PERSPECTIVES
The Michigan Daily Monday, November 20, 1989 Page 7

JOA:

How do newspapers cover themselves?

When I was a kid, I was fasci-
nated by the video cameras that elec-
tronics stores displayed in the malls.
Once, the mall employee who ran
one such display let me pick up a
camera and film with it.
I pointed the camera at the TV
that displayed its output, wondering
what it would look like to film in-
finity. The employee grabbed the
camera and told me I'd break some-
thing if I did that.
I still don't know the technical
reasons for his warning, or if it was
even true. But I did learn that self-re-
flexiveness is a spooky and danger-
ous thing.
That same principle has arisen -
in a big way -- in Detroit lately.
Over the past few years, the
Detroit Free Press and the Detrcit
News have pursued a Joint Operating
Agreement (JOA), an agreement un-
der which the papers would merge
their business operations. When the
U.S. Supreme Court approved the
merger last Monday, the Free Press
and News were their own biggest
stories.
The JOA was and still is a tick-
lish, heated issue in Detroit. A

group of citizens battled the mergers
for years in the courts, disputing
Free Press owner Knight-Ridder's
assertion it could not keep its news-
paper open without the JOA. Its op-
ponents claimed the merger only
necessary to make more money for
Knight-Ridder and News owner
Gannett, and would worsen the pa-
pers' coverage by eliminating com-
petition between them.
And the papers that went to
court, were attacked, negotiated with
each other, and finally won the go-
ahead to merge now got to write
about it.
Ideally, traditional journalistic
theory holds, newspapers are in-
formed but detached observers, exist-
ing in a universe parallel to, but
separate from, their subjects. So
when Monday's story broke, it
opened a particularly ugly can of
journalistic worms. To wit:
How does a newspaper report ac-
cusations that a business move of its
own is actually a scam? How do you
interview somebody who sits next to
you in your car pool?
How can I write a column analyz-
ing the reporting of both papers after

Wfetched
Refuse
by Jim Poniewozik
my own paper ran several articles on
protests against it last year? Or, for
that matter, after I interviewed for a
job with the Free Press just last
week?
And how are you supposed to
read these articles and believe any of
us?
The newspapers' coverage was so
similar it almost seemed planned
that way: lead stories on page one
and multi-page spreads inside their
news sections, Q&A sections,
graphics, columns with pulled
quotes from staff writers and other
JOA figures - enough newsprint
acreage to handle a war or an assas-
sination.
In this sense, both papers were at
least honest about their vested inter-
est in the story. The merger may or
may not have as much impact on the
average Detroiter as other stories that

get such mammoth layouts, but nei-
ther paper was trying to kid anyone
that it could keep what was probably
the biggest event in its own history
in complete perspective.
But although the size and sub-
jects of the stories and sundry side-
bars were similar, they contained in-
teresting differences in their sub-
stance and tenor.
Let's play "Name That Litigant."
Let's assume that Knight-Ridder and
Gannett were correct in saying that
the Free Press would likely go under
if the JOA was rejected. Such a situ-
ation would have left the News the
only major daily in Detroit, with a
virtual monopoly on a metropolitan
area of several million. It would
have left the Free Press, well, dead.
With that in mind, try and match
the following Tuesday headlines and
lead paragraphs with the right news-
paper.
1) "Free Press sees its future as-
sured
"...employees of the Free Press
didn't dare celebrate Monday, but a
quiet, tentative jubilance prevailed....
The long JOA nightmare was over."
2) "Court divided, so JOA is a

go:
"The Detroit News and Detroit
Free Press plan to implement a joint
operating agreement on Monday,
Nov. 7, newspaper officials said...."
If you guessed the Free Press and
the News, respectively, you win a
free copy of the Daily.
The stories demonstrated the two
most likely approaches to take to
covering such a delicate event: a)
make your best shot at writing a de-
tached, balanced, third-person ac-
count, or b) own up to the fact that
you are, after all, writing about
yourself and an emotional event.
However, as is probably
inevitable, both approaches raised
suspicions that the reader is being
hoodwinked: they either sound biased
or faked at times. A few lapses of
judgement didn't help matters much,
FEELING D WNW
We're here to el p.
It's a new Write: Helpf ily
advice c/o Michigan Daily
column in 420 Maynard
the Daily. Ann Arbor, MI 48109

either - the News ran an entire arti-4
cle on a letter from Gannett chair
John Curley saying the News "won"
the newspaper war, and Free Press
reporter Constance Prater had both a
quote in the pulled quote column and
a bylined article on JOA opponents,
which didn't exactly scream
"credibility."
But at least the papers did the
most important thing: provided their
readers a lot of information to use to
make up their own minds on the is-
sue - although both seemed to
downplay the reasons so many peo-
ple opposed the JOA. Ironically, this
proved the advantage of a two-news-
paper town: often, you can best find
the "truth" of an issue somewhere in
between the two different versions.
Detroit can only hope that will
continue to be the case.
BAD KARMA?
We're here to help.
It's a new Write: Help Mel
advicew C/oMichigan Daily
column in 420 Maynard
the Daily. Ann Arbor, MI 48109


