‘So-called blog’ story is picking up traction, shining light on under-reported story

Rich Miller, in his Capital Fax Blog, has deemed Peoria County juvenile court judge Albert Purham, Jr. as “jerk of the month.” The post has picked up 20 comments in a short amount of time. He noted that there’s a lack of mainstream media coverage of the very story Elaine was trying to cover.

Google News is not 100 percent comprehensive, but it appears that the story about the foster care case is not being covered by the local media. I also have found no mention of the main players on the Peoria Journal-Star’s website.

Elaine Hopkins appears to be the only media person in the area who’s expressed any interest in this case. Without her reporting, nobody is gonna know anything. Maybe that’s how the Peoria judges like it.

Ouch.

The progressive blog Illinois Reason also is posting on the issue.

I’m hoping the local print and broadcast media picks up on the story.

Why is coverage outside the Peoria Blogosphere important? Because as long as the only people writing about it are Peoria bloggers, the powers-than-be can pretend there’s no real problem and wait till it blows over. More attention increases the likelihood that the issue will be addressed. I’m hoping that some senior judge takes Judge Purham aside and explain the 1st Amendment ramifications, or at least tells him to stop making us all look bad.