Don’t sugarcoat the truth
Manoucheka Celeste’s indictment of media coverage of the Haitian earthquake [“Disturbing media images of Haiti reinforce stereotypes,” Opinion, Jan. 27] demonstrates why those who can do — and those who cannot — teach.
Self-identified as a media scholar, her critique of how her nation has been depicted post-quake brings into question the value of any work she might do in her UW doctoral program.
The images we’ve seen are certainly horrible — but they are accurate. To suggest that the media somehow sugarcoat the disaster by not showing what is happening in Haiti disqualifies Celeste from claiming the title of journalist. With her arguments, she descends into the role of a flack.
The job of a reporter is to present reality, not spin. Accurately telling a story — even a distasteful one — is not part of some great social experiment. It is a service to a democratic society.
Even before the quake, Haiti was a wretched place that the world ignored — I know. I spent time there in the early 1980s as a reporter. That history cannot be changed by simple wishful thinking.
Repairing the damage — and hopefully creating a better Haiti — will not be advanced by denying the terrible, heartbreaking reality of the country today.
— Steve Krueger, retired journalist, Auburn
Continue front-page coverage
Up until last week, I was very proud of the way The Seattle Times had images and articles about the Haitian quake front and center on the cover. That pride was replaced by sadness and anger Thursday morning when I found “Earthquake in Haiti” bottom right on the page [page one, Jan. 21].
Replacing its former position were “Whistler up for auction” and “Is this how you picture January?” Now the Haitian earthquake coverage is reduced to a two-liner at the bottom right of the page telling you to go to A4. Only nine days and already the horrific events in Haiti are fading from the headlines; The Times isn’t excluding itself from this shameful “news cycle.”
As I stated before, I was saddened and angered. This issue of the newspaper made a clear statement that the going-ons of ski resorts and record high temperatures are of more importance than mass suffering and loss of human life.
These people do not get to go on with their lives as easily as the shifting of headlines. I am asking The Times to not forget them so quickly.
— Allena Bassett, Kirkland