Determination
15
Minnesota
News Council
In the Matter of the Complaint of
Izaak Walton League of America
against the Duluth News-Tribune
David N. Zentner, national vice president of the
Izaak Walton League of America, complained that an article about land
use regulations in the North Shore area of northeastern Minnesota
was unobjective and that because it was based in part on rumors, it
was inflammatory.
Background: At issue was the content and organization
of the news report, which began with rumors that were circulating
in North Shore communities concerning possible land use regulations.
Zentner claimed the story was inflammatory because the clarifying
information was presented toward the end of the article.
Response of the news organization: A newspaper
spokesperson said the reports of rumors were included because the
rumors had been reported in weekly newspapers and, regardless of their
truth or falsity, they were influencing public opinion. The spokesperson
pointed out that factual information was also presented to counter
the rumors.
Determination of the Council: Although it
is a generally accepted tenet of journalism that news reports should
not be based on rumor, in this instance reports of rumors were included
because of the widespread influence of rumors on public perception
of the issue under discussion.
The newspaper did not act irresponsibly; the author
of the article made appropriate efforts to present factual information
to counter rumors.
The complaint against the newspaper is not upheld.
June 30, 1975
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