San Diego North County Times says there were just as many pro war people

[revree]

Progressives-

This is outrageous. The North County Times is reporting that there were
just as many counter-protesters to the peace rally in Balboa Park as
there were at the rally itself.

If you were there, you know this is blatantly false. I personally saw
only about a dozen people along the parade route, not organized but
making their opinion known nonetheless. I didn't even see the
counter-protest at the park, but my wife did and she saw only about a
dozen war supporters.

So why is the North County Times reporting this:

Anti-war protestors greeted by equal number of pro-troop supporters


http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/09/25/news/sandiego/20_12_149_24_05
.txt

Apparently the reporter, who hasn't even got the guts to sign a byline
to this load of crap, thinks he saw 1000 war supporters countering the
peace rally.

If you were there, please write them and tell them to correct this
falsehood. And spread the word.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. Does this rag

have a RW rep?

[cascadiance]

2. They probably stole it from the local Fox affiliate here (XETV)...

XETV.com is running the same story here:

http://www.fox6.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=37C9C915-17C3-4AF3-BD08-295D57CE2AA4

So it doesn't surpise me that Rupert Murdoch's propaganda minions are at it again!

[Maat]

3. I will.

They own our local 'Californian' too.

How silly!

I was there, and literally only saw ONE pro-Bush/War supporter. And she appeared to be a mentally-ill streetperson (of the schizophrenic variety).

Just verified with my 9-year-old: she was the ony Bush-supporter there = unless you count the obviously pro-Bush cop that was keeping an eye on my segment of the marchers. He looked like he was in pain.

On further edit:
Looks like the article was pulled; I couldn't get the link to work.

[cascadiance]

4. I thought so too, but I think the link isn't entered properly....

Missing ".txt" at the end of it.. Here is one that works:

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/09/25/news/sandiego/20_12_149_24_05.txt

[Maat]

5. Thanks. That article contains outright lies.

I went out and bought a "Californian" newspaper. The actual newsprint appeared to be accurate, stating that 2,000+ anti-war demonstrators showed up, with only a few representing the other side. Now, THAT was on target.

Actually, I failed to see the 'few' representing the other side, but that's fine.

[Mr Rabble]

6. Here is my LTTE:

Dear Sir(s), Your coverage of the San Diego Anti-War protest this weekend was inaccurate and misleading. This war is clearly opposed by a majority of the population, and yet you claim this:

Anti-war protestors greeted by equal number of pro-troop supporters

By: North County Times wire services SAN DIEGO - Activists opposed to the war in Iraq faced off in Balboa Park Saturday against supporters of America's troops, but the demonstrations were peaceful, authorities said. One counter-demonstrator told KFMB-TV her group didn't have an agenda; they just wanted to thank the troops. A crowd estimate was not immediately available, but television reports said about 1,000 people attended both rallies. /end

As all pictures and first hand accounts have shown, 90% of those in attendance were against the war. The Pro-War protesters numbered in the 10's. Not 100's, or 1000's- 10's.

Please try to be somewhat accurate in your coverage of this growing movement to bring our troops home, or run the risk of being relegated to tabloid status.

Jason Levitt

[svenj]

7. I was there!

And was also appalled when I read the NCTimes false "news story." Like others, I would estimate there were about a dozen pro-war "protest warriors." According to the San Diego Union, I guess I'm being generous since they say there were "a group of 10 or so" counter-protestors:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20050925-9999-1m25protest.html

I'm not really surprised at the NCTimes blatant lie, however. They are famously known for their bias, and lack of accountability in their journalism. They frequently post opinion pieces as authored by "NCTimes editorial", rather than sign an actual name to it.

I plan to write them a nasty letter as well. I think we should all demand a correction and an apology from them.

Sven, Oceanside

[cascadiance]

8. it would be nice if we could clarify the source of this Pravdaspeak!

Since it is an unattributed story in both the Fox 6 TV news site (XETV) and on NC Times, my guess is that one supplied the other with the story (without their own reporters going to the rally), or perhaps yet another third party provided both of them with the story, which we should find out who that entity is. If it is someone connected to the Republican Party, there should be HELL to pay for that sort of manipulation of the press!

In our LTTE efforts, we should demand who the source of this article was, so that we can clarify who the originator of this trash was, and properly berate those who were too lazy to send their own reporters to the rally themselves and not getting decent news sources to provide them with information in lieu of doing so.

[svenj]

9. I sent mine

I sent the NCTimes my letter, although I doubt they'll print it. I did buy their paper this afternoon for the first time since I cancelled it last year. I wasn't able to find it, although I didn't sift through every page of their rag. If this article is in printed form, it's buried. I found no mention of the protest in Balboa Park. Anyone else find it, besides in the Californian? Anyhow, here's what I sent them:

As someone who attended the anti-war demonstration in Balboa Park this past Saturday, I was appalled to read the headline from the NCTimes: "Anti-war protestors greeted by equal number of pro-troop supporters." What little faith I had in your papers journalistic integrity is now completely gone. I can assure you: you are wrong. Your article is a lie. There were more like 2,000 anti-war demonstrators, and only a handful of pro-war "Protest Warriors" in attendance. Who is the source of this "North County TImes wire services" lie of yours? The San Diego Union was able to get their facts correct on this story. Why couldn't your paper? As recent polls have shown, opposition to the war is growning, yet it would seem your paper is attempting to distort that perception. A correction and an apology is owed to your readers.

[Oeditpus Rex]

10. I've never seen the NC Times

except for the occasional online glance, but a friend in Oceanside tells me it's pretty right-wing.

I can tell you that something's seriously wrong in that newsroom, because they're constantly advertising for copy editors and reporters — more than any paper I've ever seen. It's a Lee Enterprises paper, so pay and benefits suck. (They suck throughout the industry, but Lee and Gannett suck the most.) But something else must be wrong, because no paper the size of the Times that I know of has such turnover.

BTW, an unsigned editorial is one that reflects the opinion of a paper's editorial board; it's the "paper's" viewpoint, though reporters and line editors are never consulted. Editorials are as old as newspapers themselves and are to be differentiated from opinion columns, which are signed by the writer. And if a story has a "staff report" byline or no byline at all, it was ripped from a wire service or another outside source, perhaps a press release.