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sarisataka

(20,896 posts)
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 11:04 AM Jun 2016

Well I guess that shows what apologies are worth...

As usual, I was watching The Jason Show, a local morning talk show on KMSP 9. It is typical morning silliness, light banter with whatever newsworthy, or not so newsworthy, interview they can get.

This morning he had a live interview with Stephanie Soechtig, writer, producer, and director of Under the Gun; the film that has the now infamous creative editing of an interview with VCDL members. Ms. Soechtig has addressed the long pause added in the film thusly:

“There are a wide range of views expressed in the film. My intention was to provide a pause for the viewer to have a moment to consider this important question before presenting the facts on Americans’ opinions on background checks. I never intended to make anyone look bad and I apologize if anyone felt that way.”


Jason asked her to comment on the issue on the show. I must paraphrase,as I was not recording (I didn't even know that he was interviewing her until the segment began) but her reply was :

First know that the Virginia Citizen's Defense League is an extreme fringe group. This is a controversial subject and I believe they had ample opportunity to express their opinion. Frankly we expected attacks from the time we started this project. This is just typical gun lobby tactics...


pretty much the complete opposite of what she has said in other statements.

Her editing of the interview has been called journalistic malpractice by other groups such as Columbia University School of Journalism, National Public Radio and the Washington Post.

Ironically, the subtitle for Under the Gun is In the Gun Debate, Truth is the Ultimate Weapon; yet the first principle abandoned was the truth.
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Oneka

(653 posts)
2. This situation brings back memories of childhood and this story.
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 12:08 PM
Jun 2016

The Scorpion and the Frog

A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream and the
scorpion asks the frog to carry him across on its back. The
frog asks, "How do I know you won't sting me?" The scorpion
says, "Because if I do, I will die too."

http://www.aesopfables.com/cgi/aesop1.cgi?4&TheScorpionandtheFrog

In today's world though there are likely enough gun prohibitionists, that like what Stephanie did, that it won't kill her career.

Watch for the next Bloomberg anti gun video to be produced by this paragon of journalistic virtue..

 

DonP

(6,185 posts)
5. Probably upset that EPIX pulled her "documentary"
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 01:15 PM
Jun 2016
http://fortune.com/2016/05/31/katie-couric-guns-epix/

"Katie Couric's Guns Documentary Vanishes After She Apologizes for 'Misleading' Editing"

Maybe they can put a few copies on the Fiction shelf next to the remaining copy of "Arming America"?
 

friendly_iconoclast

(15,333 posts)
6. When longtime lefty Todd Gitlin calls what you did 'malpractice'...
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 02:02 PM
Jun 2016
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/28/katie-couric-under-the-gun-documentary-criticism


Todd Gitlin, a professor and media ethics specialist at Columbia University’s Journalism School, said both the edit and the initial apology were not appropriate.

“The editing was indeed manipulative – and I go further: malpractice,” he wrote in an e-mail.

“An apology for making somebody feel bad is not a serious apology. It doesn’t reckon with right and wrong, it only says, ‘I’m sorry somebody felt bad.’ A misrepresentation is a misrepresentation regardless of whether somebody feels bad, good, or appreciative.”


...you know you done screwed the pooch!
 

beevul

(12,194 posts)
7. "Fringe" must be the new buzzword, so update your talking points, I guess.
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 02:12 PM
Jun 2016

"Fringe" must be the new buzzword, so update your talking points, I guess.


The assertion by Soechtig that the VCDL is a fringe group, is equivalent to gun banners calling the nra 'extremist', and equally devoid of factual truth.


Nothing new under the sun (other than the updated "fringe" addition to the previously circulated talking points).

 

Kang Colby

(1,941 posts)
9. I think she meant "effective" instead of fringe.
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 08:15 PM
Jun 2016

The VCDL is a nonpartisan powerhouse in the state of Va.

pablo_marmol

(2,375 posts)
10. I recall reading a statement from Couric along the lines of.......
Thu Jun 2, 2016, 08:42 PM
Jun 2016

"We made every effort to present a balanced presentation."

Ha ha ha........sure y'all did! I imagine that Dr. Gary Kleck would have told them to fly a kite if asked to appear in order to "balance" the effort.

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