Reporters are probably among the most beleaguered of professionals. There are so many elements in getting a good story---- and doing it often on tight deadline---- that errors in fact do occur. And, of course, there are always errors in omission. The press must deal with an angry public when the story is not factual or complete, as well as with an irate editor who is always expecting better.
Accustomed to not always being content with the article presented on any news item of interest to me, I was surprised and pleased at the front page news coverage in the local paper, The West Orange Chronicle. The article, complete with color photograph, was entitled "Township's Trees Remain Unprotected". From headline to last line, the article written by Diane Lilli, hit the mark perfectly.
Essentially she covered the issue of the languishing tree ordinance and the ordinance status at the West Orange Town Council Meeting. Her piece is threaded with meaningful and well placed quotes from both the council members and Paul Tractenberg, the chief advocate for the revised ordinance. I don't think any one could accuse Ms. Lilli of being inaccurate, incomplete or biased in the architecture of the article.
But she did more than cover the story, she raised the essential questions. Why is this taking so long to accomplish? Why has the council discussion been post-poned until after the council elections?
Of course, the responses are as one would anticipate. That the council does not want to act precipitously. But again this reporter drums at the issue of the time line and brings out how deliberation could and should have preceded the meeting on April 29.
The highest purpose for news media should not just be the telling of a story, but in raising the questions that put the story into the most understandable and illustrative context.
This, Ms. Lilli did admirably.
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