Sound off for June 14
| Saturday, Jun 13 2009 09:30 PM
Last Updated Tuesday, Jun 23 2009 12:22 PM
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Editor Mike Jenner and The Californian staff welcome your comments and suggestions. To offer your input by phone, please call 395-7649 and leave your comments in a voice-mail message or write to soundoff@bakersfield.com. Please be sure to include your phone number so we can call you if we need more information.
Reader: I was very disturbed about the bullying article. As a teacher of a couple of the students, I can attest they are exceptional young men. They're typically well-behaved and, since they don't have a pattern of bullying, it must have been a prank gone wrong. So why, with all the possible topics on our national economic, political and social crises, did you publish this on the front page?
These boys took responsibility for their actions and paid the consequences for their folly. What did you hope to accomplish by prominently displaying their names?
You could make the same point about bullying without using names and alienating many of your readers. This is a crucial time for these students who are applying to colleges and entering adulthood.
It will be hard enough for them to move past this without making their names public. You wrote, "We all make mistakes, adults and children alike. But immature minds are especially at risk of making poor judgments, which can be compounded by the pressure of the crowd."
Why didn't you take that into consideration when you decided to go the extra step and smear them publicly?
Bullying is when someone picks on the weak or defenseless. With all due respect, Mr. Editor, I think you failed to identify the real bully in your article: the big man with the newspaper going against the high-schoolers.
If adults in society fail to model appropriate behavior, how can we hold our youth to a higher standard?
-- Heather Burt
Jenner: We published this story as a cautionary tale to all students and parents that if they engage in this kind of reckless behavior, they not only could be on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars but their names could also land on the pages of The Bakersfield Californian.
This wasn't simply a case of one or two kids picking on another kid through name-calling or bad pranks. This was a gang of older boys who assaulted a younger one and put him one asthma attack or one panic attack away from death.
It was both serious and shocking.
The courts are open and this information is public.
This story belonged on the front page because of its tremendous importance to our community.
Here's another point of view from other readers:
Reader: I love your coverage of this lesson of the boy being bullied. This should be exactly where it is -- front page, center, above the fold -- and it should be hard-hitting.
Congratulations to both the reporters (Jeff Nachtigal and Gretchen Wenner).
Things like this have to be out in the public, whether they bother someone or not.
This is the best I've ever seen you guys do -- the very best. Maybe it will hit home with somebody.
But when people see it, they go, "Oh my God, they shouldn't have shown that picture." No! That picture's important, and congratulations to you for cropping the top and concealing the victim's identity.
It was perfect.
Keep doing this kind of stuff.
This is what a newspaper is for. It's not supposed to be news frosted over, it's supposed to be hard-hitting news that will do somebody some good.
I'm very proud of this.
-- Bea Davis
Reader: I just read that story on the bullying and you are so right on. I'm 74 years of age and this bullying stuff has been going on since I was in grammar school.
It should be publicized and it should be well known and the parents should find out what is going on with their kids.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for my Californian. I've been a subscriber since January 1972 and I read it from cover to cover. I love it. Thank you, sir!
-- Donna M. Baker
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Reader: George did it again! Another wonderful article about Bakersfield. After reading "Nights Gone By" on the cover of last Sunday's Eye Street section, I knew it had to be George Gilbert Lynch sharing again.
Only he can share such wonderful stories, as he has lived them. Thanks again, George.
-- Claudia Press
Jenner: We're happy to give George Gilbert Lynch a platform to share his knowledge of local history.
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Reader: I believe Tiger Woods is the world's best golfer and is finally showing he has recovered from his surgeries by once again showing his prowess on the golf course. That aside, it is my opinion that the other golfers deserve proper coverage when they are doing well.
To prove my point, look at the coverage on Page C6 on June 5 issue. The headline says "Luke Donald ties tournament record; Woods 5 shots back."
Whose picture is shown? Not Luke Donald, who had a record-tying round. Instead, there is a picture of Tiger Woods.
I believe The Californian needs to add to its photo files so pictures of someone other than Tiger can be included with articles.
-- Karene R. Williams
Jenner: We probably do have a bias in Tiger's favor, simply because he's so popular and because he generates the most interest in pro golf.
I do believe most readers are as interested in how Tiger Woods performs as they are of his opponents, even when Luke Donald wins and Tiger Woods loses.
We'll try to make sure we're not so Tiger-focused that we overlook pictures of other top players.
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Reader: Congratulations to The Californian on the "My First Library" project.
It is a vital need in any community. More people in Kern County should be encouraged to donate all their used books to the Bakersfield City School District c/o Sandra Yoon, the library services coordinator, to be given away to students of all ages and without cost.
Thanks again for the great job!
-- Anne Grogan
This feedback forum is designed to give readers an easy way to voice criticisms and compliments or ask questions about news coverage. Your questions are answered by Editor Mike Jenner each Sunday.
