what poor journalism!!! - DPChallenge Forums

03/07/2008 01:09:27 PM · #1

Utica OD regarding fundraising efforts

As I have posted before...Tomorrow is the 'America's Greatest Heart Run & Walk' in Utica NY. This even raises in excess of 1million every year with an average of 8000 participants. It has earned the name 'America's Greatest' as it is the largest American Heart Assoc fundraiser event soley contributed by individuals NOT backed by large corporations.....i.e. Utica is a small city, it IS beaten by Detroit but Detroit is backed by the car companies.

Team Rebecca (my sister) has always raised an average of 5000.00 each year. We do this by returnables, sales and a fundraiser. This fundraiser this year raised $2818.00 it was a 'bar party' (bands, typical buffet food, beverages, auctions). All items were donated so we could make a 100% donation to the AHA.

This week the paper called to congratulate on the successful fundraiser....and this article is what we got for it!! Rebecca is severly MISQUOTED!!!!!!!!!!

I am sooooo mad at this tabloid of a local paper. And what editor in their right mind would diss how these individuals raise that million dollars to be turned in tomorrow?? Why put such a negative spin on the event.

We are furious....

and as we read the comment section of the website....many others are too..

Thanks, just had to get that off my chest....we work hard all year to do this and we just got slapped in the face!!!

03/07/2008 01:11:08 PM · #2

03/07/2008 01:13:18 PM · #3

Sounds like the menu is out of sync with the message.

I agree that the article seemed kind of out of balance, spending many more words deriding the food selection, while praising the fund raising efforts. I suppose the author was looking for a different angle or something and the whole article could have been done better, but serving heart unfriendly foods at a AHA fund raiser sends conflicting signals.

Message edited by author 2008-03-07 13:17:33.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

03/07/2008 01:31:02 PM · #4

thanks for the comments Spazmo99....it didn't (and I didn't) mention the fruit platter, green salads, etc.

and as I said they misquoted and put a bigger emphasis on the 'bad food'....

a day of un-heart healthy food is not gonna kill you, in fact your body needs some of it...., but if you live on it, yeah.... I guess they should give my donors back their $5000.00 and call it fair.

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

03/07/2008 01:35:04 PM · #5

I read the article, and do have a problem with some of the views expressed by the journalist. One has to appreciate that this is something done by volunteers and private businesses who have absolutely nothing to gain from this, and that their is truly an altruistic endeavour.

Yes it is indeed sad that some of the menus may not reflect the ideal in healthy living, but that factor alone is not something that should detract from the efforts of the volunteers.

The sad truth is that this article may have enlightened some, but could possible cost the organization the future services of some truly selfless individuals.

I am at work right now, but rest assured that when I get home I will strive to point out to the newspaper that their article could cost this charitable organization very dearly, particularly as it relates to future volunteers.

Ray

Message edited by author 2008-03-07 13:36:29.

03/07/2008 01:52:21 PM · #6

Thank you Ray.....I guess that is what is REALLY irritating me....We work hard at this....and this view just may cause us to rethink this....

Rebecca was the 2003 Honoree of this event....She has had 3 open heart surgeries (1974@6yrs old/1994 to finally correct her birth defect/1997 for residual repair)

About Rebecca

03/07/2008 01:53:01 PM · #7

not all heart disease is a result of poor eating habits....

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

03/07/2008 02:00:27 PM · #8

Originally posted by dassilem:

not all heart disease is a result of poor eating habits....

No, but a great deal of it is.

Louis

Nikon D800

03/07/2008 02:02:02 PM · #9

How is she misquoted? What was the original statement, and how is it skewed?

03/07/2008 02:05:45 PM · #10

Originally posted by dassilem:

I didn't disagree with you about the article, but despite the fact that "un-heart healthy food is not gonna kill you", serving such things at a fund raising event to help prevent heart disease gives the appearance that the organization doesn't really take their message seriously, regardless of the truth of the matter.

It's like serving steak at a PETA conference.

03/07/2008 02:07:42 PM · #11

Originally posted by Louis:

How is she misquoted? What was the original statement, and how is it skewed?

I think the OP is upset that the article focused on the fact that the menu at the fund raiser seems inconsistent with the goals of the organization rather than the good things the group has done.

