Focus On The Rainbow

At Huffington Post, Karen Ocamb who is the news editor for the LGBT magazine, Frontiers In LA, writes an opinion piece titled, Covering The Prop 8 Trial: Can The Gay Press Maintain Objectiivity (and should it ?).

The opine is titled after the upcoming Los Angeles Times Press Club panel discussion which will take place next Thursday, February 25.

In regards to the question in the title of this posting, in this writer’s opinion the answer for the most part is no.

Particularly in the case of many of the ”well respected” gay blogs such as Pam’s House Blend, Americablog Gay, Box Turtle Bulletin, Joe My God and others. One only has to read their blogs when covering events, either on scene or starting with mainstream media sources and then putting their own bias spin on news, just as FOX News does in their “news reporting”.

When I decided to “provide coverage” of the Prop 8 trial last month I opted to use the mainstream press for a next day “briefing” of what took place and with no commentary, unless clearly labeled as such as is this posting.

And there in lies the problem with a great many LGBT blogs and even websites. What passes for “news” is in fact commentary, biased of course with the LGBT slant. And nothing wrong with that, each publisher should decided how and in what form they wish to offer “news”.

But as the Fox News Channel is often slammed for being a news channel with “fair and balanced” reporting, but in actuality presenting news often with a conservative slant and more in the way of opinion, so too are many in the LGBT press, media and the so-called “Citizen Journalist” bloggers, offering news and reporting with their own LGBT bias slant.

Again nothing wrong with that as long as the reader knows and understands that’s what they are going to get for their free ticket on the Internet for news.

We as publishers and writers have our own goals and ideas of how, what and the way we present news which affects or is of interest to the LGBT community, as is clearly written in the Mission Statement of Focus On The Rainbow.

If only more LGBT blogs and websites would do the same, then there would be no question as to their own “fair and balanced” reporting, which is often taken as “gospel” and then spread among other blogs, websites and on some occasions picked up and put into the news stream.

For those in the Los Angeles area who would like to attend the panel discussion, it will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, at the Los Angeles Press Club in the Steve Allen Theater, 4773 Hollywood Blvd., one block west of Vermont Ave., in Los Feliz. (Metro: Vermont/Sunset station). Free parking and refreshments. The discussion is open to everyone.

Here’s the RSVP info – free for members, $10 for non-LA Press Club members, $50 for membership and two tickets for new members.