Media Rant

[red-beard]

OK, this is not about lib vs conservative issues. It is about basic Journalism 101:

Read the following article:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4423938.html

"HOUSTON -- Texans who are 55 or older are more likely to get concealed handgun permits than those who are in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to Texas Department of Public Safety statistics."

The article state that there are 75,345 CHL permits in Texas.



less than 1 minute of work takes you to the Texas Department of Public Safety (State Troopers) and the CHL stats:

Goto Google, type in "Texas DPS"

Then take the 1st page.

Click on the left side in the "TOP 10 LINKS" on Concealed Handgun

Then on Demographic information

Click Summary and you have the latest yearly stats (Dec 2005) which show 247,345 licenses.

HOW CAN A JOURNALIST GET THIS WRONG WHEN THE DATA IS PUBLISHED AND SO EASILY AVAILABLE???????

It is not like the article is anti-gun (although the Houston Chronical in general is anti-gun). EVerytime I read an article about a subject I know very well, the media has the basic facts wrong. It makes me not believe anything they publish.

[lendaddy]

Because these pieces are written by hungover 25 year olds whos biggest concern is hitting a deadline.

[Dantilla]

Everytime there is a story in my local paper that I have first hand knowlege about, there are serious errors.

I'm sure it's just a coincidence, and all the other stories are 100% factual.