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Armstrong story bad journalism?

 

Editor, Index-Tribune:

 

The Sonoma community is so proud of 21-year-old Nigel Armstrong for his strong showing at the fabled International Tchaikovsky Competition in Russia.

Young musicians from all over the world vie to be accepted to this competition, Nigel was accepted and his performance in the early rounds won him the right to be one of only five violinists, and the youngest, in the final competition in Moscow.

He ended up being the top ranked American in the competition, placing fourth among violinists. These are the facts that were in the lead paragraphs in the Press Democrat and the online Sonoma Patch. How did the I-T choose to introduce this story to its public in the July 1 issue? With a bizarre lead sentence that Nigel Armstrong seems to be the perpetual bridesmaid because he again did not win the grand prize.

First, it is bad journalism to start a news story with the reporter's opinion - just stick to the facts. Second, you are talking of a young man whose achievements in a notoriously competitive field dwarf those of most of his elders. Why did you feel it appropriate to belittle his accomplishment? Were you looking for something clever to say, but weren't able to distinguish condescension from cleverness?

Robert Alwitt

Sonoma