2010.07.01 - The Oregonian and Willamette Week not invited to the presser

[cluciano63]

I will still always be wondering now if the media allowed by Hormans will be slanted to their liking going forward...which is so senseless, this is a missing child case. It just does not make sense for Hormans to be worrying about media reports, IMO, or even following them.

But it's not like we were getting much in the way of news anyway and if real news breaks, it won't be coming from the Hormans, in a Thursday-for-Friday meet some-of-the press.

 

[azwriter]

The family has continued to state from day one that they want the focus to be on Kyron. But by their odd actions and especially KH's words and actions today...he has accomplished the exact opposite. Look at every local news station's comment section and everyone's focus is now the dad's behavior.

By kicking news reporters out of a presser that is supposed to get focus on Kyron has created the exact opposite. It's made people focus on the family dynamics. Very Sad. Praying for Kyron.

Great post Joker. The thing is, people may try, but they can not pick and choose what medium outlets cover a story. Certain news organizations can be kept out, but they will get the story anyway.
As you pointed out, the family changed the focus of the story by banning certain press organization. By doing this, the story is no longer about a missing boy, but now spotlights a the boy's family's attempt to gain control over the flow of information.
I don't know if the family formed this tatic on their own or was given bad advice from a third party on how to work with the press. The old saying goes, don't pick a fight with someone who buys their ink by the barrel.
jmo

 

[eyes4crime]

I see an emerging pattern from Kaine; a pattern that smacks of his need for control. Perhaps that's the way he and Terri interacted, but his need to control the media, when his son has been missing for a month, reeks of a self-serving agenda.

I don't think this has anything to do with good/bad journalism. It has to do with control and it has to do with how the public views Kaine. Seems to me that it's a desperate attempt to keep his private life - private! And yes, with a son missing for a month, I can empathize how he sees life as being totally out of control - nothing is in his hands. I can see how he might reach for some sense of control wherever it might be. However, when it is achieved at the expense of finding his son, I would say his need for control is 'out of control'. Just my opinion mho mhho and all that stuff.

 

[sofia76]

Great post Joker. The thing is, people may try, but they can not pick and choose what medium outlets cover a story. Certain news organizations can be kept out, but they will get the story anyway.
As you pointed out, the family changed the focus of the story by banning certain press organization. By doing this, the story is no longer about a missing boy, but now spotlights a the boy's family's attempt to gain control over the flow of information.
I don't know if the family formed this tatic on their own or was given bad advice from a third party on how to work with the press. The old saying goes, don't pick a fight with someone who buys their ink by the barrel.
jmo

I think while internet sleuths are discussing this ... that might not be the case in other places. I've looked at other news coverage about yesterday's presser, and so far I've only seen WW mention it in any detail. So maybe they accomplished what they wanted?

 

[Chili Fries]

As you pointed out, the family changed the focus of the story by banning certain press organization. By doing this, the story is no longer about a missing boy, but now spotlights a the boy's family's attempt to gain control over the flow of information.

I don't agree with this. The only stories I saw that made a big deal about this are the WW ones. All of the other press is based around Desiree's plea. That includes big national outlets like CBS, AOL, ABC and CNN.

 

[azwriter]

I don't agree with this. The only stories I saw that made a big deal about this are the WW ones. All of the other press is based around Desiree's plea. That includes big national outlets like CBS, AOL, ABC and CNN.

I respect your opinion but from my background when a newspaper or news outlet is banned, that does become news for that particular newspaper. As a former reporter, I too would have covered the fact the paper was not included in a press conference.
It is a big dealor more correctly news worthy for that paper's readership and exsistence.
If CNN was the one to be banned, IMO they too would have reported that part of the story.
The media does not make the news - their job is to report it.
jmo

 

[citigirl]

Which media outlet reported first on Kaine's brother being arrested?

Which media outlet dug into the background of the family first?

Which media outlet has been doing the most investigative reporting?

Which media outlet was kicked out and now not part of the team?

----------------

I will not be snarky.. but answer all of those questions and that is why I believe they have been excluded.

And I do not think it was a good move on their part. This outlet will continue their reporting and digging.

moo

and I also echo the post of SuziQ made early in this thread: (to paraphrase) that there are many families of missing children who beg for any and all coverage of their missing child.

-----------

I think these are all good reasons why the family may be angry at someone. I want to add a few to the list from my extensive reading of the local papers the last couple of weeks:

1. One of the news outlets "outed" TH as a contributor to its comments sections. Maybe these two papers refuse to give this information to police w/o a court order, and KH knows it.

