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Apologies, Sort Of

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:02:57 AM EST
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I've barely been here since Wednesday, when news broke of John Mark Karr's arrest in the Jonbenet Ramsey murder case. I am the first to agree there are far more important and consequential events going on in the world. I sympathize with everyone who is frustrated and tired of the coverage.

I've been a television legal analyst for the last decade. I've commented on every development in the Ramsey case since the week Jonbenet was killed, nine and a half years ago. In other words, I'm part of the obsessive media coverage.

And therein lies a dilemma. Should I not write about things I'm interested in because readers don't share that interest?

While TalkLeft is my blog, it was never intended to be about me. I'm not about to change the focus of the site to accomodate my adventures as a tv pundit.

TalkLeft is about crime, politics, candidates, legislation and injustice, particularly those of the criminal justice system and the Bush Administration. Even though I believe that no one has faced a greater injustice in the court of public opinion in the last decade than John and Patsy Ramsey, I don't feel comfortable blogging much about the case, because I know TalkLeft readers don't really care about it. They come here to read about different kinds of injustices...like the Iraq War, Guantanamo detainees, Bush's warrantless electronic surveillance, wrongful convictions, torture, civl liberties, prisoner abuse and similar substantive issues.

While TalkLeft covered all developments in the Kobe Bryant, Michael Jackson and Duke lacrosse alleged rape cases, it was just a small part of the overall blog coverage. When the comments on the Duke entries grew to unprecedented (for TalkLeft) levels, I created a separate Duke forum for the commenters so as not to antagonize TalkLeft readers by writing about the case when there was no news. It's worked pretty well.

The difference with this week's Jonbenet developments is that I'm not just doing TV once or twice a week, I'm doing it two to six times a day and not just on one network, but on four. Even though most of the appearances are for four to seven minute segments, there are hours of research and prep time every day. It hasn't left me much time to keep up on other news.

The Ramsey case continues to fascinate me. My blood pressure still soars when I hear some pundit repeat something I know to be false either because of their ignorance of the known facts of the case or to advance their own personal agenda. I feel I have an obligation to present the other side and try to level the playing field.

I also find the media coverage itself a fascinating issue. For example, I spent Saturday afternoon in Boulder with a network producer and hung out for a while at the Justice Center, where the parking lot is beginning to fill with the giant media trucks and massive amounts of lighting and camera equipment and the setting up of lawn chairs for media interviews and tech people and reporters still in low gear, pacing themselves for the crush and the circus that is just days away when John Mark Karr is expected to make a court appearance.

TChris and Last Night in Little Rock have been posting on other matters, as their busy schedules permit. I will be back to regular blogging as soon as this storm blows over, and perhaps before.

So, I'm sorry if I'm not blogging about what you want to read this week. But it is my blog, and since I'm in the eye of the media storm, I'm going to ride it through.

There may be good news. If Mary Lacy has an ounce of sense, she'll talk Califonia into holding John Mark Karr on its fugitive warrant while she decides whether she has a case against him...something she should have done before she sought the arrest warrant and created this international spectacle. If he doesn't come to Colorado to face murder charges this week, the coverage should die down. Media interest in Karr's misdemeanor child porn charges pales by comparison to Jonbenet Ramsey.

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    Apologies, Sort Of | 19 comments (19 topical)
    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:12:19 AM EST
    No need for any apology, your appearances on TV are a breath of fresh air. Of course, the Ramsey case and other media frenzies aren't legal matters of the highest order, but we're all human and they hold some interest still. Keep up the great work, and thanks for your efforts at TalkLeft.

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:20:27 AM EST
    eh, go for it - if the rest of the left blogosphere can deal with 24/7 Lamont/Lieberman, then we'll get over a little extra JonBenet. Plus, if you've been doing this for a decade, at the time of conclusion, it'd be good to have your thoughts in writing for the record, even if your views (ahem, "presume innocence") didn't have to evolve quite as much as some in the fourth estate ;)

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 09:46:52 AM EST
    Not only should you not write about things your readers aren't interested it, but you should also not insult your readers by using words or terminology or phrasing that we might not understand. Oh, sure, you're so smart! Also, it would be helpful for you to write in all caps, never more than three sentences, and to place more shiny advertising around your site. Just some tips.

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#4)
    by Che's Lounge on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 10:23:25 AM EST
    JM, This is a legal web site. This is one site at which we SHOULD be reading about the Ramsey case. Besides, we are (almost) all adults here. We know how to change the channel.

