“I believe there is an actual smear campaign here,” said Rita Hunter. “They (The Globe) have absolute power to ruin anyone in local government with their unethical reporting. What is the personal vendetta this paper has against me to allow this type of reporting?”
A copy of the letter, Mrs. Hunter's attorney, Sen. Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, sent to Joplin Globe Publisher Dan Chiodo announcing the intention to file the lawsuit can be found in the July 30 Turner Report.
5 comments:
Why the hell did Buzz report that non-news? I could have an attorney draft a letter to say that I'm going to sue the Press because John Hacker's fashion sense offends my senses. That doesn't make it news. Buzz should've saw through Hunter's bluff and waited until she actually filed the lawsuit.
I love the fact that Buzz did none of the following:
1) Get a comment from the Globe.
2) Bother to ask her about the multiple lawsuits filed against her.
3) Bother to research the allegations himself.
Give 'em hell, Buzz! You're a real credit to your profession!
Hey, now that the election is over, does anyone know if that newshound Buzz is going to do a follow up to see when Rita intends on filing her lawsuit? Surely Rita wasn't just trying to be a bully last week, was she?
Yes Buzz, what's up? We do need a follow up to your story, When is Rita going to file her lawsuit that she threatened and you printed? (I haven't had Reporting 101, as you surely have... however is pretty black and white even for those of us who aren't in your profession.) Agreed, you are such a credit to your profession!
Rita Hunter's threat to file a lawsuit was a legitimate story. Any time an elected official announces plans to sue someone, it is news. At the same time, her threat of a lawsuit would have been a wonderful time to examine what the Joplin Globe published about Rita Hunter. Anyone can sue over anything, but the Hunters have no legitimate case against the Globe. The Globe's stories were based on public records and interviews. I don't recall any unnamed sources taking potshots at Rita Hunter or Steve Hunter.
It was news, but now a follow-up would be nice. Will there be a lawsuit? Was this just a feeble last-minute attempt to gain favorable publicity? Rita Hunter will continue to be a Jasper County elected official for the next five months. Her actions, just like the actions of any officeholder need to be monitored.
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