03/07/2008 02:38:57 PM · #12

ok.....I AM upset that this wonderful efforts are being trashed....

to explain....
Team Rebecca's message is this:
In 1974 Rebecca had an experimental surgery to 'allow her to live a few more years'. She was born with Pulmonary Artresia with a Ventricular Septal Defect. basically she had a shriveled up Pulmonary Artery, the valve was sealed and she had a hole in her heart wall. It took Drs 6 years to even figure out that there was something wrong! and that WAS her diagnosis.."there's something wrong with her heart".

That experimental surgery lasted 20 yrs until there was a NEW experiment she may qualify for. At that time she was given a life expentancy of less than 10 more years due to the 26yrs of blue blood traveling through her heart.

That surgery has replaced her pulmonary artery, sealed the hole, and her heart beats as normal as most of us.

Our message is this :Rebecca's heart had to wait 20 yrs for research to catch up to her, it is our goal to make sure someone else's heart doesn't have to wait!!

So while we can debate whether Buffet style food was inappropriate, that is why I said not all heart disease is due to a bad diet, it still raised $3000.00 for someones life!

The surgery that Becky had in 1994 is now performed on infants days/hours old.....

I feel our efforts to help is being insulted.....Think about that next time you go to a fundraiser, and only pick up the celery....

edit: spelling

Message edited by author 2008-03-07 14:41:58.

03/07/2008 02:41:07 PM · #13

Originally posted by Louis:

How is she misquoted? What was the original statement, and how is it skewed?

she did not say 'Dietary stuff wasn't thought about'... that was not said, paraphrased, or anything!!

She said, the goal of the fundraiser was 'about her story and the ability to raise as much money as possible for the AHA.'

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

03/07/2008 04:41:59 PM · #14

Originally posted by dassilem:

I feel our efforts to help is being insulted...

While I think the article devoted too much space to the menu being inconsistent with the groups message, I don't see anything insulting in the article. If you prefer future coverage to focus on your cause, perhaps next time the group should consider how the menu reflects the its mission more carefully in the future. That does not mean a dull veggie platter, there are a great many recipes that taste good and are heart friendly that could be served. In fact, it might be an opportunity to highlight such food as a way to highlight your group's efforts rather than detract from them.

Also, if you want the paper to print something more "message friendly", write a press release that highlights the things YOU feel would make a good story and send it to the paper's editor before the event.

Prof_Fate

03/07/2008 04:52:31 PM · #15

The story makes the volunteers that raise the money look like hypocrits or just stupid. Truth is probably no one gave it much thought. I've seen jars for donations in bars - to aid victims of drunk drivers. But then some of the money from cigarette taxes goes to try and make people stop smoking, alcohol to help addicts, etc. It's just the way things are. All screwed up LOL

Like today - my son's school called to say the roads are too bad and unsafe for teh school buses to run. Please come and get your kid as soon as possible. !!!

scarbrd

Leica M10

03/07/2008 05:02:52 PM · #16

Journalistically speaking, just because a particular cause is worthy doesn't mean that a news organization is there to be a cheerleader for the cause.

Charities invite coverage of their events in the hope of drawing attention to their cause. Journalists cover events looking for a unique angle on a story. They have no vested interest in the charity, nor should they.

While the quote may be in question, the story did state in a couple of different ways that the goal of the event is to raise money for the charity. But the writer's job is to find something that sets this story apart from any other story about a charity event.

Irony is always good fodder for a story, and having a buffet of non-heart healthy foods at a Heart Association fund raiser is at least ironic.

My advice is that if you invite or encourage the media to cover your event, be prepared to to accept the coverage they give you. Expecting the media to see things exactly the same way you do is bound for disappointment.

The old saying "Any press is good press." is true. More people know about your event than before the story ran.

Good luck on your fund raiser.

Louis

Nikon D800

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

03/07/2008 07:11:57 PM · #17

Originally posted by dassilem:

Originally posted by Louis:
How is she misquoted? What was the original statement, and how is it skewed?

she did not say 'Dietary stuff wasn't thought about'... that was not said, paraphrased, or anything!!

She said, the goal of the fundraiser was 'about her story and the ability to raise as much money as possible for the AHA.'

Well, if that's the case, if that quote was invented in order for the writer to be able to make a point about the buffet, then I agree, that is truly reprehensible and you should take it up with the paper's ombudsman, if there is one.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

03/07/2008 09:18:01 PM · #18

Originally posted by scarbrd:

Irony is always good fodder for a story, and having a buffet of non-heart healthy foods at a Heart Association fund raiser is at least ironic.

