Newsgroup: it.comp.console.playstation
Titolo: The Daily Unifarce responds to a barrage of letters.

BYU DAILY UNIVERSE
 
 
 
From the Fifth Floor: NewsNet has responsibility to
 report 
Aaron Shill 
 In our campus community, controversial subjects can gain speed faster than 
Billy Ray Cyrus
 can take a career nosedive. 
Apparently, this is what happened with an article that appeared in The 
Universe on Thursday. 
The article, entitled "Parents struggle with children's homosexuality," 
focused on members of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have homosexual children. 
Five
of homosexual children, were used as sources for the article. 
 Letters to the editor piled up quickly, drawing more reaction from BYU 
students than any other
piece that has appeared in The Universe since the beginning of Spring Term. 
Most of the letters
shared the same sentiments -- homosexuality is wrong and that the comments 
made by those
quoted in the article are simply an attempt to rationalize the teachings of 
the LDS Church. 
The letters, a few of which have been printed today, are well-written and 
greatly appreciated.
Letters to the editor give life and color to the opinion page because they 
provide students with a
voice -- the extent of which is matched by few other forums available on 
campus. 
But I would like to clarify a few misconceptions with regards to the manner 
in which the story
 was presented. 
Some of the letters received by the opinion desk insinuated that both The 
Universe and the
writer of the article were somehow condoning certain behavior that is morally 
unacceptable.
These readers suggested that the attention given to the issue of LDS parents 
with homosexual
\ children was somehow a validation of the parents' comments. 
This is not the case. The article was a responsibly written piece that dealt 
with a legitimate issue
in the community. The writer maintained objectivity while giving the sources 
used an
opportunity to express their opinions concerning the matter. 
 The responses to the article were clear and correct in stating that 
homosexuality is, without
 question, a violation of God's commandments. Many readers took exception 
with the attitudes
of some of the individuals quoted and disagreed with the opinions given in 
regards to
homosexuality. Such debate on the issue is healthy and encouraging. 
However, it must be understood that the article was a news piece, not an 
editorial. To quote an
 individual is not necessarily to agree with an individual. Few journalists 
covering the crisis in
Kosovo would condone the inhumane acts sanctioned by Yugoslavian president 
Slobodan
Milosovec. But at the same time, they would be foolish to pass up an 
opportunity to get a direct
quote from Milosovec himself. 
Dealing with the issue of homosexuality is in no way a comment on the issue 
itself. Every day,
newspapers report on murders, burglaries and other socially destructive 
behavior. Reporting
More than a handful of readers were likely offended that the issue was even 
dealt with by the
 student-produced paper at a university sanctioned by the LDS Church. In 
response to this, I
  would like to quote the BYU NewsNet mission statement. 
It states, "Our goal when we report the news is to present the information 
our audience needs
 or wants to know with honesty, accuracy, fairness, objectivity, fearlessness 
and compassion.
We believe that journalists should continually seek for the truth, but never 
claim fully to
possess it." 
For The Universe to ignore such an issue is contrary to its role as a 
newspaper. The article was
 actually developed in response to the Gay Pride Day celebration held in Salt 
Lake City on June
13. Every major broadcast news operation in the state carried a story about 
the day's events --
 even KSL, a church-owned television station. In short, news happens, and it 
is a journalist's
responsibility to report on it. 
The issue of homosexuality is an emotional one. But, again referring to the 
NewsNet mission
statement, "We deplore prejudice of any kind. In our pages we refuse to 
perpetuate bias against
 any person for reasons of sex, belief, color, race, culture, ethnic 
background, age, marital
status, handicap, non-membership in the LDS Church, or any other reason." 
What would truly be irresponsible is to ignore this issue simply because it 
generates strong
 reactions. 
As a news organization, BYU NewsNet will continue its ongoing efforts to be 
objective in its
 eporting of events affecting our community. All readers are entitled to and 
encouraged to
develop their own opinions when it comes to current events and issues. 
This story was posted on Tuesday, June 22 1999 © NewsNet. All rights 
reserved. 
--
Posted from 
majo...@vector.casti.com
 [199.181.80.100]
via Mailgate.ORG Server - 
http://www.mailgate.org

I don't know when I have seen such serious backpedaling.  Pity they felt
the need to do so.
=====================================
