AP gets its slant on

Take a look at this AP report on the fate of HCR-59...and note just how slanted the reporter's take was:

Legislative hurdle for new teaching hospital killed


BATON ROUGE — An attempt to add legislative roadblocks to construction of a new public medical center in New Orleans failed to gain passage in the House, killing the proposal for the session.

Why exactly was the measure a "hurdle" - ?  That connotes an impediment.  The reporter could have just as easily chosen to characterize the measure as "Legislative safeguard"...but very clearly chose not to for some reason.

Proceeding into the opening paragraph, the measure's provision requiring full legislative approval is characterized pejoratively as "legislative roadblocks"...when they could just as easily have been called "accountability measures" or "greater fiscal oversight."  Again, the slanted preference of the reporter comes through as clear as day.

While the piece does briefly reference the way in which supporters presented the measure, the damage is already done - readers see the measure as a hostile attempt to kill the UMC hospital because of the improper way the issue is framed with the language employed.

CityBusiness on HCR-59

Here's the abbreviated version of the AP report from today's committee meeting up in Baton Rouge.

Note how the report labels it a "roadblock" and a "hurdle" rather than a good government measure that keeps the taxpayers of the state from being saddled with a boondoggle.

HCR-59 Passes out of House Appropriations Committee

After about an hour of debate and public comment, the measure, which would require full legislative approval of various aspects of the UMC project, most notably related to financing, passed 12-11.

Here's the AP report on the committtee move from The Advocate's blog.

Opponents of the measure kept saying at the meeting that the resolution would delay the project - and touted the level of oversight over the project.  I really don't buy that argument; this project needs a lot more oversight given the uncertainty that continues to swirl around it.

"lingering financing questions could delay the latest completion date even further."

WXVT 15 in Mississippi tosses up an AP blurb about the UMC.

AP Story on VA Hospital Footprint Appears on sites of Washington Post, Fox News

A mainstream media reporter from the AP shows that he gets it - he sees the story of the VA Hospital Footprint for what it is - an attempt at urban renewal that has consequences for people who were simply trying to get back on track following a major disaster.

The headline alone shows a deeper understanding of the sad irony involved in the project than many of the pieces from media outlets thus far: "Neighborhood survives Katrina - not urban renewal"