When TBT Crosses the Line, What's a Times Media Critic To Do?

The first thing I want my readers to know, is that I didn't have anything to do with the TBT headline in print editions today on the John Winter story: He Died of Shame.

The impact of TBT's in-your-face headlines sometimes brings friction. Some reporters have worked hard to develop reputations for fairness on their beats, only to see a saucy headline slapped on the version of their story published in TBT, damaging that reputation in an instant.

My name is apparently included in TBT's story today on WFLA meteorologist John Winter's suicide because they used material from a story I wrote nearly two months ago. Ironically,the point of that story was that suicide is rarely the result of a single event, particularly when the person has been struggling with depression the way Winter was.

What upset me most about today's headline was its adoption of a misconception that suicide prevention activists have been fighting for years: that a single incident can "cause" suicide. It's like believing a shocking surprise can cause a heart attack -- it happens sometimes, but more often the culprit is a longstanding problem festering over a long period.

Given that the online edition bears a different headline as I write this, I wonder if somebody else in Timesland isn't similarly disappointed.

When Winter killed himself, I heard from suicide prevention activists from all over the country, begging us to be sensitive about how these things happen. I spent time on the phone with Winter's family, and even though they declined to talk to me, I promised to handle my reporting as respectfully as possible and was proud of the story which resulted.

Now I'm fielding a call from the general manager at WFTS-Ch. 28, where Winter's father works, who says they are desperately trying to grab all copies of the newspaper from the building before Jack shows up for work and sees them. I know we do lots of stories that others might not want their loved ones to see, but in this case, the headline didn't have to be as blunt or as misguided.

I'm also NOT distancing myself from our reporting on the details just before Winter's death, especially police reports detailing his admission he'd had an affair.  There were too many rumors flying about to avoid telling the community what the police revealed in public documents about his suicide. I'm still wondering why journalists at WFLA-Ch. 8 didn't seem to reference this material at all during their broadcasts last night.

But such reporting  also needs to be handled with some sensitivity and context.

All I can do now is use this space, which I control more than any other area of Timesland, to express my own objections to this awful cover and disassociate myself from it much as I can.

Wonder how long it's going to take me to live this one down?

Comments

[loose ends]

has anyone looked into the affair> I believe the person he had an affair with (Gayle Guyardo) also cause a nasty incident with another person she was apparently having an affair with. That person wrote some very revealing if not sexually explicit, info on her. In the end she destroyed his career and life. Seems she's a black widow, any man involved with her ends up dead or might as well be dead.

[Eric Deggans]

Just about every critic at the St. Petersburg Times is also a reporter. we don't have the budget to split up our critical duties from our reporting responsiblities.

if i make a mistake or go too far, there are plenty of media outlets in town who could do stories, if they choose. And we also have letters to the editor. And comments on this very blog.

I think readers have more information to judge my reporting becasue they know where I stand on issues. they can tell if my stands affect the fairness of my reporting. can't really do that with a reporter whose opinions you don't know.

So i think there are advantages and disadvantages to each setup...

[Ashlynn]

Is it fair that you're the media critic AND a reporter? Who critiques your work when you're on the news side -- and when you make a mistake or go too far?

It seems like you should be able to do only one or the other.

[Wayne]

James: Probably for the same reason you feel the need to. Hypocrite.

[James]

I don't know why you bastards can't stay out of his family's business.

[joe hillman]

>>

what other stories has/is channel 28 trying to hide?

>>

what other stories has/is channel 8 trying to hide?

[Edward Allen]

I frankly don't see your issue here. He wrote that he was committing suicide because he was ashamed, and he carried through. I'm personally fed up by these various interest groups who seek federal funding of studies into the deeper meaning of events that are as clear as sunlight. We have had in the last week a Japanese minister who committed suicide for shame, and I'm sure there's some conspiracy nut or shrink out there who believes there are other reasons. I believe what people say, and I think the headline on the story was adequate and correct.

[efudd]

TIMESLAND? You people use that term?? Whoa, I'd shoot myself first.

[Eric Deggans]

If you're a news organization, you cover news -- even when the news involves your institution.

Lots of news institutions, including the one I work for, have problems sometimes meeting that standard. But we expect cops to fairly investigate cop shootings and corporate boards to fairly police the activities of their companies. And we write pointed stories when these institutions don't live up to that standard.

I think it is also necessary for news organizations to cover when their employees make news. Nobody is expecting WFLA to break news, but if the police issue a report which adds information to the circumstances of a high profile death, such coverage is important and necessary.

And if winter worked anywhere other than in local TV, they would be doing the story.

[Howard Troxler]

No offense taken...

[Jim]

I think all of the local television stations have decided not to cover any more of the Winter incident because of its personal nature and because his father has worked at two local stations.

I don't think the Times has does anything wrong in covering what is essentially public information, but the *tbt headline was too tabloid for me.

[dreaming]

I'm still wondering why journalists at WFLA-Ch. 8 didn't seem to reference this material at all during their broadcasts last night....

oh please....do you really think that if, say, howard troxler were to off himself (sorry howard, nothing personal) over, among other things, an affair with another times employee that we'd be reading those gory details in the times? methinks not.

you, as press critic, obviously know that the press is least credible when reporting about itself. and most vicious when reporting about other media's misfortunes.

as i sd back when winter died, the local coverage was way over the top. i still say so now.