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>Thanks for the feedback Jon. As long as you raised it, >and since you work there, what is the PG's policy on >preserving reporters' notes and recorded interviews? > >>To the smart alecks and cowards who like to post >>anonymously on this forum, my advice is to grow up and >>do your research. First off, gobsmacked -- meaning >>astounded or flabbergasted -- appears to be entirely >>appropriate. Secondly, as reporters we all make snap >>judgments about people we interview, so I have no >>problem with Dennis sharing his impressions with the >>court even if they run contrary to a doctor's report. >>He was asked a question, and he answered it. So what, >>he's not allowed to say his experience did not comport >>with that of a doctor? Dennis has to be wrong because >>someone with an M.D. after his name has a different >>opinion? Finally, before you start making assumptions >>-- or intimations, because that's how it appears to me >>-- about Dennis's note-retention habits, why don't you >>find out what Post-Gazette policy is first? The >>problem with so many posts on this forum for supposed >>fact-checking, accuracy-minded journalists is that >>things are often said with complete ignorance. I can't >>tell you how many times I've seen people post theories >>on how or why the PG did or didn't do something that >>are so completely off base and absurd it's laughable. >>For what it's worth, I'm looking at Dennis's desk >>right now, and it is pretty clean. But what does that >>tell you? Dennis could have all his notes hidden in an >>underground bunker, right? Maybe that's fodder for >>another "fact-based" thread here. And for the record, >>I have had my differences with Dennis from time to >>time, so I am not a blind apologist for him. But he is >>smart, tenacious and one hell of a reporter -- the >>kind of guy you definitely want on your team. This >>post struck me as nasty, obnoxious and ignorant enough >>that I thought he deserved having a colleague stick up >>for him. >> >> >> >>>When in doubt, overreach for an inappropriate word: >>> >>>"Mr. Roddy testified that Ms. Jordan was >"gob-smacked" >>>when he told her she gave $10,000 to judicial >>>candidate Cheryl Allen." >>> >>>Paging Dr. Roddy, Dr. Roddy ... >>> >>>"Mr. Roddy said that his experience ran contrary to a >>>doctor's report that Ms. Jordan was psychotic and her >>>memory was very impaired." >>> >>>2 + 2 = 5. Just take Dennis' word for it: >>> >>>"Under cross-examination from defense attorney Thomas >>>J. Farrell, Mr. Roddy said he threw away the notes >and >>>deleted the tape recording of the interview." >>> >>>Of course, the note destruction issue is crucial to >>>both the case and journalism in general. Here's a >>>fairly brief story on different sides of the debate >>> >>><a rel=nofollow target=_blank >>>href="http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=1785">http:// >w >>w >>>w.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=1785</a> >>> >>>My practice and experience with other reporters is >>>that we all keep stacks of full note books for a long >>>time. What do you do? And what have you seen of >>>Dennis' desk and drawers? Full of papers and >>>notebooks, or neat as a pin?

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