FreeLists / tn-bird / [tn-bird] Re: TWRA article

["Bob Hatcher" <bhatcher@xxxxxxxx>]

Carol Reese raises a good point about the professional background of some
authors.  I have found that most newspaper articles about wildlife, with
which I have been familiar over the years, have contained one or more
errors.

For those who missed it, a picture caption in a magazine TWRA magazine
article depicted the House Sparrow as an example of declining song birds
needing habitat preservation.  The intent was good, but the species choice
could have been better, to say the least.

The author bio with the cited TWRA article states, "...received a BA degree
in journalism...and is currently with BMI.  ... is an avid outdoorsman...".
Since contributors to TWRA's magazine vary in background, some articles need
more proofing than others.   I know that the TWRA editors usually do a great
job with appropriate proofing and editing.  However, I learned last November
that professionals like Troy Ettel somehow didn't get to provide their
normal technical review before it went to print.  I don't think that will
happen again anytime soon.

Bob Hatcher
Brentwood, TN


***********************************
----- Original Message -----
From: <jreese5@xxxxxxx>
To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2002 7:15 PM
Subject: [tn-bird] Re: TWRA article (Troy might not want to read this...)


 I hope that the person who wrote this article is not a TWRA official, but
an ignorant reporter who got his facts wrong. I know that I was interviewed
by a newpaper reporter here in Jackson who quoted me later on such
interesting (and fictiional) species as the blue martin and the tufted
pitmouse. Possibly the word "tit" offended the reporter's delicate nature.
I had to endure several days of abusive phone calls about my birding
ignorance, and finally had to write a column in my defense, trying to throw
a humorous light on the whole incident.

 If this articlte was written by someone who should know better, that is an
appalling matter! If it was an ignorant reporter, it points out the wisdom
of asking an expert to proofread an article before it goes to print.

Ornamental Horticulture Specialist -Western District
University of Tennessee Extension Service
605 Airways Blvd.
Jackson TN 38301
901 425 4721 email  jcreese@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



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