Comments on: The IR Continues Its Embarrassingly Bad Coverage of Education http://intelligentdiscontent.com/2009/05/03/the-ir-continues-its-embarrassingly-bad-coverage-of-education/ Serving Up Snark Since 2005 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:55:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Newsflash! Fewer Teachers Does Impact Class Size http://intelligentdiscontent.com/2009/05/03/the-ir-continues-its-embarrassingly-bad-coverage-of-education/comment-page-1/#comment-47997 Newsflash! Fewer Teachers Does Impact Class Size Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:37:50 +0000 http://intelligentdiscontent.com/2009/05/03/the-ir-continues-its-embarrassingly-bad-coverage-of-education/#comment-47997 [...] May 3, I was very critical of a newspaper story in the Independent Record because I felt it presented a very one-sided view about the need for cutbacks among teachers in the Helena School District. Despite District [...] [...] May 3, I was very critical of a newspaper story in the Independent Record because I felt it presented a very one-sided view about the need for cutbacks among teachers in the Helena School District. Despite District [...]

]]> By: C T Canterbury http://intelligentdiscontent.com/2009/05/03/the-ir-continues-its-embarrassingly-bad-coverage-of-education/comment-page-1/#comment-47437 C T Canterbury Tue, 05 May 2009 22:11:35 +0000 http://intelligentdiscontent.com/2009/05/03/the-ir-continues-its-embarrassingly-bad-coverage-of-education/#comment-47437 I think the school levy debate highlights an issue that, hopefully, all sides will accept in the future. Given the very real vote-by-mail contingent, if behooves all sides of an issue to make their case and get it before the public well before election day. I think both the school district and the IR grossly erred in this respect on this occasion. I think the school levy debate highlights an issue that, hopefully, all sides will accept in the future. Given the very real vote-by-mail contingent, if behooves all sides of an issue to make their case and get it before the public well before election day. I think both the school district and the IR grossly erred in this respect on this occasion.

]]> By: dpogreba http://intelligentdiscontent.com/2009/05/03/the-ir-continues-its-embarrassingly-bad-coverage-of-education/comment-page-1/#comment-47435 dpogreba Mon, 04 May 2009 22:40:39 +0000 http://intelligentdiscontent.com/2009/05/03/the-ir-continues-its-embarrassingly-bad-coverage-of-education/#comment-47435 It's interesting that Mr. Doran would choose to call attention to the first story about district negotiations this spring, since it contained a factually incorrect claim about the level of compensation that the district planned to offer teachers next year. I certainly will not be holding my breath waiting for any in-depth reporting from the Independent Record, and I think most readers have long since given up any hope of expecting that. Once there is an in-depth look that actually examines publicly available information before reporting contradictory claims as fact, I will gladly commend the IR for its work. In the meantime, I'll expect to keep reading stories and defensive, self-serving excuses like this. On another note, John, I'm not sure that you're likely to have too many more sources when you decide to 'out' people who didn't end up being in your story. When your reporter sends an e-mail that reads "Would you like to comment?" without any context or even explanation of the story, you might not be getting the best responses, either. It's interesting that Mr. Doran would choose to call attention to the first story about district negotiations this spring, since it contained a factually incorrect claim about the level of compensation that the district planned to offer teachers next year.

I certainly will not be holding my breath waiting for any in-depth reporting from the Independent Record, and I think most readers have long since given up any hope of expecting that. Once there is an in-depth look that actually examines publicly available information before reporting contradictory claims as fact, I will gladly commend the IR for its work.

In the meantime, I'll expect to keep reading stories and defensive, self-serving excuses like this.

On another note, John, I'm not sure that you're likely to have too many more sources when you decide to 'out' people who didn't end up being in your story. When your reporter sends an e-mail that reads "Would you like to comment?" without any context or even explanation of the story, you might not be getting the best responses, either.

