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"Distance has the same effect on the mind as on the eye."- Samuel Johnson Friday, Oct. 17, 1997 From a Distance Follow the money, we were taught in University of Missouri news reporting classes. Work numbers and the law into your first paragraph. Look for the paper trail. But before you put pen to paper, sort out your thoughts. Think clearly first about what it is you mean to say. This advice, still as relevant today as it was in the Watergate era that defined investigative journalism, comes to mind as we see the broadening media coverage in the Democratic Party campaign fund-raising investigation. It's easy to get lost as each new day brings with it another twist in the ongoing scandal. MSNBC has titled its series on the matter "The Money Trail," which includes a "tip sheet" to help you keep up with the players, the members of the Senate committee holding hearings in the case, and "the code," a list of euphemistic terms you're likely to hear and their definitions. From a distance, from our new perch atop vast archives of electronic information afforded us via the Internet, we can begin to understand current events such as this more clearly than ever. The real trick, though, will always be the ability to sift through all that information and put things in their proper perspective. Perspective is, to me, the single most important omission in many news stories today, especially at the local level. How can we assess "what happened" if we don't have all the facts that can help us put "what happened today" into a broader perspective? Sometimes all it takes is one sentence, one bit of background information, to help the reader along. To that end, I am encouraged by the trend of news organizations to establish ongoing web sites by topic. These sites add to our ability to understand an issue and its broader scope. And sometimes, when we can see clearly enough, the picture takes on a different hue. The issue of perspective, and the degree to which we are able to look beyond the ebb and flow of events, brings to mind my favorite Bette Midler song, "From a Distance" (lyrics by Julie Gold). Meanwhile in our town, our local sheriff, already embroiled in controversies over charges of nepotism and vast budget overruns, now appears on the front page of the local paper in an apparent domestic dispute. Today's links:
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