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News & ArtsFriday, June 19, 2009
Media / Drugs Stupid Fucking Credulous Hacks of the Day: Anna King & KUOW
Posted by Dan Savage on Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 8:36 AM
Anna King and KUOW get coveted SFCH for this report on yesterday's bust of a "marijuana garden" in Walla Walla...
Police have found a massive marijuana garden in a tree farm in Walla Walla County, Washington. This week officers destroyed about 50-million-dollars worth of plants. That’s one of the largest grows ever found in the Northwest. Washington State ranks number two for the amount of outdoor marijuana plants destroyed each year, behind only California. Gary Bolster is with the Walla Walla County Sherriff’s Office. He says most drug traffickers and growing operations in the Northwest are connected to Mexican drug cartels.Bolster: “They are going to keep trying to grow marijuana, but we can catch them and eradicate an extremely large grow like this it’s very satisfying.”
During the raid, three suspects fled but were tracked down by a police dog inside the dense tree-farm forest. Bolster says the men will likely face federal charges.
Mindless glorification of the War on Drugs? Check. Law-enforcement authorities approached for comment? Check. No comment sought from opponent of futile War on Drugs? Check.
I'm sure KUOW's listeners—more than a few potheads among their number (same could probably be said for KUOW's staff)—were pleased to learn that Officer Bolster finds his work so satisfying. But King and KUOW could've gotten a quote from someone willing to point out that Bolster's job satisfaction is irrelevant and that despite Bolster's best efforts, despite all the money wasted destroying "outdoor marijuana plants" in Washington state, cheap and potent pot is available all over Washington state. But, hey, good to know we're "behind only California" in the number of pot plants destroyed. I hadn't realized it was a competition. Maybe one day we'll overtake California and we'll be number one!
King & KUOW: Stupid fucking credulous hacks of the day.
2
Oh good, now more US citizens will get involved with the crazy effing bastards in the Mexican drug cartels to bring pot in to where that Walla Walla pot was supposed to go. Now it's not just money they destroyed, it's lives.
4
While not on the job, Anna enjoys snowboarding, clam digging, wakeboarding and wine tasting with friends. FYI. aking@wsu.edu
5
They should have planted catnip among the pot plants too, so that people and cats could go in there and all get fucked-up together. That would have been really cool.
6
If you aren't aware that there is an alternative opinion to what you are covering, you have failed as a reporter.
People who write stories for newspapers and tv news shows these days, then, clearly aren't reporters. What should we call them? Something other than the empty epithet "hack". Shills? Jingoes?
People who write stories for newspapers and tv news shows these days, then, clearly aren't reporters. What should we call them? Something other than the empty epithet "hack". Shills? Jingoes?
8
So probably the good Officer knows something I don't, but what business would a Washington pot grower have with a Mexican cartel? I mean, Mr. Grower doesn't need Senor Traficante's international shipping services...
Unless: Mr. Grower had a nice little business going, growing pot and selling it to the hippies in Seattle, when Senor Traficante turned up and said "hey you better give us a piece of your action because we're crazy effing bastards and we'll fuck you up". And so lo and behold, they're "connected".
Unless: Mr. Grower had a nice little business going, growing pot and selling it to the hippies in Seattle, when Senor Traficante turned up and said "hey you better give us a piece of your action because we're crazy effing bastards and we'll fuck you up". And so lo and behold, they're "connected".
9
@6: What should we call Stranger reporters then? Clearly they show no interest in giving any point of view but their own.
But that's OK because it's "advocacy journalism," right? Which the Stranger defines as "ignore any facts that don't support the writer's narrow ideology."
But that's OK because it's "advocacy journalism," right? Which the Stranger defines as "ignore any facts that don't support the writer's narrow ideology."
12
There's a bigger falsehood present here that nobody has pointed out yet.
The alleged street value of $50 million fucking DOLLARS.
It's possible that, in August or September, a crop this big may have a value comparable to that, assuming it was all dried, cured, packaged into tiny baggies and sold individually, at top dollar.
That's kind of a naively ideal scenario.
That value of $50 million can not possibly apply to an acre of immature plants that aren't even flowering yet.
The alleged street value of $50 million fucking DOLLARS.
It's possible that, in August or September, a crop this big may have a value comparable to that, assuming it was all dried, cured, packaged into tiny baggies and sold individually, at top dollar.
That's kind of a naively ideal scenario.
That value of $50 million can not possibly apply to an acre of immature plants that aren't even flowering yet.
14
So, she's paid to write a short news story about a factual incident. Check.
Last time I heard, short news stories about factual incidents didn't require opinions from everyone under the sun to chime in.
It's just a short factual news story. In fact, it reads simply as an extended Police Blotter-type story.
Jesus, Dan, get some happy pills, will ya? Your bile is spewing all over the place and on people who really haven't done a damned thing to deserve being in your target zone.
Last time I heard, short news stories about factual incidents didn't require opinions from everyone under the sun to chime in.
It's just a short factual news story. In fact, it reads simply as an extended Police Blotter-type story.
Jesus, Dan, get some happy pills, will ya? Your bile is spewing all over the place and on people who really haven't done a damned thing to deserve being in your target zone.
