Attempts at objectivity

Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 11:53 AM
Subject: Fromt the JoongAng Daily, Seoul, Korea

Dear Dr. H.J. Krysmanski

I'm a reporter of the JoongAng Daily, English edition of the JoongAng Ilbo, a leading Korean newspaper. I've heard from Ryu Kwon-ha, a Berlin correspondant of the JoongAng Ilbo, the mother paper of the JoongAng Daily, that you made a complaint of wrong reporting in relation with Professor Song Du-yul.The JoongAng Daily reported on page 1 of Oct. 29 edition that "a group of sociology scholars at Muenster University, where Mr. Song had been teaching, postponed issuing a protest declaration against their colleague's detention, pointing out that public sentiment in Germany had turned against Mr. Song" as a part of a "Germany goes slow in support of Song." The paper also reporterd on page 3 of Oct. 30 edition that "A group of German scholars sent a letter of appeal to President Roh Moo-hyun on behalf of their colleague, Song Du-yul." You can check the entire article on the JoongAng Daily's Web site (joongangdaily.joins.com) by using PDF service which you can find top-right side.
The JoongAng Daily translate major articles from mother paper. The Oct. 29 article was first carried out by mother paper, but the article was omitted from mother paper at the last edition. And while condesing the article to fit the space of page 1, the sentence "public sentiment in Germany had turned critical to Mr. Song" was changed into "against." And there used to be other explanation about the public sentiment in Germany, like what German newspapers said about Mr. Song.
If you send us your complaint letter, we'll carry out the letter on the opinion page.

Sincerely yours
Lee Moo-young
The JoongAng Daily
Seoul, Korea

_____________________

Dear Mr/Ms Lee Moo-young,

thank you for your explanation. It would be very kind if you could publish my letter, which follows below, in return.

Best regards
HJ Krysmanski

Letter to the editor

Re: your report October 28, page 1, on Prof. Song and his support in Germany

In said article you claim that "a group of sociology scholars at Muenster university, where Song has been teaching, postponed issuing a protest declaration against their colleague's detention, pointing out that public sentiment in Germany has turned against Mr. Song".

It is surprising how many errors can be put into one sentence. Here are the corrections:
1) It was not 'a group of sociology scholars', it was the complete teaching staff of the Institute of Sociology, speaking on behalf of the University of Muenster, issuing a protest declaration addressed to President Roh, which was published on October 28.
2) The declaration was not in any way 'postponed', it was drafted carefully and that took a day longer than planned.
3) 'Public sentiment' in Germany with regard to the case of Prof. Song has developed slowly and has really been building up with his detention last week; so it is not 'turning', it is growing, with a number of news media, including TV, becoming more aware of the implications of this case.
4) Therefore there is, in addition, no 'turning against Mr. Song' in any way. On the contrary: the German people, having experienced unification, look in a very sympathetic way at the actions and goals of Prof. Song.

Prof. Dr. H.J. Krysmanski
Institute of Sociology
University of Muenster