Why Does Betsy Have a Target On Her Back?

It's a given that politicians live under a microscope. It's also true that we expect a high ethical standard from those we elect. There are those who delight in trying to knock someone else off the pedestal. The typical style of mainstream journalism in this country is driven by these principals when it comes to reporting on politicians

State Senator Betsy Johnson is getting some first-hand experience in these practices.

When the story regarding the Scappoose airport deal first surfaced in the Oregonian in May we opened the phones to ask listeners what they thought. Dead silence. No conservatives bellowing about liberal ethics, not one. No one called in to question the article either. This told me that our considerable audience was willing to wait for the story to play out. There simply had to be a logical explanation. Betsy was quick to respond to our questions regarding this story and we did indeed find that the Oregonian article was sadly lacking in important facts that would have
made this a non-story or, at best, a short piece buried in the Northwest section somewhere.

With the failure of that story yet another surfaces questioning her involvement in a Central Oregon land deal. Again, this story lacked important facts that would have painted an entirely different picture if reported.

What is going on here?

In our interview with Senator Johnson she said that she wasn't sure but did say she was involved with some very controversial legislation this session and that she has been mentioned as a candidate for higher office. Perhaps someone wants to knock the wind out of her sails.

There is a basic weakness in journalistic practice that is being manipulated here. The difference between accuracy and what journalists call "balance".

Martin Kaplan, associate dean of the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication is quoted in this month's American Journalism Review saying he dislikes journalists modern perception of balanced reporting. He says straight news has fallen into a bizarre notion that substitutes something called "balance" for what used to be called "accuracy" or "truth" or "objectivity". As a consequence, straight journalists both in print and broadcast can be played like a piccolo by people who know how to exploit that weakness.

The Oregonian is apparently eager to destroy a good person's reputation to "balance" all those nasty ethics stories about Republicans taking free trips to Maui from the beer lobby and ran this ridiculous story because Betsy just happens to be a Democrat. Can it be that simple?