The email alerts do include phone calls and regular mail. Whatever you prefer.
Here's one we were sent last week:
Dear MJJC Members,
Please find a letter enclosed that is directed to Inside Edition for a story they reported regarding Michael’s commissioned artwork being made public back on December 10, 2009. Some sensationalistic, inaccurate and bias remarks were made during the reporting of the story, which is what we would like to address in our letter. We are appealing to their Journalism Code of Ethics in this letter.
Link to story,
http://www.insideedition.com/news.aspx?storyID=3743
Feel free to tweak as you need to; however, please keep in mind that the information included sets the context of the letter. Also, please remember we want to represent ourselves with integrity and respect. Please insure you update the date as appropriate and add your name and email address. Also, please change the name
Here is the contact information for Inside Edition. Although, it would be fast to receive via email, I’ve also included the physical address as well.
E-mail us at:
email@insideedition.com
Call us at: (212) 817-5555
Write to us at:
Inside Edition
VIEWER COMMENTS
PO Box 1323
Radio City Station
New York, NY 10101
* I agree that anything I submit may be used by Inside Edition in any manner (including, but not limited to, on this web site or on television) and that I have read and agree to the Terms of Use, which governs my submission.
If you have any questions, please email us at
legacymjjc@hotmail.com. As Elmira said in her letter once again, we are very grateful to see so many people sign up and together we can make a difference. It's all for L.O.V.E.
Thank you very much in advance!
Wishing you all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
Kim (windy09)
TEMPLATE
December 22, 2009
Dear Inside Edition:
This letter is in response to a story reported on your show on Thursday, December 10, 2009 regarding Michael Jackson’s commissioned artwork being made public.
The reason for my letter is that I have found that some of the references made in this story were of a sensationalistic, inaccurate or bias nature. Some statements from the story are noted below. The words or statements in question are denoted in bold.
“Now this bizarre painting is being shown in public for the first time, along with dozens of others that the king of pop personally commissioned from artist David Nordahl.”
“We asked psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Gardere about the bizarre Jackson paintings.”
"In some ways, I think we might be able to read into this that there are issues of sexuality here…of exploration of sexuality with children," says Gardere.”
As per the Journalism Code of Ethics, some of the common elements include truthfulness, accuracy, objectivity, fairness and public accountability. Additionally reliability and public accountability are three of its most valuable assets with respect to standards and reputation of a news organization. An organization earns and maintains a strong reputation, through consistent implementation of ethical standards, which influences its position within the public and industry.
I state the above, because the number of stories published that are inaccurate, sensationalistic, biased, not thoroughly researched; that lack objectivity, integrity and human dignity have overshadowed the positive stories that should be reported about Michael Jackson. Additionally, opinions are represented as facts or facts are selectively omitted when reporting the story. Any opportunity where a positive story can be reported is dismissed in favor of reporting a story that is geared toward increasing ratings; in other words, what will sell the most? This story falls into the sensationalistic category, no doubt. It begs the question if the doctor who was quoted in the story had researched how the paintings came to be before making the statement as referenced above. Did he obtain any facts behind the commission of the paintings from the artist himself, David Nordahl? The statements below are taken from a USA Today interview with Mr. Nordahl, published on August 23, 2009. The following statements were made by Mr. Nordahl’s regarding the commission of the paintings and his personal thoughts about Michael.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MichaelJackson/story?id=8385630&page=1
“While visiting Steven Spielberg's office, Jackson had admired one of Nordahl's paintings of Army troops invading an Apache camp as a young corporal shielded two Indian children. Now the singer was reaching out to the painter. For art lessons.”
"He asked if I taught drawing and painting," says Nordahl, whose realist oils of 19th-century Apaches are highly prized. "I told him I didn't, but that I'd think about it. I was really busy."
“Their hour-long conversation sparked a close friendship and working partnership that led Nordahl to abandon renown in the art world for a cloistered vocation as Jackson's portraitist. From 1988 to 2005, Nordahl completed thousands of drawings and roughly a dozen epic commissions, seven of which were among 2,000 Jackson items in Julien's authorized auction, which the singer sued to stop last spring.”
“Jackson demonstrated talent but was stretched too thin to pursue visual arts. Instead, the two began hatching ideas for Nordahl to paint. The artist conceived the inaugural work, Playmates for a Lonely Child, a 41-inch-square oil of Jackson in a sylvan storybook scene. Next Nordahl embarked on a far bolder statement, Field of Dreams, a 36-by-104-inch oil study for an unfinished work that would have measured 12 by 38 feet.”
"I think what Jackson saw in David was a complete artist," Dewey says. "He was a perfectionist. He choreographed everything. Jackson also may have seen his commitment to family. David primarily painted the Apache people's culture and lifeways, but he painted a lot of children, not just warriors. And he painted animals beautifully, especially horses."
Mr. Nordahl observations on Michael Jackson:
"I always thought of him as normal," he says. "He's the most thoughtful, respectful person I've ever met. In 20 years, I never heard him raise his voice."
“What Nordahl saw in Jackson was a wounded and misunderstood genius who felt spiritually obligated to help children.”
“Though Jackson was acquitted in his 2005 child sexual abuse trial, it "broke his spirit," Nordahl says.”Michael would never molest a child. He always felt so bad for kids who were mistreated or sick. He spent so much time with critically ill kids. If a mother called about a dying child somewhere, he'd jump on a plane.”
"People talked about Neverland being his private amusement park. It was always meant for kids. The last time I was at the ranch, they put up a big Sony JumboTron across from a condo building for sick children, so if kids woke up at night, cartoons would be on."
I would like to believe that your organization is serious about procuring and reporting information with honesty, accuracy and integrity and that you are interested in upholding the Journalism Code of Ethics. Therefore, I respectfully request the following:
I encourage you to read the above referenced article in USA Today and do some additional research about the artist, David Nordahl. Mr. Nordahl is known for including children in his paintings, thus this was not a new concept.
Revisit the story and retract the false and unfair information reported on that specific episode regarding Michael Jackson. Remove the sensationalistic references about what people think Michael’s motives were.
Refrain from publishing information that is not verifiable and is derogatory regarding Michael Jackson.
Research and report on the positive information regarding Michael’s character, contributions in music and philanthropy.
No longer report on information that is legacy, not accurate and surpassed its relevance. Let it be.
Michael Jackson’s music and humanitarian efforts were many and should be the focus of his legacy. His contributions have been overlooked due to the sensationalistic and inaccurate stories that have been and are currently being reported. It is my hope that your organization is interested in aligning with the Journalism Code of Ethics and you wish to only report a story honestly with accuracy and integrity. It is important that Michael Jackson’s legacy be preserved in a positive light as he was a caring, generous, gifted and loving human being who only saw what good could be done in this world in light of the obstacles he encountered.
Thank you in advance for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
Name
Email Address
