Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy

Analysis:

The article is about a task force of election officials put together by a non-profit group called The Election Center. This Task force put out a series of recommendations for reforming elections in the US. Chief among these recommendations is the creation of centralized “voting centers”, that is, a central locale where all the residents in a county could vote without having to worry about what precinct they are from. The article also states that the authors of the report “focus much of their attention on voters and poll workers rather than voting machines — the subject of so much debate ever since the 2000 presidential stalemate in Florida.” This was the only mention in the Grand Rapids Press version of the article about electronic voting machines.

Considering how contentious the issue of electronic voting machines where in the last election, it is reasonable to wonder why the issue of electronic voting machines was not further explored in this report. One possible explanation is that the Election Center has, according to the online source Source Watch received funding from Sequoia Voting Systems Inc., Election systems and Software inc, and Diebold Election systems, all companies that manufacture electronic voting machines. This fact about some of the Election Center’s funding is important contextual information and yet it was not included in the Grand Rapids Press version of this article. To give the reporter his due credit, the original, full version of this article does mention that the Election Center has received contributions from voting machine manufacturers. It also notes the Election Center report pointedly downplaying a widespread push for paper receipts from touch screen voting systems, a position also held by the electronic voting machine manufacturers. This information about the Election Center’s connection of voting machine manufacturers is important in that it brings into question the objectivity of this Election Center report and yet the Grand Rapids press choose to edit it out of the story before printing it.

Story:

It’s all about the voter: elections task force says
By Robert Tanner
AP National Writer

Published: Jun 07, 2005 12:54 AM EST

(AP) – The nation’s election administrators say it’s time to restructure elections to reflect the way Americans live, scrapping neighborhood precincts and Election Day for large, customer-oriented “vote centers” where people could cast ballots over a period of weeks.

In a new, sweeping report, state and local officials focus much of their attention on voters and poll workers rather than voting machines — the subject of so much debate ever since the 2000 presidential stalemate in Florida.

“We are looking forward, we are looking at ways to make elections better,” said Dawn Williams, who oversees voting in Marshall County, Iowa. She co-chaired a task force of officials and former officials from 15 states that was set up by the Houston-based Election Center.

So-called “universal vote centers,” introduced two years ago on a limited basis in Colorado, could end some of the biggest flaws in the way Americans vote if widely implemented, administrators said.

Such centers eliminate confusion over where to vote, since everyone in a county can vote at any center; reduce lines by allowing for more equipment and staff at fewer locations; and prevent mistakes by better marshaling well-trained election officials along with day workers.

“It addresses what happened in Florida in 2000 better than the (federal) Help America Vote Act” — the law Congress passed to fix elections three years ago, said Larimer County (Colorado) Clerk Scott Doyle, who came up with the idea. “It’s the way America lives. Why shouldn’t America vote that way?”

Doyle sought and won a change in state law that allowed him to replace 143 precincts with 20 vote centers. Larger facilities — hotel ballrooms and state fairgrounds — allow easier access and parking for voters, and more efficient concentration of resources for administrators.

“There’s an opportunity here to better meet our voters’ needs and save millions of dollars,” Doyle said. With vote centers, the county can save several hundred thousand dollars by buying fewer handicapped-accessible voting machines, since the new federal law requires one at each polling location, he said.

The report, to be officially released Tuesday, also backs a growing trend toward voting over days and weeks, rather than just Election Day.

At least 30 states have already broadened their balloting rules, expanding absentee voting to “no excuse” voting — so anyone who wants to vote absentee is allowed.

The task force also suggested that states:

—Prohibit companies that register new voters from getting paid by the number of registrants and punish those that misuse the process.

—Assist felons by providing them with a faster way to regain voting rights, where allowed, and better election information.

—Share voter registration information between states to avoid duplication and safeguard against fraud.

Text from the original article ommitted from the Grand Rapids Press version:

In some places, residents can also vote early, in person, as much as a month ahead of Election Day.

“We’ve got to look at how we make this better for voters at all points. Don’t try to fix the symptoms but say, `What is causing the problem and how do we fix them?'” said Doug Lewis, executive director of the Election Center, which trains election officials.

“Here are some concepts. They’re not revolutionary concepts, they’re evolutionary,” Lewis said.

