10 News takes credit for CityBeat’s story
Earlier this week, just before we published David Silva’s story about how the Marines unceremoniously dumped into the Miramar Landfill donations of magazines and other items that were meant for the troops in Iraq, we contacted 10 News, tipped them to the story and asked them to please credit CityBeat for having broken the news.
Let’s call it what it is: In addition to a genuine effort to spread the word on what we think is an important story, it’s also an attempt by us to market our newspaper and call attention to our work.
Well, we’ve now seen the product of our efforts. Here’s a link to 10 News’ version of the story. Notice how they take credit by claiming it’s their “investigation,” when it really was a case of reading our story and reporting it along with their video and a rehashed interview with Jeff Seymour, the man who arranged to send these materials to Iraq.
All CityBeat got was a mention at the end for having reported a comment from the Marines.
Sour grapes? Sure. But it’s also an example of television news doing what it does best: Passing off stories by print reporters as its own work.
Update: Our pal J.W. August, news director at 10 News, says he’s just sick about this screw-up. He says we were supposed to be credited for the story. So there you go.
