N&O Gloating?

Two readers – who otherwise praise the N&O’s coverage of Easley/Stategate – ask whether the newspaper is guilty of excessive end zone celebration.
 
They especially took issue with John Drescher’s column Saturday criticizing Bob Jordan, the interim trustees’ chairman.
 
One said, “I just think it had a little bit of sitting on the fence-post crowing.” 
 
Yes, they acknowledge, Jordan was wrong to accuse the N&O of “nitpicking” and trying to sell papers. But they maintain that was one slipup in an otherwise admirable performance by Jordan, who came off the bench to take a tough job at a tough time.
 
One observer at the press conference said Jordan made his remarks out of frustration after some goading by N&O reporters.
 
As a veteran of news conference scrums, I’ve seen patience run thin and tempers run high many a time. Some reporters are good at using the tension to extract unguarded, newsworthy comments.
 
The question here – and it has come up before – is whether Drescher’s columns have the unintended effect of making the N&O’s pursuit of a story appear to be personal rather than professional.
 
I don’t think that’s the case at all. But it’s one more sign of how the media’s performance can become an issue itself, especially in our new-media age.
 
 
As one of the critics I heard from said, “I do love the N & O and want it to be great.”
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Gary Pearce

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N&O Gloating?

Two readers – who otherwise praise the N&O’s coverage of Easley/Stategate – ask whether the newspaper is guilty of excessive end zone celebration.
 
They especially took issue with John Drescher’s column Saturday criticizing Bob Jordan, the interim trustees’ chairman.
 
One said, “I just think it had a little bit of sitting on the fence-post crowing.” 
 
Yes, they acknowledge, Jordan was wrong to accuse the N&O of “nitpicking” and trying to sell papers. But they maintain that was one slipup in an otherwise admirable performance by Jordan, who came off the bench to take a tough job at a tough time.
 
One observer at the press conference said Jordan made his remarks out of frustration after some goading by N&O reporters.
 
As a veteran of news conference scrums, I’ve seen patience run thin and tempers run high many a time. Some reporters are good at using the tension to extract unguarded, newsworthy comments.
 
The question here – and it has come up before – is whether Drescher’s columns have the unintended effect of making the N&O’s pursuit of a story appear to be personal rather than professional.
 
I don’t think that’s the case at all. But it’s one more sign of how the media’s performance can become an issue itself, especially in our new-media age.
 
 
As one of the critics I heard from said, “I do love the N & O and want it to be great.”
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Gary Pearce

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