Determination
90
Minnesota
News Council
In the Matter of the Complaint of
William McGaughey against the Star Tribune
William McGaughey, a member of the Men's Rights Association,
based in Forest Lake, complained that an April 21, 1991, Star Tribune
article in which he was quoted was biased and that the reporter deceived
him about its nature to induce him to grant her an interview.
In attendance at the hearing were complainant William
McGaughey, and Star Tribune staff: managing editor Tim McGuire, reader
representative Lou Gelfand, and reporter Donna Halvorsen.
Background: The Men's Rights Association was
named as one of several groups advocating greater consideration for
men by courts and social service agencies in divorce and custody cases
and in those domestic violence cases in which men are victims.
McGaughey complained that the Star Tribune told him
it wanted to do a story on men's rights advocacy but that it actually
did a negative profile of one advocate, George Gilliland, Sr. McGaughey
further complained that the reporter exhibited bias by using a quote
from him that unfairly made him look cynical and foolish, and the
reporter willfully neglected to include information provided to her
that would give credibility to men's advocates' arguments.
Media Outlet Response: Regarding deception,
the newspaper said that, as in many cases, a story idea that starts
out with one focus goes through a process of discovery that may shift
that focus. When the reporter interviewed McGaughey, she was gathering
information on men's rights advocacy groups; by the time she was ready
to write the story, Gilliland had emerged as a vivid symbol of male
activities and as the focus. No deception was intended or committed,
they assert.
The newspaper further said that neither the reporter
nor the article was biased and that material McGaughey had wanted
included in the article appeared to the reporter and her editors as
unsubstantiated. They chose not to use it. The managing editor said
he believed the editing process - with as many as five sets of eyes
examining a story before publication - provided protection for readers,
sources and the newspaper.
Determination: The Council voted unanimously
to deny both grievances (bias and deception).
October 25, 1991
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Determination 91
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