And for the record, here's what I wrote John Drescher
John-
Thank you for coming into the lion's den. I am a subscriber in Raleigh. Here's the thing. A lot of people read your early coverage and drew the conclusion "Oh! - three Duke lacrosse players raped a stripper" and, at that point, stopped paying attention. It didn't help that you sent out your columnists with the message that you'd reported it all before 60 Minutes did. The problem is that you reported it AFTER many people stopped paying attention.
Thank you for publishing this here. Even after the 60 Minutes report, which would have been unnecessary if you'd gotten it right, I still run into people who think the rape is an accomplished fact because they didn't see 60 Minutes. Could you go one step further and put this on a Sunday front page above the fold as was your initial coverage of these very questionable accusations?
Frankly, for me, they didn't pass the smell test from day one. It's your job to be skeptical especially of govenrment officials involved in an election campaign. Why were you so credulous? You seem to want us to believe that it's Mike Nifong's fault and the fault of defense lawyers for not talking to you. Read what's below and understand WHY the defense lawyers wouldn't talk to you.
Let me demonstrate what I'm talking about. As I am sure you well know, most readers are hurried and will read a headline and maybe the first two paragraphs. So things buried a the end of an article might as well not be there.
So I'm one of those headline-only readers, and appended is the story I would have gotten on the way to work every morning for the first four weeks or so. The way your coverage went it would be about April 22 before it really became clear that things were not as they seemed. I know many many people who had "checked out" by that point.
Did you hear the irrational rant of the woman at the panel discussion who went storming out. I notice you chose to not report on that. Your coverage has a certain segment of the population so convinced that a rape occurred that they'll not listen to anything else.
If these three laxers are NOT sent away for 20 years you're going to have a Rodney King kind of outcome in Durham. Are you prepared to take responsibility for that? By the way, that woman was the kind of juror that these three lax players will face. Mike Nifong's counting on it. Want to handicap their chances for a fair trial?
24 March "DNA tests ordered for Duke athletes"
("Durham police had 46 members of the Duke University lacrosse team DNA-tested Thursday in the suspected gang-rape of a woman at an off-campus party last week.")
25 March "Dancer gives details of ordeal"
(this horrible rape absolutely occurred - you preume facts not actually known - that a rape happended - and at the same time suppress the fact that she was also accusing Kim
Roberts of assisting and stealing the money. Right here at this point you could have cast doubt on the accuser's story. BUT YOU DIDN'T)
27 March "Team's silence is sickening" (R Sheehan)
("We know you know")
1 April "The sequence of events that led to allegations of a sexual assault"
1 April "Tension spreads in lacrosse case"
1 April "In lacrosse case, any charges 10 days away"
1 April "Two sides, one truth"
(No news so keep it in the public eye)
1 April "Any way you look at it, woman's situation was tragic "
(no matter what happened - men are bad)
2 April "Threats, rumors, incidents keep students uneasy Duke campus"
2 April "Incident imperils Duke's image"
(No actual news so stir the pot some more)
2 April "Searching for fairness in the Duke story"
("Outrage" has been the operative word to describe community sentiment in Durham in the past week. And justifiably so, if the allegations against members of the Duke men's lacrosse team are even close to true. The community has risen in angry protest against the ugly story of sexual assault, brutality and racism that has drawn national attention and tarnished Duke's blue-ribbon reputation.")
3 April "Lacrosse team out of control" R. Sheehan
(Ruth hasn't caught on yet)
5 April "Players' lawyers could divulge DNA test results"
(We have no news but we might get some soon)
5 April "Duke plans to address students' behavior"
(It's not just the lacrosse and baseball teams - it's every Duke student)
5 April "Father: Injuries were telling"
(Why would her father lie?)
6 April "Player in tussle in D.C."
(See - they're all hooligans)
6 April "Lacrosse coach, season out"
("Duke University lacrosse coach Mike Pressler resigned Wednesday, the same day a search warrant revealed new information about a lacrosse player's behavior and the rape investigation related to a lacrosse team party last month. Hours later, university President Richard Brodhead announced the appointment of five groups to investigate campus culture, student behavior and the lacrosse program. Brodhead also terminated all lacrosse activities immediately...")
6 April "Message spoke of 'killing' "
(Next time they'll rape AND kill the strippers. Note: I used to live in what is now Edens 2C. Haveing a team meeting in one of the tiny dorm rooms is absurd on the face of it.)
7 April "Suspects in rape share background of privilege"
(it's a bunch of preppy rich white guys)
7 April "Lacrosse coach won big on field"
(But was a loser elsewhere?)
7 April "Manager: Scanty info delayed search"
(You actually bought into this lame excuse?)
8 April " 'Stand up... challenge teammates' "
(Now Duke's an object lesson on what NOT to do)
8 April "Lacrosse legal strife erupts early"
(Finally you get in contact with the defense)
9 April "Team has swaggered for years"
(the team is out of control and has been for a long time)
9 April "Baseball team had wild side of its own, former players say"
(it's not just the lacrosse team)
9 April "Facts a casualty of frenzy"
(No excuse for getting it wrong say I)
10 April "Attorney: Party pics help players"
(Finally you start to find out that things are not as they seem)
10 April "Spotlight new place for Nifong"
(Finally you start to focus on Nifong)
11 April "News doesn't end investigation or heal wounds"
(How about: "No DNA match to accuser say defense lawyers")
11 April "DNA clears players, lawyers say; DA vows to continue inquiry"
(OK - one out of two)
12 April "The conflict on campus is big-time sports"
(A Duke professor's hit piece on athletics)
12 April "Ex-Clinton lawyer to counsel players' backers"
(You just had to drag in Bill Clinton to produce guilt by association)
12 April "Nifong cites attacker ID, says more tests pending"
(DNA that I promised would clear the innocent cleared everyone but I'm not stopping because I made her ID someone.)
