Monday, September 21, 2009

Give the man a break

I just read this story in the Daily News, about yesterday's rally to save the White Hen Pantry on Pond St. I did not attend, by the way.

The only comment I have is that James Shanley did NOT just stand up and parrot New England Development's stance and then run out the door.

He actually told people that he had moved his pharmacy business to Lynch Pharmacy, and he suggested they do the same if they are upset with CVS.

Honest, I was there - and I reported what he said in the Current. He also sat and listened for a bit more before he left.

And besides - he was right, it is a done deal.

This is not an endorsement of James Shanley (I'm not doing endorsements), but the story that's out there just is not what actually happened.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

False information or misleading information seem to be the norm nowadays. People are tuning out and this is an example why, whether it's agenda-driven, politically-driven, an attention grabber. Who knows.

Anonymous said...

Nowadays?

Gillian Swart said...

I think in the past there was some accountablity. Newspapers always have been partial but I think not as irresponsible/careless/whatever. Fact checkers and proofreaders have been booted out the door and cable news seem never to have used those functions at all.

Tom Salemi said...

Well, newspapers never had fact checkers, not daily ones anyway. No real time for that.

As for the inclusion in the story, the reporter clearly tried to layer in some political ties with the charges, but you're right. She shouldn't just repeat the charges without providing some context.

The irony is the Daily News didn't even mention Shanley's comments when they reported on the actual meeting. But now they see fit on reporting the recalling of his comments at the meeting.

I agree with your sentiments, however, but this--the charges, not the reporting of the charges--go with the whole demonizing, demagoguery and "dark siding" being flung around by some, including bloggers.

Gillian Swart said...

Actually, Tom, I did mis-write about fact checkers because I know the Globe still has them. I was all paranoid about something last year when I was a correspondent and the asst. editor laughed and told me they had fact checkers. Stringers are required to note by a code that they verified the spelling of names and other such facts, though ... and yeah, I noticed at the time that Shanley's comments were not in the original DN story about the meeting. Since he is the ward councillor, I made sure they were in my story. Would have done no matter what he said and would have noted it had he said nothing.

Tom Salemi said...

Fair point by you, but I've never seen them at this level on daily article.

Anonymous said...

i was at the meeting and that is essentially exactly what shanely did. i think, gillian, you are bending a bit to far in the other direction...

Gillian Swart said...

No, sorry anon. I took notes, which I have in front of me. He said he had spoken to NED and "that deal has been signed and they're going forward." Then he went on about changing prescriptions to Lynch, which is what he did even though it's a little more expensive, then he also recommended "buying what you can" at Warren Market and then he sat back down. I noted when he left in my notes but I can't tell how long after that it was (just that a few other people had spoken). I'm not bending anything; that is what happened.

Anonymous said...

he left right after that. as a candidate for mayor and the councilor for the ward involved, everyone at the meeting expected more from him. i'm happy you took notes, but i was there as well.

Gillian Swart said...

Can't argue w/that point, anonymous. I simply thought it was being categorized incorrectly as him shilling for NED - but he still could/should have stayed longer ... the mayor and Bob Cronin stayed for the whole thing.