[Editor's note: the following article of journalistic criticism was posted on this site's message board by an anonymous writer using the name InFIBus. While we would normally never give a news article credit to an anonymous writer, this particular criticism article raised a number of valid points on the shrinking writing skills of the Gondolier and their editor's (Greg Giles), near-total failure to adhere to basic journalistic standards]

Voices in your head do not qualify as unattributed sources
The Venice Gondolier Sun may receive some criticism for its story, No majority in three-way council race by News Editor Greg Giles in the Saturday, Nov. 8 edition. The story would more appropriately be either a News Analysis or an Opinion Column. It is missing a basic principle of a news story, attribution, in order to be a news story.

Giles writes, "Carlesimo's strong showing led to discussion about the outcome, had it been a two-way race." A discussion among whom? Just Carlesimo and Osmulski? According to the six paragraphs that follow the reporter does not say. He mentions no individuals or groups who were having a discussion. You can say "led to a discussion" if the reporter overheard some or many people in town discussing it, he must specify who. Perhaps the discussion was between his editor and himself? The reader doesnt know.

The story says, "...and pepper his opponents with leading questions." In whose opinion were they leading questions? Not to mention using the word pepper as a characterization without quoting someone. Once again it's OK for the reporter to say that if a) he says "according to whoever thought they were leading questions or b) the article is labeled "News Analysis," or c) it is a column and not a news story.

Giles continues that "election turnout" (actually its referred to as "voter turnout" because elections dont go out to vote, voters do) was 79.87 percent. Apparently editors need to stay longer at night to carefully read the stories and fix the mistakes. But the real point of this statistic is more significant. This 79.87 figure has no relevance to the story about the Venice city council race. Although voter turnout in Sarasota County was 79.87 percent, that in no way may reflect voter turnout in Venice precincts for this city council race. It might have been higher or it might have been lower. But it would have been a good idea for the reporter to check it out. It's not too much work.

Accurate info is just a couple of clicks away
The Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Web site does break down the voter turnout by precinct. If Mr. Giles could have gone to: http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/FL/Sarasota/9825/13522/en/md.html?cid=8010 and clicked on the tab VIEW ALL DATA. The precise voter turnout statistics were available online by Wednesday Nov. 5, in afternoon for the Venice precincts. The reporter uses the word Ironic in his story. I find it ironic that the Web site tab that would have taken him to the information about voter turnout for the Venice precincts, which is relevant to his story, is called, VIEW ALL DATA.

Taking the time and being thorough in preparing a news story is not an option or luxury, it is the job. "Some are calling McKeon's lack of a majority proof of dissatisfaction with city council's recent performance." Again who are the some?  If you don't say, Members of the (blank), a spokesman for (blank), or (blank and blank) are saying it, then the reader will assume it is the reporters opinion, which again is not a problem if the story is labeled News Analysis.

What I believe this story may do is to continue to lessen the credibility of a newspaper that unfortunately already has a declining reputation in this community. From embarrassing spelling mistakes on its front page and the misquoting of individuals in stories to the more serious occurrences of plagiarism, self-promotion by its staff in columns and stories representing a lack of understanding or concern for solid journalism should perhaps be a concern to the owners of this newspaper.

Minimum standards
Unfortunately, for Bob Vedder and the advertising business side, these continued examples of poor journalism, (if journalism is even an appropriate word regarding the Gondolier), must hurt their bottom line in declining circulation and ad revenues. There might even be discussions among some in the business community (no need for attribution, just  analyzing here) who may feel it hurts their business to advertise in a newspaper with a reputation of, to be kind, lesser than the minimum professional standards of journalism.

As I have learned along with many other business owners, word of mouth and ones reputation can make or break you. I ask, who at the Gondolier is doing quality control, editing. From my perspective and an ever-increasing number of people in the community I speak with, they appear to be asleep at the wheel.

Oh, and one last point, Im not sure if Giles story was self-assigned or assigned by his editor, but here is one small piece of information regarding candidates who did not win a race with a majority. Seventeen United States Presidents including: 1860 Abraham Lincoln with 39.9 percent 1960 John Kennedy with 49.7 percent 1968 Richard Nixon with 43.4 percent

Maybe the reporter could do a story on how Venice city council will be ok as long as: A) The South doesnt secede from the United States again B) Russia doesnt send missiles to Cuba again. Or C) Hippies dont riot in the streets again. A little humor. So there is no misunderstanding about motive, I did not vote in, nor do I have any interest in the City of Venice election.

Signed,
A citizen for a quality newspaper

[Of additional note: Bill Willson won his council seat in 2004 with 43% of the vote against three other candidates. Both the Gondolier and this web site endorsed Willson that year. There was no discussion at that time about whether or not his election was a mandate or a lack thereof. Diana Mier pulled in 33% in that same election, but was considered to be a dark horse losing candidate. Carlesimo pulled in 25% this year, and Giles reported that as "a strong showing." It's the Gondo -- go figure.
-- Ed.]

 

John Patten is the editor and publisher of Venice Florida! dot com and had previously worked in broadcasting for over 12 years. He can also be incredibly rude at times.