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magazine for Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region Letters to the editor can be sent by email.
April 2007 Laughter is the best medicine. This year's April Fool stories are dedicated to a few friends who are battling serious illness. Medical studies have shown that laughter can have a significantly positive impact on people who are fighting cancer and heart disease. Remember that this is all in good fun and that the Supreme Court has protected parody as free speech. Happy reading. Rich Feb. 2007 The recent break in the weather has allowed many of us to put down our snow shovels and get back to the normalcy of our lives. With the exception of the farmers, ranchers and road crews in the southeast part of the state, most of us are little concerned with snow except to keep a close eye on the forecast. While the winter storms since mid-December are noteworthy, someone out there is under the illusion that they have survived a cataclysmic event and with better success than our neighbors on the Gulf Coast who weathered Hurricane Katrina. The e-mail I received was so inaccurate and insensitive that I felt a response was necessary. The purpose of journalism, after all, is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. In addition to the Blizzard Katrina commentary, look for coverage of NCAA skiing in Colorado and New Mexico this month. Happy reading. Rich Dec. 2006 Election Day has passed and my thanks go out to all who voted. Some races in the Rocky Mountain region were very close - fewer than 1,000 votes decided at least one congressional race. Preliminary results showed the youth vote increased four points to 24 percent - less than half the average rate, but an improvement, nonetheless. Out of all the candidates running last month, do you know who gets my vote? Kelly and Olivia Johnson. These two women role model the virtues of compassion and giving. With little money to spare, they found a way to give of themselves. We would all be fortunate to have people like them representing our communities and, in a way, they do represent our community. Read their story and take pride that they call the Rockies their home. Olivia Johnson deserves special note. Of all the people I have ever interviewed, she is by far the fastest talker. I doubt I will ever have as much trouble taking notes during another interview unless I write a story about an auctioneer. This woman has a busy schedule and I am lucky to have had the chance to meet her. May you be just as lucky some day. Happy holidays, Rich Nov. 2006 Election season is upon us. Compared with many midterm elections, 2006 has much at stake. At the national level, the war in Iraq, deficit spending, tax cuts for the rich, immigration and congressional corruption are at center stage. Pollsters agree that the House of Representatives will shift to Democrat control while there is a much smaller chance of a party shift in the Senate. This is a good thing when you read Rolling Stone Magazine's list of "Ten Worst Congressmen" in their Nov.2 issue. Colorado grabbed two of the ten with Tom Tancredo ("The Racist") and Marilyn Musgrave ("The Gay Basher"). Let's hope Colorado's 5th district is smart enough not to add Doug Lamborn to that list. The poor Democrats were only able to put one person on the worst-ten list - William Jefferson from Louisiana. At the state level, the governor seat is up for grabs in Colorado and New Mexico with Bill Ritter and Bill Richardson leading in their respective polls. Amendments and referenda address the way petitions are conducted, school spending levels, the definition of marriage, domestic partner rights, the minimum wage, ethics in government and judicial term limits. Voter turnout is typically lower in midterm elections. Colorado had a 56 percent turnout in 2002 for voters 30 and older, while a pitiful 29 percent of younger voters showed up at the polls. In 2000, Hispanic voters were more than 20 points lower than the average turnout of 64 percent. Data show that the real problem is low voter registration, with only a 10-percent gap between voter turnout and registration levels. It's too late to register for this election, but it's not too late to register for the next one. Voting is the greatest act a citizen can perform in a democracy. If you don't vote, you are submitting to the will of others. Soldiers are overseas on their third and fourth tours of duty. You may sport a ribbon on your car or bumper sticker about the Pledge of Allegiance, but will you take the time to study the issues and vote? Vote and be heard, or shut up and submit. It's your choice. Rich Stromberg Sept. 2006 Once again, Rocky Mountain Magazine skirts the ethics line by publishing a story about several people who are known to the writer on a casual basis. The rationalization is simple. A group of current and former University of Alaska Anchorage students released their third feature-length film this year. Not only that, but the film was one of the best I had seen during the past 12 months. Throw in the fact that the budget was no more than a few grand and you've got an article that is genuinely newsworthy. I know the writer/director, producer and several of the actors on a casual basis. I also worked at KRUA radio station with actor Kyle Johnston and had a class with him at school. If the film was crap, I wouldn't be writing this now, because there would be no article. The fact that a few people can make a decent movie - three actually - on a shoestring budget in the spirit of Ed Burns and Kevin Smith is a story that has to be shared. This isn't YouTube.com material. The script, production and editing are far more involved. Given some persistence and luck, you may someday see these folks break through into the widespread independent film industry - and you will have read about them here first. If you like the interview and the movie review, consider ordering a DVD. Better yet, see if you can get them entered into your local film festival. Karma goes a long way. In case you're wondering, the DVD advertising is free to help these folks out. Rocky Mountain Magazine does not publish material just because someone purchases ad space. The story has to be newsworthy. Enjoy, Rich Stromberg May 2006 The summer season is almost upon us. The downside is that there