WATE Flips It’s Lid
Check out this lame, sensationalist report about the Knoxville .gov buying pricey SUVs. I guess when there is no news, you just make a story up.
Update: Jim took issue in comments noting that:
I’m sorry. Perhaps I misunderstood.
When you say “I guess when there is no news, you just make a story up,” that appears to me that you’re accusing us of making up the news. That would be reporting what is not true.
There is nothing in the report that is not true.
As for sensational, that’s in the eye of the beholder. There are some people who are glad to know how their tax dollars are spent.
I see his point and hereby rescind the comment I guess when there is no news, you just make a story up. The point I was trying to make (and absolutely should have been more clear about) is that:
When something they investigate doesn’t really seem that newsworthy, they report it anyway. I stand by that. I don’t think said SUVs are that overpriced, to be honest. Have you priced them lately? And they are, despite people’s complaints, convenient and utilitarian. The tone of the article was, in my opinion, sensationalistic and blown out of proportion.
Apologies to Jim for being unclear.
June 29th, 2006 at 12:23 am
Is it sweeps week?
June 29th, 2006 at 9:47 am
What part of this story is not true?
June 29th, 2006 at 9:58 am
I didn’t say anything was untrue just that it was sensationalist. By that I mean that it is not really worthy of a news story yet it was turned into one.
June 29th, 2006 at 10:16 am
“Are your children in danger from Knox County officials driving expensive SUV’s?? We’ll tell you at 11!“
June 29th, 2006 at 11:07 am
I disagree. It’s not a great story, but it’s not sensationalized. It lays out the facts that your local gov officials are working the perks and spending money on luxury cars while other priorities go wanting. That’s a small, but legit story if I’m a taxpayer.
As a reader, it might be hard for me to understand a lot of the usual lcoal government corruption. But I know public servants shouldn’t drive top of the line SUVs on my dime.
It’s not so much about the extra money. It’s more about demonstrating in a tangible, understandable way how the gov feels about spending other people’s money.
June 29th, 2006 at 1:00 pm
If anyone at WATE is reading here at Say Uncle, I have a tip for an investigation. Why not look into the Great Schools program?
More detail here.
June 29th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
I’m sorry. Perhaps I misunderstood.
When you say “I guess when there is no news, you just make a story up,” that appears to me that you’re accusing us of making up the news. That would be reporting what is not true.
There is nothing in the report that is not true.
As for sensational, that’s in the eye of the beholder. There are some people who are glad to know how their tax dollars are spent.
June 29th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
Jim, I think you’re correct and I apologize for not being clear. Will amend.
June 29th, 2006 at 3:00 pm
It’s like cops giving out tickets for Jaywalking – you’d think there was something better for them to do.
June 29th, 2006 at 3:25 pm
Apology accepted.
To be sure, if you want to take WATE to task for reporting something you don’t think is legitimate, that’s not only your right, it’s something you should do. (And have done numerous times!)
We’re not above criticism and we cannot provide better reporting if we don’t hear it.
June 29th, 2006 at 3:27 pm
Well, some of you are 😉