This incident is spreading far and wide on the net.
This was posted in the pro-gun group's forum of Democratic Underground. I haven't been able to verify it because the talk show mentioned doesn't archive their live stream.
sarisataka wrote:
Well I guess that shows what apologies are worth...
As usual, I was watching The Jason Show, a local morning talk show on KMSP 9. It is typical morning silliness, light banter with whatever newsworthy, or not so newsworthy, interview they can get.
This morning he had a live interview with Stephanie Soechtig, writer, producer, and director of Under the Gun; the film that has the now infamous creative editing of an interview with VCDL members. Ms. Soechtig has addressed the long pause added in the film thusly:
“There are a wide range of views expressed in the film. My intention was to provide a pause for the viewer to have a moment to consider this important question before presenting the facts on Americans’ opinions on background checks. I never intended to make anyone look bad and I apologize if anyone felt that way.”
Jason asked her to comment on the issue on the show. I must paraphrase,as I was not recording (I didn't even know that he was interviewing her until the segment began) but her reply was :
First know that the Virginia Citizen's Defense League is an extreme fringe group. This is a controversial subject and I believe they had ample opportunity to express their opinion. Frankly we expected attacks from the time we started this project. This is just typical gun lobby tactics...
pretty much the complete opposite of what she has said in other statements.
Her editing of the interview has been called journalistic malpractice by other groups such as Columbia University School of Journalism, National Public Radio and the Washington Post.
Ironically, the subtitle for Under the Gun is In the Gun Debate, Truth is the Ultimate Weapon; yet the first principle abandoned was the truth.
Please note that the VCDL, as a "fringe group", was able to muster 1200, TWELVE HUNDRED, people for the 2016 Gun Lobby day in Richmond where they broke up into small groups to have calm, polite, face to face, meetings with each and every member of the Virginia legislature. (Click
here and scroll down)
Also, it has been said that the "documentary" was to fair and balanced. Here's what Philip Van Cleave said in the first email sent out to VCDL members about this film:
THE “DOCUMENTARY” TURNS OUT TO BE AN “INFOMERCIAL” FOR GUN CONTROL
While the movie claims to be a documentary, it's clear after watching it that it was never intended to be a balanced presentation of the issues.
People from other gun groups were also interviewed, but in the end the video dedicated a mere fifteen minutes or so to the pro-self-defense side (of which VCDL had only about four minutes), while giving an hour and a half to the antis.
Is 15 minutes vs. ~ 90 minutes balanced?
Why is it that ONE state pro gun organization can get 1200 UNPAID VOLUNTEERS to show up from all over a state and all that ever show up on the anti gun side are a few, (some paid) uninformed picketers.
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Then there's the post in, what I assume is a blog,
Ethics Alarms
Katie Couric And The Anti-Gun Documentary: Not Just Vanishing Journalism Ethics, But Vanishing Consensus That Journalism Has Any Obligation To Be Ethical
That's just the title, it gets more virulent in the text of the article. I'd say, at a minimum, they're disgusted.
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Here are few other links:
Variety--‘Under the Gun’ Director: ‘I Stand By’ Controversial Edit Straight reporting but the comments show Couric and Soechtig have lost credibility.
The Guardian: Katie Couric says sorry for 'misleading' edit in gun rights documentary
The Washington Examiner: Katie Couric cooks the facts, burns her reputation