is different from how news is reported in the Slog is that there was no snarky comment added.
Honestly, how is that different than anything reported here? I realize the Slog is not so much a reporting agency but a news aggregator (sp?).
So why is the Slog throwing stones at another news agency for doing the same thing?
The only thing here that is different from how news is reported in the Slog is that there was no snarky comment added.
8
@7 don't get ahead of yourself. Reporters at big dailies love to fellate law enforcement agencies and credulously repeat statements like "with this drug bust, we've dealt a huge blow to the seedy, child-molesting, satan-worshipping pot-smuggling cartel headed by that guy that's dating your daughter without your permission" with no further examination for credibility or any link to reality.
Dom's not upset that they're aggregating, what he's getting upset about doesn't exist in this snippet.
Dom's not upset that they're aggregating, what he's getting upset about doesn't exist in this snippet.
9
@8 from #7 troll:
I think I get what you're saying.
This article was not a good example of this sort of offense. Perhaps Dom's treatment of it was... maybe a little over the top?
Better examples of this sort of propagandizing can be found in order to make the point Dom was trying to make.
As for the ad-hominem against a rival publication, well... that's a bit off the point, as well.
I think I get what you're saying.
This article was not a good example of this sort of offense. Perhaps Dom's treatment of it was... maybe a little over the top?
Better examples of this sort of propagandizing can be found in order to make the point Dom was trying to make.
As for the ad-hominem against a rival publication, well... that's a bit off the point, as well.
10
Do you remember when Jonah wrote a story on the city/ police guild negotiations, and even interviewed police management, but decided to not quote or even describe management's side in the negotiations because Jonah disagreed with their opinions? Jonah ended up writing a puff piece about how the SPD supposedly needed a raise, and misrepresented the complexity of both city policing and the collective bargaining process. That's what happens, I think, when you can't report opinions that you disagree with.
11
This is a fucking waste of bandwidth. Scumbag breaks law, scumbag gets caught, bleeding-heart pot lover has a hissy fit. Wow. That's so exciting I can hardly stand it.
12
SLOG really should quietly drop the Stupid Fucking Credulous Hack of the Day. The quality of the crap posted on slog is so embarrassing that the irony of it nearly chokes.
Read the 'Homosexual Deathstyle' post from yesterday where slog's credulous hacks pick up a homo hit piece and regurgitate it, errors and all if you want to see an example of Stupid Fucking Credulous Hack of the Decade.
Read the 'Homosexual Deathstyle' post from yesterday where slog's credulous hacks pick up a homo hit piece and regurgitate it, errors and all if you want to see an example of Stupid Fucking Credulous Hack of the Decade.
13
#12: Yes, and even if the Slog had any credibility it would still be unprofessional. One of many reasons for the the decline of journalism is because real journalism is being replaced by this smartass "credlous hack" blog culture.
14
Does the Seattle Times ever single out the Stranger?
Or is the Seattle Times all, like, "Stranger? Never heard of 'em."
This makes me want to read the Seattle Times a bit more.
Maybe not what Dominic intended, but I'm a grown boy and can do my own fact-checking.
Or is the Seattle Times all, like, "Stranger? Never heard of 'em."
This makes me want to read the Seattle Times a bit more.
Maybe not what Dominic intended, but I'm a grown boy and can do my own fact-checking.
15
Holden is the Dan understudy - clamor and yell - get attention
One sentence says it all - no need to have these laws against pot.
There, I said it.
One sentence says it all - no need to have these laws against pot.
There, I said it.
16
Is there a new definition for "credulous" that I'm not aware of? This is becoming so silly, and (along with the liberal use of the word "venal"), I can only suppose that -- since it's three syllables sound so colorful -- the pseudo-intellectual "hacks" (this one you're using correctly) feel just a little bit more hip by flinging it around. Please look it up. It's starting to grate.
17
16
It is Dan's favorite word.
He likes to use it against actual journalist at actual newspapers but the irony is just too rich to pass by when one considers the total credulity of the asslicking Savage fanboys that are slog.
It is Dan's favorite word.
He likes to use it against actual journalist at actual newspapers but the irony is just too rich to pass by when one considers the total credulity of the asslicking Savage fanboys that are slog.
19
Dom, you have been slapped up, down and sideways by people who generally kiss the Stranger's ass. Ya think maybe you're way off base on this one?
Not that you'd admit it...
Not that you'd admit it...
21
Count me among the vast majority of faithful Slog readers here who say it's time to drop this stupid crap. You guys are dead on very often. On this post - and most of the "Stupid Fucking Credulous Hack" posts - you're dead wrong.
The hypocrisy of The Stranger staff, who spend all day pushing their side and then take others to task for this kind of meaningless shit, is simply depressing.
You all should be better than this. Turn down the snark and turn up the journalism.
