Post by Hardcorehunter on Aug 23, 2007 22:34:11 GMT -5
The MD independent called me last week and said they were sending out a reporter to cover the expo. When she came on Saturday I never saw or talked to her but I heard she was there and taking pictures. I called her Tuesday morning to ask if she had found everything OK and she said her camera had acted up and she had a couple pictures. Also wanted to confirm a few "hundred" people had attended. I explained a few "thousand" had attended and she said she wrote hundreds and would correct it before the paper came out. The following is what was published on the front page on Wednesday:
"Hundreds of local residents showed up Saturday for the Southern Maryland Hunting & Outdoor Expo at the Charles County fairgrounds near La Plata. Displays and activities included taxidermy exhibits, hunting dogs, rock climbing, hunting gear and an archery tournament. Seth Lunceford, 3, of Waldorf imagines taking a spin on a camouflage all-terrain vehicle on display during the expo" with a picture of a cute kid on a four wheeler. That was the whole story.
Now I feel that printing facts that are incorrect is bad in it self. But the fact she wrote hundreds actually sounds like the expo was a flop! That nobody came. Even though it exceeded our and everyone else's expectations. It tells people who didn't come, "oh well I guess I didn't miss anything" . It tells potential sponsors who told me it wasn't worth there time to be there "yup I was right" It would have been better for the expo if they had never attended. I feel they did the expo a terrible disservice by printing hundreds. Lazy journalism in my opinion and it has been eating away at me since Wednesday morning.
I would ask everyone on this site to email or write the editor in chief a respectful letter explain your concern of the implications of reporting false news and the ability for that news to affect an expo for outdoorsman by casting a negative, it was a disappointing turnout, light on it. I don't know if it will do any good, but maybe a follow up piece can be done. If you want to add anything positive about the expo feel free. Kids involved with hunting, hunting community bonding, local success, or whatever.
Thanks guys!
To reach the Maryland Independent newsroom,
contact Editor Angela Breck at 301-645-9480, Ext. 218, or e-mail abreck@somdnews.com
Maryland Independent
7 Industrial Park Drive
Waldorf, MD 20602
301-645-9480/301-843-9600
"Hundreds of local residents showed up Saturday for the Southern Maryland Hunting & Outdoor Expo at the Charles County fairgrounds near La Plata. Displays and activities included taxidermy exhibits, hunting dogs, rock climbing, hunting gear and an archery tournament. Seth Lunceford, 3, of Waldorf imagines taking a spin on a camouflage all-terrain vehicle on display during the expo" with a picture of a cute kid on a four wheeler. That was the whole story.
Now I feel that printing facts that are incorrect is bad in it self. But the fact she wrote hundreds actually sounds like the expo was a flop! That nobody came. Even though it exceeded our and everyone else's expectations. It tells people who didn't come, "oh well I guess I didn't miss anything" . It tells potential sponsors who told me it wasn't worth there time to be there "yup I was right" It would have been better for the expo if they had never attended. I feel they did the expo a terrible disservice by printing hundreds. Lazy journalism in my opinion and it has been eating away at me since Wednesday morning.
I would ask everyone on this site to email or write the editor in chief a respectful letter explain your concern of the implications of reporting false news and the ability for that news to affect an expo for outdoorsman by casting a negative, it was a disappointing turnout, light on it. I don't know if it will do any good, but maybe a follow up piece can be done. If you want to add anything positive about the expo feel free. Kids involved with hunting, hunting community bonding, local success, or whatever.
Thanks guys!
To reach the Maryland Independent newsroom,
contact Editor Angela Breck at 301-645-9480, Ext. 218, or e-mail abreck@somdnews.com
Maryland Independent
7 Industrial Park Drive
Waldorf, MD 20602
301-645-9480/301-843-9600
