MEDIA WATCH | MERCURY NEWS

Mr. Pine, Suppose These Lies Were Published About You?

Suppose that got picked up and spread all over social media in a cancel-culture campaign, specifically naming you and the Mercury News. Suppose you got hit with this while going through a traumatic incident in your personal life.

July 16, 2020

Frank Pine
Executive Editor

Bay Area News Group

editor@bayareanewsgroup.com

Mr. Pine:

Suppose an “Expose the Media” blog said that an unnamed source said that a person whose father was a journalist said that journalists are abusive, neglectful parents and that their kids are usually messed up.

You wouldn’t like it.

You wouldn’t like it because it’s a lie, a gross generality, and utterly irresponsible. You wouldn’t like it because it was not vetted and fact-checked. You wouldn’t like it because it amounts to hate speech. You wouldn’t like it because it gives journalists a bad name. You wouldn’t like it because it undermines your endeavor to live your life and do your job.

Then why publish similar lies about Scientology after a tragic death?

Please correct your story to stick to the facts. And apologize for slandering my Church.

Regards,

Michael Scandling
STAND Member