From the Peoria Journal Star

Slone flier misrepresents JS
Editors say statements were taken out of context
Tuesday, November 2, 2004
BY MOLLY PARKER
of the Journal Star
PEORIA - A flier circulated by state Rep. Ricca Slone's campaign mischaracterizes the Journal Star's editorial endorsement for opponent Aaron Schock, newspaper editors said Monday.
The Journal Star's editorial board endorsed Schock, a Republican, in Saturday's editions. But after the endorsement, Slone, D-Peoria, put out a flier that read "Journal Star explains why Slone is the best choice."
The flier pulled several sentences written by the editorial board that were positive about Slone and critical toward Schock. The quotes were taken out of context, and the flier is "inaccurate and a misrepresentation of the newspaper's editorial stance," said Editorial Board Editor Barbara Mantz Drake.
Schock and Slone are running for the state House's 92nd District seat.
Managing Editor Jack Brimeyer said the newspaper will consult with its lawyers regarding use of the Journal Star logo in this flier and other campaign literature.
"In my 20-some years here, I've never seen a candidate use the Journal Star's logo so blatantly," he said.
The Journal Star has a policy that it will not "print last-minute election news that raises new charges or allegations" except in "extreme circumstances" and with the approval of top editors.
"We consider this an extreme case because we have seen literature that makes it seem that the news department has taken sides, and we have not," Brimeyer said.
The editorial endorsement was issued by the newspaper's editorial editors in consultation with the publisher. News reporters and editors, though they may be asked for factual information by editorial editors, do not weigh into editorial decisions, Brimeyer said.
Slone was unavailable for comment Monday evening. Campaign staffer Will Cousineau defended the flier, saying it "never said that Rep. Slone was endorsed by the paper." He said Slone simply wanted to make voters aware of "all the nice things" the paper said about her, even though she did not receive the endorsement. Cousineau said Slone also wanted to make sure voters knew about the editorial board's criticisms of Schock.
"I don't think there's a problem with that," Cousineau said about use of the Journal Star's logo on campaign literature.
Also Monday, an advertisement ran stating that Slone is "endorsed by the Illinois State AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions," including Newspaper Guild 86, which represents reporters at the Journal Star.
Union President Dayna Brown said the Guild did not give permission to use its name in the ad and does not endorse candidates in any race.
"As journalists, we work to maintain our objectivity, and I think that jeopardized it. It was careless and irresponsible," Brown said. "That said, I don't think it was malicious."
Brown said the union representative responsible for placing the ad was apologetic about
the mistake.
Slone's staff also criticized an ad in Monday's newspaper paid for by Schock's campaign featuring a former Democrat Precinct Committeeman endorsing the Republican candidate. Billy Halstead, chairman of the Peoria County Democratic Party, said the "ad is a flat lie" because it states Donald Cummings is a current precinct committeeman. Cummings' term expired in March, Halstead said. Cummings is a former tenant of Schock's.
"He told us he was a Democratic Precinct Committeeman. It was my understanding that he was," Schock campaign manager Steven Shearer said. "Either way, he is a lifelong Democrat who has been a committeeman, and it doesn't change the point."