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.-
--

A)

.WE=ND '
MAGAXINE
Frdays in The Daily
763-0379

i Jtd Jim Poniewozik Ever -
Weeken~

a __________________________________________________


0
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The' Ca len dar
of The University of Michigan
The calendar combnermeing, leciu, w e&tap, and eo,,,ce announcemnu
wilherrenshmenigeach wakeneka~spsu. Itismasedon1Udveity Record
Caearadis open oll Unvairy- ororedjreetpuadolanuionsr.ecognd
by the Michigan Sudnt Assembly. heum, now be timitd in writing by 5pa. ihr
Tuesday beforepuacation. Addres, al ijoreiso Anne B rkley, Pu bli i on
AssiaUnivsmity Reord, 412 Maynard Srwe. An aseriA ( )denousvenu 1
which ad~itsion it charged.
MONDAY
NOVEMBER 20
Canterbury House-Lesbian-gay men's community open house, 8:45 pm, 218
N Division, 665-0606.
Shorin-ryu Karate-do Club-Karate (beginners welcome), 7:30-8:30 pm,
CCRB Small Gym, 747-6825.
Tae kwon do Club-Mtg (beginners welcome), 7-8:30 pm, 2275 CCRB, 677-
3135.
Christian Sci Organization-Mtg with readings, 6:15 pm, Mich League.
Northwalk-North campus safety walking svc, 8 pm-1:30 am, Bursley Rm 2333
or 763-WALK.
Safewalk-Safety walking svc, 8 pm-1:30 am, UGLi Rm 102 or 936-1000.
Voices of Women of Color-Film series, "Creativity with Bill Moyers:
Maya Angelou," 5:30 pm, 212 UGLi; panel present/discuss, "Claiming History
and Identity," C A Carter, N Haniff, D Spencer & M Jackson, 7:30 pm, 2104
Art & Arch; 936-2082.
Arch & Urban Plan-Lecture, "Recent Work," P Kuttner, 8 pm, Rackham
Amphi, 764-1301.
*Comput Ctr-Classes: Macintosh System Utilities, 1-3 pm; MTS Basic Skills,
9 am-noon; 3001 SEB Reg req 763-3700.
*Extension & Cont Educ/U-M Flint-Wkshp, "Motivation: Generating a
Positive Change," E Field, 8:30 am-4:30 pm, Univ Ctr Mich Rms, 762-3200.
Ctr Human Growth & Devp-Brown-bag lec, "Past, Present, Future of
SCRD," J W Hagen, noon, 2407 Mason, 764-2443.,
*ICLE-Course, "Practical Planning for S Corporations," 9 am-noon & 1-4:45
pm, 1020 Greene St Reg req 764-0533.
Phi Delta Kappa-Lecture, "The Focus of Educ in Mich for the Future from a
Legislative Viewpoint," D Degrow, 7-8 pm, Mich League.
Ctr Near East & N Afr Stds-Brown-bag lec, "Background to a Solution in
Lebanon," E Khoury, noon, Lane Hall Commons Rm; Lecture, "The Unfolding
of Modern Fiction and Arab Memory," E Khoury, 4 pm, Rackham E Conf Rm;
764-0350.
Chem-Inorganic Seminars, "Organometalic Chemistry," C P Casey, F Tebbe & S
Buchwald, 2-5 pm, Rm 1640.
Phi Delta Kappa-Lecture, "The Focus of Education in Michigan for the Future
From a Legislative Viewpoint," D L DeGrow, 7-8 pm, Mich League Rms 4 &
5, 994-6577.

