In journalism, dog-bites-man stories are considered unworthy of publication. Common events aren't printed; it's a waste of newsprint because it doesn't sell newspapers and, frankly, nobody cares.
 

Katie Fairbank

Katie Fairbank, the Dallas Morning News "investigative" reporter that writes for the Problem Solver column and posts to the DMN Investigates Blog, is obviously working on a formula to circulate such dog-bites-man stories by wrapping them in hints of controversy. No investigation, no real reporting, just hints of that there might be a story.
 
Watch how it's done: Take a bland story, "Richardson department removes unused equipment," and write six paragraphs about it. Write one paragraph about the fact the equipment is no longer used and write five about the Garland Animal Shelter. Use the animal shelter tie-in to announce that there will be a protest outside the Garland Council chambers. Get a quote from a protester-to-be but don't include any quotes or actual facts from the city. Publish "facts" that are counter to reporting in her own newspaper.
 
She quotes, "Public pleas to the city council over several weeks have been ignored and ridiculed, including 19 speakers (all Garlanders) and 67 filed cards (most Garlanders) [sic] opposing gassing at the last two city council meetings." To be factual, most were not from Garland but that probably dilutes her story and her purpose. Here is what was actually reported in the Dallas Morning News: "Fourteen residents spoke on behalf of ending the use of carbon monoxide and 60 others in attendance – 25 from Garland – registered their support." What kind of investigative reporter prints "facts" that are directly contradicted by her own publication without offering any explanation?
 

From data embedded in the photo: "Cats at the Abe Jack Tuggle Animal Shelter and Adoption Center in Garland photographed Wednesday, September 16, 2009. ( Kye R. Lee / The Dallas Morning News )" (Click photo for very large version.)

And Ms Fairbank forgot again, as she has every time, to announce that she has worked with animal rescue groups for 15 years because someone might recognize that she has a bias and no longer consider her reports wholly credible. It's not the first time it's happened.
 
Here's another example. I received a call today questioning her latest blog post: "Kittens gone, but where?" Definitely a headline worthy of a lowly dog-bites-man award. How does an investigative reporter solve the mystery? This reporter asks the questions and then guesses at possible answers: "They may have been adopted. They may have been euthanized." Be sure to end the dog-bites-man post with a word like "euthanized." Here are some more guesses she could have made: "They might have been catnapped by the photographer that took their picture." "They may be in Hollywood and starring in Disney's next great hit." Guessing is fun. If you can do it, you are obviously qualified to work for the Dallas Morning News as an investigative reporter. Guessing, at any journalism school in America, is not reporting.
 
Here's what a real investigative reporter might reveal: A photo taken by DMN photographer Kye R. Lee, on Sept 16, 2009, was used numerous times to illustrate various DMN stories on the animal shelter. A reader saw the picture and offered to adopt the kittens. According to Katie, "I contacted the city of Garland immediately…." That's almost eight weeks after the photo was taken. She sighs, "Unfortunately, the city was unable to say where they went without identifying numbers." The information she needs to complete her investigation is almost there in the photo, just one inch higher and the identity tag would be visible.
 
Photographer Lee took many technically and aesthetically excellent shots at the animal shelter. A few have been used to illustrate various related stories. I've used them as evidence that Ms Fairbank's claims, repeated by the DMN editorial board, are not supported by her photographer's own work. Several photos of the kittens were probably taken at the same time; one of them may have the information an investigative reporter would need. She offers no indication that she looked at any of the other photos taken at the same time to find if one might have the information needed to solve her mystery question. She never tells her readers that almost two months have expired between the photos and her "immediate" post. Too bad for the reader that was interested in adopting, perhaps too bad for the kittens, and definitely too bad for the rest of her readers.
 
Ms Fairbank's reporting has been blatantly unfair to Garland residents and others that would like to know the facts to which she only alludes. She deceives her readers by pretending to be a reporter but doesn't report. Readers also deserve to know of her biases so they can make fair, informed judgments of their own. It is the duty of the Dallas Morning News to divulge conflicts of interest whenever any exist.
 
There should be an investigation, an internal investigation.
 
FULL DISCLOSURE: Mr Athas is a city council member elected to represent the citizens of his district and Garland. His duty is to the citizens, not to city government or to the media. His duty is to assure that city departments operate in the best interest of the citizens and that all departments act within the law. He has personally investigated the animal shelter, he has recommended changes, and he has voted with the council to increase the animal advisory board. He has not violated the city charter by trying to micromanage the animal shelter or any other department. He has two rescued cats.
 
An extended list of related stories is here.