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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Associated Press report on SOA protest written by former Army Sergeant |
Current rating: 0 |
by Brian Turner
(No verified email address) |
20 Nov 2001
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The summary issued by the Associated Press of the SOA rally and vigil was written by former staff sergeant for Army Link News Elliot Minor. The unrepresentative depiction of the protesters and other unsubstantial claims violate the agency's commitment to fair and objective reporting. |
It was with shame that I discovered Elliot Minor, author of the AP report distributed from the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, CNN, and many other news agencies, to be a former sergeant and writer for the Army Link Press. Most of his journalism for AP in the past has been on agricultural issues in Georgia. I question whether he was commissioned to do this report from a higher power with a desire to keep the wave of patriotism and flag waving high.
News agencies are allowed to print whatever they deem fit from AP reports. None that I found excluded the statement: "Between 6,000 and 7,000 protesters carried signs reading `Imperialist Assassins' and `Terrorists are US.'" This claim is extremely unrepresentative of the group present for the Sunday vigil and march. He neglects to mention the thousands wearing buttons claiming "Peace is Patriotic," broad generational divide, and religious groups present.
Furthermore, Mr. Elliot's name is not even listed on the AP webpage of trusted reporters (www.ap.org). Ask the AP why they would commission a former staff sergeant to commission such an important article about this sensitive issue. Tell them that it is a violation of their supposed commitment to objective media presentation at:
212-621-1500
For an example of Mr. Minor's previous work see: http://www.dtic.mil/armylink/news/Jan1998/a19980112clinton.html
To see his FULL report online check:
http://www2.bostonherald.com/news/national/ap_army11192001.htm |
See also:
http://atlanta.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=2965&group=webcast
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