REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK
Reporters Often Ask Tough Questions,
Not To Sensationalize, But To Inform
people cancel their subscriptions in
recently returned from a three-
protest when the paper delves into
day conference on investigative
controversy. Nonetheless, I think Jew-
journalism. Thousands of peo-
ish newspapers — including the
ple attended, but I'm sad to say
Detroit Jewish News — need to do
I was the only person there
investigative reporting.
representing a Jewish newspa-
That doesn't mean sex
per.
scandals or hidden cameras
I'd like to think it's because
or rude confrontations
the conference was in New
with grieving families,
Orleans, where you have to
techniques that cause the
look long and hard for meals
public to rank journalists
without shellfish or pork, or
among the least-respected
because part of the conference
professions.
fell on Shabbat.
It means being responsi-
But I suspect my solitude
ble.
in New Orleans had less to do JULIE WIENER
It means taking a harder
with Jewish observance and
Staff Writer
look at our community's
more to do with the Jewish
institutions and leaders
community's reluctance to
and demanding accountability. It
engage in frank dialogue about sensi-
means finding out how much things
tive but significant issues confronting
cost and how much our leaders are
us as a people.
paid, not because we're nosy or sensa-
As in many professions, American
tionalistic but because we want to
Jews are well represented in the annals
know whether our community funds
of investigative reporting. Carl Bern-
are being invested wisely. It means
stein was part of the Washington Post
finding out what's on the agenda
duo that exposed Watergate. Seymour
before Federation's board of governors
Hersh, for years a New Thrk Times
approveS it, so we can promote public
reporter, wrote the first account of the
discussion and debate of the serious
My Lai massacre in South Vietnam.
issues facing our community_face. It
The publishers and many of the edi-
means looking at potential downsides
tors, of the award-winning New York
to much-touted programs, talking to
Times are Jewish. However, while Jew-
losers as well as winners. Problems
ish reporters go after the big stories in
don't go away by sweeping them
the community at large, we tend to be
under the rug; they get solved
bashful when writing about ourselves.
through intelligent discussion.
I know investigative reporting
I've been with The Jewish News
incurs complaints and makes some
only 16 months, and I can't even
machers uncomfortable. I know some
begin to count how many times peo-
ple have told me to stop pursuing cer-
tain stories because it's "not nice" or
because "people don't need to know
about that" or simply because it's
,,
“
negative.
A few weeks ago, one lay leader
told me not to include certain infor-
mation in a story because "it's impor-
tant for us that this be a positive
story." I told her that she and I had
different jobs and while she might be
doing hers by asking me to put a pos-
itive spin on things, I surely wouldn't
be doing mine if I didn't consider the
whole picture.
Not only do many people in the
community give me guilt trips for try-
ing to get all sides — including the
hidden ones — of a story, but they
are often quite uncooperative in shar-
ing even the most basic information.
My requests for budgets and other
documents are almost always turned
down, usually with an admonition
that I have a lot of chutzpah for ask-
ing.
This past fall, when I asked a high-
ranking Federation official what the
salary was for the head of one of Fed-
eration's largest constituent agencies,
he said he was astonished that I
would ask that and wouldn't tell me
even if he knew.
Why was he so astonished that I
wanted to know the salary of the top
executive of an agency that receives
almost all its funds from Federation? I
know what the president of the Unit-
ed States and other public officials
make. And most executives of non-
profit organizations (executives of reli-
gious organizations, like this particu-
lar agency, are exempt) must disclose
their salaries on a form submitted to
the Internal Revenue Service, because
non-profits are supposed to be
accountable to donors.
So why not be a little more open?
The average person in the Jewish
community is constantly solicited for
charitable contributions and some-
times donates proportionately more of
his or her income than those who are
wealthier. The average person in the
Jewish community is highly educated
and capable of critical thinking. Why
insult him or her with puff pieces or
incomplete stories?
Despite the glowing newsletters
and press releases our newspaper
receives each day, everything is not
wonderful in the Jewish community.
And our community is not monolith-
ic. With most national studies show-
ing anti-Semitism on the decline, we
no longer need to hide our sensitivi-
ties and shortcomings for fear that
others will use it against us. The days
of hiding behind party lines and pre-
tending we all agree all the time are
over: Let's have an open exchange of
ideas, an open debate about priorities.
And let the Jewish reporters start
by asking tough questions and not
relenting until we get answers.
❑
To leave a voice mail message for
Julie Wiener, please call (248)
354-6060, ext. 247.
LITTERS
the ADL was that the investigation
would not be aided by publicity of the
event. No newspapers or TV reporters
were called in either by Adat Shalom or
the ADL. Our mandate was the good
of the Jewish community through the
direction of those bodies charged with
insuring our safety and good reputation.
The editorial that The Jewish News has
written demonstrates, apparently, a case
in which the interests of the Jewish
press diverge from those of the Jewish
community.
The history of Adat Shalom as the
catalyst for many initiatives on behalf of
world and local Jewry is there for any-
one with an open mind to examine.
Indeed, the very text of the graffiti
seems to realize that we have been a
center of Zionist cause as well as a Jew-
ish house of worship.
Before a reporter finds herself charac-
6/26
1998
34
terizing the actions of Adat Shalom and
the ADL as a shande, perhaps she might
consider the difference between sensa-
tional copy and the security of our Jew-
ish community. Ms. Edgar certainly
ought to refrain from the personal
attacks on leaders such as Alan Yost and
Don Cohen, who work tirelessly for the
good of Detroit Jewry.
Terran Leemis
Rabbi Efry Spectre
Rabbi Daniel Nevins
Rabbi Herbert Yoskowitz
Adat Shalom Synagogue
ADL Vigilant
About Probes
Julie Edgar is right to be concerned
about anti-Semitic incidents in our
community and correct to look to the
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as the
prime resource to deal with them. But
she is wrong to accuse us of desiring
to "hush up crimes" if we simply don't
turn over to the media whatever infor-
mation comes our way.
ADL seeks information on anti-
Semitic and other extremist incidents,
organizations, individuals and trends.
We've earned our reputation by provid-
ing serious and well-researched analyses
in a wide variety of ways, including
research reports, newsletters, the Inter-
net, press releases and at public pro-
grams. We take our investigations,
research and information dissemination
very seriously. We must consider the
sources of our information, the impact
of releasing the information and the
likely ways it will be reported.
Sometimes, there are compelling
reasons to publicize information.
Sometimes, there are equally com-
pelling reasons not to go public. In
either case, mindful of our goal to
enhance the security of our Jewish
community and oppose haters and
extremists, our inclination is to defer
to the victim(s) since the effect of
publicity will fall primarily on them.
At Adat Shalom Synagogue, the staff
and leadership did all the right things;
they called the police and the ADL,
they took pictures, did quick clean-up,
filed reports and cooperated with
investigators. The decision not to
encourage publicity put no one at risk
and did no harm.
Let us be clear: There are individu-
als and organizations in Michigan that
pose a threat to the Jewish communi-
ty. We keep watch and take action
based on the information we gather