The report also urges state legislators to consider an “independently verifiable” record of each voter’s ballot from ATM-style touchscreen voting machines that could be electronic, video or some other form — pointedly downplaying a widespread push for paper receipts from touchscreens.

Elections administrators have taken a fair share of blame for the nation’s electoral troubles in recent years.

Many critics say local and state officials have been complacent or worse about threats to the electoral system, including worries that people seeking to manipulate elections could hack into computerized machines and rig the results.

The faults in the machines are real and can’t be ignored, said Avi Rubin, a Johns Hopkins University computer science professor. Election officials should heed the computer science community’s warnings, he said.

The Election Center has come in for criticism after reports that the nonprofit, nonpartisan group accepts contributions from voting machine manufacturers. Two members of the task force are former local election administrators who’ve formed their own election-related businesses.

The report is one of several continuing efforts to improve elections as disputes continue over 2004 results.

Most prominent among those was the 129-vote victory of Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire, who won office on the third count of the votes. A state judge upheld her victory Monday.

Analysis:

This story is problematic on many levels. First, it hypes the possibility that dangerous Latino gangs might be in Grand Rapids. The use of what FOX 17 claims is footage from a gang initiation video shows what are believed to be gang members beating someone on the ground. Viewers should ask themselves how channel 17 got a copy of the video, or if it was just a clip they got from another news service.

Second, the story is problematic in that they only provide the perspectives of 2 different law enforcement officials. What difference might it have made for viewers to hear from community based organizations or people who work with youth in the community?

Third, this story has the potential of perpetuating stereotypes about Latinos and urban youth. Several times when law enforcement officials are talking, the video footage shows urban youth, like the still photo included here. These images make the assumption that all urban youth, especially those wearing sports jerseys, are involved in gangs. Viewers should ask themselves why did channel 17 choose to use these clips of urban youth while talking about gangs? These kinds of stories which portray youth in a negative light generally outweigh positive stories and we have found in our own study as well as other media
Representation of youth research. Another way these stories stereotype is in the area of racial representation. We have documented that Latinos and minorities in general receive limited coverage in local news stories and when they do they disproportionately are represented in a negative way, generally as criminals. National groups such as the Association of Hispanic Journalists have documented similar trends in their annual studied known as Brown Out.

Story:

WXMI 17 News reader – Tonight new ways to combat an old problem…gangs. Two branches of the Federal government joining the fight with local police investigating and prosecuting gang members. Agents say the problem is getting worse.

Reporter – Agents with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, cracking down on Latino gang members like the ones in this initiation video throughout the countries biggest cities. They have been so successful they are now going to focus on gangs in all cities, including Grand Rapids. Especially members of international gangs from Honduras and Mexico, like MS 13 and SUR 13, what they call the most violent in Grand Rapids.

US Immigration & Customs Official – I would look over my shoulder, realizing that we will use every resource at our disposal to bring you to justice.

Reporter – The Kent County jail keeps track of 44 gangs, a lot of their members locked up here every month. ICE agents in Grand Rapids hope to use their federal authority to enforce criminal and immigration laws to put members behind bars or out of the country for good.

US Immigration & Customs Official – I would put on notice any gang member in Western Michigan. If you are here, if you pose a threat to public safety…ICE is going to look at you.

Reporter – And they are going to use any resource they can identify, deter and prosecute. They call their mission Operation Community Shield, but they’ll need help from local officers.

US Immigration & Customs Official – The federal resources are just not that great, so we have to work closely with our partners in state and local law enforcement.

Reporter – And federal ICE agents aren’t the only ones investigating the gang situation here in Grand Rapids. Soon the US Attorney’s office will be here as well. They have been ordered by the Attorney general to create a gang task force this summer to help combat the problem.

US Attorney’s Office – So we’re in the process now of evaluating the extend to which we have a problem and then by the end of July this year we are supposed to send in an initiative to the Attorney General telling him what we intend to do about it.

Reporter – US Attorneys say they need a unique plan. Most of the gangs in Grand Rapids are neighborhood based gangs in neighborhoods they hope to clean up.

US Attorney’s Office – They can’t affect a neighborhood in an unsafe way yet, more directly than perhaps some national gangs which are focused on bigger crimes, different crimes.

Reporter – In Grand Rapids, Dan Krauth, Fox 17 news at Ten.