]]> By: John Doran http://intelligentdiscontent.com/2009/05/03/the-ir-continues-its-embarrassingly-bad-coverage-of-education/comment-page-1/#comment-47434 John Doran Mon, 04 May 2009 21:44:50 +0000 http://intelligentdiscontent.com/2009/05/03/the-ir-continues-its-embarrassingly-bad-coverage-of-education/#comment-47434 One thing Mr. Pogreba apparently doesn't comprehend is this story was specifically about the mill levy, with a very small snapshot of what's happening with the budget to provide some context. You can't have a 5,000-inch story, and you can't tell every aspect of every situation in one story. That would be like Mr. Pogreba trying to teach the entire AP English curriculum in one week's time. It's interesting to note also that in the first story the IR published about the details regarding teacher positions being eliminated, many teachers were interviewed and sourced in the story -- and many more will be sourced in stories when we continue this discussion in the newspaper. It's also interesting to note that Mr. Pogreba didn't return phone calls to the IR seeking comment for that story. Once the mill levy passes, or fails, the district will have a much clearer picture of the budget shortfall, and a much clearer opportunity arises to dive deeper into how and why the district is going about its cuts. If this was the one and only story on the subject, then, yes, Mr. Pogreba could blast away. But it's not. So, Mr. Pogreba's rant is quite shortsighted. John Doran, IR editor One thing Mr. Pogreba apparently doesn't comprehend is this story was specifically about the mill levy, with a very small snapshot of what's happening with the budget to provide some context. You can't have a 5,000-inch story, and you can't tell every aspect of every situation in one story. That would be like Mr. Pogreba trying to teach the entire AP English curriculum in one week's time. It's interesting to note also that in the first story the IR published about the details regarding teacher positions being eliminated, many teachers were interviewed and sourced in the story — and many more will be sourced in stories when we continue this discussion in the newspaper. It's also interesting to note that Mr. Pogreba didn't return phone calls to the IR seeking comment for that story.
Once the mill levy passes, or fails, the district will have a much clearer picture of the budget shortfall, and a much clearer opportunity arises to dive deeper into how and why the district is going about its cuts.
If this was the one and only story on the subject, then, yes, Mr. Pogreba could blast away. But it's not. So, Mr. Pogreba's rant is quite shortsighted.
John Doran, IR editor

]]> By: C T Canterbury http://intelligentdiscontent.com/2009/05/03/the-ir-continues-its-embarrassingly-bad-coverage-of-education/comment-page-1/#comment-47432 C T Canterbury Mon, 04 May 2009 00:03:00 +0000 http://intelligentdiscontent.com/2009/05/03/the-ir-continues-its-embarrassingly-bad-coverage-of-education/#comment-47432 You're right, Pogie. The IR coverage was embarrassingly shallow. No surprise. However, the school district is equally at fault. I vote by mail and have already voted against the mill levy increase for the school district. Why? Because the school district has been equally negligent in explaining exactly what will be sacrificed if the mill levy does not pass. If they want my support during these tough times they are going to have to offer more than the standard throwaway arguments of "our children deserve the best" and "we need to increase salaries in order to attract the best teachers". I need to know precisely what my extra dollars are going to buy. Do I expect to prevail? Of course not. The school district election deck has been stacked for as long as I can remember, and that goes back to the days when if a mill levy failed they simply kept holding new elections until it passed. Sorry for the rant, but until the powers that be (including the county as well as the school districts) start treating voters as intelligent adults my vote will be "no". You're right, Pogie. The IR coverage was embarrassingly shallow. No surprise. However, the school district is equally at fault. I vote by mail and have already voted against the mill levy increase for the school district. Why? Because the school district has been equally negligent in explaining exactly what will be sacrificed if the mill levy does not pass. If they want my support during these tough times they are going to have to offer more than the standard throwaway arguments of "our children deserve the best" and "we need to increase salaries in order to attract the best teachers". I need to know precisely what my extra dollars are going to buy.

Do I expect to prevail? Of course not. The school district election deck has been stacked for as long as I can remember, and that goes back to the days when if a mill levy failed they simply kept holding new elections until it passed.

Sorry for the rant, but until the powers that be (including the county as well as the school districts) start treating voters as intelligent adults my vote will be "no".

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