Does Local Media Cover DUIs Too Much?

Among the questions raised by Tampa Tribune editor Janet Weaver's recent arrest on suspicion of Driving Under the Influence -- including whether she will keep her job -- is one many talented journalists have asked me.

Should local media cover DUI arrests so prominently?

The list of local journalism figures who have been pinched on this charge is long: WTSP anchor Reginald Roundtree (who insisted he was not impaired and pled guilty to a reckless driving charge), radio personality Nancy Alexander, now-deceased WFLA sports director Chris Thomas, Times sports writer Rick Stroud and outgoing Times TV critic Chase Squires to name a few.

The tradition of prominently covering DUI arrests of Times staffers dates back many years to the time former editor Eugene Patterson demanded his DUI arrest run on the front page. With that legacy, we have often aggressively covered the arrests of prominent local citizens and Times staffers, though not often on the front page.

I was surprised to note, while telling friends at a seminar at the Poynter Institute about this coverage pattern last year, that many prominent journalists there questioned why we covered DUI arrests at all -- saying such arrests were too common. Others suggested the arrest might be noted in a short story a few paragraphs long, with a longer story published if the person is convicted.

There seems to be a difference of opinion even among public comments on the Tampa Tribune's web site, with some arguing that the seriousness of drunk driving warrants the attention. I worry that the current hysteria surrounding many journalists' mistakes may unduly curb or crumple promising careers -- leading us to drum some people out of the profession without fully considering the circumstances.

What do you think? Have local media gone DUI crazy? Or, in a world where drunk driving arrests of actors in Hawaii can garner worldwide headlines, are we just doing our jobs?

LOST Producers: DUI Did Not Bring Death

Producers on ABC's hit series Lost insist that their move to cap actresses Michelle Rodriguez and Cynthia Watros in last week's episode had nothing to do with the women's arrest for DUI last year.

Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse told TVGuide.com that Rodriguez came to the show insisting her Ana Lucia character last just one year (though she seemed to waver in that conviction after a few months on the Lost success train). Watros' character may not be dead, though she was shot twice in the abdomen in last week's episode.

I just hope Evangeline Lilly has a driver standing by...

The View Loses Another Diva

Gleeful anticipation of actual on-air combat between newly hired co-host Rosie O'Donnell and her longtime nemesis Star Jones have faded following renewed rumors that Jones will be ousted from the show -- and a separate rumor that her replacement might be Oprah's gal pal Gayle King.

My question: Will ABC/Disney let King spend 20 minutes talking about her pal Oprah? And if not, will she have anything else to say?

Comments

[Khan of the Wastelands]

make fines and sentences for DUIs significantly harsher (if the above measures are enacted).Studies have shown that harsher punishment really is not an effective deterrent.Yeah I guess it is a sob story when someone you love dies, and it's because of the irresponsible action of another person. Everyone knows that driving while intoxicated is wrong, people do it anyway, perhaps if we know the consequences of those actions, people will take it more seriously. Perhaps there would be less "sob stories" thenNot "everyone" knows that drinking and driving is wrong.I've participated in the classes where you drink a few beers and an officer tests your reaction time and gives you a mini-field sobriety test. I've never experienced any reduction at the .08 level nor did I have any trouble with the test.A blanket law of .08 for everyone is just plain silly. If someone is impaired, it shouldn't matter if their BAC is .08 or .03, they should be arrested.But if someone is obviously NOT impaired, and they are capable of passing a field sobriety test, they should not be punished.You know what kills more people on the road than drunk drivers?Fatigue.Yet we don't have officers out there asking people if they've been sleeping recently.And BTW, the number ONE killer of people on the road is speeding, yet we hardly ever see any push by groups to get more cops out there to stop speeders.The truth is we live in a state where people would much rather pocket an extra $50 every year in tax breaks rather than have safe roads.Increasing punishment on the people who DO get caught breaking the law is not proven in any way to increase the general safety of society. Increasing the prescence of the police IS proven to work.

[Anonymous]

the way we fight DUIs is ass-backwards. the good fight is keep the drivers from getting behind the wheel in the first place, not grabbing them when they are already behind the wheel.i will preface the following by saying i am quite fond of a (few) ice cold beers now and then. luckily, i live within walking distance of a watering hole. but what i propose will hit me in the wallet. oh well, if it saves a life.try getting a cab or even a bus at night or even better on weekends. good luck! at worst this area needs more buses available at night and on weekends, not less!if this area ever gets mass transit (trains), it would certainly curtail drunk driving considerably.but what i propose is a tax on alcohol sales. the proceeds from this tax would go to a pool that would reimburse people who have to take a cab or bus (or hopefully in the near future, a train).i know the following sounds stupid and is likely impractical for insurance reasons, but...if need be cops could give people a ride home. i'm guessing they would rather do that than respond to a DUI crash. hell, maybe hire a resource officer that only does this?make fines and sentences for DUIs significantly harsher (if the above measures are enacted).if these elements transpired, most would be happy. people who have a few can get home safe without driving, bars will make more money because of increased business, cab companies will make more cash and those who generally depend on buses will have more options to choose from.it's a complete win-win.btw, why doesn't pinellas county wise up and allow package liquor sales after midnight? so it's ok to go to a bar and drink after midnight but it's not ok to get a six-pack and go drink at home?that's whacked.