WXMI 17 News reader – Officers say there are about 3,000 gang members in the Grand Rapids area.

Total time – 2 minutes and 26 seconds

Analysis:

The ongoing war and occupation in Iraq has been receiving less coverage in the local news than previously seen. This short story about “fun city” was the only Iraq coverage on FOX 17 that day. This story does little to inform the viewer about the reality in Iraq. The story does acknowledge the “car bombs and terror in the streets” but is framed in a way to give the impression that things are improving since the amusement park is now open. This way of framing the story obscures the fact that violence and disorder are increasing in Iraq, not the opposite.

Story:

WXMI Newsreader – Despite the war that has torn its county apart, sounds of fun are returning slowly to the heart of Baghdad, it’s our Freeze Frame tonight. Fun City is an older amusement park built three decades ago in the Eastern side of the city. It closed during the U.S. led invasion and is slowly coming back to life. Families are going there to unwind, laugh, and escape the car bombs and terror in their streets.

Total Time: 23 seconds

Analysis:

Another strange animal story pulled form a national news feed. Much like the WZZM 13 pieces on the “suicidal possum” or the “super freak calf”, this WOOD 8 piece is of no news value but is aired because of its compelling and unusual visual images.

Story:

Newsreader – There was a unique road hazard in Florida for the morning commute. A big alligator, right there, shut down a main road in West Palm Beach for about an hour this morning. A trapper was called in to tape the gator’s mouth shut and haul it away. Officers say that the gator did not threaten anyone; it was just sitting there in the middle of the road.

Total Time: 16 seconds

Analysis:

Another story featuring unusual footage of animals with no relevance to the West Michigan viewing audience. This style of “fluff” story has appeared on all three local TV stations recently.

Story:

Newsreader #1 – A Texas car owner has some weird noises coming from his car. It’s kind of a buzzing noise. It’s thousands of bees clustered near the back bumper of his car. The owner says he first found them spread out across the entire back of the car. Since then, though, they’ve all gathered in that one spot in the corner. The thing is, nobody’s sure why the bees picked that spot to hang on to. A bee keeper had to be called in to scrape them all off.

Newsreader #2 – Ugh.

Newsreader #1 – Ugh.

Total Time: 27 seconds

Analysis:

Here is another example of dramatic footage with no relevance to the West Michigan Community being passed off as news. Viewers should ask themselves why would this story even be offered by the news station in Kansas City to other news stations not in their area? Again, we see that compelling footage seems to be more important than local relevance.

Story:

Newsreader – Police caught a bold burglary on tape. The thieves backed an SUV through the doors of a Kansas City convenience store Sunday night. The men loaded an ATM into the vehicle and drove off. Police still haven’t found the suspects.

Analysis:

This story illustrates to good effect the business of local news. It is essentially a story about local Detroit Piston fans. The reporter visits a local bar and puts a group of screaming fans in front of the camera, then proceeds to do a quick synopsis of that night’s game. At the end viewers (fans, in particular) are directed to the website to participate in a poll.

In advertising, one of the keys to success is identifying and relating with the consumer. As stated earlier, this story is an example of news business. By running a story that promotes team camaraderie for the Pistons, WZZM 13 has helped Pistons fans identify themselves with the station. Viewers should also always ask themselves why a news station would want to redirect you to their website after running a story about your favorite team. Does more site traffic equate to more online advertising profits?

Total Time: 2 minutes

Story:

Anchor – Pistons fans have faith their team will take it to the top and bring home another NBA Championship Title. Our Big Story coverage continues with Gita Pullapilly. She’s at Damon’s on 44th Street with fan reaction to the Game

Reporter: Lee and Juliet, Piston fans were on edge throughout the night but now they have reason to celebrate. How are you guys feeling? (Screams from the crowd) The restaurant… (more screams)… the restaurant is starting to clear out now but for the past three hours these fans were all glued to the TV. If you listen … (screams)…I don’t even know if you guys can hear me … (screams) …all right, now there is a lot of excitement…all right, all right… now there was a lot of excitement after the first half and a lot of talk about the refs and the Miami Heat. But during the second half, Pistons fans became nervous. They were hoping for the defense to remain strong, but no matter what happened, it just couldn’t shake these loyal fans.

