After Deadline
Pearl Harbor section beat ordinary fare
By John Simonds
Advertiser Reader Representative
Wars past and present have shared the top of Hawai'i's news agenda and Advertiser pages during a busy time of reunion, remembrance and reflection.
The Advertiser's 30-page "Pearl Harbor Plus Sixty Years" commemorative section on Wednesday marked the 60th anniversary of the attack and events that followed.
Newspapers traditionally spotlight commemorative observances of historic events in their areas. The Advertiser section was consistent with that practice and exceeded the norm in depth, range of content and illustration. A challenge to any such project is selecting from a wealth of information; deciding which topics, incidents and people to include; combining history, updates and news in ways that are fair and relevant to contemporary readers and faithful to the record of the past. The section has been well received, with many requests for additional copies.
Planned and edited by City Editor Marsha McFadden and designed by Presentation Editor Lorna Lim, the section included the work of writers, photographers, page designers, graphic artists and copy editors beginning in October.
In the weeks leading up to the anniversary, The Advertiser ran daily images of front pages from 60 years ago. One caller asked if the pictures could be made larger, so people could collect and display them. Another complained the reminders would make visitors from Japan uncomfortable at a time when Hawai'i needs tourists. But in general, readers seemed to relate to the historic purpose of reprinting the pages in smaller scale.
Reading each day's Advertiser excerpts of 1941 documented the gathering of war clouds in Europe and Asia. Pearl Harbor happened when other nations already were fighting on the front page.
A Nov. 30 headline warned "Japanese May Strike Over Weekend!" It appears at first to have been an early prophetic alarm. The headline actually referred to one of several stories beneath, on an expected invasion of Singapore.
Photo enforcement
The new state system using cameras to catch speeders and red-light runners is driving inquiry about its technical and legal workings.
Mike Leidemann, Advertiser transportation writer, has received more than 70 calls and e-mails raising questions about the photo enforcement program, which went into action Monday, including how citations issued by the system will affect auto insurance premiums.
Response has ranged from nuts-and-bolts interest in how the system functions, to protecting drivers' privacy and other rights, to whether photo enforcement will be fair and accurate and how it might affect road behavior.
Leidemann's articles on the topic include an explanatory piece Nov. 28 and a Q & A on Dec. 4.
Answers also can be found at the state Department of Transportation Web site.
Suspicion has zoomed in on the interests of ACS State and Local Solutions, which is running the $5 million, three-year pilot program under contract with the state.
A Nov. 29 Advertiser editorial questioned whether financial motives might influence decisions to rig light-timing (something the state says will not happen) and other factors that could contribute to more violations at intersections where cameras are installed. The company shares revenue with the state DOT and the court system.
State data show 73 deaths at intersections in the past five years involving drivers who ran red lights; in the past 10 years more than 260 people have been killed and 12,500 hurt in speeding crashes here.
But recurring queries about the program, including the what-ifs, will need answering, even if some issues wind up in court.
Reach John Simonds at jsimonds@honoluluadvertiser.com, or at 525-8033.
