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Strike story: Writers react

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This e-mail from Melinda Hsu Taylor of Los Angeles represented several dozen that came in to the L.A. Times in response to a Dec. 12 story on the writers’ strike: ‘I object to the vague, prejudicial and unsupported claims that ‘the Writers Guild of America is under new and mounting pressure from its ranks to get back to the bargaining table’... and ‘a number of union members are unhappy... .’ Only one WGA member (Craig Mazin) was actually quoted by name. Meanwhile, thousands of picketers are showing up at the studios every day.’

The concern was emphasized in this from Bennett Tramer of Santa Monica: ‘That front-page article [headlined] ‘Writers Union Feeling the Heat’ was so slanted I can’t believe it appeared in my favorite paper. ‘A number of union members are unhappy,’ ‘die-hard strike supporters are angry’ -- who? The only writer mentioned by name is Craig Mazin, and he’s critical of the current WGA leadership. I’m out there on the picket lines every day, talking with writers and to a man and woman they are in strong support of the leadership.’ Of one of the reporters on the story, Tramer added a postscript: ‘And I’m a Claudia Eller fan!’

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As both noted, the article quoted writer Craig Mazin, who was identified as ‘a former board member and frequent critic of union leaders,’ as one of those critical of the union board. The story then went on to quote, unnamed, an unspecified number of others ‘including some on the picket lines’ who echoed Mazin’s sentiments but ‘asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals from the union.’

Times policy is, as its ethics guidelines say, to grant a source anonymity when there is ‘a compelling reason for insisting on anonymity, such as fear of retaliation, and stories should state those reasons when they are relevant.’

The strike started on Nov. 5, but coverage began earlier, and has included many dozens of articles written by reporters in the Business, Calendar and California sections.

The managing editors respond to comments about the Dec. 12 article.

John Arthur, who oversees news, said this in an e-mail to Tramer:

‘I certainly respect your feelings and those of the others but, as you say, Claudia is a pretty good reporter, and so is Richard [Verrier]. You might not also know that the studios are as mad at us as the writers and many people feel (and have written) that our coverage has been excessively pro-writer. It all illustrates the difficulties of trying to go down the middle of a very contentious dispute like this.
We’ll do the best we can as this continues.’

John Montorio, who oversees features, also noted in an e-mail to Tramer:

‘Strikes are among the most difficult events a conscientious newspaper covers and I hope you’ll judge our coverage on its totality. For example, on [Dec. 11], our Calendar section featured a Patrick Goldstein column that gave an entirely sympathetic account of the guild’s case in this struggle. We’re committed to giving as fair and thorough a report on this difficult event as we possibly can.’

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