hard deadlines

Today's Providence Journal featured an article on the proposed education funding formula written without any balance. I'm the first one to admit that every journalist has a perspective — I put it right in my masthead — but if you are going to actually use the dog-whistle phrase "supporters say," you bloody well better wrassle up someone to offer the other side. I've sent the e-mail below to the ProJo.

From: John McDaid
Date: March 4, 2010 9:05:52 AM EST
To: jjordan@projo.com
Cc: editor@projo.com
Subject: Feedback on your article on funding formula

Hi, Ms. Jordan...
While I do thank you for your ongoing coverage of education issues in Rhode Island, I have to query today's story on the proposed RI funding formula for its lack of alternate perspective.

I am not a fan of what press critic Jay Rosen derides as "he said, she said" reporting, but if you are going to use the phrase "Supporters...say," journalistic ethics would indicate that you owe your readers at least an acknowledgement that not everyone agrees.

Also, unless you have more information than RIDE made public (or provided to the Board of Regents in their packets for today) I'd like to know if you have actually been able to use the formula to calculate the amount for any town? You might ask Deputy Commissioner Abbott to provide the necessary backup (I did).

And did you ask Commissioner Gist about the implications for towns at cap under S3050? I did, and broke the news that she will be supporting changes to the tax cap.

I've been covering this all week, so if you're having trouble locating someone for a counterpoint quote, please feel free to put me in your Rolodex.

Best Regards.
--John G. McDaid
harddeadlines.com