2. Several of the commenters have said there was a report that Kyron's body was found that appeared online and was then taken down. Maybe one or both of these papers went ahead and published these stories against permission of police.

3. Maybe, and this is VERY likely, these two papers are leading the charge to get the contents of the restraining order released, which KH believes will harm the investigation.

4. Some news outlets have been quicker than others to remove insulting posts--maybe this was an issue with the Oregonian and the WW.

 

[sofia76]

3. Maybe, and this is VERY likely, these two papers are leading the charge to get the contents of the restraining order released, which KH believes will harm the investigation.

According to the petition, the entities requesting the records be unsealed are the publishers of the Oregonian, KATU, KGW, KOIN, KPTV, OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting), KXL Radio, and the Associated Press. WW isn't on there at all.

Personally, I don't think kicking out Oregonian and Willamette Week was that well thought out - I suspect what happened is that family member(s) didn't like one or two pieces that they heard from those papers and those papers got put on the **it-list.

Remember that notice on the church doors to the Oregonian? That was a bunch of :waitasec: :waitasec: :waitasec: I'm sure they are preoccupied and probably not sitting down and keeping track of everything each news outlet does/writes. I see it as more of an emotional response, than a calculating one.

JMO!

 

[Trident]

:clap: :woohoo: :blowkiss:

The thank you button is not enough.

WW's shock at being left off the "team" should have come as no surprise to them after the style of reporting they have elected to use in regards to this case for weeks now. Further, for them to have made today's article about WW vs. the Hormans rather than about Kyron just tells me the Horman's have probably made the right decision in excluding them.

For my news I will stick to major network news and my gossip via "unnamed sources" and third and fourth party hearsay will continue to come from WW.

BBM Does that mean it's wrong to give background information on the families which may be helpful? Does any case exist in a vacuum?

 

[Donjeta]

Remember that notice on the church doors to the Oregonian? That was a bunch of :waitasec: :waitasec: :waitasec:

Denson objected, saying he’s new to the story and after 28 years in journalism he’s “a pretty good reporter.” But there was no arguing. The family wanted The O gone, and a woman who said she’s a manager at the church escorted them out. The biggest newspaper in the state had been eighty-sixed.

http://blogs.wweek.com/news/2010/07/01/kyron-hormans-family-boots-ww-and-the-oregonian/

Wonder if there is a connection.

 

[citigirl]

thanks for that information, Sofia--I haven't yet seen that petition. And I agree with you that the response in any case seems to be emotional...angry.

 

[Lavender]

2. Several of the commenters have said there was a report that Kyron's body was found that appeared online and was then taken down. Maybe one or both of these papers went ahead and published these stories against permission of police.

KOIN accidentally uploaded a headline to their server that indicated his body has been found. It was an unlinked headline, meaning that it was only accessible through entering search terms and there was no article attached to the headline. KOIN was not asked to leave the news conference held on Thursday. WW and The Oregonian never reported that Kyron's body had been found.

 

[Trident]

According to the petition, the entities requesting the records be unsealed are the publishers of the Oregonian, KATU, KGW, KOIN, KPTV, OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting), KXL Radio, and the Associated Press. WW isn't on there at all.

Personally, I don't think kicking out Oregonian and Willamette Week was that well thought out - I suspect what happened is that family member(s) didn't like one or two pieces that they heard from those papers and those papers got put on the **it-list.

Remember that notice on the church doors to the Oregonian? That was a bunch of :waitasec: :waitasec: :waitasec: I'm sure they are preoccupied and probably not sitting down and keeping track of everything each news outlet does/writes. I see it as more of an emotional response, than a calculating one.

JMO!

Actually I think KH thinks out every little detail before he acts, and as far as putting ANY paper on the chit list, how many parents of missing children would die for that media coverage. No, in my opinion, it speaks more to WHO some of these people are than to what any newspaper published.

My opinion only

 

[SuziQ]

I respect your opinion but from my background when a newspaper or news outlet is banned, that does become news for that particular newspaper. As a former reporter, I too would have covered the fact the paper was not included in a press conference.
It is a big dealor more correctly news worthy for that paper's readership and exsistence.
If CNN was the one to be banned, IMO they too would have reported that part of the story.
The media does not make the news - their job is to report it.
jmo

And the other outlets probably didn't report it because then they would be banned at the next mini presser.

 

[SuziQ]

According to the petition, the entities requesting the records be unsealed are the publishers of the Oregonian, KATU, KGW, KOIN, KPTV, OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting), KXL Radio, and the Associated Press. WW isn't on there at all.

