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Our Take
Majority opinions of The Red & Black's editorial board
Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: Opinions
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NEGLECTING NEWS?
The arrest of a legislator's son goes unreported, and we want to know why.Rep. Paul Broun's son was arrested in Athens this weekend, but no one reported it.
Looks like a symptom of the decreasing newsroom. When reporters don't have the time to watch police logs, we have a problem.
Yep, Paul "Bear" Broun III, 18, who attends Athens Academy, was charged with underage possession of alcohol and possession of marijuana at a party on West Cloverhurst Street.
So why is this news, you ask?
Bear's smoking habits don't have anything to do with his father, many of you will yell at us.
Maybe not, but his ability to lead his son says a lot, as do his comments about marijuana in the past. In 2007, the Athens Banner-Herald asked Broun about his vote to stop a law that would enforce drug laws against doctors and patients who prescribe or use marijuana. Broun noted its gateway drug effects but also the medical value of marijuana. Balanced. Logical.
The ABH then asked if he ever smoked marijuana. He said: "I did as a student, years ago in college. I tried it a time or two and hated it, and I don't see why anyone wants to do that."
Maybe he should ask his son.
But it's not really about marijuana or Broun. It's about journalists doing their jobs. The Red & Black didn't report the incident as news because it didn't involve University students, but we're ashamed to see that it hasn't been reported anywhere, even days later.
- Carolyn Crist for the editorial board
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 11
Kidding right?
posted 4/15/09 @ 8:00 AM EST
Hold on a sec....
So apparently the R and B admits that it's not about marijuana or Broun. However, they are so eager to see it reported. Ummm, does anyone else see a contradiction in this line of thinking? Maybe the R and B should print similar statements every time an arrest goes unreported. (Continued…)
ab
posted 4/15/09 @ 8:00 AM EST
sooo.....what are you trying to prove with this? bragging you didnt report earlier....even though now youve just reported it?
ugh again
posted 4/15/09 @ 9:57 AM EST
I'm pretty sure you just wanted to get his full name in print so it can be searched for on the internet. Wow yall are so good at your jobs.
Charles Jones
posted 4/15/09 @ 3:20 PM EST
While Carolyn has always been very fair to me as a reporter and editor, I must respectfully disagree with the assessment here. I think that families of candidates and families of elected officials should be "off limits. (Continued…)
Shameful
posted 4/15/09 @ 5:45 PM EST
For four years I have overlooked the bias of the Red and Black. I have not griped about their constant harassment of Greek life, nor of their clear political bias, but this crosses a line. (Continued…)
no way
posted 4/15/09 @ 6:01 PM EST
Carolyn Crist, how do you sleep at night?
A little over the top...
posted 4/15/09 @ 10:19 PM EST
Sorry, but when an anti-Marijuana guy's kid gets busted with weed, its news. When pro-abstinence Palin has an unwed mother for a kid, its news. The way they run their families reflects their ability to govern. (Continued…)
bonquiqui
posted 4/15/09 @ 11:28 PM EST
As a daughter of a political figure, I am appalled that the Red and Black is going to such lengths just to bust a Republican's son. The way he "leads" his son has nothing to do with politics. (Continued…)
look again
posted 4/16/09 @ 4:16 AM EST
and actually the athens banner herald reported this story, but i suppose the editors at the red and black don't read actual newspapers.
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