KTVI/Fox 2’s Randi Naughton took offense at the “Charity Begins at Home Plate” offering in the Aug. 25 “Short Cuts” by e-mailing us claiming there were two “factual errors” in the piece. Oy vey. Turns out, contrary to our statements, Naughton claims, the price of the bat, $199, was mentioned in two separate broadcasts of her report. She also says the “mother of a child with cancer” we referred to in her broadcast was actually the mother of a heart-transplant recipient. Well, OK — we’ll take Naughton’s word on that. As for the mention of the price, the transcript we received of the broadcast in question did not include the bat’s price, though who knows? Maybe it was mentioned in the intro, or displayed on the screen. But that isn’t the point, is it? The point is, the amount going to charity (10 bucks out of 200) was not mentioned, only that a portion of the proceeds went to a worthy cause. So we apologize for the misstatements, though we’re not sure they were misleading. The point is, when charity is being used to shill for a product, just how much goes to charity ought to be made clear. As for the final paragraph of Naughton’s missive — “I don’t know what the criteria is for being a “journalist,’ at the RFT. Though paying attention, I would assume, would be the first order of business.” — whoever said there was “a criteria” for being a journalist? And is anybody out there paying attention? Didn’t think so.