16
@14 I dunno it sounds to me like this story is FAR MORE based on the opinion of Officer Bolster than on FACT ... which is why there should be a counter opinion ...
18
@16 Officer Bolster is part of the police department responsible for the raid. That's a fact. As is the raid itself and the results of the raid.
He says growers are going to continue growing. Well... let's safely assume that's a fact.
His bit about finding and eradicating the grows is consistent with the laws and his duties as a police officer. If he said he *wouldn't* be satisfied running after people breaking the law, *that* would be far more interesting and worthy of exploration. Instead, he gives an obvious commentary that lends some colour to the usual sometimes boring renditions of facts. That's all. For all we know, she may have tried to get a quote from one of the guys arrested and put the fact she couldn't get one before the deadline and the editor just chopped that out.
Way I figure it, if Bolster went off on some scree about how drugs are seeping through society and how he can't get enough money and men to prevent this smokey blight upon the landscape and how terribly awfully nasty these druggies are, then, fine. A reporter who doesn't prick up their ears at that and extend the story from being a police blotter type thing into an article with research, fine. That's a hack. But then an editor would tap the hack on the shoulder and tell them to go out and flesh out the bigger story, wouldn't they? Or are editors immune to this equation?
Just stating some facts and getting a quote that doesn't sound remotely out of kilter? Not a hack.
And certainly not enough to be singled out like this.
He says growers are going to continue growing. Well... let's safely assume that's a fact.
His bit about finding and eradicating the grows is consistent with the laws and his duties as a police officer. If he said he *wouldn't* be satisfied running after people breaking the law, *that* would be far more interesting and worthy of exploration. Instead, he gives an obvious commentary that lends some colour to the usual sometimes boring renditions of facts. That's all. For all we know, she may have tried to get a quote from one of the guys arrested and put the fact she couldn't get one before the deadline and the editor just chopped that out.
Way I figure it, if Bolster went off on some scree about how drugs are seeping through society and how he can't get enough money and men to prevent this smokey blight upon the landscape and how terribly awfully nasty these druggies are, then, fine. A reporter who doesn't prick up their ears at that and extend the story from being a police blotter type thing into an article with research, fine. That's a hack. But then an editor would tap the hack on the shoulder and tell them to go out and flesh out the bigger story, wouldn't they? Or are editors immune to this equation?
Just stating some facts and getting a quote that doesn't sound remotely out of kilter? Not a hack.
And certainly not enough to be singled out like this.
19
I went to school with Anna and shared a residence hall with her I personally know that she's a great person. Just thought I'd throw that out there since journalists tend to depersonalize or decontextualize name-calling.
20
I'm all for legal pot and I agree with 18. This really doesn't seem that awful. This was not a story about the War on Drugs. The police did their job, she wrote about what happened including a quote from the cop who did his job, and there ya go.
22
E-mail I sent to Northwest Public Radio cc'd to KUOW newsroom:
Subject: another drug war propaganda piece on public radio
On June 18, 2009, I heard a Northwest Public Radio story by Anna King on KUOW-FM in Seattle about discovery of a large cannabis garden in Walla Walla. The story read like a press release from the DEA.
Was any investigation of law enforcement claims performed? You reported that Gary Bolster of Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office finds this sort of action to be personally satisfying. That is, I suppose, generally newsworthy in the area of human interest, but it should be of little concern to those who are forced to pay for Mr. Bolster's satisfaction. This was undoubtedly an expensive incident. Was any evaluation of its efficacy performed? How effectively is the Walla Walla Sheriff, who seemingly has plenty of resources available to pursue victimless crime, solving crimes against people and property crime? What do area residents think about this allocation of resources?
Many people believe that our nation's present drug policy is an expensive and harmful failure. Surely you are aware of this. When law enforcement agencies report a large expenditure on an activity of the sort that has repeatedly been shown to be ineffective, why would you not seek and report on input from people who, unlike law enforcement agencies who enjoy the spoils of forfeiture, do not stand to benefit financially from further escalation of the "war on drugs"?
Your story included absolutely no reporting on the effect of this police action. I believe that it would be responsible of you to follow up with such information and to include it in future reporting of similar incidents.
More...
Subject: another drug war propaganda piece on public radio
On June 18, 2009, I heard a Northwest Public Radio story by Anna King on KUOW-FM in Seattle about discovery of a large cannabis garden in Walla Walla. The story read like a press release from the DEA.
Was any investigation of law enforcement claims performed? You reported that Gary Bolster of Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office finds this sort of action to be personally satisfying. That is, I suppose, generally newsworthy in the area of human interest, but it should be of little concern to those who are forced to pay for Mr. Bolster's satisfaction. This was undoubtedly an expensive incident. Was any evaluation of its efficacy performed? How effectively is the Walla Walla Sheriff, who seemingly has plenty of resources available to pursue victimless crime, solving crimes against people and property crime? What do area residents think about this allocation of resources?
