CNET Response to Sun Story

Date: Monday, February 24, 2003 10:13 AM

H-1B and JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER

www.ZaZona.com

CNET published a story titled "Former employee suffers setback in
court" http://news.com.com/2100-1017-985580.html and it was repeated on
BusinessWeek. Shortly after the story was online the title was changed
to "Sun wins spat over H-1B law". I forwarded my newsletter to CNET and
asked for an explanation.

Lisa Bowman, the author of the story, explains that titles of articles
are often changed. That being the case, I would suggest that CNET
change the title to something that doesn't marginalize Guy Santiglia's
efforts.

Merriam Webster defines spat as "a brief petty quarrel or angry
outburst". Considering that a court hearing was held, this dispute with
Sun has gone way beyond the spat stage. Judge Gee found Sun in
violation of the LCA posting regulations and warned Sun that they must
do a better job of posting LCAs in the future. That is a significant
victory because now Sun employees will be able to see the H-1Bs that
are hired as their co-workers are fired.

Santiglia is appealing this court hearing so Sun's problems are far
from over. Sun is also going to have to defend against the new class
action lawsuit filed by Gail Matthews in Colorado.

If CNET wasn't pressured to change the title, as Bowman claimed, then
someone made a serious error in judgement. I think they should change
the title because it demeans what Guy Santiglia has accomplished.

Hi.

Just to clear things up, one of my editors thought the second headline
and lede were shorter and catchier than the first, so they were
changed. There was absolutely no contact from Sun after I filed the
story. It is not our policy to let companies "pressure" us into
changing our content.

In the interest of time, editors often post stories quickly with the
first headline they can think of and without an in-depth edit for
style. Then they go back and tinker, posting what they think is a
better headline when they have more time. Watch our site. On any given
day you'll find that headlines and ledes on several stories are
changed. This process is common in any real-time news service.

Thanks for reading CNET.

Lisa Bowman

Help to Keep ZaZona.com Online

Donate to the Cause at
http://www.zazona.com/Donations.htm
To Subscribe or Unsubcribe send an email to

Back to archives