When an accountability report concerning a multi-million dollar public institution becomes available, the organization’s communications office frequently issues a press release that highlights the major issues.The press release is not a substitute for the full report. It is a summary that is handed out with the expectation that news writers will use it as a reference while they read the detailed, full report for themselves.
Unfortunately, The FAMUan’s editorial board seems to have forgotten this.
Instead of fulfilling its duty to obtain and read FAMU’s 2009 operational audit on its own, the editorial board chose to complain that FAMU’s communications office did not list all the numerical figures from the 14 page audit in the 1-2 page press release.
As it criticized FAMU’s administration, the editorial board cited operational audit numbers that were reported by the Tallahassee Democrat.
The Democrat received the same press release as The FAMUan. How do the students think the Democrat got those specific figures?
Answer: The Democrat’s staff did its job. It read the full report.
Had FAMU refused to provide copies of the operational audit, The FAMUan would have a legitimate complaint. But, it does not because FAMU made the report available. The full report was also posted on the Florida Auditor General’s website. No FAMU or state official tried to keep it hidden.
If FAMU’s public relations team had reprinted every number and table from the full operational audit in the press release, then that would have defeated the purpose of summarizing.
It is not the FAMU communication office’s job to write news stories. Before complaining that it does not have all the pertinent information, The FAMUan’s editorial board should make sure that it has requested all the relevant documents and read them thoroughly.
I thought the FAMUAN Editorial Board was quite elementary, to say the least. I use to enjoy reading the paper, but it seems like a sounding board for out of touch, complaining, spoiled kids. If they're not complaining about financial aid, they're complaining about the university having SEVEN audit findings. The FAMUAN is rapidly losing its credibility in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteoff topic:Vote for Miss FAMU for Miss MEAC @http://www.rushmoredrive.com/cmpns/meac/default.aspx
ReplyDeleteOoh. Burn.
ReplyDeleteThey are children and an editorial is someone's opinion not always factual. They weren't totally incorrect they just weren't thorough. If they have always been spoon fed why should they be treated differently now?
ReplyDeleteInstead of criticizing them, help them and show them how to do it the correct way.
Rattler Nation does the same thing, it takes bits and pieces of a story and shapes and forms an opinion.
an editorial is someone's opinion not always factual.
ReplyDeleteYou're right that an opinion is not a fact. But it should always be based on fact.
The FAMUan complained about not having all the info when all it had to do was ask FAMU for it - or point and click to state auditor's website.
The best way to help The FAMUan students is to let them know that their lack of initiative is unacceptable.
I say the Student Senate move to freeze the FAMUan FUNDS!!!!
ReplyDeleteChildren learn from their mistakes. Now that they've been called on it, perhaps they'll learn from it and quit being lazy.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty much what that is. They know better. And it is high time for the quality to resurface. The personalities on the talk shows are vj's doing what other better suited students could do. On a few occasions, I couldn't continue listening to the segment. 90.5 is my favorite sation. I listen on line when I'm not in the area. I'm just sayin, the professionlism structure is there. Problem seems that sometimes it doesn't show, especially in the editorial and talk show productions. I support the school and I know that these are minor adjustment that can take the media outlet into a fusion-like incubator for reliable revenue and elite exposure.
ReplyDeleteThe RN has become the public realtions department for FAMU and that is a good thing as long as they continue to do the investigative stories they use to do. The RN is the only soure of information we have about what all is taking place at FAMU in both the postive and not so postive ways.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the hard work you do
Why was Rattler Nation created? I wonder how many hit it gets a day since Castell is gone. She made you boy.
ReplyDeleteRN, enlighten us. How many visitors are you getting a day? Do you feel like you still serve a purpose to the Rattler Nation or are you as 10:34am said the spin doctor for the university?
I personally wished that you would go back to investigative reporting and stop regurgitating what we read in the Democrat after the fact. You like the FAMUan ed board needs to do some work and stop reporting what we already know.
No doubt Castell is just as responsible for the 1 million plus hits on RN as much as the "blogspot" itself.
ReplyDeleteJust for kicks and giggles, RN may want to run the story from the Democrat about Dedra O'Neal suing and winning for over a QUARTER MILLION dollars for a retaliation firing during the Gainous/Castell era.
O'Neal was let go before Gainous era.
ReplyDeleteEDITORIAL BOARD...OPINION IS OPNINION AS LONG AS IT IS SUPPORTED WITH SUFFICIENT ENOUGH EVIDENCE..THANK YOU AND IM DONE
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:28- "I personally wished that you would go back to investigative reporting and stop regurgitating what we read in the Democrat after the fact."
ReplyDeleteInvestigative reporting?? Are you serious Anon 2:28? This is a blogspot for crying out loud and not the CNN world center. If you come to someone's personal blogspot AKA opinion central to get your news then you either don't know where else to go and get more plausible FAMU information or you don't have any real credible FAMU sources. LOL.
Rattler Nation was the one calling themselves a journalist not I. Maybe he/she lied. Like you said this is a blog. Are you saying we shouldn't trust what Rattler Nation says because it is just an opinion?
ReplyDelete