will be more crowds to contend with. The upside is that the backcountry will be more accessible. Some of us have used the off season to frequent areas that are crowded with visitors during the summer months. Lakes that are packed with campers and anglers in the summer make for great destinations in the winter for those who like to cross-country ski or snow shoe. As the crowds begin to arrive, we can smile and wave as we encounter them at the trailheads, then leave most of them behind as we head for the high country - already in shape from a winter of outdoor activity. Look for several short stories on various outings this summer and get ready for many exciting articles from our new writer, Zach Thompson, who will be with us for the next several months. Happy reading. Maybe we'll see you on the trails this summer. Rich Stromberg April 2006 April Fools! People who know me well would probably tell you that I should be writing for Mad Magazine or The Onion. I love sharing the scenery and people of Colorado, but sometimes we all need to just laugh. In case you haven't figured it out by now, the Highway of Legumes article was a farce. Astute readers will note that there is no State Transportation Department in Colorado. The correct name is Department of Transportation or DOT. I chose the former so that I could use the acronym STD along with some creative names for department officials. Go back and re-read the article if you didn't pick up on that. In case you're wondering if the magazine could be sued for this article by the Governor, Doug Bruce or anyone else, the answer is yes, these people could sue, but case law for parody - especially parody of public officials - is so cut and dried that I could defend the case myself and easily win. If anyone wishes to sue, go ahead. We can always use the free publicity. I made a point of giving Bruce a little jab because this is a man who argued in the voter guide against funding for the El Paso County public libraries because he doesn't use them. Editors of some publications will argue that publishing an April Fools article damages the credibility of the publication. I see their point, but let's put things in perspective. The article clearly makes a point of admitting the joke at the end. We told you it was a fake article. As for the photos, you can do some easy editing with Adobe Photoshop. We admit that too. In contrast, many major broadcasters and newspapers, including CBS, The Washington Post and The New York Times, have published stories represented as truth or fact at the time, only to retract the story months later when it turns out that they had a journalist, like Jayson Blair, who fabricated entire stories or like Judith Miller or Robert Novak, who were in cahoots with the Bush Administration acting as a public relations conduit for the White House, or CBS where Dan Rather and four senior employees failed to assess the validity of documents related to George Bush's National Guard service. Don't get me wrong. I think Bush shirked his duty during Vietnam, but that doesn't give journalists a right to take any short cuts when performing due diligence on sources. Speaking of White House PR, what do all you Fox News viewers think you're getting? To be frank, the only problem I have with Fox is their "fair and balanced" tagline. Fox is at least consistent on the amount of opinion programming that is portrayed as hard news. They're like Howard Stern - when you tune in, you should know what to expect. So please enjoy the Highway of Legumes for what it is - a good laugh. And who doesn't need several of those each day? Besides, didn't your mother ever tell you not to believe everything you read? Oh, and if you didn't get the joke about Glade, look the word up in the dictionary and re-read that section. Rich Stromberg March 2006 Joseph Pulitzer once said "Newspapers should have no friends." This month I risk alienating many of my neighbors as I address the issue of the correct pronunciation of some Spanish words in the buttes article. Journalism is based on representing the truth and clearing up common misperceptions and in Colorado, many people, including some personally known to me, not only mispronounce words such as Huerfano, La Veta and Buena Vista, but they go out of their way to "correct" me when I pronounce them the right way. I have yet to correct anyone's poor pronunciation of Spanish words as I feel that would be rude. I simply pronounce words correctly when I use them in conversation. Many of my neighbors, however, become very rude when they vehemently take me to task for not mispronouncing words. "Around here we say it 'WORE-fuh-no'!" or "I can tell you're not local." Would you chastise me if I were Hispanic? Are you practicing reverse discrimination? I am by no means fluent in Spanish, although I've been speaking various phrases since I was about three years old, I took four years of Spanish in middle and high school and I lived in New Mexico for 12 years. As a journalist, readers count on my profession to impart accurate information, which includes checking facts in everything that is published. Failure to do so would be negligence. To knowingly publish false information amounts to fraud. The oldest incorporated town in Colorado is San Luis. The oldest church in Colorado is in Conejos. Our state's name is the Spanish word for the color red, because of the red rocks throughout the state. Colorado's history is rich in Spanish heritage and the Hispanic culture is a strong influence today. One of the best ways we can honor that heritage and culture is to make an attempt to learn some of the language, or at least learn to pronounce some of the more commonly used words. Coloradans do a good job of pronouncing La Junta and Sangre de Cristo, so why not do the same for Buena Vista, Huerfano and Pueblo? These towns didn't get Spanish names by accident. Before Colorado became a U.S. territory, it was the northern boundary of new Spain. Prior to that it was settled by many Native American tribes - some of which are still here, others were relocated or driven away. It's safe to assume that any town with a Spanish name, especially those south of the Arkansas River, was originally named by Spanish-speaking people. Therefore, the original and the correct pronunciation of the names would be the correct Spanish pronunciation. Spanish is