deadmonton - michael white - the untold story - 32

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If you're wondering why the media didn't report on much of what you're reading in this report, it's because a lot of it didn't come up in court.


Michael White didn't call a news conference, nor did he send out a news release.


This wasn't "news-release journalism."


Given the lack of media coverage of Edmonton Police Constable Paul Wright instructing the White search party to check Poundmaker Road, it may not have been reported – even had it even come up in court.


Wait. It did come up in court.


Some media touched on Wright's revelation, but one had to read between the lines to get the full meaning. Some call that "couching."


It's an important skill for reporters to have if they want to move up to a better paying job, say in communications or public affairs.


One journalist said he didn't report that police had directed the White search party to the area where Liana White's body was found because it was "not important."


Edmonton Journal image

During the trial, the Edmonton Journal identified Michael White as the last person to see Liana alive ... suggesting he was the killer – see published article »


Carol Forbes would later hire lawyer Marilyn Burns to go after media outlets that continued to say her son had led searchers to the body of his wife.


Some media outlets printed and broadcast retractions, of sorts.


Burns called it an example of "sloppy reporting of a serious matter that is misleading and damaging.


"This kind of reporting does not serve the public. It only serves media companies because it creates more 'interesting' stories."


Burns points out that part of the problem is that there are no media ethics watchdogs.


"What's journalism come to, if people must hire lawyers to make sure the coverage is at least balanced?" she wondered.



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