The Unsatisfied Newsmen

U.S. publishers and editors resist criticizing themselves in public, but rank-and-file newsmen are more than ready to do it for them. Since 1968, when the Chicago Journalism Review was begun by a group of local journalists, at least ten similar watchdog publications have been launched or are in planning stages across the country. The latest to appear is The Unsatisfied Man, put out by 55 newsmen in Colorado.

TUM takes its name from a quote attributed to F.G. Bonfils, the late co-founder of the Denver Post: "There is no hope for the satisfied man." The group behind TUM is clearly not satisfied with the overall performance of newspapers and broadcast stations in their state. But, unlike some journalism critics, they seem determined to shun high-pitched polemics for a low-keyed, well-written analysis of the news media's ills.

A story in the first issue, out this month, calmly assesses the coverage of demonstrations on the University of Denver campus last May, and carefully documents some obvious excesses. Elsewhere in TUM, an item deplores a tendency by minority groups in Colorado to bar newsmen from meetings "because they don't speak Spanish or have the wrong skin color." Another notes that a TV cameraman encouraged a police officer at a demonstration to stir up some action worth photographing.

Besides a sense of fairness, TUM has a sense of humor. Its first issue's 16 pages include a tongue-in-cheek quiz on the Denver Post's handling of two debutante balls--one white, one black. It offers excerpts from the two stories and asks readers to match them with the right ball. Sample 1): "From the moment it started until the last waltz, the rooms were wall-to-wall with vintage bloodlines. There was old money, new money and talented young moneymakers, and everyone shone and everything moved." Sample 2): "About 400 persons attended ..." Answers, if needed, are available in TUM.

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