Deseret News Opposes Transparency

Deseret News reporter Bob Bernick laments,

"I am often these days attacked by bloggers, and while I make an effort NOT to read the misinformation about me and my work (just keep on plugging away), I know for a fact how inaccurate and unfair blogs can be."

Yet again, Bob fares poorly when fact checked. Let’s look at the who, what, and how of his claim.

Who are the bloggers attacking Bob and his work? Searches on Technorati and Google Blogsearch reveal surprisingly little discussion about Bob. So, it seems Ric Cantrell mostly sums up Bob’s blogging critics.

What are those bloggers saying about Bob? The bloggers are saying that Bob made up a story about Utah’s referendum process.

How are those charges “misinformation,” “inaccurate,” or “unfair?” It would be simple for Bob and the D News to contradict these charges. They recorded the editorial board meeting at issue. Open it to public scrutiny. If I’m wrong, I’ve offered to eat my blog. I’ll double down. If I’m wrong about Bob fabricating this story, I’ll donate $100 to the Utah Democratic Party on Bob’s behalf. (Someone please convey this to Bob, since he does NOT read blogs).

But, I’m not wrong. Bob was forced to personally apologize to President Valentine and admit that he acted unethically in printing the made-up news.

So, why the lie in the follow up story? Why the Edwardsian attack on the “inaccurate and unfair blogs?” Bob’s just smarting that his ability to make up news is somewhat checked by people’s enhanced ability to communicate and exchange information for themselves.

This creates an interesting situation. The focus of Bernick’s sworn wrath* – the Utah Legislature – has become much more transparent to the public. Yet, the watchdog doggedly refuses to open itself to public scrutiny, and even castigates the public for daring to question it.

* (Next week, I’ll post a story about the D News declaring war on the Legislature – yes, an actual, verbalized declaration; unlike Bernick and the D News, I first want to verify some specifics.)