Media: PJS continues to ignore District 150’s bad audit
So, here is the gist of today’s article on Peoria School District 150: ‘Gee, people sure are upset that our finances aren’t perfect. It’s all because school budgets are difficult to understand. So, let’s have Board President David Gorenz personally pick a group of ordinary citizens to will explain things to the unwashed masses.’
The Peoria Journal Star printed this crap without any critical analysis or background.
No doubt this group will include members of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, which is on record praising the board for making decisions.
He’s what I want to see. I want to see ONE SINGLE ARTICLE from the Journal Star that mentions details from most recent audit — it’s available upon request from the district, for God’s sake — in which the auditor criticizes a $10.5 million budget discrepancy and complains about a slew of errors and omissions. It seems that the financial brainiacs who work for District 150 have a poor understanding how school finances work, too.
If actually requesting and reading the audit is too much hard work for stressed out reporters, they can always cut and paste the juicy parts from this article written by Elaine Hopkins. The Journal Star ought to be familiar with her work. She used to write for them.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:53 am
We thought the same thing! It’s like they are throwing a newspaper version of a hissy fit.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:05 am
I don’t understand why they are not investigating it. It is quite a story and people really need to know what the deal is.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
The PJS did the same thing with the Peoria Park District open meetings act issue when they went behind the publics back and private people dug up the facts. The reporting by the PJS is lax and this will lead to no one reading the news in the paper. I get more information from the blogs.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Who owns all the 8 cent Gatehouse stock?
February 4th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Someone needs to tell them that it is their job to report the news, not drive it.
February 4th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Maybe the PJS thinks it should be someone in authority checking the books of the District instead of some self appointed “parents” who are helping bring the District down all the time with their constant picketing.. What was it last month? Oh yeah it was shorten school days, this month it is don’t close the high schools, or, don’t close “my” high school. No wonder outsiders have a dim view of Peoria schools. Nobody bothers to say anything positive…ever. Maybe if things were seen in a positive way, then things might change. This District does teach the kids, it does do it’s job despite all the nay sayers.
February 4th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Emtronics — “Self-appointed ‘parents’”? What the heck is that supposed to mean? It’s not the parents who are bringing the district down. Nor is it the teachers.
February 4th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
To all,
Just so you know, I have been in email contact with PJStar employees on this issue. Because they are a public media outlet, they have different standards for publication than the blogs do. Not that we on the blogs aren’t right, but they have to be able to officially back up what they print or they can be sued. We don’t have to provide proof (even though often we do) and in many cases can hide behind anonymity. We can’t be sued like they can.
The PJS editors are aware of what the blogs are writing about D150 and are following up. It will take time. A few things–
1. It is true that some editors there are very disdainful of the blogs, saying it is just a few people with agendas, you can find blogs on every side of an issue, etc. Actually, that is true. I responded to one editor tonight that it doesn’t matter how many people are saying it if it’s true, as Deep Throat was ONE person with info who was right.
2. Newspapers cannot make allegations like “fraud” without being willing to face legal consequences. So they have to take the time to back up what they print. Bloggers don’t have to do that.
3. Because of massive staff cuts, the PJS does not have staff available to do enterprise/in-depth research like they used to. If you want to give them info, give them credible links, source attributions, etc. that they can follow up on. As excellent as I think Elaine Hopkins’ article is, “anonymous experts” won’t (and can’t) fly at a newspaper.
I am not defending the PJS or the MSM (which I despise), but providing perspective and background into how they operate. If you have specific data, info, etc., regarding D150 that you want the PJS to investigate, please give them what you have, which is what they have to have to print it.
We need the PJS and the MSM to provide the news credibility and exposure that the blogs cannot. Much as I get frustrated with their slowness, I respect their purpose. We need to work with them on issues like this, including holding their feet to the fire when they screw up.
Write letters if (when) they are wrong, but sign your names or they won’t be printed. Be willing to stand behind what you say.
That being said, I love the blogs and think they are part of the future of journalism/news in the 21st century.
February 4th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Bloggers and Newspapers… you can’t live with ‘em, ya can’t live without ‘em. Good stuff Mary.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Mary, All the information Elaine’s anonymous experts pointed out was simply information that was in District 150’s official audit. Like Billy says, it’s available upon request from the District. Why don’t they simply report the results of the audit? Isn’t that newsworthy? Doesn’t it meet the burden of “credible links, source attributions,” etc.?
February 4th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
This appointed committee of ‘whomevers’ will then interpret the data for the public and the school board members? If the committee misinterprets the data and makes a mistake, then the administration and the school board members can blame it on the committee? Is this a possible scenario?