Journal Sentinel Bias

I know it's like saying water is wet, but the Journal Sentinel is showing their bias again this morning.

Take a look at this story: Foster Care Agency Fares Poorly in Report. Go ahead, read it. I'll wait.

So, after reading the story can you tell which government agency is responsible for the Milwaukee County foster care?

I'll give you a hint, it's NOT Milwaukee County.

I did a little, non-scientific, study and had 3 people read the article without telling them why I was asking. When they were done, I asked them who they thought was responsible for the agency. All three said Milwaukee County.

The State of Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, a Jim Doyle agency, is responsible for the problems that the foster care system in Milwaukee County faces. If you read real close and buried in the story it does mention who oversees the program. But from the first sentence of the article, you are led to believe that Milwaukee County runs the program.

No, there's no bias in Journal Sentinel reporting.


On the story itself....

Among the issues uncovered in the report:

• Those involved in Milwaukee County's child welfare system are not sensitive to issues of race and poverty.

• The bureau's computer system does not allow workers to easily determine how many foster homes have space available and what type of children they will accept.

• So many different agencies are providing services within the child welfare system, it is easy for them to avoid responsibility for problems.

• Foster parents are being trained by people who do not have graduate degrees or experience working with troubled children.

And let's not forget about the death of a child that occurred under the watchful eye of Jim Doyle and his administration.