[Anonymous]

As someone who lost a familoy member to an accident involving a drunk driver. It is ALWAYS important to go public with those arrests. and as for this comment.." especially when papers love to run sob stories about madd and sadd and the fatal legacies left by all the little guy drunk drivers." Sob story? Yeah I guess it is a sob story when someone you love dies, and it's because of the irresponsible action of another person. Everyone knows that driving while intoxicated is wrong, people do it anyway, perhaps if we know the consequences of those actions, people will take it more seriously. Perhaps there would be less "sob stories" then

[Anonymous]

"Not that I have any particular moral qualms about getting behind the wheel after say 3 beers, but it just isn't worth the thousands of dollars it costs"That's probably what Weaver said, and that's why she's where she is now. The laws aren't targeting the egregious offenders; they're targeting the social drinker that has a drink with dinner. Presently, as the law exists, if you've had any alcohol, and the officer is looking to meet his/her quota (whey they are), you'll be arrested, even after one drink.

[Anonymous]

Not that I have any particular moral qualms about getting behind the wheel after say 3 beers, but it just isn't worth the thousands of dollars it costs ain't that the truth. that alone is a deterent. i've got a lot better ways and ideas on how to spend $5,000.I've started looking to see if I can find any white people who've been pulled over and the only ones I find are driving junkers. yep. if you drive any vehicle older than five years and isn't waxed regularly, you are a virtual red flag for cops.

[tommy]

Most coverage of celebrity is too much, including such things as DUI. However, many readers are interested in that completely irrelevant subject (celebrity, not DUI).I worry that the current hysteria surrounding many journalists' mistakes may unduly curb or crumple promising careers -- leading us to drum some people out of the profession without fully considering the circumstances.I have spoken to a number of local reporters, and they are very worried - especially after the "resignation" of Gina Vivinetto.It is interesting to see how all media - used to being in charge of the spotlight - now find that spotlight quite blinding. And it's turning you into cannibals.However, the "hysteria" (and it is hysteria) about journalists mistakes is not the only reason circulation is falling.

[Khan of the Wastelands]

i'm confident you are immediately aware when your license plate bulb goes out. or a side panel light?I consider myself very fortunate that I live in an area nice enough where people just pull up along side me and tell me.If nobody does, and the cops pull me over for it, I'm confident in knowing I will not have been drinking because I won't get behind the wheel after I've had more than 2 beers.Not that I have any particular moral qualms about getting behind the wheel after say 3 beers, but it just isn't worth the thousands of dollars it costs you should some cop decide to be a little extra vigilant.----I should also mention that one thing I've noticed at least in St. Petersburg, it's almost impossible to get pulled over if you're white.I've started looking to see if I can find any white people who've been pulled over and the only ones I find are driving junkers.

[Anonymous]

janet weaver doesnt get it. she told 'editor & publisher' magazine that she might use her mug shot on a christmas card. har-har. drunk driving is very funny.the woman hasnt learned anything from this because her sense of entitlement and power tripping is too strong.she has shown, however, a mastery of pr and spin.her drunken driving arrest is on page 1 today, while metro features the sentencing of another drunken driver who killed someone. how can weaver lead the tribune anymore? she needs to take a leave until her case is settled, then resign immediately if convicted.

[Anonymous]

Please don't try and make it sound as if you are oppressed when you are just too lazy to obey the damn traffic laws and replace the bulbs that burn out in your car. i'm confident you are immediately aware when your license plate bulb goes out. or a side panel light?my, we should all be blessed with such a sixth sense. point was, cops will pull you over for anything while fishing for DUIs or drugs. one doesn't have to swerve.(btw, weaver was apparently speeding. that's an invitation to be pulled over).

[Anonymous]

This is all about money. Period. The counties make a ton off these arrests. The law is out of control and serves only to punish the social drinker. .08 is not drunk.

[Khan of the Wastelands]

weaver's got a one-year-old baby at home, so what was she doing out getting loaded at midnight on a monday night?Imagine this..... Her HUSBAND or SO may have been watching the child.Or should a woman stay chained to the stove until her kid turns 18?who was she getting plastered with?Ugh! Why does this matter? If she were getting 'Plastered' with someone other than her husband, does this now become a fireable offense?And I'd like to second the notion that .81 is hardly getting plastered. That's about 2 beers for a woman her size.OMG! WHO WAS THIS WOMAN HAVING TWO BEERS WITH?!?!?!?!?!Please launch a full investigation. (eyeroll)you won't believe how many times i've been pulled over by cops who are on fishing expeditions: you have a tailight out, a headlight out, your blinker didn't work, and, an oldie but a goodie: your license plate light is not on.Boo effing hoo.Here's an idea, pay the $1.95 to get a replacement bulb for your taillight or blinker and you won't have to worry about cops pulling you over at 1 AM.You see when you are the only car on the road, and you have a taillight out, you stand out like a sore thumb.Please don't try and make it sound as if you are oppressed when you are just too lazy to obey the damn traffic laws and replace the bulbs that burn out in your car.