LaGROC (Lesbian & Gay Men's Rights Organizing Committee)-
Mtg, 7:30 pm (7 pm to set agenda), Mich Union Rm 3100, 763-4186.
Univ Council-Univ Council mtg, 10 am-noon, 2002 LSA, 763-5082.
Northwalk-North campus safety walking svc, 8 pm-1:30 am, Bursley Rm 2333
or 763-WALK.
Safewalk-Safety walking svc, 8 pm-1:30 am, UGLi Rm 102 or 936-10(X).
Taubman Amer Inst Internship Prog-Lecture, "All You Need to Know
About Working in Washington," J Katosh, noon-1 pm, Mich Union Kuenzel
Rm, 763-2584.
Univ Lutheran Chapel-Study on Unity, 10 pm, 1511 Washtenaw, 663-5560.
Ctr Chinese Stds-Brown-bag lec, "Remembering Robert Winter," 11 Stern,
noon-I pm, Lane Hall Commons Rm, 936-1603.
Voices of Women of Color-Film series, "Small Happiness: Women of a
Chinese Village," 7 pm, 212 UGLi, 936-2082.
*Comput Ctr-Wkshps: Advanced Lotus 1-2-3: Macros, 1-5 pm; Begin Word,
Part 1 (Macintosh), 8:30 am-12:30 pm; HyperCard Basic Skills, 1-4 pm; 3001
SEB Reg req 763-3700.
Biopsych-Colloq, "Effects of Noise Source, Intensity and Task on Reaction
Times to Sound," B Ayvasik, 12:30 pm, MHRI 1057.
Visit Writer Series-Fiction reading, Herbert Gold, 4 pm, Rackham Amphi.
*Ext & Cont Educ/U-M Flint-Wkshp, "Power and Influence," E Field, 8:30
am-4:30 pm, Univ Ctr Mich Rms, 762-3200.
Women Faculty Out to Dinner-Dinner (refreshments, 5:30 pm, 900 Burton
Tower), 6:30 pm, Mich League Rm 2, 764-4202.
U-M Flint-"Back to School" Wkshp, 1:30-3 pm, Univ Ctr Mich Rm A, 762-
3085
Ctr Human Growth & Devp-Brown-bag lec, "Environmental factors and the
mortality decline during the demographic transition," J Sundin, noon, 1225 S
Univ, 764-2443.
English Dept-Lecture, "Voice, Self-Consciousness, and Temporal Perspective
in a 'A Farewell to Arms': Successes, Problems, and Paradoxes," J Phelan, 4
pm, Rackham E Conf Rm, 764-5272.
*HRD-Wkshps: Managing Diversity: A Prog for Supr and Mgrs, 8:30 am-4:30
pm, Plant Model Conf Rm; Desktop Publ: Mouse Power begs, 8:30 am-noon,
1111 Kipke Dr; Reg req 764-7410.
Intl Ctr-Forum, "An Israeli Perspective on the Intifada," O Lev, noon, 603 E
Madison, 662-5529.
SNR-Lecture, "Choices of Strategies/Contending Theories and Styles," M
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*Pharm Cont Educ-Lecture, "Treating Parkinson's Disease," J Penney, Jr,
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Spark Revolution Hist-Series, "Imperialism," 7-8 pm, 122 MLB.
*Turner Clin-Memory class, 10 am-noon; Newcomers Grp, 1:15-3:15 pm;
1010 Wall St, 764-2556.
Gifts of Art-The Arbor Winds Quintet, 2 pm, Univ Hosp Lobby 1st fl, 936-
ARTS
WEDNESDAY
NOVEMBER 22
Lord of Light Lutheran Church-Bible study, 6:30 pm; worship, 7:30-8
pm; 801 S Forest at Hill St, 668-7622.

Chem-Seminar, "Cycloaddition Based Methodology for the Synthesis of
Pyrrolidine-Containing Natural Products," W Pearson, 4 pm, Rm 1640.
Labor Stds Ctr-Brown-bag lec, "Work and the Quality of Life from Amer,
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0492.
SNR-Seminar, "Choices of Strategies/Contending Theories and Styles," M
McCloskey, 1-3 pm, 1504 Dana Bldg, 763-9101
THURSDAY
NOVEMBER 23
Shotokan Karate of Mich-Karate (beginners welcome), 7:30-10 pm, CCRB
Small Gym.
Lesbian Gay Male Prog-Massage therapy classes for gay/bisexual men, 8-
10 pm, 1402 Hill St, 662-6282.
Northwalk-North campus safety walking svc, 8 pm-1:30 am, Bursley Rm 2333
or 763-WALK.
Safewalk-Safety walking svc, 8 pm-1:30 am, UGLi Rm 102 or 936-1000.
Wels Lutheran Campus Ministry-Study/discuss, noon-1 pm, Mich Union,
662-0663.
*Zen Buddhist Temple-Intro Zen Meditation, S Murray, 6:30-8:30 pm, 1214
Packard Rd Reg req 761-6520
FRIDAY
NOVEMBER 24
Lesbian-Gay Male Prog-Mtg, "Black Gay Brothers United," 8 pm, Mich
Union Rm 3200, 763-4186.
Shorin-ryu Karate-do Club-Karate (beginners welcome), 8:30-9:30 pm,
CCRB Martial Arts Rm, 747-6825.
Tae kwon do Club-Mtg (beginners welcome), 6-8 pm, 1200 CCRB, 677-
3135.
Gay Liberation-Brothers Coffee House, 8 pm, 802 Monroe St, 763-4186.
Safewalk-Safety walking svc, 8-11:30 pm, UGLi Rm 102 or 936-1000.
German Club-Happy Hour & informal speaking prac, 6 pm, U-Club.
Friends of Siddha Yoga-Siddha Meditation Intensive begs, 315 W Huron,
reg req, 994-8840
SATURDAY
NOVEMBER 25
Shotokan Karate of Mich-Karate (beginners welcome), 3-5 pm, CCRB
Small Gym Exhibit Mus-Planetarium shows, "Autumn Stars," 10:30 &
11:30 am; "Earth Visitors," 2,3 & 4 pm; Exhib Mus Planet, 764-0478.
Safewalk-Safety walking svc, 8-11:30 pm, UGLi Rm 102 or 936-1000
SUNDAY
NOVEMBER 26
Wels Lutheran Campus Ministry-Worship, 10 am, 1360 Pauline, transport
provided, 662-0663 or 761-6352.
Iranian Sdt Cultural Club-Coffee hour & movie, 2-4 pm; Persian Classes,
4-6 pm; 3050 Frieze Bldg, 662-8933.

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