Shaq's actions deserve reporting but not Register & Bee?!!

Now why would The Danville Register & Bee run a story and video about Shaquille O'Neal using foul language being booted from the Bedford County's Sheriff's Department. Shaq was OFF duty and in a bar with friends but when The Danville Register & Bee's OWN REPORTER films women's breasts, uses racial slurs in the newsroom, bullies women and tolerates sexual harassment - we hear nothing?!

If many of you will remember in 2006, O’Neal took part in serving a search warrant for child pornography in Gretna. Officers went to the wrong house after an Internet service provider provided an incorrect address and an innocent farmer had his door kicked in.

Shaq was one of 10 officers who served the warrant and he also helped search the Gretna house. My question - why do Shaq's action deserve play in the newspaper, but not the FACTS of an incident with The Danville Register & Bee's own staffers?? Why won't the media pick it up? I've posted the emails. I've got proof.

Other people - four specifically - who were there will testify. One of - or a portion of one of the videos was even posted to the internet - part of an inside joke among the reporters who filmed it and wrote the story....Part of their alcohol package - you know - the one where they call a drink a "panty dropper"...that PDF of a front page The Danville & Bee actually PUBLISHED, is posted here too.

So WHY, I ask - has no one done a story on that? They're afraid to touch it. Media protects media. Who else have they protected? We know those 13 citations of John Coscia didn't make it into the paper right? One did - because a few people were afraid of the backlash if it didn't. They trashed a local high school coach for a DUI shortly before that - and all but had to put at least ONE incident in the paper...Do you think a high school coach or any other businessman could have kept 13 citations - including an attempting to elude and a driving without a license charge out of the paper? Depends on what kind of friend you are with the editor I suppose.

I know the hospital managed to keep a lot of stuff out of the paper. I had lots of folks with complaints about the billing, the treatment and what was happening at the hospital. I was told it "wasn't news." Anybody ask what the hospital has spent in advertising dollars at the Register & Bee? Coy Harville's right when he complains that the paper is influenced by ads. I'm not in charge of that though Coy - so your comments are wasted on me. You need to be saying that to Steve Kaylor.

Remember - the newspaper is a BUSINESS. No special powers. They can be investigated like anyone else. But will they be? No. The Virginia Press Association won't do it. Media General won't do it. If it weren't for this blog and the personal testimony of former newspaper employees to friends, neighbors and family - few people would know what goes on there. It's a tragedy that the paper has become what it has under Media General's watch. It's a greater tragedy that no one in the community is speaking out about it or demanding an accounting.