Wednesday, October 05, 2011

The press buries and bungles the story

Pew Research Center has conducted a poll of veterans. The most important finding is that "more than four-in-ten (44%) report that they have had difficulties readjusting to civilian life, and 37% say that -- whether or not they have been formally diagnosed -- they have suffered from post-traumatic stress."

That's important, that's very important. It's important to what we do next for veterans, it's important to what the veterans are experiencing right now.

So find this finding in the reports.

The Associated Press gets to this important detail . . . seven paragraphs into their report. Seven paragraphs in. After such 'pressing' 'issues' as they disapprove of Barack's performance and they're more likely to self-identify as Republican.

AP, like other outlets, makes the chief finding that 1/3 of veterans surveyed said the wars weren't worth it. Reuters runs with that as the chief finding as well, waiting 10 paragraphs before addressing veterans current issues.

Yea for MJ Lee (POLITICO). I'm furious with the press this morning (we'll go into that in the second entry) and in fairness to the outlets here, they're probably catching some of the grief for it in my criticism. But not only did they reduce what matters, what has a financial cost right now and in the future, but they missed the point.

If I tell you that 1/3 of the population is against apples what is your most likely response?

To assume, therefore, that 2/3 of the population likes or loves apples.

MJ Lee is the only one who gets it right in the presentation.

1/3 of veterans of the current wars thinks the two wars were worth it.

1/3 not thinking so, that's interesting. But if you're not noting that those who think differently also make up a third, you're leaving an impression that the support number is far greater.

I'm hugely opposed to the ongoing wars. Not a little, hugely. And I actually do something about it every damn day. But looking at the results of the survey, the finding the press is running with strikes me as the subplot, not the plot. The main story is what veterans stated about coming home. That's news because that costs money, treating them costs money. That's news because it applies to what resources will be needed, how care will be designed. That's news because it's not a one-day story. The effects will last longer than one day. It's news because it effects the loved ones of those who served.

They missed the point completely and what they did emphasize they bungled (with the exception of MJ Lee).

The following community sites -- plus Antiwar.com -- updated last night and this morning:

As usual these days, Blogger/Blogspot isn't reading all the community sites. Swiping from Stan, everything listed below has updated either last night or this morning:



Senator Patty Murray is the Chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. We'll close with this on a veterans employment roundtable to be held tomorrow:

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES Contact: Murray Press Office – 202-224-2834

Tuesday, October 4, 2011 Burr Press Office – 202-224-2074

THURSDAY: Chairman Murray and Ranking Member Burr to Host Veterans and Nonprofits for Veterans Employment Roundtable

With the unemployment rate among young veterans reaching new highs, Chairman Murray and Ranking Member Burr will sit down with Microsoft, nonprofit organizations and veterans to discuss how to help unemployed veterans find skilled jobs


(Washington, D.C.) – On Thursday, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Patty Murray and Ranking Member Richard Burr, together with Microsoft Corp., will convene a roundtable discussion about training and hiring America’s unemployed veterans for skilled jobs. In August, Microsoft announced an expansion of its Elevate America veterans initiative, in partnership with the Department of Labor, to provide additional support to veterans in their transition to the civilian workforce. Attendees will hear from veterans and the National Commander of the American Legion, Fang Wong, about the difficult employment landscape our returning veterans face.

In June, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee unanimously passed Chairman Murray’s Hiring Heroes Act of 2011 - the first of its kind to require broad job skills training for all service members returning home. In addition to providing new job skills training to all service members, the bill will also create new direct federal hiring authority so more service members have jobs waiting for them the day they leave the military, and will for the first time require the military to provide separating servicemembers with the tools to help them find jobs when they return home.

For more information on the bill click HERE.

WHO: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Patty Murray

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr

Julius Clemente, Washington State Veteran

Brad Smith, Microsoft General Counsel and Executive Vice President for Legal and Corporate Affairs

Fang Wong, American Legion National Commander

Andy Brucia, Elevate America Veterans Grantee - Project Succeed, Bellevue College

Nicholas Riggins, Elevate America Veterans Grantee/Veteran - Goodwill Industries

WHAT: Roundtable to discuss veterans training and certification for civilian jobs

WHEN: Thursday, October 6, 2011

10:15 AM EST

WHERE: Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Hearing Room

Russell Senate Office Building - Room 418

Meghan Roh

Deputy Press Secretary

Office of U.S. Senator Patty Murray

@PattyMurray

202-224-2834

Get Updates from Senator Murray


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