Thread: AZ: KGUN9 viewers debate Napolitano interview

KGUN9 viewers debate Napolitano interview
Posted: Dec 23, 2010 5:11 PM CST

By far the top commented story of this week has been 9 On Your Side's interview with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

Joel Waldman and KGUN9 photojournalist Chris Miracle traveled to Detroit to talk with the family of slain Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, and to cover Terry's funeral. The night before Terry was buried, his family sat down to talk with Waldman. They shared fond memories of Terry, but also expressed deep frustration with Napolitano and the Obama administration over border security policies. Napolitano traveled to Detroit to pay her respects to Terry and to take part in the eulogy. When she was leaving afterwards, Waldman asked her for a quick interview, to which she agreed. He took that opportunity to relay to her the concerns the Terry family had expressed to him, and to get her reaction. Napolitano pointed out that the Obama administration has done much to secure the border, but also chided him a bit for bringing up the issue on such a solemn day.

After the story was posted on KGUN9.com, it went viral. Fox News reported on it and ran it as the top story on their website Thursday evening. The Drudge Report also picked it up.

KGUN9 Viewers have been vocal.

James Stephenson was among those who felt KGUN9 had no business asking political questions on this occasion. "I was disappointed in the interview with the Michigan family of the Border Patrol Officer killed in the line of duty. The reporter asked leading questions and let the interview degenerate into a political statement."

Judy Donovan agrees. "Your coverage of the family's reaction to the border agent's death was unethical and disgraceful journalism. Following them all the way to Detroit to record their angry, embittered and misplaced blame against Obama and Napolitano for their son's death was deliberate and exploitative. In your pursuit of calculated controversy, you degraded them and their tragically dead son. Border agents understand well the danger they encounter when they pursue criminals and this violent encounter could happen at any time -- today, last week and for years in the past. It's not the fault of Obama or Napolitano who did NOT utter empty words in reaction, but actual facts. There has been more done in recent years to counteract the threat from drug cartels, as they explained, as in any period of the past, and everyone who follows the history of the border knows that. The threat grows because of the violence of the cartels in their desperate pursuit of profit. And that pursuit is born of U.S. citizens who suck up and abuse the drugs they supply. That family suffered a tragedy that occurred through the unrelenting violence of criminals who the U.S. government is doing what it can to control. And your report exploited the anger and completely misdirected grief of a family who is lashing out at anyone it can to place blame."

Larry Evers wrote: "Agent Terry's death is tragic but your report on his death is a disgrace What we need is more responsible reporting from you who should know better. Shame on you. Cheap shots. Compare what this Obama administration has done. Bush W? What did he do? Stop the yellow journalism!"

"psst1" saw it differently. "Excellent Reporting! Your interview with Napolitano and follow up questions were fair and informative. You were SCOLDED and in the future should know better than speak ill of this Administration. Good for you, and thank you for being journalists and not cheer leaders."

"AZBarb" wrote: "Thank you Joel Waldman and KGUN9 for not hiding Napolitano's despicable interview! The truth has been heard around the nation. She can run but she can't hide her ugly side."

"Vicki" wrote: "Thanks Waldman for asking the tough questions. This Administration has it way too easy with the media, and now we see how they react when asked point-blank questions."

"blues54" wrote: "KGUN, thank you for not taking the typical liberal media support of this administration and their continual denial for our border security issues. Kudos to Joel Waldman for actually doing credible reporting by speaking directly with Agent Terry's family and then not backing down to Sec. Napolitano's lame answers when he questioned her about Terry's family and their comments. Nice to know there are still reporters and a television station committed to reporting truth and the 'real story.' How dare she tell Joel Waldman that now is not the time to discuss border issues and the political aspects of this event and then turn around and talk about how much O'Bama and his weak Admin. is doing and has been doing for border security at his funeral."

Doug Rink simply asked: "Did the media 'pick a fight' here?"

Reaction from other viewers focused either on the issues, or on what Napolitano had to say, not whether KGUN9 should have asked pointed questions.

Jeffrey Smith wrote: "People who say this has nothing to do with Napolitano or the current administration are ignorant, and I mean that in the real sense of the word. LOOK at the Use of Force policy that the Bortac teams (different from normal policy) have to follow. It is not practical and is proven unsafe. Border enforcement is always secondary to public and foreign opinion and influence. God Bless Brian and his family."

"VivaLaMigra" wrote: "Gotta love the way she prefaces her remarks, at least twice, with the command 'Listen!' eh? Totally insensitive. She's telling everyone to just back off and accept her lame excuses in place of real action. She's always quick to tell anyone who will 'Listen!' that she '...knows the border as well as anyone.' Well why didn't you DO something about it?"

Jeannette Warren wrote: "How sad that the family thinks that Agent Terry's family should make such a statement. Agent Terry knew the risk in taking his job, and he died with honor. To say it was in vain, I don't understand. When brave men defend their country in foreign lands, or securing the border, it is never in vain. Blaming President Obama is just wrong, blame the cartels, blame the people who buy drugs and support the cartels. Blame the fact that AK47 guns that are sold to criminal. To say this won't happen again is to close your eyes to what is going on at the border."

A word of explanation here: As KGUN9's loyal viewers are aware, we believe in a news philosophy we call Viewer Advocacy, as expressed in our Viewers' Bill of Rights. It promises to give voice to the voiceless and to hold the powerful accountable. We take that role very seriously, which is why we traveled to Detroit in this instance. When we got there, we found that the Terry family had strong words about the role they believe current border policy played in their love one's death. Giving coverage to their views is the "give voice to the voiceless" aspect of our mission, so we aired a story fully exploring what they had to say. The "hold the powerful accountable" part of the mission meant that we had to try hard to relay their feelings to the powerful -- who in this case was Janet Napolitano - and get her response.

It was not our purpose to embarrass her or score any political points for one side or another. Her answers have to stand on their own. We've done our job, in part, when we help engender this conversation. But although we are very committed to this process, we don't take political sides. That is why we also took pains in our coverage in our 10pm newscast and on KGUN9.com to point out what the Obama administration has done for border security in the months since Robert Krentz was killed.

We welcome more comments on our coverage. Post them at the bottom of most stories we post on KGUN9.com, e-mail them to comments@kgun9.com, or post them on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/KGUN9OnYourSide


http://www.kgun9.com/global/story.asp?s=13735517

Related:

DHS boss Napolitano addresses criticisms from Terry family
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-222656.html

Terry family prepares for agent's funeral, and rips Obama
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-222655.html

"psst1" saw it differently. "Excellent Reporting! Your interview with Napolitano and follow up questions were fair and informative. You were SCOLDED and in the future should know better than speak ill of this Administration. Good for you, and thank you for being journalists and not cheer leaders."

I have used the term cheerleaders myself when talking about the Lamestream Media! Katie Couric should have pom poms when she talks about Obozo. She is the worst (IMO) but they are all more or less his personal cheering squad.