Inching Toward More Responsible Immigration Journalism

Here’s an interesting follow-up to my Friday column [1] about how America might be on the verge of more responsible immigration journalism from the mainstream media.

On October 24th, the Houston Chronicle published a story about the Dream Act defeat in the Senate written by reporter Michelle Mittelstadt, [Senate Kills Bill To Help Immigrants, [2] By Michelle Mittelstadt, Houston Chronicle, October 26, 2007] that could be described as “fair and balanced”

Mittelstadt’s story included four quotes: two supporting the Dream Act from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev and Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill and two opposed from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. and Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX

Mittelstadt’s story proves what I have claimed all along---that writing with balance about immigration is easy. Just make sure that both sides are represented equally. (e-mail her [3])

Compare the Chronicle story to one on the same topic from the Denver Post wherein the first six and the last seven paragraphs reveal strong bias from reporter Allison Sherry. (e-mail her [4])

[Tuition Hurdle Tires Out Illegal Immigrant Kids, [5] By Allison Sherry, Denver Post, October 27, 2007]

An interesting side note to both stories is that Mittelstadt’s online version provided 26-pages of comments. [6]

And Sherry’s had multiple responses also. [7]

I didn’t read them all. But by randomly picking two or three from each page, I’d say the sentiment against the Dream Act is overwhelming.