The Plain-Dealer and the case of the mysterious disappearance of a video

[Baron Scicluna]

Trying to keep this to journalism and not politics. The Plain-Dealer hosts the Ohio gubernatorial candidates at an editorial review board. The governor, again, not to make this political, let's just say, had a poor performance, especially when asked a specific question by his opponent.

The P-D videotaped the joint interview, promoted the video on its website, posted the video, endorsed the governor, and then, for a still unexplained reason, pulled the video.

They also threatened with legal action another web site that had kept the video on its site. That site pulled it, then posted part of it again.

Meanwhile, the P-D management has been silent since.

http://jimromenesko.com/2014/11/04/plain-dealer-ombud-why-i-havent-written-about-the-campaign-video-removal-controversy/

The Sandusky Register, meanwhile, found a copy of the tape and still has it posted on its site:

http://www.sanduskyregister.com/news/politics/6366421

And here's a listing of journalists and news organizations who have been seeking comment, only to not receive it.

http://www.cjr.org/united_states_project/john_kasich_video_northeast_ohio_media_group_chris_quinn.php

Regardless of political persuasion, this just seems to be rather shameful behavior for a news organization. Either post the video or don't post it. And if you do take it down, give your readers/viewers an explanation.

 

[SFIND]

I agree Baron. I can't understand why they would take it down after the original posting. And it's not like the video's going to hurt Kasich anyway.

 

[LongTimeListener]

The noteworthy part of that Romenesko link is the people within the Plain-Dealer saying the whole thing was set up -- and the video promoted and then pulled -- by the Northeast Ohio Media Group that shares space and I guess billing with P-D folks.

It sounds like NEOMG folks are extremely subpar journalists who suck up to the governor's people and willingly get pushed around.

 

[Songbird]

Kasich sounds like a dirty ****ing *****.

 

[da man]

Ace did it.

Just to prove he's good enough.

 

[Ace]

I support only good news and positive videos, gosh darn it.

 

[Double Down]

Tangentially related: I play in a CBS Sports fantasy baseball league and Marty Gitlin, the original I'm good enough for the Plain Dealer guy, is on the CBS staff always offering fantasy tips/summaries. Just in case anyone wondered what became of him.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

A week later, and the suit who made the decision finally offers an explanation, and it's a weak one. None of the candidates knew about the tape, but Kasich's campaign complained, so the suit felt they were being unfair because they didn't know about the tape and took it down. Then the writer makes a lame explanation that the reporting an audio should be enough, and the video isn't really necessary. Seriously?

http://www.cleveland.com/readers/index.ssf/2014/11/heres_why_chris_quinn_took_dow.html