Under the Sun

Melville or Hawthorne?

2008-05-06T19:25:04Z

Although this is the second article I read this month about "last words" that centers on Randy Pausch, the author of "The Last Lecture," I enjoyed the premise of Jill Rosen's story in today’s Sun. I was very disturbed, however, about the inaccurate information in the “Last Words” text box. Herman Melville wrote "Moby Dick," not Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote "The Scarlet Letter." Since both of these works are still taught in many high schools in this area and across the country, I find this mistake to be both unexpected and troubling.

-- Rosemary Rappa

A. From Deputy Managing Editor Paul Moore:

]]> The Sun. It was the kind of mistake that needed to be caught in the final editing process. Because we failed to catch the error, it makes the newspaper look silly. We will endeavor to prevent this kind of error from happening again.

Positive feedback

2008-05-01T16:16:36Z

A recent comment from a reader:

I grew up on the Washington Post, which is why I was surprised to realize recently that the Baltimore Sun is doing a much better job at regional and national news than any other major paper that I peruse regularly. Reading The Sun I learn about tornadoes in Virginia, Capitol Hill developments, economic development on the mid-Atlantic seaboard, lots of stuff. All that without sifting through reams of re-hashed garbage. And when I turn to the politics and opinion pages, Its not nearly as repetitive and pandering as the same pages in competing papers. To be specific, I'm really sick of hearing about Jeremiah Wright. I get it. I think everybody gets it, and if they don't, saying the same things over again isn't going to help. The past few days haven't been quite as good ("Wright media blitz could hurt Obama" April 29, "Obama Severs Ties with Former Pastor, April 30). But at least The Sun seems to make an effort to make sure they actually have something new to say each time they publish an article. Kudos to The Sun and its staff for being an original, independent news source, and not taking its cues from Fox News like so many others.

Craig Bettenhausen, Baltimore

Baby elephant story and a choice of words

2008-04-29T16:22:59Z

Q. I really enjoyed the recent article about the "coming out party" for the Baltimore Zoo's baby elephant, Samson. Stephanie Desmon's description of the excited crowds at the zoo was excellent. A good example was this phrase: "the pint-sized pachyderm got something else -- a name." However, the headline, "340-lb. toddler debuts at zoo. Elephant presented to fawning crowds," bothered me. The crowds were not "fawning." As Ms. Desmon says in her article, the crowds were "adoring." I should know because I was there. Doesn't The Sun know the difference? Mrs. R. Butrynski A. From Deputy Managing Editor Paul Moore ]]> I agree with both of your points. Ms. Desmon's article was a terrific read and had just the right tone for such a story. I also agree that "fawning" was a poor choice for the headline. Fawning implies seeking favor by servile flattery or exaggerated attention. This was not the case in this situation.

Article on William Donald Schaefer

2008-04-28T17:54:27Z

Q. I cringed when I saw the article in Saturday's paper, "Schaefer moves, reluctantly Former governor settles at Charlestown." For anyone who has dealt with the issues of the elderly giving up their homes and moving into assisted living or retirement complexes, it is one the most difficult, painful and personal experiences for any elderly person and their family. So even though Mr. Schaefer is a famous politician, I initially thought this article was a big invasion of his privacy. After reading it, however, I changed my mind. The reporter, Laura Vozzella, wrote it in such a way that did not embarrass Mr. Schaefer. The article also provided useful information for anyone who is facing this situation. What could have been insensitive turned out just the opposite.

- Emily Clugston

A. From Assistant Managing Editor Howard Libit:

]]> Thank you for your kind words. When Laura learned that Mr. Schaefer had been moved, we immediately knew this was a story that would resonate with many of our readers who have followed his life and career for decades. A priority was to handle this sensitively. The goal was not to embarrass, but to chronicle this major change in Mr. Schaefer's life in an engaging way. I believe that Laura succeeded in this, and was able to tackle the broader issue of how to deal with parents, grandparents and others who are in need of greater living assistance. While the way that Mr. Schaefer was moved is a bit unconventional, the article illustrated just how hard this transition can be. The fact that Mr. Schaefer and his friends talked about this situation helped to ensure the story was respectful.

