Distorted Headlines- Just the Facts

By Dave Freneaux

Last Week’s Central City News front page headline reads:

“Watts Tells LoBue: Resign”

Fact: This headline is simply NOT TRUE.  In his letter the Mayor ASKS (not Tells) Lobue, “I am asking you to graciously resign…”  The headline also has led people to believe that Mr. LoBue was asked to resign from his position on the Council, when it actually refers to his chairmanship of a Mayoral committee.  An accurate headline could have read:

“Mayor Asks LoBue to Graciously Resign From Committee”

Another headline in last week’s Central City News reads:

“LoBue Attacked for Protecting Public’s Right to Know”

Fact: The “Attack” apparently referred to is an article in CentralSpeaks.com containing a simple and verifiable list of facts concerning LoBue’s unauthorized release of confidential records, and the article contains no opinions.  The article reflected negatively on LoBue NOT because he was “Protecting the Public’s Right to Know”, but because it demonstrated that he took an action in direct contradiction to the unanimous vote of the very City Council on which he was elected to serve, and against the advice of the City’s Legal Counsel.  A factual headline would have been:

“Facts Show LoBue Acts Against Unanimous City Council Decision”

Another misrepresenting headline is found again on the front page of last week’s Central City News and reads:

“Mayor Blocks Further Review of Legal Services”

Fact: This committee was assembled by the Mayor to gather research for the Mayor’s consideration.  The legal issues raised by Mr. LoBue’s release of confidential records prompted the Mayor to “temporarily suspend the activities of this committee.”  The Mayor further stated in a press release to both local newspapers “Once all legal issues are resolved I will likely request this committee to resume its research.”  The City Council has the right to study legal services or even to put together a committee to review legal services.  The Mayor’s decision does not block further study.  A more accurate headline would have read:

“LoBue’s Release of Confidential Records Temporarily Halts Work of Mayor’s Committee”