July 14, 2003

Dear Ms. Barnett,

I am sure that your newspaper prides itself on objective reporting. Unfortunately, a recent article will cause many people to doubt your commitment to this standard. Please investigate the preparation of this article and take steps to see that future articles on the same subject are accurate and objective.

On July 12, you published a story by Mike Geniella, "Court freezes logging in Jackson State Forest." This story contained a number inaccuracies and presented information apparently obtained from CDF as fact rather than as quotes. These deficiencies were combined with an editorial slant that portrayed my organization, the Campaign to Restore Jackson State Redwood Forest, as unreasonably trying to prevent logging in Jackson State, harming the state and Mendocino timber jobs. The reporter, Mr. Geniella never called me to verify facts or to respond to assertions made by the other parties in the lawsuit.

I believe that many of your readers are concerned about the environment and redwood forests in particular. The story by Mr. Geniella did not give your readers accurate and unslanted information that they deserve. I hope that you will take steps to correct the mis-information in the July 12 article and to counsel Mr. Geniella to provide  fair, accurate, and balanced reporting on this important public issue in the future.

I am planning to bring this failure of objective reportage to the attention of the two-thousand supporters of the Campaign. I expect that you will receive letters from a number of them. I hope that you will publish a fair sampling of them.

To give you an idea of how differently the story might have appeared to your readers if presented accurately and without a slant, I've provided an edited version of the story below. I have also attached a copy of a word file with the changes highlighted. I have also provided copies of previous press releases sent to Mr. Geniella. I ask you to look at these and judge the correctness of what I am saying.

The future of Jackson State Forest is important to all of the people of California, but especially to those living in Northern California. Please provide the reportage that this developing story deserves.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Vince Taylor
Executive Director
Campaign to Restore Jackson State Redwood Forest
707 937-3001