4.03 Ethos and Credibility

"Gay Colorado couple sues bakery for allegedly refusing them wedding cake"

"No right to refuse gay couple's wedding cake"

"Can’t Have Your Cake, Gays Are Told, and a Rights Battle Rises"

 Many of us know the story, but now it's time to check the facts. For those who don't know the story, here's a brief explanation: A bakery owner in Colorado (who claims to be a Christian) refused to make a cake for a gay couple's wedding and the couple, along with the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), filed a complaint which turned into lawsuit. This story came out in June of 2013 and since then has become something bigger. Now there are mentionings of a rights battle arising. We're already facing a rights battle with racism in the Ferguson case,but now we might also be seeing one with sexuality, religion, and beliefs.

There are many reports of the story, but for this assignment my main focus is Fox News' post because it was one of the first: "Gay Colorado couple sues bakery for allegedly refusing them wedding cake" posted on June 7th, 2013. Fox News is owned by Fox Entertainment Group (21st Century Fox). They are usually on the lists of reliable news sources including my school's list (FLVS). Fox News is broadcasted worldwide, so you can understand their strive to be credible. Their slogan is "Fair & Balanced". Fox News has faced many accusations of biased reporting and promoting 'conservative politician positions'. The company had also been accused of misrepresentation of facts and got into trouble with the Obama administration at one point for remarks made by commentators over Obama's health-care proposal.I'd like to stick up for them for the last part because there is a reason as to why they call them "commentators", however I can't find what was said.

 The reporter who posted the story isn't listed on the post. In place of that area is written "Associated Press". This tells me that if the post gets a complaint, the whole company will be taking the blame. The reporter who wrote this used unbiased and fair language. No opinion was expressed on their side, but they collected many comments from the people involved. The sources were dug up by this reporter and companies/organizations were named as well as people.

In the end, I consider this source to be credible. It meets credibility guidelines and all the facts are correct. In the sources I will list two more posts by other organizations. Both posts have the same basic facts, even the opinionated one. The post from the New York Times is recent and involves the rights battle. I consider the New York Times to be another credible source, but I wouldn't say the Denver Post story is considering it is on the "Opinion" page. But, they do have the same facts.

Sources:

• "Gay Colorado Couple Sues Bakery for Allegedly Refusing Them Wedding Cake." Fox News. FOX News Network, 7 June 2013. Web. 5 Jan. 2015.

  "No Right to Refuse Gay Couple's Wedding Cake." - The Denver Post. 9 Dec. 2013. Web. 5 Jan. 2015.

  Paulson, Michael. "Can’t Have Your Cake, Gays Are Told, and a Rights Battle Rises." The New York Times. The New York Times, 15 Dec. 2014. Web. 5 Jan. 2015.

  "Fox News Channel." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 5 Jan. 2015.