By Arthur Alpert I’ve always known some journalists believed the purpose of a newspaper was “to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable,” but not until a few days ago did I learn the source of the quote. Finley Peter Dunne, the 1890s-era humorist, wrote it in the voice of Martin Dooley, his famous bartender/political […]
Entries Tagged as 'NM In Depth'
The Journal Is Not What Mr. Dooley Had in Mind
May 18th, 2015 · No Comments · journalism
Tags:Arthur Alpert·Elaine Baumgartel·Finley Peter Dunne·Gwyneth Doland·Martin Dooley·NM In Depth·Peter St. Cyr
Editorial on Griego Resignation Exposes Gap in News Coverage
March 18th, 2015 · No Comments · journalism, NM Legislature, state government, Uncategorized
By Arthur Alpert What follows probably constitutes a first. I don’t remember ever digging into a single Albuquerque Journal editorial for a post. But what the editorial board said Tuesday, March 17, under the headline, “Griego resignation fallout sends politics into the mud” deserves attention for its tone, what it gets right and what it […]
Tags:Arthur Alpert·governmental ethics·Marita Noon·NM In Depth·Open Meetings Act·Santa Fe Reporter·Sen. Phil Griego
Alice in Wonderland Coverage of Controversial Health Audit
February 9th, 2015 · No Comments · journalism, Uncategorized
By Arthur Alpert At the Albuquerque Journal, as in Alice’s Wonderland, the “journalism” becomes “curiouser and curiouser.” I refer to the coverage of the saga involving the Governor’s ousting of 15 behavioral health contractors who were replaced by 12 Arizona companies. The Journal reported the latest chapter Jan. 29, when new Attorney General Hector Balderas […]
Tags:Arthur Alpert·behavioral health audit·Gary King·Hector Balderas·Medicaid fraud·NM In Depth·Tripp Jennings
The Martinez Administration’s Multi-Million Dollar Mistake and the Journal’s Curious Absence of Outrage
May 17th, 2013 · 2 Comments · NM Legislature, tax policy, Uncategorized
By Arthur Alpert The Albuquerque Journal’s capacity for outrage is huge, almost as great as its passion for transparency. So where’s the outrage? Where’s the transparency? Where are they, I mean, now that we know the 2013 Legislature passed a budget based on oral testimony at the 11th hour from the Governor’s Finance Secretary that […]
Tags:Dan Boyd·Gov. Susana Martinez·Heath Haussamen·Joe Monahan·Milan Simonich·NM Compass·NM In Depth·Rep. Jeff Steinborn·Rep. Mimi Stewart·Santa Fe New Mexican·Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino·Sen. John Arthur Smith·Speaker Ken Martinez·Steve Terrell·Tom Clifford