The other morning as I watched Shelly Osterloh report the news, I was stunned to hear KSL reporting on what obviously was a Department of Corrections press release quoting Director O. Lane McCotter as looking into the situation at the Utah State Prison and comparing it with the recent prison riots in Ohio. I was extremely disappointed with KSL and the blatant disregard for factual news reporting associated with this story.
Apparently, KSL is willing to report any "official communication" from any public official. To say that the Utah State Prison has the possibility of a riot is certainly true, but so is the possibility that California will have a major earthquake and leave Las Vegas, Nev., as beach-front property. Director McCotter is using the news media to stir up public sentiment so he can further his own political and bureaucratic purposes. It is shameful that a major television station such as KSL would participate in the distribution of such biased propaganda.As a resident of the Utah State Prison with ready access to the guards who were supposedly to be at such risk as to warrant Mr. McCotter's statements, I conducted my own informal poll and asked several guards if they felt threatened or in any danger. After the guards quit laughing at my question, all of them replied no.
Recently the prison spokesperson announced in a news conference that "only violent criminals were incarcerated at Utah State Prison." Once again another lie gained public attention through irresponsible news reporting. I personally know at least six individuals at the prison incarcerated for "white collar" crimes. These people are not what I would consider violent in any sense of the word.
It would not be fair for me to issue such a blistering attack on the media and not give credit where it is due. In that spirit, I wish to compliment the Deseret News. On April 25, the paper allotted generous space and accurate coverage to a critical lawsuit currently before the Utah Supreme Court. This suit (Labrum vs. The Utah Board of Pardons) deals with what happens when a governmental agency sets itself above the law and operates without proper "checks and balances." The Deseret News' editors should be complimented for their coverage of this most important topic.
Steven L. Petersen
Utah State Prison