Recognizing journalists who have accurately reported Nevada's budget situation; UPDATED
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article showing how almost everyone in Nevada - elected officials, media members and citizens - has been incorrectly describing Nevada's budget situation.
Read the article for more details, but basically my point is that Nevada's widely reported $3 billion, 50 percent budget shortfall is a myth: Nevada's projected budget deficit is $1.5 billion, or about 20 percent.
In the introduction of my article, I listed a handful of the many media outlets that had misrepresented Nevada's budget situation. (Note: I don't think most media members intentionally tried to mislead the public. They were either reporting the common narrative or the distortions of Andrew Clinger, the state budget director.)
Since the truth about Nevada's budget situation is now readily available, I'd like to list the reporters who have either accurately described Nevada's projected budget deficit or acknowledged that the $3 billion figure is disputed. They deserve praise. In the interest of accuracy, I hope the rest of Nevada's journalists follow their examples.
- Matt Kozar, "Is NV's $3 bil projected shortfall a gross overestimate?" KVBC, September 14, 2010
- KKOH 780 AM, Reno, September 14, 2010
- Barbara Kusak, News stories on KDWN 720 AM, Las Vegas, September 15, 2010
- Ed Vogel, "Think tank sees inflated shortfall," Las Vegas Review-Journal, September 16, 2010
- Sean Whaley, "Assembly Majority Leader wants to eliminate Nevada revenue volatility, teacher tenure," Nevada News Bureau, September 20, 2010
- Editorial board of the Lahontan Valley News, "Recession has ended - or has it?" Lahontan Valley News, September 21, 2010
- Steve Sebelius, "Finally somebody in the governor's race shows some ba... oh, wait, no, nevermind," Las Vegas CityLife, September 23, 2010
- Jon Ralston, "The taxing elephant in the room," Las Vegas Sun, September 29, 2010
- Ray Hagar, "Brian Sandoval, Rory Reid agree on taxes, but economic visions diverge," Reno Gazette-Journal, October 16, 2010
- Stephanie Carroll, "Commissioner wrap-up," Lahontan Valley News, October 21, 2010
- Editorial board of the Reno Gazette-Journal, Consolidation is critical to the future of Washoe County residents, Reno Gazette-Journal, October 30, 2010
This list is probably - I hope - missing quite a few names. Know of any other journalists who deserve public recognition for being accurate? List their names and links to the articles in the comments and I'll add them to the list.
Update: Added Steve Sebelius to the list.
Update (10/18/10): Added Ray Hagar to the list.
Update (10/22/10): Added Stephanie Carroll to the list.
Update (11/12/10): Added Reno Gazette-Journal editorial board to the list.
Also as Andrew Clinger has now publicly and clearly stated that the budget deficit is $1 billion, I'm going to stop updating this list. The truth is no longer hidden or confusing and reporting it should be the norm.
Congratulations and thanks to the journalists on this list for recognizing and reporting on this accurately before many others did.
