This is an interesting piece. For profit prisons are a big trend in America and mixing corrections and corporations are sure to mix it up in a big way.
However, I don't think this piece is balanced. While the reporter tells the story in a neutral way, the only clips we hear are from the prisoners bringing the law suite.
At the end of the piece we get two statements: One that the for profit operator won't comment and second, that the state department of prisons did not respond to a request for interviews. Also, the question that might have been asked is not stated.
This leaves the piece hanging in the air. Not getting a call returned does not, in my judgment, absolve the reporter from getting the other side of the story. It just makes it harder. For example, how did similar lawsuits turn out? Could someone from that state comment on the effectiveness of the prison and if these lawsuits are valid. Sure, it's a tough job to put this stuff together, but that's the job.
Review of Prison Lawsuit
Steve Yasko
Posted on September 28, 2005 at 04:55 PM
This is an interesting piece. For profit prisons are a big trend in America and mixing corrections and corporations are sure to mix it up in a big way.
However, I don't think this piece is balanced. While the reporter tells the story in a neutral way, the only clips we hear are from the prisoners bringing the law suite.
At the end of the piece we get two statements: One that the for profit operator won't comment and second, that the state department of prisons did not respond to a request for interviews. Also, the question that might have been asked is not stated.
This leaves the piece hanging in the air. Not getting a call returned does not, in my judgment, absolve the reporter from getting the other side of the story. It just makes it harder. For example, how did similar lawsuits turn out? Could someone from that state comment on the effectiveness of the prison and if these lawsuits are valid. Sure, it's a tough job to put this stuff together, but that's the job.