Salem, Arkansas · Thursday, September 2, 2010
[Nameplate] A Few Clouds ~ 78°F  
High: 83°F ~ Low: 69°F
Email link Read comments (1) Blog archive

You can please most of the people none of the time

Posted Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at 5:13 PM

You can never, ever, write a story that will not offend someone. It doesn't matter what the story is about -- someone will take issue with something you wrote, or at least the way you wrote it.

This happened recently with the story I wrote about Dr. Kauffman getting his license suspended again. Some people didn't even get past the headline and thought it was terrible that AGAIN was in bold and caps, because, I guess, it got too many people's attention.

One lady said I should never write another story until I learned about humanity.

One man wanted to set me straight about the real facts concerning Dr. Kauffman.

Some even thought a local physician getting his license suspended was not newsworthy, even though it has happened to him on several other occasions.

I did, however, get just as many positive comments, and for that I am thankful.

Writing Dr. Kauffman's story, or, for that matter, any story takes a lot of time -- time you need to talk with those concerned so you can report the facts as accurately as possible. That's always my goal.

I didn't create the story -- I only reported the facts based on the information I was able to collect. He signed a contract -- he broke the contract -- he paid the price. Right or wrong, that's what happened and that's what the Medical Board said.

I was unable to talk to Dr. Kauffman, but I did talk to his spokesperson and friends of his to tell his side of what happen. It was a little more detailed and showed a human side of an error.

I researched past action taken against him and wrote briefly what those actions was. His history was an important part of the story.

Who, What, Why, Where, When... that's all the story was about. No bashing. No opinion.

Oh well, lose a few and lose a few more, I guess.


Comments
Showing comments in chronological order
[Show most recent comments first]

If it's an editorial, then you have every right to express your opinion. The article was ok, actually better than most of the things you write about. In my opinion you have a problem with the hospital as a lot of your blogs concern the hospital or the administrators. You were none too kind to my wife when she was interm administrator. We have moved on and I am sure that Dr. Kauffman will also. God bless.

tim

-- Posted by Medic30 on Sat, Jul 11, 2009, at 8:56 PM


Respond to this blog

Posting a comment requires free registration. If you already have an account, enter your username and password below. Otherwise, click here to register.

Username:

Password:  (Forgot your password?)

Your comments:
Please be respectful of others and try to stay on topic.


A Lot About Nothing
Erma Harris
Recent posts
Archives
Blog RSS feed [Feed icon]
Comments RSS feed [Feed icon]
Login
Erma Harris is Areawide Media's Managing Editor for The News, The South Missourian News,the Villager Journal and AVENUES.
Hot topics
Avenues 1st Anniversary
(0 ~ 10:27 PM, Sep 1)

Some of the best memories start as a disaster
(2 ~ 3:57 PM, Aug 30)

Stupid Peach
(0 ~ 9:29 PM, Aug 5)

You're gonna love what's coming to town
(1 ~ 9:41 AM, Dec 12)

You can please most of the people none of the time
(1 ~ 8:56 PM, Jul 11)