Comments on: The Associated Press Loves Church Critics http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/ an unseemly mix of politics and Mormonism Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:56:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: tiredmormon http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3395 tiredmormon Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:37:35 +0000 http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3395 I will take truth over friendly any day of the week. I will take truth over friendly any day of the week.

]]> By: Phouchg http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3393 Phouchg Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:39:58 +0000 http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3393 A person who may not be a member of the church can still be knowledgable on church-related matters. I would rather have an informed non-member discussing church issues than a faithful members who knows all "milk" and no "meat". The purpose of news reporting is not to proselyte or advocate a religion, it is to communicate facts objectively. This is much ado about nothing. A person who may not be a member of the church can still be knowledgable on church-related matters. I would rather have an informed non-member discussing church issues than a faithful members who knows all “milk” and no “meat”. The purpose of news reporting is not to proselyte or advocate a religion, it is to communicate facts objectively.

This is much ado about nothing.

]]> By: David H. Sundwall http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3391 David H. Sundwall Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:53:15 +0000 http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3391 Perhaps "foe" is too strong a word. But Palmer's "Insider's View of Mormon Origins" isn't exactly friendly. Perhaps “foe” is too strong a word.

But Palmer’s “Insider’s View of Mormon Origins” isn’t exactly friendly.

]]> By: tiredmormon http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3390 tiredmormon Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:44:50 +0000 http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3390 I agree, every article should use at least one official source. But the question was why would the AP only used Palmer and Ed...and that was my best guess. Btw, what does "to the foes" mean? Are you saying that Palmer is a foe? Writing a pretty straightforward book with honest intentions and then begging not to be ex'd makes you foe? I agree, every article should use at least one official source. But the question was why would the AP only used Palmer and Ed…and that was my best guess.

Btw, what does “to the foes” mean? Are you saying that Palmer is a foe? Writing a pretty straightforward book with honest intentions and then begging not to be ex’d makes you foe?

]]> By: David H. Sundwall http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3389 David H. Sundwall Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:31:02 +0000 http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3389 tiredmormon - Regardless of your characterization of what the Church would say, wouldn't a responsible article at least try to go to the Church as a source? The AP doesn't need to "parrot" anyone, Church nor foe. Why then go overwhelmingly to the foes? The Church does not try to control the media at all. The first AP stories ran as is in the Deseret News (click on the first link). I'm fine with non-offical sources being used, even hostile sources. How about using _one_ official source? tiredmormon -

Regardless of your characterization of what the Church would say, wouldn’t a responsible article at least try to go to the Church as a source?

The AP doesn’t need to “parrot” anyone, Church nor foe. Why then go overwhelmingly to the foes?

The Church does not try to control the media at all. The first AP stories ran as is in the Deseret News (click on the first link).

I’m fine with non-offical sources being used, even hostile sources. How about using _one_ official source?

]]> By: tiredmormon http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3388 tiredmormon Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:47:09 +0000 http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3388 Maybe news media find it difficult to get straight answers out of the church considering the recent Q&A from Fox News. Maybe the newsroom contains incredible spin, and is more political than straightforward. Maybe Grant Palmer can better understand the context because of his lifelong attachment to the church. The associated press does not need to parrot whatever goes up on the newsroom. Sadly, the church thinks it can control news media discourse and that is reinforced when the membership cries when non-official sources are used. Maybe news media find it difficult to get straight answers out of the church considering the recent Q&A from Fox News. Maybe the newsroom contains incredible spin, and is more political than straightforward. Maybe Grant Palmer can better understand the context because of his lifelong attachment to the church.

The associated press does not need to parrot whatever goes up on the newsroom. Sadly, the church thinks it can control news media discourse and that is reinforced when the membership cries when non-official sources are used.

]]> By: Michael http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3380 Michael Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:27:59 +0000 http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3380 I found quoting Firmage extremely odd as well. If I were approaching this from a cynical standpoint, I would suggest that the AP reporter could interview Firmage over a couple of beers and put the tab on her AP credit card, while an interview with a church spokesman wouldn't get any more "adult" than pie at the Lion House. But that would be overly cynical of me. I found quoting Firmage extremely odd as well.

If I were approaching this from a cynical standpoint, I would suggest that the AP reporter could interview Firmage over a couple of beers and put the tab on her AP credit card, while an interview with a church spokesman wouldn’t get any more “adult” than pie at the Lion House. But that would be overly cynical of me.

]]> By: David H. Sundwall http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3376 David H. Sundwall Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:56:31 +0000 http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3376 Chris - He was nice to Pres. Monson. But the point wasn't so much the content of the articles but her selection of sources. As a church scholar Firmage is well-known for his criticism and he has been quite public about leaving the Church. When he was my law professor, he took his direct descendancy from Brigham Young and Hugh B. Brown very seriously. He always reminded us of it when he let us know what he thought about the Church in class. I don't think the AP reporter would have gone to him merely as an author of "Zion in the Courts." Chris -

He was nice to Pres. Monson. But the point wasn’t so much the content of the articles but her selection of sources.

As a church scholar Firmage is well-known for his criticism and he has been quite public about leaving the Church.

When he was my law professor, he took his direct descendancy from Brigham Young and Hugh B. Brown very seriously. He always reminded us of it when he let us know what he thought about the Church in class.

I don’t think the AP reporter would have gone to him merely as an author of “Zion in the Courts.”

]]> By: Chris H. http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3375 Chris H. Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:42:46 +0000 http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3375 Ed Firmage was nothing but nice about Monson in that article. He is still a great Mormon intellectual, no matter his current standing in the Church. Ed Firmage was nothing but nice about Monson in that article. He is still a great Mormon intellectual, no matter his current standing in the Church.

]]> By: RomneyExperience http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3374 RomneyExperience Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:35:20 +0000 http://www.asoftanswer.com/2008/01/30/the-associated-press-loves-church-critics/#comment-3374 [...] Like David says- it’s time for Jennifer Dobner to update her rolodex.  (See also unbiased coverage of Dobner’s balance problem at GetReligion). [...] [...] Like David says- it’s time for Jennifer Dobner to update her rolodex.  (See also unbiased coverage of Dobner’s balance problem at GetReligion). [...]

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