The South Bend Tribune from South Bend, Indiana • 7

MIROP South Bend Tribune A7 Wednesday, June 19, 2002 -A Advertisement racial inequities play no role in our news judgments. Stories on Alexis have appeared in the St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press, and Milwaukee police say ABCs Good Morning America" made an early inquiry but never followed up. But Good Morning America has a different version of its work on the Milwaukee story, saying a producer last week made repeated calls to the Police Department and tried to track down the family to no avail We actively pursued this story, trying to contact the (police) public information office, special investigations office and the parents, said Lisa Finkel a spokeswoman for the show. And when we were not able to get hold of them, we thought our viewers would be well served by a report on an innovative program that assists in the safe return of missing children.

spokeswoman Phoebe Glasner when asked if an editor could speak about the lack of coverage of the Patterson case. Although Glasner said she had just come from a meeting where a similar issue was being discussed, she wasnt certain anyone would comment. At Newsweek, which had a story on the Smart case in last weeks issue, Managing Editor Jon Meacham did not return a telephone call seeking comment Magazine spokesman Ken Weine said any comment would come through him, but added that he would not be tremendously help-fuL At The New York Times, spokeswoman Kathy J. Park said in an e-mafl, According to our editors, we are looking into the Milwaukee story Youre right that The Times has not taken note of the Patterson case, though I can certainly state that race should not be discounted, Steele said. He recalled two cases of missing Hispanic children that were widely covered in the media, but could not come up with a high-profile case involving a missing black child.

(Last years abduction of Jasmine Anderson, a black Milwaukee infant, and the disappearance of black sisters Tionda and Diamond Bradley from Chicago both made national news.) I think it is essential that we turn the spotlight on ourselves, he said. Are we prone to the vagaries of racial bias compounded by class bias? That question provoked discomfort from some national media outlets on Friday. Others simply dismissed the possibility that race has in any way influenced coverage. Was she taken from her bedroom at gunpoint? snapped MSNBC FROMRECEAl Media CNBCMSNBC show Hardball with Chris Matthews. A Nexis search of major newspapers and magazines shows 67 stories about Patterson, almost all of them by The Associated Press.

In the last week, there have been more than 400 stories Smart. There is another difference between the two cases that cannot be ignored. Smart is white; Patterson black. I just feel its unfair, said John Robins-Wells, a retired investigator who now is assisting leaders of the group Locate Alexis Patterson. But the reason for the disparity in media attention isnt what some about might think, he said.

I dont think its a racial thing. Tm a white person myself We have a lot of volunteers who are Caucasians. He thinks different journalists simply have different ideas about what makes a compelling national story Many factors determine why journalists focus on one missing child and not another, said Bob Steele, director of the ethics program at the Poynter Institute, a school for journalists in St Petersburg, Fla. For example, Smart apparently was abducted from her own home, tapping into a fear every parent would understand. Coverage of the two cases also may have been influenced by the actions of police departments, parents and national organizations for missing children.

While there are many possible reasons why Smart has become a national story and Patterson has not. Abducted girls sister wasnt threatened not to talk As for the search for the kidnapper; we believe this man may be a trusted person in the neighborhood or community, the police captain said. The kidnapper was calm and spoke nicely and dressed nicely Investigators still want to talk to Bret Michael Edmunds, a drifter who continues to elude them. Edmunds was spotted near the Smart home two days before Elizabeths disappearance. I believe Edmunds is a witness to something.

We dont know what, Atkinson said. The community is offering a $250,000 reward for the gills safe youngster three times now say that the man did not speak to the child. The threat was not made to Mary Katherine, Capt Scott Atkinson said. The young girl apparently kept quiet because of something the kidnapper said to Elizabeth, Atkinson said. He said the police account changed as investigators with skills at interviewing child witnesses talked to the girL Police also reviewed the 9-year-old witnesss earlier two interviews with police, Atkinson said.

I dont believe that shes changed her story Atkinson said. SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Police investigating the disappearance of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart said Tuesday that contrary to what they reported earlier, the kidnapper did not threaten the girls little sister or even realize she saw him. Two weeks ago, Elizabeth was reported taken by gunpoint from the bed shared by the two girls. Police said initially that the kidnapper warned 9-year-old Mary Katherine Smart to remain quiet, and that the little sister waited two hours before alerting her parents. But police who interviewed the Local DigitalChoice Monthly Access 40 I Mishawaka, IN Gurley Leep, an Indiana used car dealer, has just announced plans to hold the largest one day sales event in their history.

The event will take place this Saturday, June 22nd, 2002 at Gurley Leep GM Giant at 5302 N. Grape Road In Mishawaka. According to Mike Leep Jr. General Manager of Gurley Leep, record sales in the last few months have resulted in the need to carry an increased number of used cars. in order to satisfy the demand.

In the last year we've increased our sales rate from 40 retail used cars a month to over 65 the, last 3 months," Leep said. In order to accomplish this weve had to stock more used cars than last year. We previously stocked around 50, now weve got over 100 on our lot," i Gurley Leepsj management decided to slash prices on thefr entire used car inventory in an attempt to sell 150 cars in one day. Ie authorized cars ranging in value from $2,000 to $3,000 and more to be sold for just $99 make 'room," said Leep; He went on to say, CThe average sale price will be up to $5,000 less than our normal low retail price, The savings will be incredible!" Heres how this sale There will be a sneak preview of all sale cars Friday from 5-9pmi Security gates will close at 10 pm. Uniform security will be on duty.

Then the security gates will be 6pqn from 8 am to 5piA. Select the vehicle of yoijr choice on Saturdajr. Touch it with any part pf your body (fingers, toefe, elbow, nose, etc.) as tlje Price Slashers" go byTPr your opportunity to purchase. If more than one person is touching the vehicle, an instant lottery will be conducted. At 10 am, the Price Slashers" will begin slashing price THOUSANDS, dollars, right before ybiir eyes.

Leep said that th)s innovative approach to selling used cars should make it easy and quick for anybody in the market for a used car to get a great car at a very low price with no hassle and no fear. Almost every Gurley Leep pre-owned vehicle comes with a 100 warranty provided free of charge. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising and as you sell someone a good car at a good price, they are sure to tell others where they bought it," Leep said, expressing Gurley Leeps philosophy. This sale will be held Saturday, June 22nd, 2002 at Gurley Leep GM Giant at 5302 N. Grape Road in Mishawaka.

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