WDRB reporting arrest

I think it's important to remember that these local news reporters are people too. It's easy to blame "the media" for sensationalism. While inaccurate reports do happen, I don't think these reporters purposefully destroy the facts for the sake of sensationalism - if for no other reason than they take their jobs seriously and understand that maintaining credibility is important to doing the job.

Do you know many people in media? Perhaps it's different for the old guard, but I know the new guard is pushed to do exactly that -- destroy the facts and peoples' characters for sensationalism and ratings. The whole credibility bit went out the window about when the internet began destroying advertising dollars. Granted, the local news is better than national, but I know of quite a few cases where they flat out made things up in order to make the story more watchable. This wasn't "misunderstood" or "maybe misinterpreted," but flat fraudulent distortion. I polled nearly everyone in an old neighborhood I lived in to see who the "vast majority of residents" saying something entirely false was, and, surprise, no one had talked to the local reporter, except one woman who said the exact opposite. If we're learned nothing else from the last decade of news reporting it is, in fact, that credibility means absolutely nothing.

I think this was a typical "take down the supposedly wealthy" play attempting to tap into that "populist anger." I don't think they realized, whatever the situation, that there aren't very many people in the city who think Corbett is anything but a great guy, and that they'd be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Course, all that said, the damned news story has been sent to me nearly two dozen times, I've seen it on Facebook repeatedly, and they have far more comments on their online postings than they normally do, so innocent or not, I'd say they've achieved the real end of media -- ratings.

I have nothing more to say.

I have known Dean for something like 15 years, and didn't care much for him when I first met him(and I think the feeling was mutual), but after years of providing his restaurants with Linen and then later coffee, I will say Dean is a great guy..and not just when the camera is rolling. I can't speak to what has happened, but I have had back surgery as well and it's worse than I ever thought it could be to recover from, it's been two years since mine and I'm still not right..and having spent years working in the business I couldn't imagine going back to it now. I was a skeptic of back injuries til my own, as I just assumed if you work hard your back will ache, well I have a new respect now..and I'm also glad to see Hotbytes showing support for Dean. I'm not going to defend breaking the law, but this seems to be a bit overblown already, and I'm sure Dean will face this head on like a man, and this will be but a small bump in the road.

It's great that he cleared up the record, but he also just confessed in writing to a felony.

Not the smartest move. Hopefully he will have a prosecutor who believes his story and is lenient.

Like everyone else...I wish Dean the best. I think he will come out of this just fine...especially if Clay can convince everyone that Dean wasn't the one that put out that statement.

I will also say that I don't think the media or police need to be taking the blame for this. When you're a public figure and get arrested you get you pic in the paper. That's just part of the deal. You also get reporters talking to your friends and co-workers about what a great guy you really are (WAVE3). How many arrested for drugs get that opportunity? It's a two way street.

Do you know many people in media? Perhaps it's different for the old guard, but I know the new guard is pushed to do exactly that -- destroy the facts and peoples' characters for sensationalism and ratings. The whole credibility bit went out the window about when the internet began destroying advertising dollars.

I just wanted to say that I have a bachelor's degree in journalism (2005) and a master's degree in mass communication (2007), and I was NEVER taught to "destroy the facts and peoples' characters for sensationalism and ratings." In fact, I was taught the exact opposite -- that you only report the facts, which includes making sure any charges not yet tried in a court of law are reported as "alleged," and that you only report what is relevant to the story, even if there is something else interesting or colorful in the person's past that has nothing to do with the story.

I agree that this is often not what takes place in the modern media, and it burns me up just as much as anyone else. But I do not want people to assume that this is how we are taught and trained now as journalists, because it isn't.

There is still mis-information going out whether it is on purpose or just lazy, sloppy "reporting". Even with the bare bones release put out by LMPD, there is still reports he was buying. Even here some are assuming an addiction is involved.

I have back issues, fortunately for me, pain is not a daily issue, mobility is. I had a taste of the pain issue and it sucked. After a day of intense pain, I would have done ANYTHING for relief. I used to believe I would never do what I saw some of my patients do, use pain meds daily, live for the dose, live in a haze. After my experiences with L-4 L-5 disc bulging, sciatic nerve pain and subsequent nerve damage, I have gained an understanding I never had before. The healthcare system is wildly inconsistent regarding pain management. Either patients are denied or over medicated. Doctors with no training in pain management are opening "pain clinics" to make the big bucks, tarnishing the reputation of Physicians who truly manage pain.