Fewer pages in the Maryland section?

2008-04-22T16:00:18Z

Q. Since you have included classified ads in the Maryland section, there seem to be fewer pages of news than before. Is this true?
-Jim McGovern

A. From Deputy Managing Editor Paul Moore:

Actually not. Adding classified to the section obviously has increased the total number of pages, which more often than not provides more space and more pages for news. It partly depends on the number of classified obituaries each day, but on average the Maryland section has as many, if not more, pages for news than before. There are, however, certain days when a heavy number of classified ads can "squeeze" the news hole a bit, which can reduce the space available for articles.

The Sun and the Examiner on sludge

2008-04-18T21:25:23Z

Q. I've noticed that The Examiner has given a lot of attention (including front-page coverage) to HUD's decision to fund a program that spread sludge on the lawns of some houses in East Baltimore. The articles contend that this program -- designed to combat lead poisoning -- may have serious safety implications for residents. In contrast, The Sun has given this situation very modest attention. I'm curious why. Is it because you don't think it's important or that The Examiner is making too big a deal out of it? John Greenspan A. From Assistant Managing Editor Jon Morgan ]]> But several waste-management specialists and researchers said the same material used in the study -- done by researchers with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health -- is used in residential gardens throughout the country and even in a park in front of the White House. "Believe me, it's all over suburbia," said Robin Davidov, executive director of the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority, a government agency that helps turn sewage into composted sludge. The process is similar to pasteurization. The material is heated to a high temperature to kill pathogens, she said. About 6 million tons of this fertilizer are sold a year. The Maryland Department of the Environment has approved its use for nearly three decades, as has the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. There have been some questions raised about the safety of composted sludge, which is also used in a slightly different form on farmland throughout the U.S. A report by the National Academy of Sciences in 2002 found fault with how the EPA developed its regulations on sludge but found no risk to public health. The yards were chosen because of the high concentration of lead found in poor, African-American neighborhoods of Baltimore, places where families couldn't afford to rip up their yards, officials said. The families all volunteered to be part of the study and were fully informed of every aspect of the research, said Dr. Rufus L. Chaney, a research agronomist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The idea was to have the sludge bind to the lead in the soil and make it less likely to be absorbed if consumed. The study found that it worked, Chaney said. He said other studies -- which included feeding treated soil to rats, pigs and humans, showed a 69 percent reduction in lead absorption. The Hopkins study was not designed to check the possible impact on the health of children who lived in the houses, he said.

Awful accident story?

2008-04-14T17:51:53Z

The article "Three accidents tangle JFX traffic” on page 6B of the Sunday Sun was one of the most poorly written articles in recent memory. A middle school English student could do a better job. Some editing – please!

-Miriam Mittenthal

A. From Assistant Managing Editor/Copy Desk John McIntyre:

The story is no model of expository prose, but otherwise not anything out of the way of routine police/traffic reporting. There are no errors in grammar. "Taxicab" should be one word, and "expressway" is capitalized once when it shouldn't have been, but neither is a hanging offense. I wonder whether the reader is irritated the information in the article is sketchy. That, of course, is not our doing; we printed what the police were able or willing to give.

Spelling mistake

2008-04-09T14:54:32Z

Q. Has The Sun discovered a new way to spell Tennessee? That is the impression you gave when the headline at the top of the front page about the Lady Vols winning the NCAA championship said "Tennesee."
-Richard Gitler

A. From Deputy Managing Editor Paul Moore:

No, The Sun was not offering a new spelling. It was a serious mistake that should never had made it into print. Our proofreading process is designed to catch such mistakes, and obviously it did not work in this instance. We will endeavor to ensure that it never happens again. Our apologies.