Many people believe that our nation's present drug policy is an expensive and harmful failure. Surely you are aware of this. When law enforcement agencies report a large expenditure on an activity of the sort that has repeatedly been shown to be ineffective, why would you not seek and report on input from people who, unlike law enforcement agencies who enjoy the spoils of forfeiture, do not stand to benefit financially from further escalation of the "war on drugs"?
Your story included absolutely no reporting on the effect of this police action. I believe that it would be responsible of you to follow up with such information and to include it in future reporting of similar incidents.
23
If Cali legalizes MJ and sells it in liquor stores, they will have massive government surpluses while we in WA are left far behind in the tax-cuts-for-rich dust.
Time for someone to do something.
Time for someone to do something.
25
@18 You are correct, the story does have many facts, I guess what I meant were that the officer's quotes in particular were far more based on his (and likely his department's) opinions, that was my quick typing and less thinking.
"They are going to keep trying to grow..." that is not a fact, it is a prediction based on his opinion of growers in general.
"He says most drug traffickers and growing operations in the Northwest are connected to Mexican drug cartels." How is that? Unless she, as the reporter, presents ACTUAL facts to back this up it is not a fact, just something that we are supposed to take at face value because it was stated by an officer, and it benefits that officer for us to feel that this is a horrendous MEXICAN CARTEL opp.
With all the horrifying stories about Mexican drug cartels in the news these days it seems that was a total scare tactic on the part of the police officer (not the reporter) so that we see them as having done a good deed.
I could be wrong, perhaps a bit jaded, but without real facts to the contrary I am not just going to take this officer and his personal satisfaction as proof or fact here.
I would hope that a reporter would feel the same way ... rather than just taking quotes from an officer about his personal satisfaction as the end all say all.
"They are going to keep trying to grow..." that is not a fact, it is a prediction based on his opinion of growers in general.
"He says most drug traffickers and growing operations in the Northwest are connected to Mexican drug cartels." How is that? Unless she, as the reporter, presents ACTUAL facts to back this up it is not a fact, just something that we are supposed to take at face value because it was stated by an officer, and it benefits that officer for us to feel that this is a horrendous MEXICAN CARTEL opp.
With all the horrifying stories about Mexican drug cartels in the news these days it seems that was a total scare tactic on the part of the police officer (not the reporter) so that we see them as having done a good deed.
I could be wrong, perhaps a bit jaded, but without real facts to the contrary I am not just going to take this officer and his personal satisfaction as proof or fact here.
I would hope that a reporter would feel the same way ... rather than just taking quotes from an officer about his personal satisfaction as the end all say all.
27
Dan,
You should be the next stupid fucking credulous hack of the day. At least KUOW doesn't go on bias incoherent rants on an hourly basis. Don't criticize Anna for fucking reporting an event that occurred. Please put your energy into something effective, as your incessant tirades are making me bored.
You should be the next stupid fucking credulous hack of the day. At least KUOW doesn't go on bias incoherent rants on an hourly basis. Don't criticize Anna for fucking reporting an event that occurred. Please put your energy into something effective, as your incessant tirades are making me bored.
28
Raids against growing operation on public land are one of the few parts of the war on drugs that I enthusiastically support. The people who run them are dangerous and bringing violence and danger to public areas. Fuck those guys, I am glad their product was destroyed.
Just because you support legalizing drugs doesn't mean every story about drugs has to be about that one point. There are several important issues that can be addressed.
Dan, when you go off like this it makes you sound the same way the single issue people on the right sound. "Who cares what Obama says about the economy, the fact remains that he supports killing babies! Any story that mentions Obama and doesn't discuss the fact that he helps millions of babies die misses the whole point."
Just because you support legalizing drugs doesn't mean every story about drugs has to be about that one point. There are several important issues that can be addressed.
Dan, when you go off like this it makes you sound the same way the single issue people on the right sound. "Who cares what Obama says about the economy, the fact remains that he supports killing babies! Any story that mentions Obama and doesn't discuss the fact that he helps millions of babies die misses the whole point."
29
A few points of clarification, question, or contention:
- This apparently was a Boise Cascade poplar tree farm, not public lands
- Does any posting here actually smoke field-grown marijuana leaves? Given the availability of high-quality B.C. hydroponic sensimillia, doesn't it make sense that these plants were bound for Mexico?
- The reporter was doing an extremely brief story on an illegal activity, justifiably illegal or not, albeit possiblly a victimless crime.
- Speaking of fiber farms, how about a rant about the criminalization of growing hemp (low-THC marijuana) for fiber, biomass, biofuel, etc.?
- This apparently was a Boise Cascade poplar tree farm, not public lands
- Does any posting here actually smoke field-grown marijuana leaves? Given the availability of high-quality B.C. hydroponic sensimillia, doesn't it make sense that these plants were bound for Mexico?
- The reporter was doing an extremely brief story on an illegal activity, justifiably illegal or not, albeit possiblly a victimless crime.
- Speaking of fiber farms, how about a rant about the criminalization of growing hemp (low-THC marijuana) for fiber, biomass, biofuel, etc.?
30
This blog piece is also a great example of one-sided reporting. Attempt to get comment from Anna King - no. Anna frequently cannot get the 'other' source to talk to her - maybe she should publicize that a bit more.
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