Site Activity
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wnc wrote a new blog post: WNC Complaint Hearing Saturday, June 1 at Town Hall Seattle, Dr. Richard Wollert v. The Seattle Times 2 weeks, 1 day ago · View
The Washington News Council will hold a public hearing on a formal complaint against The Seattle Times from Dr. Richard Wollert, a Vancouver psychologist. The hearing will take place on June 1, 2013, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Town Hall Seattle (Downstairs) . The complaint concerns a series of stories, “Price of Protection,” that appeared in January, 2012. All complainant [...] -
johnhamer wrote a new blog post: GiveBIG and GetBEER! GiveBIG May 15 and Stop By Our Office 1 month ago · View
SPECIAL OFFER: If you GiveBIG! on May 15 as part of The Seattle Foundation’s campaign to help ALL non-profit organizations in our community, then you can GetBEER! on May 15, 16 or 17 (noon-6 pm) at the WNC office above the Pyramid Alehouse across from Safeco Field. Seriously! The Washington News Council is offering ONE FREE BEER [...] -
michelewollert joined the group Outstanding Journalism 1 month, 2 weeks ago · View
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michelewollert joined the group Education Coverage 1 month, 2 weeks ago · View
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johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Our Advice for Britain’s new National Press Regulator 1 month, 3 weeks ago · View
In the wake of recent scandals, Britain’s politicians want to regulate the country’s naughty media. Our own Washington News Council might make a better model. England may soon have its own NPR: the “National Press Regulator.” Sound scary? It is. The Economist calls it a “ rotten deal ,” arguing that the British NPR would be “set up by a [...]
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michelewollert posted an update in the group Local/Neighborhood Coverage: 1 month, 3 weeks ago · View
Olympia legislation news 2013-14 session:
Here are 3 good reasons why our state should reject a Uniform Corrections and Clarifications Defamation Act (passed unanimously in the Senate and being considered now by the House). It should be rejected for these reasons:
*The premise that this law will eliminate or limit litigation is illusory: the Act does not present a mechanism for determining the sufficiency of the correction published, a pivotal issue in determining what levels of damages may be sought by the defamed person subsequent to a timely publication. The courts will necessarily be embroiled in such determinations.
*The Act does not recognize that defamation damages are often immediate, severe and non-economic as well as economic. An attorney is often engaged immediately at considerable expense. Even if the timely correction is deemed sufficient, the defamed person often will have suffered months of non-compensable injury (emotional distress, lowered reputation, family and friendship disruption, loss of standing in the community, failure of correction to reach significant members of the community, etc) and legal, perhaps even medical and/or mental health treatment, expense.
*The Uniform Laws Commission made the Act available in 1993. The fact that only one State, North Dakota, has enacted it in the interim, speaks volumes. Despite it’s professed intention to aid individuals and institutions, the Act is tilted far more to the benefit of the very organizations that cause the harm in the first place by careless, circulation or ratings driven, and even malicious publications. The good that prompt, adequate correction can do should not be purchased by the loss of remedies for the real harms defamed persons suffer before the correction is published and while it works its way into the public mind.
Thank you, JJW, for your informed and experienced guidance in helping me articulate what is wrong with this flawed bill. :)
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michelewollert joined the group Local/Neighborhood Coverage 1 month, 3 weeks ago · View
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wnc wrote a new blog post: Washington News Council Adds New Board Members 1 month, 3 weeks ago · View
The Washington News Council added Gabriel Boehmer, Vice President of Communications for Wells Fargo Bank, to its Board. It earlier added Caren Crockett, President of Adrenaline Consulting, plus 14 other new Board members: 1. Anne Bremner – Trial Attorney & Legal Analyst 2. Shauna Causey – Decide.com Vice President 3. Todd Dean — Partner, Angel Market [...]
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johnhamer wrote a new blog post: Washington News Council To Close Its Seattle Office 1 month, 3 weeks ago · View
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 1, 2013 The Washington News Council , which just began its 15th year of operations and added 15 new members to its Board of Directors (Fact Check: True), announced that it will close its Seattle office on May 1. The WNC will move lock, stock and beer barrel to London and “reboot” itself [...] -
nmresources became a registered member 1 month, 3 weeks ago · View
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michelewollert posted an update: 1 month, 3 weeks ago · View
Don’t have a FB account. Must be the only one in the universe….:)
Anyone following ESB 5236 as it moves through the WA legislature? It is ”an act relating to the uniform correction or clarification of defamation act.” Passed through the Senate unanimously and is now making its way through the House.
Will it make it more difficult for plaintiffs to recover damages in defamation cases? Its major advocate is Bruce EH Johnson, who defends the press. The WA State Bar Association opposes it. I am attempting to make sense out of it:
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robertcase posted an update: 2 months, 2 weeks ago · View
I have just been appointed to the editorial board of the Federal Way Mirror. My term runs two years. I am honored by the appointment.
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Dorian — Thanks for signing up. Go to our Facebook page and feel free to comment on what we post there. We’re trying to get more discussions going on that page, rather than our home page. No sure we can provide you with ”better news,” but we’re trying to get journalists to be accurate, ethical and professional. It’s a challenge!
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wnc wrote a new blog post: Applications Now Closed for 2013 Dick Larsen and Herb Robinson Scholarships 3 months ago · View
Applications are now closed for the Washington News Council’s two $2,000 scholarships to be awarded in 2013 to Washington state students planning careers in communications: The Dick Larsen Scholarship will go to a past graduate of a Washington high school currently enrolled in a public or private college/university in this state. The Herb Robinson Scholarship will go to [...]
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wnc wrote a new blog post: Washington News Council Highlights of 2012 3 months, 1 week ago · View
Our phone continues to ring and our emails continue to “ping” with citizens’ questions and serious complaints about the media. 2012 was quite a year for the Washington News Council — in fact, our most active ever! Click here to download a copy of our 2012 highlights , including: Leschi Elementary Community Stands Up to KIRO TV A Community [...]
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michelewollert posted an update in the group Media Ethics: 3 months, 2 weeks ago · View
The University of Washington’s School of Social Work has an excellent resource for ethical mental health best practices reporting that I think is worthy of sharing:
Thanks for the comment, Michele. Sorry for the delayed response. We’re trying to shift more comments to our WNC Facebook page, which seems to get more traffic than our website. Appreciate your encouraging words! Hey, tomorrow is national ”TAO of Journalism — Transparent, Accountable & Open” Pledge Day. Go to our TAO website and check it out. Also, watch tomorrow’s Seattle Times for the first of a 3-part NIE series on the TAO concept. We hope to keep the WNC alive and well. But funding is a constant challenge. Donations welcome!
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michelewollert posted an update: 3 months, 2 weeks ago · View
The University of Washington’s School of Social Work has an excellent resource for ethical mental health best practices reporting that I think is worthy of sharing:
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