Personally, I don't think kicking out Oregonian and Willamette Week was that well thought out - I suspect what happened is that family member(s) didn't like one or two pieces that they heard from those papers and those papers got put on the **it-list.

Remember that notice on the church doors to the Oregonian? That was a bunch of :waitasec: :waitasec: :waitasec: I'm sure they are preoccupied and probably not sitting down and keeping track of everything each news outlet does/writes. I see it as more of an emotional response, than a calculating one.

JMO!

I'm telling ya. I think the manager of the building that was behind that notice has been bending the families ear. Didn't she also issue that bizarre list of what to do and not to do with the meda to all her neighbors?

 

[SuziQ]

http://blogs.wweek.com/news/2010/07/01/kyron-hormans-family-boots-ww-and-the-oregonian/

Wonder if there is a connection.

Seriously, I think this person has their own selfish agenda and it's hurting Kyron.

 

[Bathbuddys]

:clap: :woohoo: :blowkiss:

The thank you button is not enough.

WW's shock at being left off the "team" should have come as no surprise to them after the style of reporting they have elected to use in regards to this case for weeks now. Further, for them to have made today's article about WW vs. the Hormans rather than about Kyron just tells me the Horman's have probably made the right decision in excluding them.

For my news I will stick to major network news and my gossip via "unnamed sources" and third and fourth party hearsay will continue to come from WW.

I think they are excluding this paper as they are allowing and announcing that Teri Horman is posting on their site and they are not taking it down. I would too if they were giving this kind of attention to her to distract from Kyron....

 

[tlcya]

BBM Does that mean it's wrong to give background information on the families which may be helpful? Does any case exist in a vacuum?

Nope, just that we should not be surprised that the family has chosen not to include the newsoutlet that has been least flattering to them and has continued to stray from the party line.

I am not even commenting on the party line or which side of the fence I fall upon, but simply saying, they ar running this rodeo and we shouldn't be shocked that they have left out a "player" who has not been on their "team" from day one. Not commenting upon the rightness or wrongness of it - simply stating how it is.

 

[Emma Peel]

In my earliest posts after yesterday's press conference "story" laughed with exasperation, and worried that Kaine's "Team Theme" could backfire on him in the press. I hoped the press would be forgiving and wished that Kaine & family would hire a seasoned professional to help them navigate the media. Its good too see media was respectful, for the most part, and tried to understand this family's desire for some personal privacy while keeping the focus on Kyron.

Concern 1:
It's a tragedy that now that the WW - (one of the major local papers of Portland) - has been kicked to the curb, that the WW will no longer cover Kyron's case.

Hogwash.

The WW will be covering this story until Kyron is home - and beyond. Because it sells their papers.


Concern 2:
Kyron's father is attempting (for whatever devious reason) to control the media by setting ground rules in advance for regular family appearances in the media.

He can't. (Refer to 1st Amendment.)
-and-
Even if he wanted to, he couldn't. (Refer to Human Nature and blog culture.)

Concern 3:
Kyron's case is now at risk of suffering from lack of the media attention that is so important to a missing children's case.

More Hogwash.

The fact is, this story is already HUGE, and it's already NATIONAL and it's already sold.

The Horman family has made their personal preferences clear. Their darling Kyron, and (unfortunately, his "stepmommy") are already national media fodder. It's clearly already out of their control; some of the coverage feels unseemly; they do not want to shrink from the spotlight for Kyron's sake; but they wish to conduct their press meetings with dignity and focus on Kryon - so they've issued groundrules and are sanitizing everything through LE - and they've been up front and told everyone this.

I guess they are damned if they work regularly and appear personally in the media, and they are damned if they don't.

Regardless, this is far from any sort of Kyron media crisis. I'm encouraged that Kyron's family has set a schedule for Kyron "news" for the time being - ground rules or not. LE's pressers would be just as close to the vest, but fewer and farther between. Twice weekly friendly, LE-sanitized meetings with the family might continue to be very frustrating, but while we wait out this investigation, it's better than nothing.

All JHMO. And, I don't know about anyone else, but this is all still very interesting to me. I wish I could figure out what the heck is going on here, what Terri's deep dark secret is, and what it has to do with whatever happened sweet little Kyron. :waitasec:

 

[sofia76]

I think they are excluding this paper as they are allowing and announcing that Teri Horman is posting on their site and they are not taking it down. I would too if they were giving this kind of attention to her to distract from Kyron....

That's just it, though - neither WW or The Oregonian posted that article. That was KATU. http://www.katu.com/news/local/97541389.html