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Show Friday, January 13, 1995 The Daily Utah Chronicle 7 vn if VtAppoint Congress progressing after Accountability Act Chronicle Editorial Accountability Act, which government officials as well as everyday citizens are new required to follow. The act will require the lawmakers to abide by more than ten major employment laws which are already on the books. The laws cover issues which range from union organization and workplace safety to disaimination based on age, sex, race andor physical disabilities. So finally, lawmakers in Washington D.C. will have the opportunity to live as other American citizens live: by the books. Although the bill needs to be signed by President Clinton, the American public can almost be certain that in the near future, lawmakers will have to abide by their own rules. It's about time that senators and congresspersons were taken off of their pedestals and forced to live like every other American citizens. These officials cannot employ their own logistics when it comes to hiring, firing, and the treatment of others within the work place. Abiding by the books will put these officials in touch with the rest of the country and with their in America, United States citizens arc. follow and obey the laws set forth by the government Unfortunately, many of the lawmakers in the past have put themselves above the laws, and have had the luck to continue unaccountable relatively sneaki-l- y and unnoticed Until now, that is. With the recent Republican takeover of die House of Representatives and the Senate, lawmakers have felt the pressure to maintain E.veiyday to i the confidence of constituents nationwide. With the heat on the Republican party to prove . themselves to the rest of the country, a wise decision was made in the Senate on Wednesday. A vote to enforce Congress to obey the laws it forces on others was passed within the Senate. Although some may view this first successful measure under the new Senate as a strictly partisan Republican idea and measure, the vote was 98-Both the Democrats and the Republicans worked together to pass the measure, the Congressional 1. own constituents. Sure, the act may have been approved by the Republican Senate, and it may be the first passed legislation under die Republican "Contract With America.'' However, this is an act that most likely would have received attention and approval by any party majority because of its great impact on the country. The Democrats produced a similar bill last year, which died before any action took place. Who knows what the actual impact of the act will be in the future, but Americans can only hope for the right decisions to be made by their representatives when it comes to obeying the laws of the land. When lawmakers begin to live as do other men and women in the country, it shows progress. Many lawmakers may have abided by the books, but now, the American public can be more certain than ever that attempts by law makers to obey their owns laws will be greater than ever. The Chronicle is an independent student newspaper. Unsigned editorials reflect the majority view of the Editorial Board CbronicleLetters.. .............. ... Three cheers for buses I WANT A MVoRCE. Editor: I wish to express my thanks to the shuttle bus service personnel at the University of Utah for their effort on Monday the 10th 1995 in the search for my lost paperwork folder. Bus drivers were radioed to be on the lookout for it, and the buses were searched again when they were brought in for the night. Some people may complain about the shuttle bus ser- -' vice on campus, but I have found them to be helpful, considerate, and professional. Oh by the way, has anyone seen a manila folder with copies of resumes, references, reference letters, DD2 14s, and other items? Robert Williams c "Letters to die Editor" is an open forum to people of all persuasions. However, letters of a scurrilous or libelous nature, or those which demean or threaten harm to any individual or group based on race, gender, sexual orientation or religion will not be considered for publication. Letters must be typed and signed and may be edited for style and space; To ensure that letters are not submitted under false names, The Chronicle's editorial staff must speak with every letter writer before publication. Letters from those with unlisted phone numbers must now submit their letters in person with a picture I.D. at The Chnmidc office, room 240 Union. Court says journalists too talented to deserve overtime my current employer Doug Gibson is the excep- tion. Review-Journa- My first job after graduation was n with The Efy Daily Tana. It's a smaH-circulatio- five-da- y Chronicle Editorial Tournalists received a J compliment from a federal judge vlast week. US. District Judge Norma ruled that a former ' Holloway left-hand- WushmgknRrt reporter does not merit .'. overtime pay because reporters are "artistic" professionals whose work "requires invention, imagination or - ' talent" ., Conservatives new. That's nothing ; have been saying for years D.C. reporters favor imaginadon. But, kid- ding aside, I don't think Judge Holloway understands what it's like for most journalists. The publisher of the business magazine I work for pays me a very ur lrvingwage. But : Media, which owns The Las Vegas l, a television station and a couple dozen smaller dailies and weeklies. Donrey is notorious for paying tiny salaries. daily newspaper in northeastern Nevada. The editorial staff is the editor and the sports editorgeneral assignment reporter. I was the latter. My typical work week was 60 hours, including 40 in the office doing layout, pagination, editing, writing, graphics, inter- viewing, handling "news tips," 10 reporting on local sports and 10 covering the area. That included meetings of the White Pine County commission, hos- - : pital board, school board, power board, city council, : library board, taking photos, visiting schools, gathering social news, etc I was paid five hours overtime: No' more was allowed. The Tones is controlled by Donrey Most novice professionals, degrees in hand, ivill make less money the first coupleyears on the job than afull-tim- e pizza delivery driven And those are ones fortunate enough tofind fill-tim- e positions. After a year I had to leave. I didn't want to, but it was too much work for too little money. Just before I left, Donrey offered to raise my salary to $280 a week, but no overtime. I declined. I'm not knocking the Tones. The publisher added a week's paid vacation with my final check. He didn't have to do that. It was a gesture much appreciated. It's worse elsewhere. Before I became a magazine editor, I inquired about a reporter's posi- tion for a six-da- y daily in Burley, Idaho. The annual pay was $11,500. Other publication offered Udc more. For every journalist at The Washington Rat, 1,000 work at small, community newspapers (many owned by chains) and do more grassroots reporting in a week than Michael Kinsley does in a year. Judge Holloway is correct in saying that journalists work hard, exercise creativity and are professionals. But it's a tough profession in these times. . Most novice professionals, degrees in hand, will make less money the first couple years on the job than a e pizza delivery driver. And those are ones fortunate enough to e find positions. Anyone who thinks that writers at the Chrony who pursue journalism careers do it for money don't underfull-tim- full-tim- stand the job. You write because you love the process. An idea is formed. It takes shape. It becomes permanent Seeing it in print validates its importance. Being published never ceases to be exciting. ' Millions of news stories, columns and features have been written. On any given day, 10,000 reporters might draft articles on the same subject . No two are exactly alike. Each bears the mark of its creator. Eventually, living demands a decent paycheck. Discouragement sets in. If journalists at smaller publications don't see an increase in salary, too. many talented writers will continue to leave. The industry suffers. |
