LDS response to CNN
“With [DNA] sampling, you may or may not find evidence [to ‘prove’ the Book of Mormon’s case]. If you do, that says something. If you don’t, that says more research needs to be done.” — John Sorenson of the LDS Church sponsored institution FARMS showing the “objectivity” of the church
The Following Letter Was Sent Today in Response to a Story on CNN.com, To Which The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Takes Strong Exception
SALT LAKE CITY, March 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is being issued byThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints: Jamie Allen CNN.com Senior Writer 1 CNN Center NW Atlanta, Georgia 30303-2762 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints takes great exception tothe report, "Separation of church and career in Salt Lake City," posted onCNN.com, 8 March 2001. The way in which the story was conceived andsubsequently executed violated the most basic tenet of journalism ethics-- objectivity. This story first came to our attention when you placed a query onPR Newswire's ProfNet to find someone "moving from Utah because of theLatter-day Saints." You specifically asked for a "career-minded person wholived or worked in Utah, but moved because he or she felt the Latter-daySaints church held too much power ...." Any journalist worthy of the namewould have asked for people's experience in doing business in Utah, and thenallowed the research to drive the story. Instead, you had made up your mindwhat story you wanted to write. I wonder how comfortable you would feel if you replaced the phraseLatter-day Saints with other religious groups. For example, "moving from NewYork because of the Jews" or "moving from Atlanta because of the Baptists."When did it become politically correct to disparage members of The Church ofJesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? This is not an issue the Church takeslightly. So, where was your attempt at balance? Your sources consisted of twowomen who left Utah to pursue careers elsewhere, a second-hand interview withthe CEO of Iomega, the spokesman for Salt Lake City mayor Rocky Anderson and aletter to the editor of the Salt Lake Tribune. The Church does not object tocriticism from these sources. However, it does expect journalists to balancetheir stories. There was absolutely no attempt in your article to includecomments from business people who are not members of the Church, who have hadpositive experiences in Utah or from companies who have chosen to locate inSalt Lake City. Your one gesture toward balancing the article was to contact ourspokesperson Michael Purdy late in the day on Thursday, 8 March. During hisinterview he gave you numerous sources who could have provided a more accurateview of business in Utah. Had you taken the time to contact the UtahDepartment of Community and Economic Development you would have found MoneyMagazine ranked Salt Lake City as the west's most livable city, that theUnitedHealth Group ranked Utah as the #3 state for healthy living, thatEntrepreneur's Business Start-ups Magazine ranked Salt Lake City #3 forhigh-tech start up spots, that Inc. Magazine ranked Salt Lake City as thesecond best metro area in the country for starting and growing a business,that the U.S. Department of Commerce named Utah as the top state for computerownership. The list goes on and on. Instead of facts, your story was basedon anecdote and innuendo, and narrow-minded interpretation -- evidently allgathered over the telephone or from on-line sources. Your editorial comment: ".... it's quite possible to live there (Salt LakeCity) and excel as a careerist, even if you don't follow the principles of theLDS Church" is simply unconscionable. It is not a journalist's prerogative topass judgement on a religious faith, especially one whose members founded SaltLake City. Latter-day Saints, as religious refugees, came to the Salt LakeValley to escape the narrowminded judgement and prejudice you so openlydisplayed in your reporting of this story. Not only have you insulted the 11 million members of The Church of JesusChrist of Latter-day Saints, but you have done harm to the economicdevelopment of Salt Lake City with your misleading report. Because yourarticle has broad circulation, we feel it is incumbent for us to make thisletter public on PR Newswire with copies sent to the Anti-defamation League,the National Conference for Community and Justice, the Columbia JournalismReview, the Utah Division of Business & Economic Development and the UtahState Governor's Office. Sincerely, Bruce L. Olsen Managing Director Public Affairs Department cc: Anti-defamation League The National Conference for Community and Justice The Columbia Journalism Review The Utah Division of Business & Economic Development The Utah State Governor's Office CNN.com Online Managing Editor Chuck Westbrook CNN.com Online Executive Editor Edwin Vidal
“In the Church we are not neutral. We are one-sided. There is a war going on, and we are engaged in it.” — Elder Boyd K. Packer (Brigham Young University Studies, Summer 1981)