ARTICLE> Ethics in Journalism: Conflict of Interest: The News Reporter Owner of Rhode Island Night Club
- From: Gleason Sackmann <gleason@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: NetHappenings <nethappenings@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 08:47:18 -0600
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Net Happenings - From Educational CyberPlayGround
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From: "David P. Dillard" <jwne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sun, 23 Feb 2003 07:01:56 -0500 (EST)
This column looks at the news coverage of the Rhode Island night club that
burned with serious loss of life. Examined is the role of a television
news reporter who with his brother happens to be the club owner.
Comparison is made with the treatment by the news media of the also very
recent night club fire in Chicago.
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Rhode Island Fire: Scrutiny of Club Owners Too Tame
Poynter Online
<http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=36&aid=21539>
I can't even comprehend how agonizing this tragedy must be for Jeff
Derderian. As co-owner of the club where nearly 100 people were killed in
the West Warwick, R.I. fire, he and others involved certainly are
suffering mightily.
But it's imperative that those of us in journalism rigorously examine Jeff
Derderian's connection to this story.
Jeff Derderian is not just a club owner thrust into the heart of a
tragedy. Jeff Derderian is a journalist, one of us. He is a news reporter
for WPRI-TV in Providence.
That connection is exceptionally relevant -- and problematic -- for two
reasons. One has to do with how other journalists are covering this story.
The other has to do with a serious conflict of interest for Derderian and
for his employers at WPRI-TV. As we watched this story unfold on Friday,
it was difficult to avoid comparisons with the coverage of the Chicago
club in Chicago where 21 people died in a stampede for the doors early
Monday.
In the Chicago case, the owner of that club was quickly and frequently
named in the news coverage. Many stories focused on questions of his
responsibility for what happened and his potential legal and civil
liability. Reporters sought out the owner and focused on his
accountability.
In the West Warwick fire, it is questionable whether journalists were as
initially vigorous in pursuing Jeff Derderian, 36, and his brother,
Michael Derderian, 41, who has co-owned the club with him since March
2002. The Providence Journal tracked the history of the club in a story
published Saturday.
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Sincerely,
David Dillard Research Librarian
david@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ECP RingLeader
http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/ringleaders/davidd.html
Temple University
(215) 204 - 4584
jwne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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