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#5)
    by rdandrea on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 10:53:23 AM EST
    1) It's your blog, dammit, write about whatever interests you. 2) Better the analysis should come from you than someone who doesn't have a clue what they're talking about.

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 11:47:10 AM EST
    i think that as long as you can share some particular insight about the media's/prosecutor's handling of it, i'd read about it. like what's up with this sex change thing? has the story gotten that stale so soon? i don't know anything about this case, and i'd like to keep it that way. but if you can give us some ideas as to why the media outlets/prosecution are doing what they're doing, i'd be interested in reading about it. and thanks for asking and keep up the good work!

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#8)
    by RF on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 12:01:43 PM EST
    My gut tells me liquid London and the tabloid Circus you so aptly describe are both distractions intended for the dumb and dumber populace at large- I arrive here to read about a legal take on nearly every high-profile event that has an impact on our society, and unfortunately, Wx by happenstance, or cruel media manipulation, the case of the little white gerl has an impact- I don't view, or read a word of it, including what you might have written, or said in a soundbite for one of the six mega-corps who choose our leaders, and what we see and hear daily... Write what you want, and do those interviews with the devil incarnate Grace, it isn't your fault you are part of the defacto rotten apple- Respectfully- RF in NH

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#9)
    by digaman on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 12:08:50 PM EST
    Jeralyn, I have mixed feelings. Of course this is your blog, and you have been deeply involved with and concerned with the Ramsey case for a very long time. It's important that you feel that your blog represents you and your passions. On the other hand, it was very disheartening to me to log on this week in the wake of the NSA decision and see that one of my favorite websites -- the one on my personal list most relevant to the decision, after all -- was going to dive whole-hog into JonBenetLand while the future of this country is hanging in the balance. Frankly, I also felt from day one that John Karr would turn out to be a pathetic fraud, and that I'd have to endure a week of wall-to-wall "If only JonBenet's mother could have felt secure in this knowledge before she died!" coverage followed by a week of shocker "Karr DNA results prove false" headlines followed by a week of "Why did we get so obsessed over this story?" self-flaggelation. Meanwhile, Rove, the GOP, and the media hang the courageous judge Anna Diggs Taylor out to dry, and even mentioning the notion that warrantless wiretapping might be a gross violation of everything this country stands for becomes another fringe-left tinfoil-hat "partisan" obsession. It might have been best to tackle the JonBenet issue yourself, while delegating posting duties about matters non-JonBenet to someone else, particularly during such an important time for the law and the Left. I'm not trying to make you feel guilty. I understand that anything you do here is a blessing for all of us, and I amd deeply grateful and want you to follow your bliss. But I'm playing the devil's advocate here to suggest that TalkLeft might be bigger than what one person can do successfully all the time.

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#10)
    by Sumner on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 12:40:12 PM EST
    You own this. This story belongs to you not simply because of Boulder, but because of your investiture from the beginning. If it were merely a matter of belonging to Boulder, then you would have been foremost behind the Ward Churchill / First Amendment / Bill Owens flap, or for that matter, the heavy presence from Colorado, of members in the Markle Foundation Task Force on National Security, one of the principal players re NSA spying. Yes it seems Rovian. Yes [Bill Gates] MSNBC has been pushing this story like everything depends on it.

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 12:55:16 PM EST
    My money's on not "an ounce of sense." Easy call.

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#12)
    by Che's Lounge on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 01:02:17 PM EST
    Big Tex, And the nature of here has changed. It's gone from a place where people would treat each other with relative respect even when ideology disagreed (with a few exceptions) to largely an echo chamber. I've come here for some time also and have seen the comments evolve. But if you look at it from a community forum perspective, which IMHO is the pupose of the comments sections, it's also been an evolution of some familiar names and ongoing debates. Part of group dynamics is that people substantiate each other's arguements. If you focus on the "echo chamber" viewpoint, then it's probably better that you just read the articles and seek a more balanced discussion at a site the doesn't have the word LEFT in it. New people come along and need to hear the truths that drive the progressive left. It's not an echo, it's a theme. Just ask our opposition. They perfected it. It is interesting to witness, or even participate in the evolution of the Blogs. It's good to see people like Kos and FDL exploit this hugely important communications tool for community activism. We are WAY ahead of the opposition on this. Personally I am 10 times more active politically than I was before I started coming here. (Though much credit should also go to the president) How things will turn out for blogs like TL is hard to say. The megacorps are watching and planning, that much is certain. But so far JM's intincts have been correct, and this site is one of the successful pioneers of the internet movement. I wonder why that is?

