Journalism Class: How Not To Write About The Occult
Saturday February 23, 2008
You know, for every example of really good Pagan-relevant journalism out there, there are at least ten stories that demonstrate just the opposite. This week's winner, which appears to have been written by either a fourth-grader, or someone who speaks English as a second (or maybe even third) language, comes to us from Bradenton, FL. First, note the headline, "Damaged Tomb May Be Witchcraft Related". That right there is enough to send the fundie anti-Pagan groups into a lather. Reading further on, it turns out that a grave was vandalized in a Bradenton cemetery, and some items were found nearby which to the nameless reporter "appeared to be of witchcraft." There's no indication whether this conclusion is that of the so-called journalist, or a direct quote from local police.
Oh, and there's also an oh-so-helpful reminder that the incident "may have" taken place on Wednesday night, the night of the recent "full moon and eclipse." You know, just to prove to readers that it musta been dem eebil witches.
Just a note to our budding journalists out there: this is an example of a Really Badly Done Article. If we were playing Cheesy Media Bingo right now, we'd have at least half our squares filled from this piece alone. Since there's no place for comments on the article's page, I just sent a note expressing my discontent to the General Manager of the station.
When reporters print stuff like this, without any sort of research involved -- and this means that the writer in question should have gotten quotes directly from the police AND from local occult experts -- all it does is propogate the misconceptions that people have about alternative religions. For someone who has no idea what witchcraft entails, this is the sort of thing they think we do. It promotes stereotypes and misinformation, and ignorance leads to intolerance. A big thumbs-down to ABC-7 for this example of irresponsible journalism.
Oh, and there's also an oh-so-helpful reminder that the incident "may have" taken place on Wednesday night, the night of the recent "full moon and eclipse." You know, just to prove to readers that it musta been dem eebil witches.
Just a note to our budding journalists out there: this is an example of a Really Badly Done Article. If we were playing Cheesy Media Bingo right now, we'd have at least half our squares filled from this piece alone. Since there's no place for comments on the article's page, I just sent a note expressing my discontent to the General Manager of the station.
When reporters print stuff like this, without any sort of research involved -- and this means that the writer in question should have gotten quotes directly from the police AND from local occult experts -- all it does is propogate the misconceptions that people have about alternative religions. For someone who has no idea what witchcraft entails, this is the sort of thing they think we do. It promotes stereotypes and misinformation, and ignorance leads to intolerance. A big thumbs-down to ABC-7 for this example of irresponsible journalism.
Couldn’t say it any better…
Wow, can we say, The Crucible?
I think I’ll join you in sending a note to the General Manager. That really is a poorly done article.
I joined you both and sent an email to the GM. I hope others will do the same thing. Maybe we can receive some form of retraction.
As the officer looked around the area of the gravesite, he saw items that appeared to be of witchcraft. Near the tombstone, he saw two one-dollar, two loose Newport cigarettes, spare change, burned candles, a black cross and a large unknown item wrapped in a black blanket. The blanket appeared to have been burned.
OMG! ROFLMAO! Can someone pass me a Newport so I can complete this ritual? WTF?
Now that I’ve got that out of my system, let’s just analyze what they’ve got here. A burned candle, and a cigarette. Later in the article there was mention of a dead rooster. Now, either you’ve got someone making a bad attempt at Voodoun practices, or a bad attempt at Satanic practices or (and this is my beleif) a bunch of teenagers that have watched to many horror movies and thought they new what they were doing.
Doesn’t this type of journalism(term used loosely here) just set your teeth on edge? Gack! From the poorly written to the ridiculous, it seems that if you have a menthol cig, a candle and some spare change, you can now be into Satan. Ugh. I need to go wash my eyes out…Thanks for the eye roll though.
Amelia
Hear that? That’s the sound of English teachers across the country slamming their heads on their desks in unison. On the bright side, if this guy’s a published journalist, then my hope of winning a Pulitzer is still alive!
Stupid article. Feigning indignation over bad reporting in order to imply the incident could not have been “witchcraft” related apparently because that would give people the wrong impression about “alternative” religions. Pshhht.
Such disingeuous writing does the same.
Stop insulting people’s intelligence and just admit some ‘tard noob did something stupid and you condemn such idiocy in the stringest of terms.
I don’t think anyone here has said there’s no way this could ever possibly be witchcraft-related. My complaint was that the article was so badly done that to someone who *knows nothing* of alternative religions, it’s entirely possible that they now think witchcraft consists of grave robbing, dead roosters, and smoking Newports.
My complaint was in fact twofold — shoddy journalism AND bad writing, and I think that’s fairly clear. Nothing disingenuous about it at all
patti
Wow. This was seriously done by a “reporter” and not a third grader? I take that back, my own third grader has a better mastery of the English language than whoever wrote that article. I do believe that I, too, will be sending an email to that GM. Whether it was teenagers, or even an adult who was playing at being a practictioner, there is no excuse for poorly written article to ever have been printed. I suppose they don’t use proof-readers anymore? Geez.
Although the description of the scene does sound a bit like Voudoun, I’d put my money on Hoodoo, given the location of the incident and the types of items found. Also, please note that the story is from a television station, not a newspaper, which could explain the dreadful (and sensationalistic) writing style.
I live in the Southeast, in coastal Georgia, and Hoodoo is indeed practiced here and down into Florida. We had a strange incident at a cemetery, where someone left behind a decapitated rooster and a decapitated goat. There is a proud Pagan community here and no one mistook that incident for “witchcraft.”
Has anyone gotten a response from the GM?
Wow can we say “Study” or “Know about” the Religion before passing bad information on.Hence “Don’t throw pearls before swine”
Hps Capcer
-_- i wished that I’d read this sooner because the article is no longer on the site… which is great!!! ^-^
It is still on the site. You can search for the article.
I just clicked on the link and it opened to the story, I didn’t have a problem or anything with it.
This is truly a ridiculious article! I think I might send a message to the manager just to complain about the intelligence of their “reporters”. I would have thought that writing a competent and clearly written article would be a requirement. Patti had a great point as well, people who have no or nearly no knowledge of different religions may well associate those events with witchcraft. Hopefully other people who read the article will take note of how poorly it was written and disregard it.
I really loved comment #6! Andie, I got a good laugh out of your comment. I would say that a lot of people could win a pulitzer if this article was in the running.
Checked out the article. THAT was hysterical. Guess they’ve never heard of F7.
)
Knowing the area, this would be about the right educational speed for Bradenton. Nothing offensive meant by that. Just a fact of life.
Can’t remember the topic now, but found something similar in a different advocacy realm a couple of days ago. A whole new crop of writers is blooming on the web so time again for the etiquette training. Ever wishful thinking hopes they will tell two friends and they will tell two friends and, and, and……..