This is the first in what will be a periodic series that aims to monitor the coverage presented by the Davis Enterprise. At times we will point out stories that the Enterprise has not covered, other times stories that the Enterprise has spun or distorted, other times when the Enterprise misses key points in stories, and then there are times when for no apparent reason the Davis Enterprise will cover some minor non-event that will be as telling as any story that they tell.
Such was the case on Sunday, December 24, 2006 when the front page carried not a story but a single picture with a single caption. The caption tells of a Christmas Party where Bob Hamilton from Golden, Colorado, talks with Chuck Roe at Pyramid Construction. The two were former college buddies and Hamilton was stuck in Sacramento because of a blizzard in Denver that closed the airport.
What this does not tell us is what is Greg Rihl, a Davis Enterprise Staff photographer doing at a private party in Davis? This private party just happened to be hosted by the most influential developer in Davis and a member, along with John Whitcombe and Tandem Properties, of the Davis conservative elite.
It is very telling that Davis Enterprise Assistant Publisher/ Editor Debbie Davis would send a paid staff reporter to cover such an event. Roe is currently a board member for the Davis Downtown Business Association and the Yolo County Visitor’s Bureau and served in the past as Chairman of the Davis Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Does anyone else find it an amazing coincidence that the Davis Enterprise would just happen to send their reporter and/ or photographer to the private party hosted by one of the most influential developers in Davis? And that the picture of Mr. Roe himself ends up on the front page? Coincidence, I think not.
---Doug Paul Davis reporting
Such was the case on Sunday, December 24, 2006 when the front page carried not a story but a single picture with a single caption. The caption tells of a Christmas Party where Bob Hamilton from Golden, Colorado, talks with Chuck Roe at Pyramid Construction. The two were former college buddies and Hamilton was stuck in Sacramento because of a blizzard in Denver that closed the airport.
What this does not tell us is what is Greg Rihl, a Davis Enterprise Staff photographer doing at a private party in Davis? This private party just happened to be hosted by the most influential developer in Davis and a member, along with John Whitcombe and Tandem Properties, of the Davis conservative elite.
It is very telling that Davis Enterprise Assistant Publisher/ Editor Debbie Davis would send a paid staff reporter to cover such an event. Roe is currently a board member for the Davis Downtown Business Association and the Yolo County Visitor’s Bureau and served in the past as Chairman of the Davis Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Does anyone else find it an amazing coincidence that the Davis Enterprise would just happen to send their reporter and/ or photographer to the private party hosted by one of the most influential developers in Davis? And that the picture of Mr. Roe himself ends up on the front page? Coincidence, I think not.
---Doug Paul Davis reporting
