I was surprised to read this editorial in the Kaimin. I don't necessarily agree with the lede: That the book is good, but could have been great. But full disclosure, I haven't read the book, so I can't easily pass judgment.
However, I think, based on what we know, it is lousy journalism when you make serious accusations against many of the people at the center of the story, and yet you refuse to interview them, or try to get their side of the story. Whether it is done because you are trying to rush the story into print, or because you have a particular narrative in mind, and you don't want the facts to mess with the course you plan to take.
Anyway, that's a key point being made by the editorial writer, and it is refreshing to see that at least someone at the journalism school realizes it. The writer says: "Krakauer’s failure to thoroughly interview Missoula County Attorney Kirsten Pabst and former county attorney Fred Van Valkenburg, vilified as Satan the Devil and Lucifer Prince of Darkness respectively, is the book’s most glaring flaw."
Nonetheless, the writer also does fall back on some of the standard femi-speak, claiming that prosecutors and juries side with accused rapists rather than victims. He also says society is to blame for this mess, and Krakauer should have spent more time the Missoula culture that allowed all this to happen.
http://www.montanakaimin.com/opinion/editorial/article_6c799d62-e8c8-11e4-8563-afd3f46be22a.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
However, I think, based on what we know, it is lousy journalism when you make serious accusations against many of the people at the center of the story, and yet you refuse to interview them, or try to get their side of the story. Whether it is done because you are trying to rush the story into print, or because you have a particular narrative in mind, and you don't want the facts to mess with the course you plan to take.
Anyway, that's a key point being made by the editorial writer, and it is refreshing to see that at least someone at the journalism school realizes it. The writer says: "Krakauer’s failure to thoroughly interview Missoula County Attorney Kirsten Pabst and former county attorney Fred Van Valkenburg, vilified as Satan the Devil and Lucifer Prince of Darkness respectively, is the book’s most glaring flaw."
Nonetheless, the writer also does fall back on some of the standard femi-speak, claiming that prosecutors and juries side with accused rapists rather than victims. He also says society is to blame for this mess, and Krakauer should have spent more time the Missoula culture that allowed all this to happen.
http://www.montanakaimin.com/opinion/editorial/article_6c799d62-e8c8-11e4-8563-afd3f46be22a.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;