When I was working at The Berkeley Free Clinic, the Dental Section volunteers always held their monthly meeting as a desserts-only potluck ... :-)

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

03/07/2008 09:33:01 PM · #19

what a stupid article. Yet another case of the media creating a story because the simple truth wasn't juicy enough. A story about people raising money for a good cause is not interesting enough for them. They have to find conflict and controversy to make it intersting...

Don't feel bad, Back when a member of this site went missing and the media got involved a local TV station reported he was found with a broken leg, while he was still missing!!! I called the news station during the broadcast and asked that they correct their error before the end of the newscast, on the phone they said they would, but they never did! the media does not care about the truth. They want to look good and get ratings.

Also, I spent a few years in search and rescue was involved in a handful of cases that made the news. Every single one had errors or inaccuracies or stuff that was just made up. I never trust anything in the media.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

03/09/2008 11:54:29 AM · #20

update: The walk was a success raising a total of $1,204,594.00!!! It rained, it poured, it rained some more, then it dropped buckets!!! but better than the snow and freezing rain that was expected.

I met with the Executive Director of AHA Central NY Region on Friday night and expressed my views and personally handed him Team Rebecca's official response to the article.

I have a scheduled meeting this week with the AHA and Team Rebecca to discuss how the AHA is going to resolve this with the newspaper. There are two issues....the AHA is upset that they singled out Team Rebecca in that fashion and more importantly how they chose to go after fundraising efforts as a whole.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

03/09/2008 12:40:16 PM · #21

Originally posted by dassilem:

update: The walk was a success raising a total of $1,204,594.00!!!

Wow -- Congratulations! You've certainly set yourself a lofty target to beat next year; maybe you can get the paper to donate a free ad or something. ;-)

Olympus 7-14mm f/4.0 Zuiko Digital Zoom

03/10/2008 07:25:49 AM · #22

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Originally posted by dassilem:
update: The walk was a success raising a total of $1,204,594.00!!!

Wow -- Congratulations! You've certainly set yourself a lofty target to beat next year; maybe you can get the paper to donate a free ad or something. ;-)

Just to be clear that was the total of the whole event...Team Rebecca (a team of 28 people) raised $5743.00! Still a figure to be proud of.

RayEthier, Thank you for your letter to the paper...it is VERY appreciated.

one2one

Olympus E-5

03/10/2008 08:34:37 AM · #23

I'm sorry but after surviving a heart attack 5 years ago I cannot accept that a fund raising event serve food that kills people. The heart association should monitor these events more so that third parties respect the association's directives on healthy eating habits. I understand your goals and I cheer you on but let's be realistic for a minute here. You wanted a newspaper to write a positive article about a good cause but all you got was a journalist who was in fact, doing her job to report. You cannot dictate to a reporter what to write and you cannot complain about it after he has done his job honestly. Which, it seems, was the case here.

Did the reporter create lies? Did the article use quotes to purposely misinform its readers? All I saw was facts, it seems, although I wasn't there so can't say for sure everything in the article is true.

I think that you thought you were hiring an advertising firm to promote your fund raiser but instead got someone who actually finds serving fat infested food at a heart association fund raiser ridiculous, as I do.

If the article had concentrated their efforts on distracting its readers from the real story, then hey, I would be sending them an email stating my concerns. But that's not the case here. I think your organization and the Heart Association could and should learn from this event. Prevention is the only way we will beat this disease.

With that said...

Congratulations on the money you raised, that is truly exceptional and it's wonderful to have people like you doing these things. We need more of you.

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

03/10/2008 09:16:00 AM · #24

I've given some business/IT related interviews to various newspapers here, and the content of the printed article is often very different to what I actually said during the interview. I reached a stage where I told a journalist to email me the article so I could review it before they sent it to their editor. They were quite reluctant to do this - and they were even more reluctant to fix any mis-quotes.

They felt that if they submitted the article as-is then it would be too boring for publication, it was their job to turn it into an interesting story, otherwise it just reads like an advert or a company profile.

If the article you linked had just been the facts about the fundraiser and how much money had been raised, how many people would have read it? - Think about the publicity you're getting (even by linking it here!)