Publication title: Edmonton Journal
Pages: A15
Section: Letters
Publication date: Mar 12, 1993
ProQuest document ID: 251921277
An article like "Rave on" (Journal, Feb. 26) has
no place on the front page of the newspaper. It is not news but rather
promotion of a dubious kind. Nor is it important enough to be given such
prominence.
By its content and tone, this article flouts much of what is
good in our society; it is little more than a gratuitous advertising feature
for depravity and wanton self-indulgence (in order of appearance);
transvestism, illicit drug use, homosexuality, and more drugs.
"Sensuality, but no lust," The Journal vouches on
behalf of all 300 young people at the bash, as if to place everyone there above
these feelings that the rest of us have to deal with.
How in the world does The Journal know? And how can that be
relevant in a feature like this that countenances sexual aberration and drug
abuse?
No matter, The Journal slavishly strings together a
selection of today's trendiest words and phrases to try to make an impact.
It's important to be up to speed, it seems, even on a rocket
to nowhere. Tomorrow's cool will be something else. After all, do we want to
fall behind Vancouver or England . . . or Sodom ? What questionable advocacy.
Questionable journalism, too.
Journalists are fond of saying they don't make the news,
they just report it. Yeah, right! Show me.
Readers of good newspapers expect to find important news on the front
page, not a headline that says "Rave on" and an article advocating
the same.
The fact that The Journal trotted out the five journalistic
Ws alongside the article did nothing to legitimize it as newsworthy. As for the
H, as in "HOW do you hear about them?," The Journal now figures
prominently, though it wasn't listed.
As The Journal correctly sums up, "it (the so-called
rave phenomenon) is not likely to remain hidden for long."
Was it just a slip-up, or has The Journal really come to
this?
Thanks for nothing.
C. Gietz, Devon
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