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Fact Checkers Laid Off?
By JOHN F. KUCZAJ
A story in the metro section of Tuesday's Sun-Times got my blood boiling.
In "No shelter for posh suburb" (http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-shelter08.html), Art Golab wrote about the resistance an Inverness Catholic Church is experiencing in trying to open a homeless shelter. The gist of the story is that some of the residents in the affluent suburb would rather not help any homeless people in the area.
I suppose in Inverness, the spirit of giving and "good will toward men" only applies during the Christmas season, but the spirit of NIMBY applies year-round. The idea of some rich a**holes peeing on the homeless ticked me off royally. Sure, the opponents are non-Catholics who oppose the teachings of the Catholic faith, but I also had a particular problem with a reference to phantom statistics.
As written: 'The statistics that are available show there is a higher than normal incidence of crime among the homeless, and that as the homeless population goes up, the crime rate goes up exponentially,'' Doug Fender said.
On the one hand, this guy is making a reference to statistics without showing the statistics. I'd like to see those stats. Where did they come from? When were they compiled? How to they apply to the homeless in Inverness? Interestingly, I have statistics that show a higher than normal incidence of domestic violence among the affluent residents of Inverness. How about those statistics? Sounds pretty bad for Inverness, huh? I suppose it would be if it were true instead of something I just made up. Yet if you insert such a statement quoting statistics, is it not imperative that the reporter verify the statement's validity?
I think it is. While it ticked me off that a guy was quoting phantom statistics that he probably made up, I was more incensed that Art Golab did not take the time to verify those stats. All he had to do was ask the guy for his source-I'm sure he'd be more than happy to reveal where the stats came from.
Assuming they weren't made up.
Who's That Lady?
By JOHN F. KUCZAJ
In Wednesday's Sun-Times, both Richard Roeper (http://www.suntimes.com/output/roeper/cst-nws-roep09.html) and Phil Rosenthal (http://www.suntimes.com/output/television/cst-ftr-phil09a.html) referenced channel 32's odd "Who's that Lady" promotion of morning weatherperson Michelle Leigh.
Toot-toot! (that's my own horn) Check it out--I had it first in the August 20, 2001 issue (v03n26) of the CME.
I think it's sad that it's taken the silly CNN/Paula Zahn incident for them-Rosenthal in particular-to criticize that heinous WFLD promo. Oh, well.
The Spirit of Christmas
By JASON HANSON
On Christmas day, WGN ran a 5 minute story by Julian Crews about inmates in the Cook County jail and how they are inspiring each other by being in gospel choirs and singing gospel music. The criminals in the story were portrayed in such a light as to be pitied, yet at no time did Crews mention what crimes they committed (allegedly). I thought the story was highly irresponsible and biased by omitting the crimes that the inmates are in jail for. How sympathetic would people be to know that the poor, sweet, sad woman singing in the choir is in jail for stabbing a senior citizen? Or maybe robbing a store? Or for being a coke whore? I guess the spirit of Christmas has nothing to do with balanced reporting.
BLATANT PROMO ALERT!
Check out the Chicago Reader for info about Sketch fest (http://www.chicagoreader.com/specevent/SKETCH2002.html). If you like good sketch comedy, come out and see a show. If you are interested in publicly ridiculing the CME publisher, check out the January 13, 20 & 27th shows when my group, "Funny How" performs.
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