not a difficult language to pronounce. Inupiaq, Mandarin and Navajo are each more challenging to the western tongue. I'm not asking people to learn how to roll their R's. If you can, great. I simply ask that if you care about our heritage, please make an attempt to learn to say a few words right. At the very least, you should refrain from chastising those who speak the words correctly. This shouldn't become a battle between the "fluents" and the "non-fluents." I would ask that you not correct anyone who mispronounces a Spanish word, unless they specifically ask for your help. Simply use the correct pronunciation when you speak. In 20 years or so, most of the state should be pronouncing these words correctly. If someone takes you to task, offer them a deal. "If you don't hassle me about the way I pronounce 'Huerfano', I won't hassle you about that fact that you say it wrong." As for me, I have no choice but to pronounce every word correctly. June Salazar, who grew up in Manassa and graduated from Adams State College once tore into me for not using the Spanish pronunciation for the town of Salida, because she knew that I knew better. I also know that I never want her to hear me mispronounce a Spanish word ever again. Hasta la vista! Rich Stromberg "It is important to get the story first, but it is more important to get it right." - Anonymous journalist. "If a journalist is afraid to tell the truth about something trivial, how will they have the courage to tell the truth when readers' lives and freedom depend on it?" - Rich Stromberg
February 2006 Like many peaks in our state, Silver Mountain sits on public land that is surrounded by private property. As such, private land owners cannot prevent access to desirable places simply because they choose to purchase land that abuts popular recreational areas. Historical access rights must be granted. Reciprocally, we should all be aware of public/private land boundaries and respect the privacy of individual land owners. Many farmers and ranchers in Montana have an interesting approach to their property by posting signs that simply say "No hunting. No fishing." Trespassing is allowed and in some places, so is overnight camping. In Colorado, trespassing restrictions can only be enforced if the land owner posts signs every 200 feet or so along the perimeter, whether fenced or not. A single sign at a locked gate with no other postings just doesn't cut it. Feel free to walk around the gate and on to your destination. That being said, the legal right to walk across someone's land does not give you any rights to remove any items - big or small - from that land, including minerals, firewood or piñon nuts. Neither does it grant you access to hunt on private property without permission from the owner. To do so is poaching. In fact, the State of Colorado puts the burden of correctly determining land ownership on the hunter, regardless of whether or not the private property boundaries are posted or fenced. Hunters must make certain that the land they are hunting on is public property and in the correct district for their permit. Both land owners and visitors should continually work to build positive relationships as good visitors and good hosts. Respect the rights of private citizens to enjoy their own property as well as the rights of all people to enjoy our public lands. Happy reading, Rich Stromberg January 2006 One of the first ethical rules you learn in journalism school is that you don’t write stories about your friends. Obviously, it is impossible to be completely objective when you write about someone who you know on a personal level. Many journalists take the approach that no one is 100-percent objective about anything. This is one of the pillars of gonzo journalism. Everyone has a bias whether it is in choosing the topic of a story, choosing the people to interview or deciding which quotes to include and exclude. In fact a gonzo journalist believes that one must be immersed in the subject matter to accurately write about it. I’d have to say that the “don’t write articles about your friend” rule is hard-and-fast when the story is of an investigative nature. If a person is surrounded by controversy, then someone who is not a friend should write the article or the article should not be published at all by the given magazine or newspaper. The down side to violating this rule is that your empathy and emotional ties will kick in at some level. And if, by some miracle, you do write a purely objective article, then you risk ruining a friendship. The writer doesn’t trash the friend – the friend has already trashed him or herself through their deeds. Nonetheless, it is the writer that exposes the truth and the friend. That being said, there are criteria when articles about friends, family and other close associates should be allowed. Is the writer helping someone to shamelessly plug their product or business, or is the person truly newsworthy? Is there no one else at the publication that could conduct the interviews and write the story better? Does the long-term relationship the writer has with the subject allow access to more detailed and intimate information without violating confidences or privacy? Has the personal relationship been disclosed to the reader? There will be several articles in 2006 that deal with personal friends of mine. Each person is newsworthy and unique in their own right. One is the first Native American artist to sculpt a statue that sits in the U.S. Capitol building – each state is allowed only two statues. Another is a woman who rescued rock climbers and hikers while in her 40s, 50s and 60s – I had actually tried to talk a producer for ABC in New York to do a story about this woman for several years. How many grandmothers do you know that have been winched into a helicopter? The last story is about a couple who played an instrumental part with breakthrough analysis of the Hope diamond. They actually got to hold the diamond. If you have differing views of the ethics of writing stories about friends, write in and let your voice be heard. Rocky Mountain Magazine’s position should be clear at this point. When this exception is made, the article will have a prominent disclaimer and I promise the subject of the story will be unique. Happy reading, Rich Stromberg
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