For the Rolling Stone to "match" the Missoulian's coverage, it would have had to give the Reporter space in a news story to vent at her "enemies" and to denounce all those who criticized her coverage as living in a "testosterone soaked-universe," resorting to extremes of hyperbole and a ham-handed effort to "expose" the ownership of egriz and publicly embarass him. It was a nice personal use and exploitation of the journalistic franchise to pursue what had become a personal vendetta for Florio.
"Griz sports forum turns vulgar in wake of sexual assault scandal," by Gwen Florio
http://missoulian.com/news/local/griz-sports-forum-turns-vulgar-in-wake-of-sexual-assault/article_fd9c03ac-aeb5-11e1-9cdf-001a4bcf887a.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
In February, the university, the city and Missoula County announced a joint effort to urge sexual assault victims to call 9-1-1. But as YWCA executive director Cindy Weese pointed out Monday, women who do come forward are “villainized” in forums like eGriz.
There was not a single example of a post "villainizing assault victims" for "calling 9-1-1." The description was not just hyperbole, it was an outright lie. It was itself a shameful effort to create a staw man logical fallacy and then attack it as "representative" of ... you've got it, a group of
"males!" But, just to ensure that no one misunderstood the blanket condemnation and the extent of her overt bias, Florio made sure to note that it was an entire "universe" of them. Despite her alleged journalistic prowess, she was unable to find a more nuanced expression of her accusation. Somehow, a "news editor" thought her broadside opinionated attack on her critics was worthy of a "news article." She was, after all, just another hapless victim, right?
The Missoulian's effort to create, as a news item, the demonization of an entire "group" by fabricating a "Hands Up! Don't Shoot!" myth upon which to score its overt "Narrative" was in fact despicable "journalism." The "Comments" section to that "news article" absolutely shreds the factual claims made, and points out that the Missoulian's own comments and news sections were, in fact, greater offenders by the Florio "standards" than egriz.
Of course, Florio's "Standard Source," YWCA Director Cindy Weese, was a voluble source of comments all about "the effects" on vulnerable women, et etc. of a forum they likely did not read, but offering, as usual, just the
perfect quotes for the points Florio obviously wanted to make. It was very much like the "too good to be true" quotes that found Rolling Stone so enthusiastic.
This was a "news" story, written by the reporter who was the focal point of the coverage criticism, allowed to insert supportive editorial comments by her friends who later bestowed her with "awards" for her contribution to the "Narrative."
Rarely, in "real Journalism," are "reporters" allowed to cover themselves by writing self-justifying and abusive critiques of their critics, and call it news. However, at the Missoulian, this was not just "allowed," the behavior was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
In that regard, even the Rolling Stone met the higher standard by at least admitting it was wrong and apologizing ... instead of seeking prestigious awards for it.