12 April "DNA doesn't offer magic key to case"
(The N&O just had to back up Nifong's assertions that DNA is not required. Sock puppet much?)
13 April "If lying, take her to task"
(Ruth starts to get a clue)
14 April "DA's conduct draws retort"
(His opponents in a race criticize him)
14 April "The Latest"
(Lame headline. Was that the best you could do?)
15 April "Supporters standing by co-captains"
(So they DO have SOME people who like them)
15 April "Players facing uncertain future"
(Team members know jig is up and consider leaving)
15 April "Misplaced blame shelters students, but fails to protect them"
("including one member who shares sadistic sexual fantasies via e-mail, one composer of wounding racial harangues, 15 with North Carolina criminal records, and others operating under aliases" - let's make sure and review how rotten is the whole team)
15 April "Lawyers to seek rebuke for police"
(How about "Police try illegal scare tactics")
15 April "The law must watch its tongue"
(Lumping the defense in with publicity hound Mike Nifong)
16 April "Mother, dancer, accuser"
(you forgot prostitute, criminal, etc.)
16 April "More questions about the lacrosse story"
("The calls and e-mails started pouring in within hours of the DNA report last Monday. The words differed, but the message was the same: When is The News & Observer going to 'fess up that it got the Duke sexual assault story wrong? "How about a front-page apology to restore some of the damaged reputation your newspaper has caused for jumping to conclusions and assuming guilt!" one reader wrote." WE'RE STILL WAITING)
17 April "Grand jury could hear Duke case"
(Mike Nifong has to have his indictments before the primary)
17 April "Racist booklets blanket Durham"
(Where was your article and outrage about the "wanted poster", oh wait, you published it too.)
18 April "Two players indicted in Duke lacrosse case"
(Mike Nifong gets what he needs to make Victoria Peterson happy)
19 April "Key players in investigation"
("Mike Nifong: Durham's district attorney has been outspoken on the case, saying he is confident a woman was raped in the house where lacrosse team members met for a party. Over a 27-year career, Nifong has a reputation as a fierce prosecutor who cares more about fairness than winning. He is seeking election May 2," Mike cares more about fairness than winning - sure he does.)
19 April "Baker defends questioning of players"
(He's a lawyer is he?)
19 April "Suspects in rape share background of privilege"
(Nah, your coverage wasn't about class distinctions. You act like this article was an accident that slipped through your filter.)
19 April "Arrests bring new chapter"
(Who is this woman and why the heck do we care what she thinks)
19 April "2 arrested in lacrosse case; identity of 3rd person sought"
(Mike Nifong needs his trio of gang rapists)
19 April "Nifong's opponent takes a swing"
(And the N&O swings back for him)
19 April "Players' conduct had concerned Duke"
(Duke knew they were bad all along)
19 April "Seligmann's backers say he 'isn't a nasty player' "
(Well that's a left-handed compliment if I ever heard one, by the way "he's rich".)
19 April "Finnerty's exclusive neighborhood in shock"
("Exclusive"? This is not about class - not in the least. Who are you kidding?)
20 April "Lacrosse players, lawyers await results of second round of DNA testing"
(Nothing new - stir the pot - keep it in the public eye)
20 April "New tension cloaks team"
(No actual news - stir that pot)
21 April "Amid debris of scandal, Duke panels seek better days"
(Stir pot stir)
21 April "Arrest may put D.C. pact at risk"
(See he did it once he'll do it again.)
21 April "Accuser and her family value support"
(How sympathetic - except by this time "you know who" is out swinging from a pole - why didn't you find THAT out.)
21 April "Cab driver tells of fares"
(Oops - maybe Nifong indicted the wrong guys.)
22 April "DA changed bond status for second dancer"
(Ooops - maybe Nifong's up to something.)
22 April "DA on the spot for comments"
(Could it be his motives are impure?)
23 April "Duke alumni pensive, proud about lacrosse case reaction"
(What does this mean exactly?)
25 April "Lacrosse players face old charges"
(Maybe Nifong's a jerk after all)
26 April "Duke player has D.C. strife"
(Gee - I wonder why he was picked out of that flawed lineup? Did you make the connection?)
26 April "Residents brace for last classes day"
(Durham residents brace for spate of student riots - or not)
28 April "Panther group plans to visit Duke"
(Now look what you've done - you better hope the NBPs don't take justice into their own hands.)
28 April "Rape case is a factor"
(Ya think?)
28 April "Accuser made prior rape report"
(Finally - maybe she's part of the problem)
29 April "Alleva looks at discipline"
(Duke has a discipline problem)
29 April "Sports in crosshairs of campus debates"
("Let's face it, Duke has been trying to have it both ways for 20 years")
29 April "Report involved abuse at age 14"
(Further doubts)
30 April "DA, police to be 'tried,' too"
(Finally an article that the DA and police might be the problem)
30 April "Veteran sarge, novice detective"
(Finally you're catching on)
I couldn't leave these two out
2 August "Two Duke lacrosse DNA tests are positive"
(according to you the DNA proves they did it when in fact it was the opposite)
27 August "Cop says nurse found trauma in Duke case"
(the medical report supports a rape according to Gottleib about 4 months later. How about "Cop derelict in duty - fabricates report 4 months after the fact.)