Op-Ed - News Reporting In The State Of Iowa - Pathetic
Jeremy Lind
It may come as no surprise to many of us but once again the largest newspaper in the state of Iowa has done nothing to bring forth any facts or revelations in one of the state's largest news stories of the past year. Instead of acting like a body of journalists that are supposed to have integrity and serve the public, they've bent over and repeatedly taken it in the behind to protect their beloved team and sources to the East. Pathetic.
When rumors emerged about the possible rape in Iowa City involving two or more football players, the only media outlet that seemed to care about digging into the situation was the Iowa City Press Citizen. As the story unfolded and facts were being with-held from the public, the Des Moines Register seemed to act as nothing more than a mouth-piece for the University of Iowa and kept pushing out the denials and BS that would benefit their agenda of covering up a heinous crime against a young female student.
I don't want to take focus off of the injustice in Iowa City and the fact that numerous head officials and coaching staff members are alleged to have knowingly and purposefully hid and distorted information about a rape involving two or more of it's football players. Instead, I'm trying to point out a fact that in history most news stories are only uncovered because a reporter out there somewhere had a spine and sense of integrity when reporting the facts. When a public University is alleged to have covered up a brutal attack such as the one alleged, the newspapers and other media outlets have a public duty to reveal all possible information about those that directly, or indirectly, perpetrated or covered up the acts of the crime. By keeping their constituents to the East happy, the Des Moines Register has not only failed to do it's public duty, it's put other students at risk.
The Iowa City Press Citizen should be commended for their work on covering the alleged rape and it's subsequent fallout. Typically you see the home city newspapers being the least aggressive in their reporting, but in this case they're the only ones in the state showing any sort of integrity and pride in what they're supposed to be doing. Maybe I'm still bitter from growing up with constant Hawk-bias in the local paper, but regardless of past issues I've had with the work, or lack thereof, of the Des Moines Register, what they've failed to report on in this situation has caused me to not only question the integrity of the paper itself, but also the individual reporters on staff.
It's quite possible that if the same events had happened in Ames, the entire administration would have been forced to resign within a couple months - and indeed I would have led the fight for their ouster. Instead, we're sitting here many months later with nothing more than semi-official excuses from Iowa City in what could be considered one of the worst kinds of crimes - a coverup by those that we trust to protect our fragile kids when going away to college. That's not something to look lightly on.
I for one will not only be more vocal in demanding all of the facts of what happened in Iowa City, just as I would if it happened in Ames - but I will also be more vocal about my disdain and feelings for the lack of journalistic integrity that I see taking place at the one newspaper that has the potential to protect and serve more Iowans than any other. By being complacent and naive, the Des Moines Register should be ashamed of what they've failed to uncover and report on. Maybe just one of those sections dedicated to fluff pieces could have been put to better use informing the public and protecting our young, vulnerable students.
As far as those allegedly involved in the matter...
Not only should every individual at the University of Iowa that handled this case be fired immediately, they should be charged with obstruction of justice and be banned from ever serving as officials entrusted with protecting the safety of our kids. Barta, Ferentz, Mims, Mason, etc - if guilty - should all be held legally accountable for what they've allegedly done. I'm not an Iowa fan in the least, but I'm an Iowan first and foremost and this kind of action cannot be allowed under any situation or in any corner of the state. I'm appalled, shocked and saddened to think that something of this nature could happen in our state and continue without justice for many, many months.
The State of Iowa deserves better and those entrusted with the well-being of our young ones need to know that every move they make will be scrutinized from here on out.
For background on the story of the weekend that the Iowa City Press Citizen put out regarding new facts of the coverup, please check out the
CF topic
HERE (IC Story wow this is sad).
See attachment for letter from victim's mom.
Update - As of 8:15pm on Saturday, the Des Moines Register STILL has NOTHING on their website about this. The Chicago Tribune has a detailed story already up and yet the DM Rag has nothing. What a waste of energy to even have their building occupied if this is the standard of journalism they keep. The I.C.P.S. has been working on this story and interviewing people all the way up to Chet Culver for over 24 hours, and yet the DMR still can't figure out they should be working on providing some sort of coverage.
Op-Ed - News Reporting In The State Of Iowa - Pathetic 
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