In what will surely be a story that comes back to haunt him, Eli Stokols of KDVR has created a whole story out of taking a quote by state Senator Bernie Herpin out of context.
In testimony today, on a bill to repeal the 15-round magazine limit passed by Colorado Democrats this year, state Senator Bernie Herpin wondered if it might have been a blessing in disguise that James Holmes choose to go with one 100-round magazine instead of several smaller-round magazines as his one 100-round magazine jammed.
In fact, Herpin isn’t alone in this thought as a letter from the mother of one Holmes’ victims asked the very same thing.
Yet, when it came time for reporter Eli Stokols to file his story, he chose to start it like this:
Republican state Sen. Bernie Herpin raised the ire of an Aurora theater shooting victim’s father when he claimed that it might have been “a good thing” that gunman James Holmes had a 100-round magazine when he opened fire and, ultimately, killed 12 people.
As a reader, you would have to wait 11 paragraphs and a box of the audio before Stokols decided to give the complete context of the quote. And, only, then, when it came in the transcript.
Stokols’ fellow press members were not as capricious with their take on the quote, as Kurtis Lee from The Denver Post puts the entire quote into context by the second paragraph, and Megan Schrader from The Gazette even went as far as to call Stokols out:
.@EliStokols a little bit more context: @bernieherpin also said 100 round magazines are notoriously unreliable #coleg
— Megan Schrader (@CapitolSchrader) February 12, 2014
Peter Marcus also put Herpin’s comments in context:
In context, @bernieherpin said 100-round mags often jam, as did for Aurora shooter, while 15-round mags are more reliable #coleg #copolitics
— Peter Marcus (@MediaMarcus) February 12, 2014
C’mon Eli, Dems’ don’t need a new spox. Sherry isn’t gone yet.
Irresponsible and disgusting.
After watching about 10 seconds of Ron Zappolo all those years ago, I knew we would never see a balanced news story from that station.
I thought Eli was decent guy. But sounds like hes just another liberal bag of douche.
I'm SO tired of Republicans saying STUPID things….. have a plan, think about what you're going to say, say it… repeat that ONLY….. I swear, a half decent mid 20's sales rep could make mincemeat out of these guys….. It's call strategy, it's how you WIN….
Stokols is a pure Lib journalist.. he's kept a lot of it under wraps …but has slipped in the past. But like all liberal media outlets, nothing won't happen…because "dear leader" is office and the Democrats rule the roost unfortunately in Colorado
He should be made to resign. Fox 31 is losing credibility fast… will never watch the station again. Unless the bring back Ron Zappolo
See that wasn't that hard
Instructor Dan If you feel that you have to sink to a certain level to get your point across then so be it. I would rather take the high road.
We can agree to disagree I guess … His type of journalism is very much the problem with our govt now. And for u to play the touchy feely card and toe the line to political correctness is laughable …. Sorry I offended u mark … Not sorry if I offended Eli … That was my intent to offend him. And for the record … I still hope he gets hit by a bus!
Its highly inappropriate to wish someone harm regardless of how you feel about his professionalism.
Another #LiberalPartisanHackPretending2BaJournalist
Presstitution – it's NOT a victimless crime.
oh my, look how he can twist the true story into something totally different … isn't he so clever … proved he is no journalist and his paper is no better, thanks for the heads up …Eli Stokols= not to be taken serious or believed.
Mr. Sokols, the only accurate and non-profane description I can come up with for you, is lying scumbag.
Frankly this is exactly why I just stopped watching KDVR's newscast. I was hoping for reporting that would've been a bit more balanced, but after repeated jabs by Stokols and that other moron that went so far out as to have to be fired, why bother? Might as well watch KUSA.
I wish there was a local TV newscast that did do an agenda free job of reporting the news.
send KDVR your thoughts http://kdvr.com/contact/
Shame on you Eli Have you no conscience ?
Must have an upcoming interview with MSNBC. This would be good resume fodder.
Just another sorry left-wing " journalist" in Denver.
Hey Eli … U suck! How about not twisting the story … Oh that's right, u sold ur soul when u became a reporter. Hope u get hit by a bus
Stokols clearly has lofty journalistic ambitions. I wouldn't be surprised at all to eventually see him apologizing regularly on MSNBC.
Just another frantic obamabot with an agenda trying to create his own "news"!
And I'm sure the lefty blogosphere will wet themselves over this.
Why would Stokols want to report something accurately? Its pretty late for him to start.