[Boston-editorial] Bryan Pfeifer

Thu Jun 16 15:24:48 PDT 2005

Sharpie, you raise interesting issues vis-a-vis Pfeifer. We've had 
issues with him before. He once did a report on a protest and really 
played up the involvement of WWP and its front groups, listing a whole 
bunch of them and very few other groups (if any)--Pete e-mailed him 
about this and apparently Pfeifer got really upset, although in future 
articles he didn't play the same game--not until recently with this 
Phelps article anyway. And there was a question of factual accuracy 
with a previous article of his as well, where he blew something totally 
out of proportion--somebody being shoved into somebody being punched or 
something like that.

On the other side of the coin, he is one of our more prolific writers 
and I fear we wouldn't have any coverage of some important events if it 
weren't for him.

We are thus left in the odd position of relying on a group--Workers 
World Party/International Action Center/ANSWER/insert front group 
here--that many of us don't like or trust (and although Pfeifer seems 
to be their main writer, other WWP people have contributed articles as 
well) for much of our coverage. I have often found myself wishing a 
member of some local group I actually trust took as much time as 
Pfeifer to report on events. But I suppose WWP can assign people to 
certain tasks in a way more democratic groups can't.

So, we could just stop featuring his articles out of concern for their 
accuracy--but then we'd not have coverage of important events. I'm 
frankly ambivalent, although if most people felt like we shouldn't 
feature anything by Pfeifer or other WWP members in the future, I 
wouldn't argue.

-- Matt

On Jun 16, 2005, at 1:03 PM, sharpie at riseup.net wrote:

> I'll be attending. I'll also write up a report and work with the 
> author of
> the previous article in order to make it more fitting. I think it is a
> really important event and should be featured, if a stronger article is
> written about it.
>
> Also, thanks whoever hid red herring's idiocy.
>
> Lastly, I have some questions for the group regarding features. The
> initial feature that caused me to think abotu this is Bryan Pfeifer's
> article re: the Phelps event.
>
> I was also at this event, in fact I was assaulted by officer 58700, 
> along
> with a number of other individuals. My issue is that, while the story
> itself doesn't appear to have any real profound factual errors, it 
> really
> is just a reportback by an IAC operative, and totally fails to mention 
> a
> number of the most notable events of that day, for example the fact 
> that
> no less than 3 individuals were assaulted in no less than 5 incidents 
> by a
> plainclothes officer.
>
> At least one of the socialist/authoritarian group members assaulted
> members of the Phelps crew and grabbed their signs away.
>
> White Revolution's relatively new, but burgeoning, New England chapter 
> was
> also present.
>
> All of these major details, much more interesting than the plain "some
> people showed up, they yelled at some bigots/fascists, and we won!" 
> format
> of this piece.
>
> anyway, i just wanted to get folks thoughts about this, as we are 
> trying
> to revitalize and rethink the editorial process.
>
> peace
> sharpie
>
>> I have to agree that this is more of an event announcement than a news
>> story or a commentary or anything like that. Once the meeting happens,
>> it would be cool to have a report on it though. Is anyone planning to
>> go anyway? -- Matt
>>
>> On Jun 16, 2005, at 11:10 AM, Sofia JarrinT wrote:
>>
>>> I agree with Jon.  It reads more of an invitation to
>>> people to participate in their next meeting and
>>> survey, which I think it's great.  But it really
>>> doesn't qualify as an article.  I would love to see,
>>> like Jon said, something about concrete goals reached.
>>>
>>> peace,
>>> sofia
>>>
>>> --- "Jonathan D. Proulx" <jon at csail.mit.edu> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> I'm ambivalent about hte article as it stands.  It's
>>>> more than an
>>>> event anouncement but not much, I think it would be
>>>> stronger if it was
>>>> more specific about what whas accomplished and/or
>>>> discussed on the
>>>> 12th
>>>>
>>>> It seems very vauge and generalistic, we got
>>>> togather and talked about
>>>> stuff.  What?  Were any decisions or plans made?
>>>> What grievances were
>>>> aired, and was there any resolution?
>>>>
>>>> If we could get some of those questions answered it
>>>> would be a much
>>>> stronger story and one I'd like to feature.
>>>>
>>>> -Jon
>>>>
>>>> On Thu, Jun 16, 2005 at 07:28:55AM -0700,
>>>> sharpie at riseup.net wrote:
>>>> :hey folks, i know its kinda short, but i'd still
>>>> like to see it featured,
>>>> :or know what people think could/should be done to
>>>> it o make it more
>>>> :feature-able.
>>>> :
>>>>
>>> :http://boston.indymedia.org/newswire/display/38616/index.php
>>>> :
>>>> :peace
>>>> :sharpie
>>>> :
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>>>
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>>>
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>>> the
>>> timid or weak...Non-violence is hard work. It is the willingness to
>>> sacrifice. It is the patience to win." Cesar Chavez
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