Oh, Bulletin....
I have to tweak you again, just when you were being so nice to me.
There is a story in the 'Local' section of former associates suing Jay Audia's estate, alleging that he diverted funds from mutually owned development companies to "buy a race car, pay for his gambling habit, and have his home remodeled."
The third paragraph. "Jay Audia died in July 2008 at the age of 48. His obituary did not list cause of death."
Oh, for grief's sake.
We all know by now. Who are you protecting? You're publishing an article alleging that he gambled, diverted funds for his racing, and had his home remodeled on the company dime, but you can't say the word 'suicide?'
I mean, how can you publish the defense by his brother of "...so he took some advances, and he expected to pay them back"...."In this case, he borrowed some money, and he just died before he could pay it back."
..."he just died..."...
Pretty much loses the context, doesn't it. "...he just died..."
"My brother, any time he borrowed a penny from anyone, he always paid it back."
Well, no. He didn't. He chose a different solution.
Where's the context?
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13 comments:
The Bulletin didn't deliver my evening paper last night. Are they in financial trouble?
;)
I believe it's the policy of The Bulletin, and most papers, not to report suicides unless the victim is a prominent person and/or the suicide is carried out in a very public manner, e.g. flinging yourself into the Crooked River Gorge. Whether Audia fits the definition of "prominent" is debatable.
In 1982 or so, Jay Audia bought a house from me on a real estate contract. A few years later he defaulted on the loan owing me several thousand. This was before he had made any money. I took the house back on a quick claim. Within a year Audia paid me back every cent of the back interest. I would say his brother has credibility when he says that Jay repays his loans.
My point is, the suicide is pertinent to the crux of the article.
You say, rotorman, that his brother has credibility.
But the fact remains that he chose suicide rather than trying to work it out, pay back his creditors....
He DID NOT pay back, because he chose a different path.
Without that fact, the whole story just sort of floats there.
This was also not to slam Jay Audia, may he rest in peace, but to point out that the Bulletin missed an important part of the story out of political correctness.
Real estate was the biggest story in Bend for five years, thus a big developer is indeed "A Prominent Person" in my opinion.
The context of his death, the why's and how's and when's of it depend on the real estate dealings, right?
"The context of his death, the why's and how's and when's of it depend on the real estate dealings, right?"
Maybe, maybe not. We don't know what else was going on in his life. Or his mind.
Duncan's right, in the sense that the whole point of the story and the lawsuit is obscured by the Bulletin's awkward dance.
The Bulletin, at this point, might as well become a local high school sports rag. I'd have more respect for them. They might even sell better.
"But the fact remains that he chose suicide rather than trying to work it out, pay back his creditors...."
Frankly, Dunc, I'm surprised and disappointed that, having a history of depression yourself (as do I) you would take such a callous view of it. This makes it sound like he "chose" to kill himself as a way of dodging his creditors -- rather like Jody Denton heading off to Australia. But it ain't the same, dude.
I have sympathy for him, but not a much respect.
Yes, you're at the bottom of a deep well where you can't see the light, but even then, at least for me, I thought suicide was wrong.
Unlike many depressives, though, I always thought I'd come out of it, even at the very worse.
"I have sympathy for him, but not much respect."
Well, it's hard to respect a man who apparently was embezzling.
But who is more deserving of respect: A guy who kills himself out of shame and despair or one who simply skips out of the country, leaving a pile of bad debts behind? At least the first guy was capable of shame.
Maybe if Audia had more chutzpah he would have brazened it out.
I was wondering if anyone would use the "E" word.
Excellent point Dunc. What I like is The Bulletin's Orwellian news doublespeak: we didn't report that he committed suicide when he committed suicide, so we can NEVER report that he committed suicide, even when a later story turns on that fact.
I am not a fan of The Bulletin, sorry everyone. But at the same time, I think it'll be gone within 5 years. Knowing that the paper's doomed makes its manipulative reporting more tolerable.
Hack again?!
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