News8 has a story about how DDOT "is getting an earful over its bike sharing program." Except that then they point out that much of the feedback they got was positive. And they point out that some commenters on GGW questioned the lack of stations in some areas, but then it turns out DDOT did plan stations in those places, it's just the map wasn't quite ready for release.
Yes, that sounds like an earful. Much positive feedback and some completely reasonable comments such as this.
Not satisfied, they take their camera out to what appears to be a Metro station in SE, to make station placement seem like a class/race thing.
"You've got to understand the politics of it," said Jose Castillo, a SE resident. "You've got low income people in that area, so the money won't cater to them right way."
But looking at the map, shows that there are no stations in the Palisades or Upper Chevy Chase either. They must hate poor people and rich people. It's like the Andromeda Strain! Jim Sebastian explanation of how critical density is to the system or the population maps used to determine where to place stations are just a clever and coincidental ruse.
Oh News8, what would we do without you?
I love News8. It's the Not Ready for Primetime News. They misspell things in the scroll,screw up camera angles,and run the wrong tape all the time. Quality entertainment. Plus there's some really cute women.
Posted by: dynaryder | July 23, 2010 at 09:07 AM
Does anyone watch NewsChannel 8? I thought it was just there to give D.C. residents the illusion that this was a small town, with its very own local news team.
Posted by: Michael H. | July 23, 2010 at 10:11 PM
Back in the 1960s and 1970s there was some kind of news fairness organization that people could file complaints with...
I do think it's worth contacting the organization's leaders and making the right points about their coverage. It'd be good for this to come from a group like WABA.
A few weeks ago I wrote a blog entry about the Examiner and the articles by Markham Heid, which seemed as a rule to exhibit bias in choice of words and headlines (not usually written by the reporter).
Surprisingly, after I wrote the entry, I noticed a significant reduction in unobjective language in his pieces.
So, calling attention to biased reporting (if the complaints are factual), can have impact.
Posted by: Richard Layman | July 24, 2010 at 12:40 PM
they even say at one point "with each station located no more than 10 miles from each other".
what's the distance he meant to say, because 10 miles is clearly ridiculous.
Posted by: IMGoph | July 26, 2010 at 07:48 AM