Antone's Nightclub
One-Sided Journalism
RECEIVED Thu., Dec. 11, 2014
Dear Editor:
The Austin Chronicle should be embarrassed by the lack of journalistic integrity in the one-sided story about the suing of the state by families of individuals residing at the Austin SSLC [“Guardians Sue DADS,” News, Dec. 12].
There is not one mention of the facts about how the Austin SSLC has been cited for deficiencies and is in jeopardy of losing all its Medicaid funding. It fails to mention that the DOJ has cited all the SSLCs in Texas for deficiencies and the Austin SSLC is out of compliance.
The reporter doesn't interview any parent who has children living in the community with similar disabilities and [doesn't mention] that community services are overwhelmingly preferred by the individuals and families.
Even though advocates met with the owner/publisher of the Chronicle about the one-sided nature of this reporter's previous article, he once again allowed schlock journalism to be published. One might agree with one side or the other, however, fairness and journalistic integrity demands that both sides be told. The Chronicle needs to apologize to community advocates for their lack of professionalism.
The Austin Chronicle should be embarrassed by the lack of journalistic integrity in the one-sided story about the suing of the state by families of individuals residing at the Austin SSLC [“Guardians Sue DADS,” News, Dec. 12].
There is not one mention of the facts about how the Austin SSLC has been cited for deficiencies and is in jeopardy of losing all its Medicaid funding. It fails to mention that the DOJ has cited all the SSLCs in Texas for deficiencies and the Austin SSLC is out of compliance.
The reporter doesn't interview any parent who has children living in the community with similar disabilities and [doesn't mention] that community services are overwhelmingly preferred by the individuals and families.
Even though advocates met with the owner/publisher of the Chronicle about the one-sided nature of this reporter's previous article, he once again allowed schlock journalism to be published. One might agree with one side or the other, however, fairness and journalistic integrity demands that both sides be told. The Chronicle needs to apologize to community advocates for their lack of professionalism.
Bob Kafka
ADAPT of Texas
ADAPT of Texas
[News Editor Michael King responds: Bob Kafka is misinformed. Not only did Mary Tuma report on the SSLC's troubled history ("Evicted and Helpless," Sept. 19), calling it "an undeniably glaring scandal," she specifically reported the arguments of community-based advocates Joe Tate (Community Now!) and Dennis Borel (Coalition of Texans With Disabilities) in favor of the SSLC closing and on the larger issue of de-institutionalization. Tate and Borel met subsequently with me and Chronicle Managing Editor Kimberley Jones (not the owner/publisher) to reiterate the same arguments that they had made at length in Tuma's story. This followup story ("Guardians Sue DADS") reports on legal actions taken by the families of particular SSLC residents – as an advocate for the disabled, we presume Kafka is not arguing that their voices be silenced or ignored.]