News
What makes a story worthy of being on the front page?
January 17th, 2010If you take a look at the front page of today’s Toronto Star, you will see a story regarding mob justice in Haiti. This is, in my opinion, worthy of the front page. However, if you look to the left of this, you will see a story about me (and about 24,999 others) who were all awaken early Saturday morning by an automated phone message from the Halton District School Board. Seriously… front page?!? Sgt. John Faught, who was the 139th Canadian soldier to be killed in Afghanastan , made page 3. For some reason, 25,000 Halton residents getting a 5 a.m. wakeup call takes priority over a brave man who served his country with honour.
I really hope that my comments in both the Toronto Star and the Toronto Sun truly conveyed how I feel: It was no big deal. Yes, at first I thought that there was bad news on the other end of the phone when it rang at that hour, but after a quick chuckle, I rolled over and went back to sleep. Little did I realize the media frenzy that it would create!
To the woman from the Halton District School Board that was responsible for the fiasco, I say congratulations! Not many of us can make a simple mistake on the job and have it so widely publicized. It is quite easy for people who are already in the public eye to have their simple gaffes blown out of proportion, as the paparazzi are all sitting waiting for them to screw up. But to make the front page of a major newspaper without already being famous and when there are many other newsworthy events occurring, that is an accomplishment! I hope that you (and the school board) are able to laugh at your mistake, hold your chin high and point to the story and say, “That was me!” We all make mistakes. And I am sure that you were not able to roll over and go back to sleep after you received the early morning call.
The automated service provided by the Halton District School board serves more good than harm. If the service saves me from sitting in front of the radio waiting to see if my children’s school is closed for a snow day, I am all for it.
I think that the Star owes the family of Sgt. John Faught an apology, for he truly deserved the front page over the many tired parents of children in the Halton school board.
Jodie Near
