Death changes everything

[malakijr]

Can I ask you guys a favor?

Here's the backstory. My friend edtheripper's mom has been sick for awhile. She was put in the hospital and put in a medically induced coma about a week before I left for the conference this weekend. They had to make the difficult decision to take her off oxygen and see what happens. She passed away on the 21st. It's been really

Comments

[quirkytizzy]

My email to her:

Dear Katie,

I received word of your story regarding Ed Tellier's grandmother and the cat hoarding, and would like to say that I am horrified by the fact that you failed to report this woman has recently died and that was the reason the ASPCA had to return to the home. I am also upset by the usage of the film of the interiors of the home itself without any particular permission of the family's. While the story of a cat-hoarder may be news, the fact that you failed to mention her death or contact her family about this story shows that you have failed in the ethical treatment of journalism and were instead sinking into sensationalism. It is not only ethically wrong, but by choosing not to include some very basic facts about this woman (i.e - her death) and choosing to run a story of this nature without considering how it may her family feel discredits your approach and ability as a reporter.

I am studying to become a journalist myself (Johnson County Community College, Kansas City) and while sensationalist news does sell, it should only sell when you add the human element to the story. You have failed to do this, and as much, you have provided me an example of how *not* to report a story.

I would ask that you remove the video from your website, or if you are unwilling to do that, perhaps add some copy to the story that fully explains the situation of the cat-removal rather than simply chalking it up to yet another "hoarder." Be honest and be ethical - this is not a story about uncovering a great plot or political mess, this is a story about a woman and her struggles. If you cannot do that, then please do not consider yourself a journalist of any caliber.

Sincerely,
Teressa Sullivan
Mission, Kansas

***
The thing is I really AM studying to be a journalist. I've taken several classes in media, public relations, reporting, and marketing and this woman's actions are deplorable.

[quirkytizzy]

I am also sending this directly to the station staff.

[malakijr]

Awesome letter. Thanks for taking the time to write it. Apparently, one of Ed's relatives DID give them permission to film inside the apartment, but Ed didn't give this permission himself (and neither did the grandmother, the mother of the woman who died and also the other owner of the apartment who lived there as well) and to me, that's shady. Even with family permission,it's deplorable that they didn't even bother to mention the woman's death. Seriously, how hard is it to get that information? A simple "hey, why are you here to get the cats?" would have gotten them this information. Lazy, sensationalized trash with no hint of journalistic integrity. Itmakes me sick.

[terminal83]

GREAT letter.