Disappointed in Catonsville

2008-04-07T15:43:18Z

Q. As we have a store in Catonsville, we were very excited to see the article in today's paper about shopping in Catonsville. As I began reading, I was shocked how you could have completely omitted our family owned store, "Cy's of Catonsville," which has been here at 719 Frederick Rd. for 68 years, longer than any of the other stores you highlighted. My father, Marvin Meyer, is turning 82 years old this week & is still working full time here. Our Mom, 77 years old, is also working with us, too. There has been articles written about them & my Dad was once on the cover of Baltimore Magazine. We have a very unique store, as we carry swimwear for the entire family - from infants to women's size 32 & men's 5X year round. We are well known in the swim team community, as well as with all those who do water aerobics & water physical therapy. Along with the swim wear, we rent and sell tuxedoes. Those new to our store often want to hear the story as to how this came to be. How could you have been right here & not even be curious about our store & consider us as a point of interest?
Karen Miller

A. From reporter Stephanie Shapiro:
Dear Karen, My apologies for missing Cy's. During my day in Catonsville, I wandered in and out of a variety of shops, but didn't go into yours. I confess I knew nothing about it. I'm hoping that people who read the story and come to explore Catonsville will be more observant than I am and pay a visit to your store. Had I known more about it, I would have done the same.

Confusing reference in an article

2008-03-31T20:24:12Z

Q. It is now 8:58 p.m. on Sunday evening. This line appears in the news story posted or updated 10 minutes ago about the Marriott murders: "Noting a fatal building collapse that also occurred today, Scriber said: 'It's been a terrible day for the city' " I have searched the site for news about this, but cannot find anything about a building collapse today.

- Eileen O'Brien

A. From Matthew Baise, editor of baltimoresun.com:

]]> We didn't get a story on it from the newsroom, so we went with an Associated Press story first. But the reader is right: It's awkward to have a story up referencing another event we haven't reported on yet. (our AP take didn't make it up until later.)

From Deputy Managing Editor Paul Moore: I agree. It was an awkward reference given that the newsroom had not finished and posted the article about the man dying in the collapse of a building. We need to be more consistent in our approach in getting stories posted on the Web site on the weekend.

Why Red Sox on the cover?

2008-03-26T23:10:27Z

Q. As a long time Oriole fan and subscriber to the Baltimore Sun, I object strenuously to opening my morning paper and seeing the cover of the sports page dedicated to a photo of the Boston Red Sox. What are you thinking? And, for whom are you working? This is Baltimore! The Red Sox opener might deserve a small mention in the back of this section of the newspaper, but certainly not the front page.

-Susan Bartnick, Columbia

A. From Sports Editor Ron Fritz

]]> I sincerely apologize that we were unable to have the Terrapins women's game on the cover for all editions. Because of the nearly 10 p.m. start of the game, we could not possibly hold the presses to wait for the completion of the game. We held as long as we could, then stopped the presses when the game ended to get the story into the paper for the 4-star edition. We could not change the cover for the 4-star edition because it would have cost us another 20-30 minutes of getting the game into the paper. There is simply no way for us to deliver the paper to readers and wait for a 10 p.m. game to end. We did place the Terps women on the cover for our 5-star edition. I would be happy to send that section to you to show that we do value the Terps women. The photo on the cover is Marissa Coleman and Laura Harper hugging after the game and the story includes the box score. That said, we are just as unhappy with the NCAA because starting a game at 10 p.m. is ridiculous. Our hands were tied. We have to start the presses at some point in order to be able to deliver papers all over Maryland. But we did get the story into the paper, and then changed the cover, as soon as it was possible. Thanks for your e-mail, and I hope you keep reading us because we plan to have a lot of coverage on the Maryland women as they move into the Sweet Sixteen.

Not enough wrestling coverage?

2008-03-24T16:13:46Z

Q. This question is concerning your coverage of sports and sports teams in Maryland. I realize that it is the beginning of spring and there is a lot going on. The lacrosse season has just started and the state of Maryland is known for its lacrosse. Baseball's spring training is going on. The NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments have begun. Other college sports teams are wrapping up their winter seasons with championships and the spring teams are just starting.

