MEDIA WATCH
Style Weekly still supports its demeaning county satire
Greg Pearson
A week later, the editor of Style Weekly, Jason Roop, and his boss, Publisher Lori Collier Waran, are standing behind the Oct. 3 satire that reported "bighaired Chesterfield women…walk the [county administration building's] hallways wearing thick pantyhose and five layers of makeup. At lunch you'll find them smoking Marlboro Reds by the picnic tables. We suspect they drive Pontiacs and daydream about Dale Earnhardt…"

Initially, Waran was guarded when we called, fending off the first question, saying, "I'm referring all questions about content to Jason." We surmise (but don't know) that she was uncomfortable defending a personal attack on other women just because they work in the county government. So we pressed her, and she reluctantly responded, "I stand behind it as satire."

"We've taken our responsibilities seriously for 25 years," added Waran, "…including asking difficult questions for healthy debates. We thank the Chesterfield Observer in partnering with Style in this healthy debate." Thanks, but we'll take a pass on your "healthy debate."

Ed Power is Waran's boss at Landmark Communications in Norfolk. "It's Lori's job to comment on the piece," he replied, but acknowledged he has "had some dialogue with them on the subject."

We didn't criticize the issues Style Weekly raised. We criticized the satirical way the paper raised them, the inaccuracies and the unwarranted personal attacks. But in Style's defense, that is too often the mode of alternative newspapers. Satire, they seem to believe, is defensible as long as it's directed at someone else.

Though Roop has declared the satire "amusing," that's not the feeling in Chesterfield. Shortly after it was published, County Administrator Jay Stegmaier sent an e-mail to all county employees, which read in part: "Because of the unwarranted and offensive nature of some of the content, I wanted you to know what we have done to address the concerns that we all have about the unfair and demeaning comments…As public servants, we all recognize that policy issues are open to scrutiny, but personal attacks on our employees will not go unchallenged. My sentiments have been expressed directly to the leadership of Style Weekly. In addition, we have been contacted by a number of business leaders who have indicated that they, too, will express their displeasure…"

The day after the satire hit the streets, Roop and Stegmaier met by accident in Richmond at a member reception of Leadership Metro Richmond graduates. The program provides leadership training that encourages regional cooperation and understanding. Neither would discuss the specifics of their "private conversation," but it is ironic. It's not hard to figure out which one needs a refresher course.

Tracy Kemp Stallings, chair of the Chesterfield Business Council of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, wrote Style: "On behalf of the Chesterfield Business Council, we are proud of the progress the board of supervisors and county administration have made in terms of public safety, education, economic development and quality of life. Chesterfield County has been recognized for its outstanding fiscal management, strong school system and FIRST CHOICE communities, all which speak to the important leadership in the Richmond region. Demeaning good people and the citizens of the region's largest locality, even if unintended, is hardly good form or productive for regional cooperation."

Those targeted women at the county administration building, meanwhile, are still enjoying a laugh at Style's expense. "Style obviously doesn't know Chesterfield very well," joked one of the women who felt attacked. "We root for Denny Hamlin." For those at Style, you see, Hamlin is a Chesterfield-native.