Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services, April 18 Medford police seek new rules to stop sales of stolen goods Struggling to stay on track Central Point considers new fees for parks, school police People in Business Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, April 18 Jurors see shocking conditions of accused serial killer's farm Emergency services Argument over stolen guns led to first shooting, Monica says Monica takes rare opportunity to cross-examine a witness in her double-murder trial Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Kent Bush: Clinton 2.0 is neither new nor improved Arthur I. Cyr: Britain’s earthquake election Former state Senate President Brady Adams dies Education Official hopeful whooping cough case at John Muir contained Crater dropout says graduating high school would've saved him time and money New Medford middle school would offer Montessori approach Mae Richardson Elementary turns 50 Prepping before 9th grade Environment Jackson County's wildlife services agent seen as both killer and savior Biomass technology: Creating products out of former waste Sugar Pine Mine co-owner: "Please stop calling the BLM and threatening their personnel" Oath Keepers say they'll defend contested mining claim on BLM land Central Point's Arbor Day project will provide shade along Mingus Creek State News Governor Brown says Oregon 'back on track' in State of the State address Ex-Daimler Portland engineer files $2 million discrimination suit Mannix-backed measure targets taxes Oregon committee hears bill preventing child access to guns Water shortage hits riverfront city Nation - World Tsarnaev convicted on all charges in Boston Marathon bombing Obituaries Gloria Ruth Pelett Allsup Tobi Andrews (Sherri M. Wagler) Cynthia Rose Spies Robert Lynn Jolliffe Charles Henry Herman “Hank” Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories North’s Wolfe eclipses own school record at Relays Raiders drop two pitching duels at EOU Manziel issues apology to Browns, fans Phelps fails to qualify for 400 freestyle Ticket mystery surrounds mega fight Varsity 541 College Sports Raiders drop two pitching duels at EOU Beavers ring in new era with spring game Comfort Zone SOU to host meet for first time in five years Oregon recruits leave their options open Pro Sports Manziel issues apology to Browns, fans Ticket mystery surrounds mega fight Merritt sets record, but Spieth surges Foreman turned life around as teen in GP James-led Cavs chase crown Community Sports Wilson delivers in return of local boxing Palmer breezes to second straight men’s title Business Latest Stories People in Business Blog: Spring Cleaning: Revisited Since You Asked: Metro Medford rebranding proved economical Zombies join in the horror produced by local game companies Biomass technology: Creating products out of former waste Real Estate News Since You Asked: Metro Medford rebranding proved economical Jackson County median home price hits $215,000 in first quarter People In Business People in Business, March 26, 2015 Transportation Business briefs Medford airport's record run continues Gov. Brown touts need for transportation funding in talk to Medford chamber Erickson shores up business with three contracts Lithia Motors shares break the $100 mark Agriculture New bosses take charge at Harry & David Dancin Vineyards covers up Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford Opinion Latest Other Views: State Board of Education dragging its feet over Native American mascots Matthew T. Mangino: Mass incarceration enters the national consciousness Our View: Impeachment should be an option Letters to the Editor, April 17 Michael Gerson: Obama is desperately seeking a legacy Editorials Other Views: State Board of Education dragging its feet over Native American mascots Our View: Impeachment should be an option Our View: Gun background check bill is worth passing Our View: Don't expect a fix for I-5 viaduct through Medford anytime soon Our View: Minimum wage boost is no panacea Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, April 17 Letters to the Editor, April 16 Letters to the Editor, April 15 Letters to the Editor, April 14 Letters to the Editor, April 13 Columns Matthew T. Mangino: Mass incarceration enters the national consciousness Michael Gerson: Obama is desperately seeking a legacy Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics Kent Bush: Memories of Oklahoma City bombing still fresh 20 years later George Will: Sustainability gone wild Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Removing barriers to walking, biking benefits everyone Guest Opinion: Conversion therapy on LGBT youth is child abuse Guest Opinion: Pot opponents have good reason for concern Guest Opinion: If Courtney kills bill, $15 minimum wage will go to the ballot Guest Opinion: Phoenix embraces Bee City USA designation Lifestyle Latest stories Official hopeful whooping cough case at John Muir contained 6 trout to know App Finder: Best Earth Day apps Health Watch: How to avoid the dreaded weight-loss plateau Fishing Report: Friday, April 17 Food Tammy Kelly: Soft-shell crab is in season Community blog: Orange-blossom water enhances honey syrup High on flavor, low on calories: Cookbook offers tasty options for people trying to eat healthier Prudence Hilburn: Test-kitchen products become ‘secret’ specialties Community blog: Leave fruits whole for crumbles in a time crunch Home and Garden Carol Link: Tea olive shrubs can be propagated from new growth 12 ways ceiling fans keep you comfortable and save cash Dear Monty: Profiting with adaptive re-use Paul Rogers: Schedule your time wisely Home Help: 3 upgrades to help give your bathroom spa-like panache Health Official hopeful whooping cough case at John Muir contained Health Watch: How to avoid the dreaded weight-loss plateau Book Notes: A big body is not a bad body Go get physical Community blog: Better Living By Design: A Symposium You Must Not Miss Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Religion briefs: Friday, April 10 Religion briefs: Friday, April 3 Religion briefs: Friday, March 27 Milestones and Achievements Charlesworth-Murphy Drizzle doesn't dampen Pear Blossom Parade spirit New Arrivals: Sunday, April 12 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Five picks for entertainment this week L.A. rockers The Relationship play Howiee's Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship Rogue Valley Symphony and 3 Leg Torso mingle classical with modern chamber