That is what concerns me. You selectively cover certain sports and teams and completely ignore others. The Terps wrestling team recently won their first conference tournament in over 30 years, and it was not mentioned in the paper. This past weekend wrestling had their national tournament. Once again you failed to provide any coverage. You also wouldn't have been able to find out that our local area had three teams in the top 25. American at 24, Maryland at 21 and Navy at 18. Is it to much to ask for to cover our local athletes?

-Marc Heinecke

A. From Sports Editor Ron Fritz:

]]> Dear Mr. Heinecke: You may have missed the story in last Wednesday's paper (March 19). The article reported Maryland's win in the ACC tournament and sending six wrestlers to nationals. Although we should have done a better job following the wrestlers over the weekend, we did have an update in Sunday's paper on Maryland sophomore Hudson Taylor beating the top seed and ultimately finishing third. We should have mentioned where the team stands along with this brief.

When and if we can get the information, I'll try to publish where the local teams finished over the weekend. When you weigh the interest between basketball and wrestling, even you have to admit that basketball reigns, especially with the start of the NCAA Tournament. It is difficult trying to please everyone, and I wish we could have done more with the wrestlers, but we didn't totally ignore them. Thanks for your e-mail. It's always good to hear from passionate fans who want to see more coverage for their sports. Thanks again.

Where is Garrison Keilor's column?

2008-03-21T15:06:43Z

Q. I'm writing because it is Thursday -- the day of the week I really anticipate. But where is Garrison Keillor'? His column is not on the Commentary page today and there is no note mentioning whether he'll be back next week (or whenever). I don't know what to think, and I'm almost afraid to ask. But tell me anyhow.

-Nancy Spiva

A. From Deputy Opinion Editor Larry Williams:

Garrison Keilor's column now appears on Friday's Commentary page (you can find it online here). The change began today.

Readability of NCAA basketball brackets

2008-03-17T15:38:08Z

Q. Like many others, I opened my Monday sports section in anticipation of seeing the NCAA nen's tournament bracket ... and all I saw was some overdesigned fiasco. The shading was so dark the team names are illegible. Who on earth thought that was a good idea? I'm sure many people did what I did -- they immediately tossed it on the floor, went online and found a bracket that you can actually read. Please stop trying to be so cute and just present material that can be read.

-- Matt of Mount Washington

A. From Deputy Managing Editor Paul Moore:

]]> You have every right to be frustrated. The use of shadings on the brackets was a mistake and should not have happened. It made readability difficult. The Sun plans to rerun the brackets in Tuesday's sports section, without the shadings.

Crab cakes versus hard news

2008-03-14T15:20:45Z

Q. The March 12 front page article, "Crab cake nets world record," on the Baltimore Sun's website is a disgrace. While the Washington Post and New York Times websites have stories about Gov. Spitzer's scandal or the economy, The Sun is featuring tabloid-quality drivel about food patties. I love crab cakes as much as anyone and their importance to Baltimore's culture is not lost on me, but come on. Crime, the slumping economy, development in the city and hundred other topics are far more newsworthy than this grocery-store aisle fodder.

-- Seth Quinn

A. From baltimoresun.com Editor Matthew Baise:

]]> Should a news site use most of its real estate for hard news? Of course, but that doesn't mean being so self-serious that you never run lighter stories.

You mention the Spitzer scandal in your note as an example of the kind of coverage we should be offering. Not a day has passed since the story broke where we did not prominently feature the latest development, and it was the lead photo on several occasions. But our commitment to hard news isn't limited to political scandals. Today, for instance, our two lead pieces deal with the first teenager arrested on murder charges in Baltimore in 2008 and wrangling over taxes in Annapolis.

The great thing about the Internet is that the story mix is never static. It changes according to breaking news, the art that's available and the metrics that tell us what our readers are interested in. While we will continue to focus primarily on hard news, we think it's worth occasionally making room for wry pieces on world record crabcakes.