PD gets CJR dart for not backing Paynter

The January issue of Columbia Journalism Review throws a dart at the Clevelvand Plain Dealer for “failing to stick by” a series by investigative reporter Bob Paynter, a former BJ projects editor. It was the lead item in the magazine’s “Darts and Laurels” section.

Paynter, at the urging of Editor-in-Chief Susan Goldberg. produced “Justice Blinded; Race, Drugs and Our Legal System," a series of articles last October that, illustrated that Cuyahoga County blacks arrested on first-time; drug-related violations "were 66 percent more likely to be saddled with a felony record , than their white counterparts," who were more liikey to get treatment as an alternative to conviction. Pa.ynter's series , also showed that whites were more likely than blacks to have, their charges reduced to misdemeanors.

The stories, drew sharp criticism from Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason, who alleged that they unfairly pointed a finger at his office for its involvement in deciding which defendants would be admitted into treatment programs. In an op·ed published by the Plain Dealer; Mason wrote that "the reporter left out significant facts or information." He suggested that his office alone was not to blame for the racial disparity, because, in fact, the decision to recommend alternatives to incarceration rested with judges.

Paynter series had reported that the prosecutor's office had come to exert significant influence over who would be admitted into treatment programs, according to dozens of interviews with county judges and defense artorneys.

Goldberg says Mason was notified of the series findings before publication, but Mason chose not to go on record about the perception that his office had inftluence over the programs.

Paynter was never allowed to comment or respond, the article says.. The Plain Dealer's editorial page was silent.

Paynter took a buyout offer and left the Plain Dealer on the day after Mason's op-ed piece appeared. He says he stands by his stories. Stuar Wamer, an editor on the project and also a former BJ type, also left the paper shortly before the stories ran. He says he has full confidence in Paynter's reporting.

The Dart concludes:

The Plain Dealer's failure to aggressively back its reporter risked allowing Mason,'s gripes to overshadow the outrageous injustices revealed by Paynter's strong and painstaking work. Still, change may come as a result of the series: Mason has ordered an investigation of the county's handling of drug convictions.”