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Correcting The Facts From:
"Norm Kjono" Mr.
Groshart, I
purchased a print copy of The King
County Journal’s Sunday edition. The corrections that
you said would be in that edition do appear. The correction reads: “A
March 18 editorial should have mentioned that proposed anti-smoking
initiatives would not apply to businesses operated on tribal lands.
Also, Philip Morris is not a sponsor of one of the initiatives being
advanced by a group representing mainly nontribal gambling
businesses.” Thank
you for the above correction.
I appreciate that you published your correction promptly. Two
of three issues – that the Washington Breathe initiative does not
ban smoking in all Washington workplaces, and that Philip Morris is
not a sponsor of the Entertainment Industry Coalition’s initiative
– that I brought to The Journal’s attention have been addressed. The
third issue, the unqualified statement that “secondhand smoke
kills,” has not been addressed. While
two of three requested corrections have been made, the extent to which
the March 18th editorial in question and the nature of your
correction may have permanently and irreparably influenced public views
in King County to favor signing petitions or voting for the Washington
Breathe Initiative remains to be seen. That issue can be addressed in
part by the quality of The Journal’s news reporting and the nature of
its editorial views about the two initiatives going forward. Again,
thank you for your prompt attention to my request for correction. I
appreciate that you made two of three corrections requested. Best
Always, Norm
Kjono From: Craig Groshart Dear
Mr. Kjono, Yes, you are correct.
We should have mentioned that the initiatives would not affect tribal
facilities. We'll make a correction in our Sunday edition. Best, Craig Groshart From:
Norm Kjono Ms.
Morgan, Please
see below my E-Mail of earlier today to Mr. Horvitz regarding The
Journal’s editorial on the two smoking ban initiatives presently filed
in As
mentioned to Mr. Horvitz, the statement that the Washington Breathe
initiative would “ban all smoking in enclosed work places” is
demonstrably false. Neither the fact of tribal sovereignty nor the
wording of that initiative support such a statement. Please
also note that the Entertainment Industry Coalition’s initiative is
not sponsored by Philip Morris. Please
also note that the statements in your editorial regarding Environmental
Tobacco Smoke, as addressed in my commentary “The
Gangs That Can’t Get Their Facts Straight”
are not supported –
are indeed contradicted – by currentOSHA written policy
dated February 24, 2003. Moreover, as set forth my commentary testimony
of James Repace regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke varies widely from
city to city and is not credible in light of OSHA’s established
position on the matter. In addition, OSHA’s position clearly
contradicts Publication
of such false facts can, and does, improperly influence public support
of the Washington Breathe initiative. Publication of such false facts in
support of a preferred initiative can not only improperly influence
persons to sign a petition to put Washington Breathe’s initiative on
the ballot, but it could also cause persons to vote for that initiative based
on false and misleading information in November. In
respectfully recommend that The Journal immediately contact its sources
to confirm the information alleged to support the three subjects of
false information cited above. The time for a mindset of blind reliance
on what tobacco control operative claim, with an equally committed
rejection of what opponents may present, is over. I remind you of the
basic Fourth Estate tenants as to integrity in journalism. As
it stands now it is probable that broad, noncritical, and unquestioned
press report for the false information about Washington Breathe’s
initiative and the Entertainment Industry initiative has caused
irreparable harm to proper solicitation of signatures for both
initiatives. Such circumstances can only be cured, if at all, by The
Journal publicly correcting its false statements about the scope of
Washington Breathe’s initiative, that Philip Morris is a sponsor of
the Entertainment Industry coalition initiative, and providing balanced
reporting on the subject of Environmental Tobacco Smoke. For a quick
review of several relevant facts regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke
you may find my commentary “Belief
Does Not Trump The Facts”
to be of interest and use. That commentary, published at forces.org, was
an open letter to Washington Representative Rodney Tom regarding
Environmental tobacco Smoke and other subjects. A copy of his E-Mail to
me in included with that text Absent
such action by The Journal a proper cause of action to vacate the
Washington Breathe initiative may exist. Based on the broad press
reporting of false information about the Washington Breathe initiative
such cause may still exist regardless of The Journal’s actions. Thank
you for your attention to these matters. I appreciate your time in
reviewing them. Norman
E. Kjono |