[Anonymous]

she must have been weaving or crawling in order to attract the cops attention.not neccesarily.you won't believe how many times i've been pulled over by cops who are on fishing expeditions: you have a tailight out, a headlight out, your blinker didn't work, and, an oldie but a goodie: your license plate light is not on.(btw, st. pete beach cops are notorious for this.)each time, one of the first things out of the cop's mouth (after a light is shined in your face), "have you been drinking?" and each time (luckily), "no sir, i haven't."i think my all-time favorite excuse for getting pulled over came in college:i was coming home from work and a BMW pulled out in front of me about 11 p.m. on a well-traveled two-lane suburban street. i actually had to tap the brakes he/she was so close to hitting me.the BMW then proceeded to go 20 MPH in a 35 MPH zone.the vanity plate on the BMW? "EDITOR"(i couldn't make this stuff up).why did the cop pull me over? i was following EDITOR too close, even though EDITOR was driving 15 MPH below the speed limit.of course EDITOR was not pulled over, but me driving a plymouth horizon was. when the cop asked if i was drinking, he freaked when i showed him my six-pack (in the bag still) and said, "not yet.""what do you mean not yet?"i pointed to my apartment complex two blocks away and told him how much i was looking forward to watching a baseball game and drinking a couple of cold ones.fortunately, officer rommel let me go home.my guess is, cop pulled weaver over, fishing. smelled wine and, well, book 'er danno.

[Anonymous]

ya gotta love the trib's spin on this. weaver is quoted as saying she wants the public to know of her bust. like she had a choice! every tv and radio station in town wd have run the story the second they heard it. let alone papers from the sptimes to la gaceta.how many times has the trib run drunken driving hand-wringers telling readers to call a cab, use a designated driver, take the bus, call daddy, anything but drive.not sure where weavers defenders are coming from on pooh-poohing her blood alcohol level. drunk is drunk. slow reflexes. she must have been weaving or crawling in order to attract the cops attention.she shd go on a long unpaid leave until her court case is settled, at least. maybe she shd join patrick kennedy up at hazeldon.

[Anonymous]

weaver's got a one-year-old baby at homebeing a grizzled veteran of many, many, many nights of consuming mass quanities of adult beverages, i hardly call .081 "loaded." that's not even getting warmed up.but yes, very interesting. i did not know she had a toddler at home. and given the fact this was past the bewitching hour on a monday evening no less... yes, very interesting.a caution: i'm not sure how hands-on she is, but if ms. weaver is a hands-on editor, that means she puts in hours at night like the rest of the slugs (reporters/copy editors). if ms. weaver actually does this, "dinner" is much later than it is normally for the 9-5 working class.

[Anonymous]

many questions....weaver's got a one-year-old baby at home, so what was she doing out getting loaded at midnight on a monday night?who was she getting plastered with?and where? the trib's carefully crafted version said somewhere on davis island is where was out 'having dinner.' ahem. after midnight? come, come now.appears weaver can kiss goodbye any thought of succeeding gil thelen as trib publisher, no?

[Anonymous]

interesting formerly.if weaver stays (i'd lean towards letting her stay. it wasn't like she plowed through barricades on I-275 or hit a buccaneers cheerleader... see if you can guess which "personality" did which).if weaver stays, then there's no way you can launch an underling for the same offense (unless, of course, you are looking for a reason to unload someone).a good point formerly: some of these people (the sports copy editor for the tribune for example) are hardly public figures. he has the same public recognition as your garden variety accountant, maybe less so.

[formerly mr anonymous]

i dont see how you cd ignore it when the top editor gets caught drunk driving. especially when papers love to run sob stories about madd and sadd and the fatal legacies left by all the little guy drunk drivers.when rank and file reporters get caught? tough call. id say leave it out. they arent public figures.when tv people get caught? gotta go with writing them up. too high profile to ignore. the price of fame, etc etc.fascinating how the hair splitters and defenders come out on weavers foul up, though. i say shes lost moral authority to lead. time to step aside.

[Anonymous]

I worry that the current hysteria surrounding many journalists' mistakes may unduly curb or crumple promising careers -- leading us to drum some people out of the profession without fully considering the circumstances.indeed!bravo eric, bravo! the word you used ("hysteria") is exactly what this is. it's gone overboard. noble of your former editor to paste his story on the front page, but it has gotten a little excessive when the tribune runs an eight paragraph story on a copy editor (not a reporter; not a columnist; not an upper management editor) on the sports desk who got popped for a dui.what would be interesting to come out of this story is what exactly is the difference in sobriety from blowing an 0.081 (barely over the legal limit) compared to, say, 0.079 (a minute fraction of a difference chemically, but financially, thousands of dollars difference).