Fan #1: They’re doing really good, they’re staying up. Um, they’re guarding, doing way good, a lotta turnovers, so I’m happy about that.

Fan #2: Me and my buddies went to the game this year and we decided to buy the starting lineup, so…their jerseys…so we, you know, we’re pretty big fans. We don’t get to catch too many games, but we’re avid TV watchers, so…

Reporter: (Screams from the crowd) Now if you …(more screams)… now if you think this is nuts, just wait till they are in the finals. From Wyoming, Gita Pullapilly, WZZM 13 News.

Anchor: Alright, Gita, you’re not gonna have any voice left when you get back. Thanks very much, we appreciate that and all the fans. Earlier today in our Poll 13 we asked how you thought the Pistons would fare before tonights game. Most people said the Pistons will go all the way. Go to WZZM 13.com to tell us how far you think the Pistons will go, they’ve got one more series. Click on the Poll 13 at the bottom of the page and we’ll have the results for you right after tonight’s sports.

Analysis:

This story is a very simplistic rendering of a number of fairly complex issues, including international trade, globalization, and US foreign policy toward Latin America. FOX 17 does not give the viewer any contextual information about these issues in this piece. The segment only presents the official US government position, with President Bush being the only voice quoted. Nor does the story mention the primary reason that Bush addressed the OAS, to promote passage of the proposed Central American Free Trade Agreement. This omission is not unusual, as CAFTA has received very little coverage in the local news media.

Story:

Newsreader – President Bush and diplomats from 34 countries in Fort Lauderdale, Florida today attending the big OAS conference, the Organization of American States. It focused on everything from democracy and trade to human rights. President Bush spoke to the group about the importance of free trade across the hemisphere.

Bush – In the new Americas of the 21st century, one of the surest ways to make opportunity real for all our citizens is by opening our doors to trade. My government is pursuing this goal at all levels.

Newsreader – Mr. Bush didn’t mention countries where U.S. officials think democracy is under threat, but he said that one day even communist Cuba will be free.

Total Time: 42 seconds

Analysis:

On Sunday June 5, the Grand Rapids Press ran an article from the associated press entitled “Now What: EU’s Constitutiton Crisis has aspiring members fearful of future”. As the headline implies, the reporter frames the story around the response of countries that want to be EU members rather than the EU members themselves. So, in examining the article, there are several voices quoted, all of them government sources. These various government voices are all from countries such as Bulgaria, Turkey or Romania, that is, countries that are not actually in the EU. No non-government voices are presented, neither are any EU voices. Since many of the governments of these non-EU countries are seeking to become EU members and saw the new constitution as the vehicle with which to achieve membership, this rejection by France and Holland of the new EU constitution is presented as a negative development.

Little is said in the article about why voters in France or Holland might be opposed to the proposed constitution. The article states several times that the constitution would have had great economic benefits. To quote, “the huge benefits to be gained from membership in a bloc that is home to 450 million people with the potential to rival the North American Free trade agreement grouping of Canada, Mexico, and the United states will remain within grasp”. It is interesting that the reporter compares the EU to NAFTA, uncritically using NAFTA as an example of how “free trade” agreements leads to economic prosperity. One of the main concerns of many French voters was the fact that this EU constitution would have instituted “free trade” economic policies very much like those put in place here through NAFTA. And as has been seen here with the loss of many higher paying manufacturing jobs to Mexico, many French workers were afraid of a similar development there with the possibility of better paying Western European jobs being outsourced to Eastern Europe. So certainly, it is quite possible that the EU constitution, at least the particular model that was offered, would not be a win-win for every country or for all sectors of the work force in those countries, and that reality was not addressed at all in this article.

Story:

By William J. Kole
Associated Press Writer
June 3, 2005

VIENNA, Austria (AP) — Stuck on the sidelines, the nations with the most to lose in the European Union’s deadlock over its proposed new constitution could be the countries that don’t yet belong.

As Europeans took stock Thursday of the charter’s troubles, leaders and ordinary citizens in Turkey and across the former Soviet bloc worried that the crisis might conspire against their dreams of joining the EU.

Having worked tirelessly and against all odds to prepare for membership, many couldn’t help but wonder whether Europe is coming apart just when they’re getting their acts together.