I can understand if Dean wanted to help someone in pain, they are kindred spirits. If all is as he said, it was a huge mistake, but it is illegal. Hopefully the system will able to sort this and Dean will come out OK. Thoughts and prayers for Dean and for his friend he tried to help.

I have many friends in the media. They are great people and I hold them in the highest regard. I know first hand that Dean (along with a group of us) have been working very hard on an upcoming charitable event that honors a WDRB newscasters son. So there is certainly no animosity toward the media.

When I see anyone being sensationalized in the news it truly annoys me and I have to speak out. Greg you say: "How many arrested for drugs get that opportunity" referring to Dean's friends coming to his defense in the media. To that I say how many arrested for drugs make news headlines? Why did this make news headlines, because it was Dean and if it is somehow justified that a community figure is a headline item. Isn't there a responsibility to get it balanced and correct rather than rushing to be first?

There was no need to "HEADLINE" a police report until both sides could give their story AND then when the other side, Dean was given that opportunity, to see it misquoted stating he was purchasing drugs (when he certainly was not) disturbs me even more.

Many in the media I know do take the time to get it right, fair and balanced before reporting. So I am not casting a broad blanket of "hate the media." My frustration here is how this story was handled when Dean was honestly trying to help a cancerous friend through painful times with both of them having prescriptions for the same medication and Dean's friend simply returning the medication to him after his prescription was refilled. To make it sound like a drug deal gone bad is sensationalized reporting. It serves no public purpose and the harm it has done to Dean, his family and business is unjustified by any standard and outright deplorable.

As Deans first sous chef and friend, he has my full support. He came in the Shady Lane just the other day and offered to organize a benefit for our daughter who has cancer if her condition ever warranted it. I can say that as an aging chef and cook I am in intense back and shoulder pain every day, and yes, I also take prescribed pain meds for my condition. I would take a stronger brand {just to feel normal} but that involves seeing the doctor once a month and much to do about nothing... I have no insurance, so all is cash pay.

As a former alcoholic and watching a Father die from alcohol and many, many friends, I wish the same scrutiny was paid to the overwhelming number of deaths and ruined lives that alcohol plays a part each instead of pain meds that seem to be the medias cause d'jour these days.

Dean deserves credit for all the good he has done for this community , and always has our love at the
Shady Lane.

Bill and Susi Smith

I have many friends in the media. They are great people and I hold them in the highest regard.

I always knew if I lived long enough I would hear someone say something like this. I've also got side bets at some point I'l hear someone say something similar about Investment bankers and Fortune 500 CEO's.

I have many friends in the media. They are great people and I hold them in the highest regard.

I think it's the first time I've ever seen "highest regard" used were referring to "the media"!

As a former alcoholic and watching a Father die from alcohol and many, many friends, I wish the same scrutiny was paid to the overwhelming number of deaths and ruined lives that alcohol plays a part each instead of pain meds that seem to be the medias cause d'jour these days.
.

Bill and Susi Smith

Your point about alcohol is well taken but it does not diminish the severity of the opiate problem running rampant though Louisville, especially in restaurants. Whether the problem starts through recreational use or as a result of medicating legitimate pain, there is rarely a happy ending.

The real crime I see here is that he was eating pizza while driving.

Radley Balko does a good job at covering issues like this. Here's an example.

Doctors should not have to be afraid to prescribe pain medications, and suffers shouldn't be forced to seek relief on the streets.

I live constantly in fear of either getting a totally debilitating headache or of running out of meds. I have had the headaches my entire life, and finally found a drug regimen that allows me to function -- to keep my job and get up and do everyday things -- yet I am treated like a criminal."

I hope his story flies in court and this all blows over. He's done so much good for the community, both local and beyond, it would be a shame for this to tear down his reputation. I can see his explanation being totally plausible, I've done something similar for my uninsured dad, just hope the courts will be lenient. For all the good causes he's championed, it would be nice if there was something more we could do for him.

If this country would quit wasting our money on a drug war we wouldn't even be having this conversation. I feel sorry for the man, what goes in his body should be his own business.

Congratulations. Yours is the most sensible utterance in the whole thread, and I wholeheartedly agree.