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#13)
    by Dadler on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 01:04:34 PM EST
    Tex, "Merits" and one's "ideological base" are often inseparable. I have no trouble criticizing Dems, the left, or my own often contradictory, muddled, human self... But I think often, for all of us, our ideology, paradigms, prejudices, experiences, lack thereof, what have you, influence greatly how we interpret the merits (facts?) and if we even consider them merits at all.

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 01:16:53 PM EST
    TalkLeft is one of my 4 "regular reads" and I don't usually read this site for the crime stuff... but, I still expect to see crime issues covered here ("Politics of crime" and all that). You've got a valuable perspective and its your blog. Part of what makes any blog worth reading is that the writers are writing about their interests and passions. Keep it coming!!!

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 01:21:47 PM EST
    I'm with rdandrea... your blog, your choice of topic. Other people are going to be talking about it as well, and if you choose to do so, I don't see anyone having a fit. Proceed.

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#6)
    by BigTex on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 01:28:40 PM EST
    Seems that the answer to your question lies in what direction you want the blog to take. It is your blog, you should write about what you want to write about. Just think it through before you decide. There aren't any ethical issues in play, you were an analyst before you started blogging, so it's not like the blog is anything more than a gloss relationship to the analyst function you serve. Two things to consider. You and LNILR are open minded, but LNILR doesn't put many posts here, so when you have down time that leave TChris to fill the void .... It's not so much that he is driving off commenters, but he is changing the nature of those who do comment. [Edited by TalkLeft to delete insults] And the nature of here has changed. It's gone from a place where people would treat each other with relative respect even when ideology disagreed (with a few exceptions) to largely an echo chamber. So, it's a question of what do you want this blog to be? Open discussion, or echo chamber? The second consideration is what effect do you want the blog to have? If you want it to be something to energise the left portion of the political spectrum, then you should stay the course. If you want it to be something that has a chance to effect change by having people look at the issues on their merits rather than their ideological base, then perhaps a wider virety of posts should be made. Oh, and before anyone lights into me, remember, although I am conservative I am open-minded and listen to arguments from both sides. Multiple occastions I've spoken out against the President, and have taken pro defendant positions. I'm not an ideologue, dispite the attempt by some to paint me as such.

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#16)
    by BigTex on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 01:58:11 PM EST
    No insults were intended upthread TL, sorry they were seen as such. Would you mind emailing me the original comment so I don't cross that line again?

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 02:01:28 PM EST
    Thanks everyone for your comments and your support. They mean a lot to me. As to those discussing the community aspect, I will be making changes in the next few weeks, which will allow greater interaction among commenters -- and allow commenters to discuss topics of their choice, even if I haven't written about them. I will also be leaving Typekey registration and Movable Type behind, to speed the site up. When I have more details, I'll post them. All of your suggestions are being considered and I welcome the feedback.

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#18)
    by HK on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 02:16:23 PM EST
    There really is no need to apologise. Most of the time TalkLeft provides good, balanced coverage of all major news stories. I enjoy posts by yourself, LNILR and TChris. You are all busy people though and sometimes posting on TL must be pretty low on your list of priorities. That's okay. If it weren't for your involvement in legal matters and the media, the blog wouldn't be quite so interesting. There has been a focus on Jonbenet. When she was murdered, I had less of an interest in international news and am not very familiar with the case. It has been an education reading your (and others) view on the case. I would probably get bored with TL if you often focused on one case for prolonged periods of time, but it really doesn't happen often. Ultimately it is your blog and you should do what you want with it. But for what it's worth, I think what you do is great :) I am particularly grateful for your coverage of death penalty issues as that is a subject close to my heart.

    Re: Apologies, Sort Of (none / 0) (#19)
    by orionATL on Sun Aug 20, 2006 at 04:26:04 PM EST
    it all depends on motive. we know the motive of corporate journalism - to sell ads. but that is not talk left's motive -though ads are sold here. from my point of view, if there is unfairness or injustice or misinformation, manipulation of information, or a new insight of consequence then there is no such thing as "old" news. kerr's impending arrest reminds that the ramsey matter is unsolved and what that case was about, and it may end up reminding us that there is tremendous latent danger in mass corporate journalism -- the danger that that journalism will creating mass misunderstanding and incite mass mis-punishment.

    Apologies, Sort Of | 19 comments (19 topical)