This week’s momentous repudiations by the Dutch and the French – both founding members of the now 25-nation EU -“shattered the very concept for a European Union,” said Ivan Krastev, a political analyst in Bulgaria, which hopes to join with neighboring Romania in 2007.

Bulgaria’s independent Dnevnik newspaper echoed that bleak outlook, saying “the collapse of enlargement verges on national tragedy.”

“We witnessed Europeans rejecting something that we are struggling to achieve,” said Cetin Kargin, 41, a jeweler in Turkey. The mostly Muslim nation hopes to begin membership talks in October, but many Turks now worry that EU leaders will be too distracted to bother.

Across Eastern Europe, where eight countries joined the bloc a year ago along with Cyprus and Malta, and others have been scrambling to become credible candidates, the sense of frustration was palpable.

Spurred by dreams of unprecedented prosperity, stability and freedom of movement, EU candidates like Romania have spent the last decade constructing democracies and building market economies from scratch. Having invested so much, they have the most at stake.

Many reacted cautiously to the constitution’s latest setback, widely seen as a backlash against the growing power of EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, and of the very expansion process that opened the club to the “new Europe.”
The resistance to the treaty, whose backers believed could lead to a better-oiled economy and a higher profile for Europe internationally, “could influence the future development of the EU” by freezing enlargement, acknowledged Dmytro Svystkov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry.

But the former Soviet republic “hopes that the EU’s difficult internal reform will not have negative consequences for Ukraine’s future membership,” Svystkov said, adding that the EU’s “attractiveness in the eyes of would-be members has not decreased.”

In Turkey, it may work the other way.

Ordinary Turks – tired of hearing that many Europeans don’t want their Islamic influence in the EU, and mindful that the country’s bid has fed the angst fueling opposition to the constitution – are losing interest in membership, analyst Duygu Bazoglu Sezer contends.

“Most have been expecting economic benefits. They will sense that the European Union is now on a downslide,” said Sezer, a professor of political science at Ankara’s Bilkent University. “The promising world has now perhaps lost its dynamism. That is the message that is beaming out.”

To be sure, the huge economic benefits to be gained from membership in a bloc that’s now home to 450 million people with the potential to rival the North American Free Trade Agreement grouping of Canada, Mexico and the United States will remain within grasp – with or without a charter.

For EU wannabes, membership will continue to represent a ticket to prosperity regardless of the grander themes of political union.

“It’s still worth getting into the EU for economic reasons, and I don’t think it will be worse for us than now,” said Denisa Somesean, a student of dentistry in Romania. She said the EU will go on as “a counterbalance to American dominance.”

Leaders and citizens in some of the bloc’s newest members, meanwhile, have been readjusting their expectations.
Countries like Hungary and the Czech Republic didn’t strike it rich overnight when they joined a year ago, and they don’t expect living standards to improve quickly now that EU leaders are preoccupied with salvaging the constitution.
Words of comfort came from an unusual source: Czech President Vaclav Klaus, an avowed Euroskeptic who sought to put things in perspective.

“Nothing is changing in Europe,” he told the Pravo newspaper. “Europe has been functioning without a constitution for half a century and will be functioning for another half a century.”

Analysis:

On June 3 WZZM 13 ran two stories on reaction to the announcement by Dick Devos that he will be running for Governor in 2006. The stories were basically different versions of the same story on this topic, one at noon and a longer version at 6pm. The version that ran at noon was approximately a minute and half long and featured only one perspective on Devos’s candidacy, the perspective of the previous Republican candidate for Governor, Dick Posthumous. The story is essentially about what Posthumous has been doing since he ran for governor and his thoughts on the 2006 gubernatorial election. Not surprisingly, given his partisan background, Posthumous is rather critical of current Governor Jennifer Granholm and supportive of Devos. In fact that Posthumous is so obviously a partisan figure led the news anchor to comment after the story was over that it was “Not surprising what he might say”.

