Steve Blow-The Epitome of DMN Journalist Standards

[Guest guest]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-blow_24met.ART0.North.Edition1.4d62491.htmlNote

the differences between the on-line link published today (above) and

the on-line article published Friday (below). Thanks to my friend,

Angie, for pointing this out. Looks like someone got to

Steve Blow. All the more reason why those of us who expect objective

or unbiased journalism should look somewhere other than the DMN and

certainly not to Steve Blow. How unfortunate for Dallas

that we have no better than this for our largest print daily newspaper. I

think I will cancel my subscription along with a note as to why. As I

have first hand knowledge of the truth about Jenny, I know for a fact

that DMN has consistently published only biased stories containing

misleading half-truths and even misstatement of fact. I have also

pointed this out to the reporter(s) involved and no correction was

issued. MargaretDallas Zoo director talks about Jenny the elephant decision

03:18 PM CDT on Friday, August 22, 2008

 

 

We all feel a special

burden to care for widows. But who could have predicted we’d focus so

much attention on a certain five-ton widow? I refer, of course, to Jenny the elephant.

Her mate at the Dallas Zoo died in May. And because elephants need

companionship, questions arose about Jenny’s future. Find a new home for her? Bring another elephant here? In June, the zoo announced that Jenny was headed down Mexico way — to the Africam Safari Park near Puebla. Video

 

Keepers work with Jenny, Dallas Zoo's lone elephant (DMN -

Video/editing: Richard Michael Pruitt) 07/21/2008

Animal-rights activists howled, saying Jenny should go to a sanctuary

in Tennessee for sick, abused elephants. And before you

know it, Dallas had itself a national fuss. CBS News covered the story.

So did The New York Times. Then Dallas Zoo officials

surprised everyone last week, deciding to keep Jenny here, bring in a

companion and expedite construction of a large, state-of-the-art

habitat. In an earlier column, I chided Dallas City

Council member Angela Hunt, a sanctuary supporter, for playing amateur

zookeeper by making her own trips to see the zoo in Mexico and the

Tennessee sanctuary. Unless she had reason not to, I

said, she should trust the judgment of the professionals hired to run

the zoo. Well, frankly, last week’s about-face caused me to wonder a bit about them. Also Online

 

Download: Read the Dallas Zoo's announcement that Jenny would stay08/14/08: Mexican group urges Dallas to keep Jenny the elephant in the U.S.

08/07/08: Activists concerned about Jenny's future gather at Dallas City Hall

07/30/08: Possible Mexico home for Jenny the elephant impresses

 

Angela Hunt: Why Jenny belongs in Tennessee sanctuary (07/30/08)

 

 

07/28/08: Owner says Mexican zoo 'good option' for Jenny

 

 

07/22/08: Debate heats up over new home for Dallas Zoo's lone elephant

 

 

Steve Blow: Angela Hunt meddles in debate over Dallas Zoo's lone elephant (07/22/08)

 

06/24/08: Dallas Zoo's lone elephant to move to Mexican wildlife park

05/16/08: PETA asks Dallas Zoo to close elephant exhibit

 

 

“I understand that,” Dallas Zoo director Gregg Hudson said when I paid him a visit Friday morning.

“I know it looks like we changed direction. But in my mind, we just

went back to the original plan. And I’m really happy with the

decision.” I suppose we can criticize zoo officials for waffling. Or we can praise them for flexibility.

“Literally within hours of making the announcement that Jenny was going

to Africam, things changed,” Mr. Hudson said. First came

an official offer from the Tennessee sanctuary to accept Jenny. Second

came a call from a private owner offering a companion elephant to Jenny

here. Zoo officials began to reevaluate. Mr. Hudson went

to Tennessee to see the sanctuary. While in the neighborhood, he

visited the Nashville zoo. And that’s where the real breakthrough came,

he said. He saw its spacious new elephant habitat and

realized that Dallas could build something similar in fairly short

order. An entire new African Savanna habitat was already

planned here — but three years away. Mr. Hudson realized the elephant

portion could be built in 18 months. “So rather than put

Jenny through the trauma of a move, rather than entrust her into the

care of someone else, it became clear that the best option was to keep

her here with the people who care most about her,” Mr. Hudson said. The critics are unmoved, of course. They still want Jenny to go to the sanctuary.

But the truth is, they don’t want any elephants in any zoos. Given that

larger agenda, it’s hard to judge their specific claims about Jenny.

On the Web site of In Defense of Animals, you will find a long list of

zoos targeted for removal of their elephants. The site

provides clear guidance for mounting the kind of protest seen in

Dallas, right down to sample letters-to-the-editor. (“Editor: Zoos are

no place for animals who are meant to roam free….”) At

age 32, Jenny is getting old. But contrary to the critics’ claims, she

is a healthy, stable elephant, Mr. Hudson said. Here’s hoping she’s like any old widow — happiest staying in her home.