Reader concerned by editorial
Dear Sir:
As a representative of SCAD and a member of the Physical Resources Department, I am writing you this afternoon to express my frustration and concern regarding the inappropriate and unethical journalism displayed in the May 23 issue of District, page 5.
As no one from District has ever contacted David Brammer for an interview, I find it particularly inflammatory that you have fabricated a quotation from Mr Brammer and then attempted to discount the material in quotations by saying it was through a source.
If the statement was indeed through a source, it should not have been in within quotation marks. In your article you state that you contacted Mr Brammer and that he told you things. Both of these statements are untrue and are shameful in neglect to your responsibility.
Not only did you attribute statements to individuals with whom you have never spoken, but your falsified quotation is insensitive to the ethnic backgrounds of many in the SCAD community. Your writing has portrayed Mr Brammer in a false light and has attributed insensitive language to a man who is devoted to this organization and is respected as a manager and as a co-worker.
I have attached a copy of the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics for your review. I believe that the Editor in Chief of any newspaper should understand the responsibility found within.
Mr. Smith, I believe that a retraction and a printed apology to Mr Brammer and to the entire SCAD community is in order.
Good Day.
Martin Smith
Executive Director of Design and New Construction
Savannah College of Art and Design
Editor’s note: The editorial “Blue bins a mess, recycling a must” printed in issue 285 [May 23, 2008] of District portrayed David Brammer, superintendent of grounds and environmental services, falsely. Through the copyediting process, information received regarding Brammer and SCAD housekeeping staff was misrepresented as Brammer’s direct quotation. District retracts any statement that was made regarding Brammer, and regrets any confusion this may have caused.