The hypocrisy of The Stranger staff, who spend all day pushing their side and then take others to task for this kind of meaningless shit, is simply depressing.
You all should be better than this. Turn down the snark and turn up the journalism.
22
@18
How so? I read it again, but I don't see it. Stupid, yes. "Credulous"? Clarify for this slow-minded dude, please.
How so? I read it again, but I don't see it. Stupid, yes. "Credulous"? Clarify for this slow-minded dude, please.
23
@22:
Yes, credulous, as in showing a lack of judgment. Consider the following principles:
Competing points of view are balanced and fairly characterized.
Persons who are the subject of adverse news stories are allowed a reasonable opportunity to respond to the adverse information before the story is published or broadcast.
Yes, credulous, as in showing a lack of judgment. Consider the following principles:
Competing points of view are balanced and fairly characterized.
Persons who are the subject of adverse news stories are allowed a reasonable opportunity to respond to the adverse information before the story is published or broadcast.
24
wait - so what you're telling me is the guy broke the law - admitted to breaking the law - accepted a punishment for breaking the law - and you're mad at the times for reporting he broke the law.
while i think pot laws are dumb, they are the law. the times reported the facts - and did not insert opinion.
I understand you hate the pot laws - but do you really want every newspaper reporter to insert opinion into every story?
write a letter to the editor, don't get mad at the facts.
while i think pot laws are dumb, they are the law. the times reported the facts - and did not insert opinion.
I understand you hate the pot laws - but do you really want every newspaper reporter to insert opinion into every story?
write a letter to the editor, don't get mad at the facts.
25
Wow... you guys confused me for a bit there so I had to go look it up.
"willing to believe or trust too readily, esp. without proper or adequate evidence; gullible."
There's other entries in other dictionaries, of course.
Hell, that's a pretty ironic accusation for anybody here to be throwing around.
"willing to believe or trust too readily, esp. without proper or adequate evidence; gullible."
There's other entries in other dictionaries, of course.
Hell, that's a pretty ironic accusation for anybody here to be throwing around.
26
Ackham, I agree.
"Showing lack of judgement," Hateration? I'm sure you're quoting from a dictionary, so I won't refute you, but I must say, that I've never heard (outside of SLOG) this word used in such a general sense. It has always implied (to me) a crime of gullibility.
"Showing lack of judgement," Hateration? I'm sure you're quoting from a dictionary, so I won't refute you, but I must say, that I've never heard (outside of SLOG) this word used in such a general sense. It has always implied (to me) a crime of gullibility.
27
the rubes using the word meaning gullible - how - fitting
much of the slog talk is rube to the max
educated conversation, it is not
much of the slog talk is rube to the max
educated conversation, it is not
28
foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras foie gras I'm going to keep repeating it because Dominic. Just. Doesn't. Fucking. Get. It.
29
At my former newspaper, John de Leon's ass would be out of the newsroom in five minutes if he'd handed in a story like this. Make that three minutes if the news editor had a side-by-side look at the press release and the reporter's copy. Appalling.
I could go on, but then I'd have to define "appalling" for your commenters, wouldn't I. Who are these people? Does The Stranger supplement its income by running a day care center?
I could go on, but then I'd have to define "appalling" for your commenters, wouldn't I. Who are these people? Does The Stranger supplement its income by running a day care center?
31
Eh, I'm more annoyed by the bad writing in the Seattle Times report: "He would pay for the rent, plants and would distribute the marijuana to buyers." You CAN'T JUST CHANGE WHAT YOU'RE LISTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LIST. Sloppy writers do this ALL THE TIME. Unless they really did mean that "he would pay for the would distribute the marijuana to buyers."
32
Sorry, but most of the commenters here are wrong. When the state is cutting schools and even closing the parks that old people need when they're living in their cars, it's time to ask what is going on around here.
So they put the guy in jail and then last week even found five pounds of pot in a park. Does anyone think the price is going to go up or there will be a shortage? The officers could have sat around eating donuts and playing poker and we'd all be better off. And that's not news?
And how about the guy with the mini-grow operation? He should be a hero for at least not being a Mexican mafia killing people in the street. I'm betting he lost a job and had this bright idea- should be a human-interest story in there.
So the call is right, the Times reporter was a credulous hack, passing on a press release with the addition of a byline, but no hazardous reporting has been added.
So they put the guy in jail and then last week even found five pounds of pot in a park. Does anyone think the price is going to go up or there will be a shortage? The officers could have sat around eating donuts and playing poker and we'd all be better off. And that's not news?
And how about the guy with the mini-grow operation? He should be a hero for at least not being a Mexican mafia killing people in the street. I'm betting he lost a job and had this bright idea- should be a human-interest story in there.
So the call is right, the Times reporter was a credulous hack, passing on a press release with the addition of a byline, but no hazardous reporting has been added.
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