Editor:
Jeremy Voros’s article in the June 26 Chronicle, titled “Media Coverage Kidnaps Social Equality” is centered on the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart. It sets forth some legitimate, albeit hyperbolically stated views, with which many will no doubt agree.
However, much of Voros’ article is in poor taste and its logical centerpiece is inaccurate. The main thrust of Voros’ article was that “Valuable resources devoted to the tragedies of a few ‘well-to-do’ families will not be available to the many others who are suffering the same heartbreak.” Also, in Voros’ opinion, “The media establishment [is] concerned only with issues relating to a minor percentage of the population that controls a majority of the nation’s money.”
His logical proof was that, “Elizabeth Smart is lucky,” because “her family has the resources to set up a public relations center, mobilize hundreds of volunteers to search an entire city and even offer a $250,000 reward.”
Some of Voros’ phraseology is in poor taste. Elizabeth Smart was not, repeat not, lucky. And, it is silly to call victims of stranger abduction “lucky” unless they are unharmed and quickly recovered.
Also, Voros’ assertions, or “facts,” in this matter are inaccurate and constitute a misrepresentation of what actually happened.
As near as I can tell from press and TV releases, the Smart family did not organize the search or post the reward by themselves. Shortly after Elizabeth’s kidnapping a call was sent out to the Laura Foundation. This foundation was set up after a Texas family’s daughter, Laura, was kidnapped. Like the Smarts, that family had also made some serious mistakes in mobilizing resources to search for their daughter. But the family had learned and wanted to help others in similar circumstances to avoid the same costly inefficiencies and mistakes. So they set up the “Laura Foundation” to help others. The Laura Foundation supplied know-how to effectively organize search efforts.
Jim Todd, Holladay, Utah