music Third Fridays celebrates poetry, student art Theater Ashland New Plays Festival chooses new artistic director A tale of two plays at OSF Oregon Cabaret Theatre's "The Musical!" delivers five clever Broadway parodies in Ashland OCT stages 'The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)' Auditions for youth musical set at Camelot Music Alex de Grassi and Andrew York play SOU Live Music in Local Clubs L.A. rockers The Relationship play Howiee's Joanne Rand at the Unitarian Fellowship Rogue Valley Symphony and 3 Leg Torso mingle classical with modern chamber music Community Events Third Fridays celebrates poetry, student art 'BRAND,' 'Western' among Ashland Independent Film Festival award winners Ashland Co-Dependent Film Festival 2015 Pear Blossom Festival kicks off in Medford Ashland Independent Film Festival announces 2015 lineup Dining Siam Cafe offers 'mild' to 'very spicy' Thai cuisine Restaurant inspections, April 12, 2015 La Tapatia offers authentically delicious cuisine RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS: Sunday, April 5 The Laughing Clam in Grants Pass offers seafood-heavy menu Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Jurors see shocking conditions of accused serial killer's farm ... Monica claims she never acted on murderous thoughts ... Governor Brown says Oregon 'back on track' in State of the State address ... Jurors see shocking conditions of accused serial killer's farm ... Monica claims she never acted on murderous thoughts ... Governor Brown says Oregon 'back on track' in State of the State address ... ANOTHER VIEW Kathleen Parker: Rolling Stone gathers dirt — on itself MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am Posted Apr. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> "As we asked ourselves how we could have gotten the story wrong ..." Thus read a Rolling Stone editor's note attached to a post-mortem story on the false story it published last fall about an alleged gang rape by members of University of Virginia's Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Such statements extract all the oxygen from the air that serious journalists breathe. "A Rape on Campus," which raised flags among other reporters and editors, as well as readers, alleged that "Jackie" went on a date to a fraternity house, where she was raped by seven men while at least one other stood by coaching. The Washington Post quickly compiled a long list of factual problems. Never mind the simply unbelievable nature of the description. My adult son, who is familiar with Virginia fraternities, sent me the story with the comment: "There's no way this happened." It was too incredible and over-the-top. "Statistically," he said, "there's no way there are that many sociopaths in one place." Even drunk? "No way." In his note to readers, Rolling Stone managing editor Will Dana wondered how this could have happened. Was it the process? The people? The fact-checkers? Poor everybody. Let's start here: If, as every reporter knows, you're supposed to check it out if your mother says she loves you, wouldn't one insist upon an even-higher standard for a stranger with a wild tale? In a much-belated stab at credibility, the magazine asked the Columbia Journalism School, which dispenses Pulitzer Prizes, to investigate what happened. How about everything? In its 13,000-word report, the school concluded that the entire narrative was "a story of journalistic failure that was avoidable." "The failure encompassed reporting, editing, editorial supervision and fact-checking. The magazine set aside or rationalized as unnecessary essential practices of reporting that, if pursued, would likely have led the magazine's editors to reconsider publishing Jackie's narrative so prominently, if at all. The published story glossed over the gaps in the magazine's reporting by using pseudonyms and by failing to state where important information had come from." Among those gaps was the writer's agreement in advance with "Jackie" not to interview any of the seven alleged attackers. What????  Was Jackie afraid the men would contradict her story? But of course they would have, and this single step would have prompted doubt — always a good wingman in such matters. More important, Sabrina Rubin Erdely would have been left not with a potentially prize-winning exposé but a he-said, she-said story that wouldn't hold up in any American newspaper newsroom. To be blunt, heads should be rolling at Rolling Stone. This is important not only as partial penance to the accused, the fraternity and the university but also for the sake of all journalists. Instead, publisher Jann Wenner has said that the episode was an isolated event and that Erdely would continue writing for the magazine. He also essentially blamed the alleged "victim," Jackie, whom he described as "a really expert fabulist storyteller." Not very manly, that. My own theory based on decades of reporting and writing about such issues is that this episode is likely a classic example of willing credulity in the service of The Story, if not evidence of an ideological bent. Erdely was willing to believe the worst about the frat boys because this is part of today's zeitgeist, especially in the context of rape statistics, which some social scientists have found to be grossly inflated. It seems the writer found a story she was predisposed to believe because it dovetailed with her purposes and, perhaps, with assumptions we've seen before, as on the similarly false story of rape by members of the Duke University lacrosse team in 2006. Erdely's purpose, though known only to her, is reflected in her decision to reject stories that were less sensational but more easily documented in favor of one that was thinly sourced but certain to grab attention. All reporters try to find the best story they can as a vehicle for a larger discussion. There's nothing wrong with this — as long as the story is true. But the collateral damage both to journalism and to women can't be overstated. Rape victims may be less willing to come forward because of the greater scrutiny justly required; people who rely on journalists to represent the truth as best they can may feel yet again that their trust is misplaced. The fraternity has announced plans to pursue legal action against Rolling Stone. As difficult as this is for the magazine and Erdely, I personally wish the fraternity the best of luck. Kathleen Parker's email address is [email protected]. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501