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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on August 13, 2003 5:51 PM. The previous post in this blog was If they don't win it's a shame. The next post in this blog is The new Evil Empire. Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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Wednesday, August 13, 2003

An open letter to Dwight Jaynes

Dear Mr. Jaynes:

I'm writing to you as publisher of The Portland Tribune. This is in reference to yesterday's front-page story in the Trib about the potential for gang violence in North and Northeast Portland. Even assuming that this story merits a screaming banner headline, what purpose is served by running a large, sexily lit photo of an identified gang member on the front page, above the fold?

Don't you think this kind of treatment glamorizes the gang life to impressionable young people? Perhaps I can understand the need for the warnings, but do we have to turn the gangsters into celebrities?

If it were a different publication, I'd accuse you of using sensationalism to sell papers, disregarding the harm it can cause. But your paper's free, so I guess the harm is all there is.

This reminds me of your similar "inside the mind of Ward Weaver" feature from last year's holiday season. You gave an attention-desperate accused murderer exactly the coverage he craved.

In general, the Trib deserves all the awards it gets. It's a great contribution to the life of our city. But please stop marring its record with irresponsible practices such as this.

A faithful reader,
Jack Bogdanski

Posted at 5:51 PM | Bookmark and Share

Comments (1)

Glad you called the paper on the photo. I see this kind of thing all the time - in newspapers, magazines and on TV. Critizing something yet printing a photo glamorizing the topic to attract readers/viewers and sending a mixed if not wrong message. It is like Katie Curic discussing how fashion and pop culture create self image problems for young girls and women, but she herself is wearing $500 spike heels that only very rich very thin women could wear.

Posted by Sue Daniels | August 13, 2003 6:12 PM




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