Posted on 08/12/2008 10:34:35 AM PDT by XR7
Over the past couple years, we’ve noticed a suspicious number of ticket camera editorials by the Orlando Sentinel. After looking more closely, we noticed that nearly every editorial in the Sentinel was strongly in favor of installing ticket cameras. Furthermore, we noticed that nearly every pro-camera article was written by one member of the Sentinel’s Editorial Board, George Diaz.
This seemed odd, so we decided to look into it further.
After some quick research, we discovered that George Diaz appeared at a symposium held by The National Campaign To Stop Red Light Running in late 2007.
As we covered on this blog previously, the organization is simply a front for corporate special interests — specifically the red light camera industry. It is directly funded by RedFlex, Affiliated Computer Systems (ACS), and Gatso — all red light ticket camera vendors.
This corporate special interest group even describes Mr. Diaz as “the paper’s point man on editorials pushing for red light camera legislation in Florida“.
At the symposium, George Diaz moderated a panel — “Legislative Advocacy — Answering Critics” (PDF - Page 3) — which was intended to promote ways to shut down criticism of red light ticket cameras.
These are just some of the ticket camera articles on the Sentinel website from the past two years:
Give Green To Red Light Cameras (January 2007)
Give Green To Red Light Cameras (February 2007 - Identical to January Article)
Green Light To Red Light Cameras (April 2007)
Orange County: Say Yes To Red Light Cameras (June 2007)
Kudos To City on Red Light Cameras (June 2007)
Red Light Cameras: Make drivers feel the pain (March 2008)
We think: Orange County needs to be street-smart and approve red-light cameras (August 2008)
It’s important to note that these are not balanced articles. On the contrary, they all read like public relations blasts written by the camera companies.
Regardless of whether or not you support ticket cameras, this is a clear breach of the Orlando Sentinel’s Editorial Code of Ethics:
“Editorial staffers should not have membership in, any financial relationship with, or other ties to a business or institution if they have regular and continuing influence over any aspect of coverage of the organization. They should avoid situations in which their activities in connection with any group or cause could be perceived as influencing what the Sentinel publishes or broadcasts.”
And:
“When conflicts of interest are unavoidable but not obvious to readers, they should be disclosed in the story.”
The next time you read an article from the Orlando Sentinel, keep this situation in mind.
btt
I assure you it will be very bad!
It’s not called the ‘Orlando Slantinel’ for nothing.
The best part is that Dallas spent millions of dollars on red light cameras... and it turns out that they not only are totally ineffective at reducing the number of traffic intersection crashes (which was the stated reason for putting them up) but they were also totally ineffective at increasing revenue for the city (the real reason they were put up).
Dallas has since turned most of them off.
An earlier article on the same subject: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-redlights_15met.ART.North.Edition1.468120d.html
It’s really easy to tell if a red light camera system is set up primarily for safety or revenue generation.
One camera position taking pictures of your license plate and the intersection = revenue generation.
TWO camera positions, one taking pictures of the rear plate/intersection and another taking pictures of the driver = more likely to be safety related.
In related news, the OS just had a major dustup with their coverage of Coach O’Leary and Ereck Plancher’s death
The Sentinel at it again, ping
I stopped believing anything in the ldft wing media years ago.
I just wish more people would understand the glaring facts that most outlets are liberal mouthpieces.
Same here in Va Beach
Cause and effect or effect and cause? Does he support red light cameras because the industry is paying him to, or has he had his panties in a bunch about people running red lights, has made that known publicly so the industry invites him to a symposium? The only direct connection between them is him appearing at the symposium, and that doesn’t show whether he is the puppet of the traffic light businesses or just a fellow traveler.
Obvious question - Did George Diaz pay his own way, or was he compensated by the camera industry for his work at the symposium?
I've noticed I can tell what the pressitutes are spewing w/o watching by just overhearing the baaying of the ave. stupid sheeple wandering around in public.
Their mini-me minds refect media like silly putty(remember how you could press it into the paper and it would copy?).
Nice work XR7. You have demonstrated that George Diaz is a whore.
Now the question remains, “how much did the whore charge”?
He should be banned from any further editorial ‘contributions’ to the Orlando Slantinel.
Isn’t it simply amazing what happens when someone w/curiosity and tenacity decides to ‘follow the money.’ There was a time when such people worked for newspapers. They were called reporters, not journalists, and they didn’t feel any need to belong to the same cosy, well-connected crowd as the people they reported about. They understood the Law of Unintended Consequences, were suspicious of ALL politicians, and had no illusions about ‘the good that Government can do.’ How times have changed...
Companies and Lawyers bribe government officials to let them install cameras and collect fines. Just a new twist on other criminal activity.
Companies/Lawyers pay off a "reporter" so he will act as a advocate. Nothing new there.
As long a people elect officials who are susceptible to bribes in the guise of campaign contributions we will have this kind of government. Of course not all contributions are bribes nor are all bribes in the form of campaign contributions. Be careful for whom you vote.
Newspapers shouldn't be pushing for legislation.
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