THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 19, 1997 TAG: 9701170182
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J5 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Report to Readers
SOURCE: Lynn Feigenbaum
LENGTH: 86 lines
It's not flashy or colorful. But The Pilot's column of General Assembly news briefs caught the attention of Norfolk reader Amy Rhodes. She called to say that she likes being able to turn to the second page of the Metro-News section and catch up on the Assembly.
``This is a wonderful service you're providing the voters in Hampton Roads,'' she said.
Rhodes has a particular interest in Assembly doings - she attends weekly House Education Committee meetings for the Virginia PTA.
Her kudos are probably gratifying to The Pilot's Richmond reporting team. But the coverage is also geared to readers who don't always understand how events in Richmond relate to their lives in Hampton Roads.
The General Assembly column, which debuted Jan. 9, is one such tool. On Mondays, it's a roundup focusing on the Hampton Roads delegation. Tuesdays through Saturdays, the column summarizes what happened in the Assembly the day before and trends to look for.
What about the big issues? Richmond editor Sue Robinson expects a relatively quiet session since this is the last year of the governor's term and the second year of a two-year budget.
``There won't be any major initiatives for reform,'' said Robinson.
What does loom is a broad range of state elections. The offices of governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general are up for grabs, along with all 100 seats in the House of Delegates. Republicans need only four more to capture control of the chamber for the first time this century.
``So one of the main story lines that will come out of the session,'' said Robinson, ``will be getting to know the candidates who will be emerging.''
Expect thorough coverage on the legislative packages proposed by Lt. Gov. Donald S. Beyer Jr. and Attorney General James Gilmore III, who are both (presumably) running for governor.
``We'll be watching that very closely,'' said Robinson.
Same goes for the attorney general's race. Two candidates - Sens. Mark Earley and Kenneth Stolle - are from Hampton Roads.
Whether covering legislation or campaigns, the Richmond reporters' goal is to concentrate on the ``explainers'' as opposed to the bureaucracy.
``Our sense is that, for many readers, Richmond seems a long way from home,'' said Robinson. ``We hope to peel away the rarefied layers and illustrate the breadth of people and activity up here. To make the place seem more meaningful and, perhaps, more approachable.''
If you're a byline watcher, the names to look for in The Pilot's Richmond coverage - along with their specialties - are: Warren Fiske (education, gubernatorial race), Laura LaFay (House of Delegates, public safety), Robert Little (Senate, public life) and David M. Poole (business).
Margaret Edds is on The Pilot's editorial board, but she works out of the Richmond office. And if you call the Richmond office (1-804-697-1560), you may reach editorial assistant Jane Evans.
Rhino-itis. Or maybe we should call it Rhino-phobia.
That's a condition, claimed so far by only a handful of readers, who say they're sick of the attention given to the proposed National Hockey League franchise.
Conrad Faust is one of those readers. He feels that The Pilot is ``editorializing in favor'' of the team by giving it such frequent big play on the front page. Put the Rhinos in the Sports section, he says.
Another caller complained of being ``bombarded'' with the same Rhino-facts over and over. ``I think, once you expose it, you can wait until the decision is made to come back and tell us the news,'' she said.
There's no doubt that the Rhinos have been a big deal on the newspaper's front page for weeks now, along with color photos of backer George Shinn, and NHL and Rhino logos. And maybe some of the presentation has been a bit exuberant.
But it is a big story for Hampton Roads, and it goes beyond simply sports. In fact, it has more to do with regionalism and municipal spending and corporate sponsorship than with hockey goals.
The newspaper has a responsibility to look at this venture from all sides or the public could well be in a puck-er.
More honor for medal. Two readers complained that The Pilot underplayed a recent national news story, about the first black Americans to get the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Last Sunday, the story was carried on Pages A15 and A16. And Tuesday, a photo of the only survivor accepting the medal was on A2.
Jose Castillo called to express his disappointment that the Sunday story wasn't out front. ``I think that it warrants a lot more coverage,'' he said.
I agree. Even if Hampton Roads wasn't a military community, the story was a moving tribute to a heroic group. It belonged on the front page. MEMO: Call the public editor at 446-2475, or send a computer message to
lynn(AT)infi.net