OREGON: Voting complaints highlight role of press in democracy

[sled]

Voting complaints highlight role of press in democracy

http://tinyurl.com/5xmwj

Sunday, December 05, 2004

Public editor: Blogs do better at capturing talk at kitchen tables

More than a month after Sen. John Kerry conceded, the most common
complaint from readers focuses on questions about the Nov. 2 election.

They essentially ask: Why hasn't The Oregonian paid more attention to
allegations of election irregularities?

The newspaper's slow response to the questions helped fuel the
criticism. But the complaints also highlight the tension between Web
and newspaper reports, expose the short attention span of journalists
and accentuate the role of the press in a democracy.

The Oregonian finally published last week a NewsFocus on the
complaints, its first comprehensive review of the allegations
nationwide. Other news coverage has been limited and spotty. For more
than two weeks after the election the newspaper essentially published
only one substantial story. Since then, stories or small items inside
the front section noted questions about electronic voting, plans for a
recount in Ohio, a partial recount of northern precincts in Florida by
the Miami Herald, the launching of an investigation by the Government
Accountability Office and Kerry's endorsement of the Ohio recount.
Living columnist Margie Boule devoted two columns to highlighting the
work of Oregonians on the issue.

(snip)

Michael Arrieta-Walden: 503-221-8221 or toll free from outside the 503
area at 877-238-8221; [e-mail]; 1320 S.W.
Broadway, Portland OR 97201. Web log:
www.oregonlive.com/weblogs/publiceditor.

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