The story that ran at six was about minute and thrity seconds longer than the noon version and included two other voices. All the original parts about Posthumous were included, and added to that were a 13 second quote from Sue Levy, head of the Kent county Democrats, who was, not surprisingly, rather critical of Devos, and a few seconds from a Calvin professor who made a brief, neutral statement about Devos. While this version was somewhat more balanced than the earlier story, the majority of the article was still focused on the perspective of Posthumous, and therefore reflected his partisan bias. Beyond this lack of balance, the story does not include any real information about Devos’ qualities as a candidate other than that he comes from a business background and is very wealthy. In that regard, this story was like many political pieces we have seen on elections on the local news, in which the emphasis was usually on personality and partisan perspectives, but little context provided in terms of platforms, voting records, or issues.

Story:

Noon Story

Newsreader – Well you’ve probably heard the buzz by now, Dick Devos is making a run for the governors office. As the west Michigan notable enters the race, WZZM 13’s Peter Ross took a moment to seek out reaction from the last man to run against Governor Granholm. Peter.

Reporter – Lauren, a man who’s name also is Dick, is also of Dutch decent, and is also from West Michigan, and of course, we’re talking about Dick Posthumous. This morning he said it’s always for a challenger like DeVos to unseat an incumbent Governor, but he said it’s only been once in Michigan history decades ago. Now certainly this election is a long way away, eighteen months, but Posthumous, who is clearly a partisan says DeVos has a shot at beating the governor who has been very popular.

Posthumous – Because the incumbent governor has really shown a lack of a boldness in leadership that we have needed and I think some, very frankly some inexperience, I think that gives him an opportunity.

Reporter – Posthumous points out that Granholm is very smart and a great communicator, and that she comes from South East Michigan, where the majority of the votes in this state still come from. Posthumous by the way is now the executive vice-president of a small office furniture company in Kentwood called Compatico. In the Newsroom, Peter Ross, WZZM 13 News.

Newsreader – “Not surprising what he might say Peter, thank you.

Total time: 1 minute, 27 seconds

Six o’clock Story

Newsreader – Well, just like the weather, Michigan’s political climate is heating up, now that Dick DeVos is in the governor’s race. WZZM 13’s Peter Ross sampled some opinions about the debate to take shape over the next 17 months.

Reporter – It’s underway, Lee. The 2006 Election is here. DeVos becomes the second West Michigan man of Dutch descent named Dick to take on Granholm. We spent some time with the other one today.

Posthumous – Everything comes in here…

Reporter – He’s immersed himself in the fabric of West Michigan’s economy; manufacturing office furniture.

Posthumous – It was like getting an M.Ba here in the last year.

Reporter – Dick Posthumous has been learning about business after a long career in Republican politics.

Granholm: Thank you from the bottom of my heart. This is your victory.

Reporter – One that ended with the election of Governor Granholm.

Posthumous – As nice a person as Governor Granholm is, I think clearly she’s shown an inexperience at managing and I think, more importantly, a lack of vision for directing Michigan.

DeVos – …that Amway is still about opportunity…

Reporter – DeVos, after a career in the private sector, is going public.

Doug Copeman – His fundamental issue, his number one issue is really jobs and the economy. That he comes from the private sector, he knows how jobs get created…

Reporter – Calvin political scientist Doug Copeman contends and surveys support, decreased support, for Granholm due to Michigan’s declining economy. Still…

Posthumous – It’d certainly be a difficult race.

Reporter – It’s rare for Michigan governors not to be reelected. Democrats call DeVos a perfect target.

Levy – A corporate elitist has no problem with corporate welfare…the recent request to the Grand Rapids city council is a good example. You know, $5 million in tax abatements while we’re laying off firefighters.

Posthumous – This is all new product…

Reporter – Posthumous knows winning statewide elections in Michigan means making the sale where most voters live; in the states southeast section.

Posthumous – … what you stand for and that’s always difficult when you come from west Michigan.

Reporter – But with plenty of time and money, it’s possible DeVos could deliver an upset.

Reporter – Governor Granholm has not officially said she’s running for reelection, but a Granholm for Governor website urges supporters to donate time and money to her campaign. DeVos’ website, like his campaign, is still under construction.

Newsreader – And it’s gonna be here soon, right?

Reporter – You betcha.

Newsreader – Thanks very much, Peter. Last night we launched an online Poll13 asking who you would vote for if the election were held today. At last check about 60% said they’d vote for DeVos, 40% for Governor Granholm. If you’d want to take part in our unscientific poll, you can go to WZZM.com and look for Poll13 under the table of contents.

Total time: 2 minutes, 53 seconds