If you call Barry’s cell phone number (810-7154) his recorded voice just says, “Leave a message.” If you email Barry at barry.saunders@newsobserver.com he might respond but, only if he needs something from you.
At least, that describes my experience with Barry Saunders. When he needed information from me he was persistent and responsive. When I wanted some follow up information from him he was invisible.
He initiated our first conversation on the day before Thanksgiving holiday last year. He called me because he was interested in a letter that I had sent to the News and Observer regarding the death of a panhandler in Durham. The panhandler’s name was Bulldog. You can read about him elsewhere on this blog.
When Barry contacted me he said that he wanted to write a story about Bulldog. He expressed both an interest and respect for Bulldog’s story. I was excited because I thought Barry could bring attention to Bulldog’s story and broaden the awareness of thousands of people regarding the complicated issues associated with homelessness in Durham.
Over the next few months Barry contacted me several times seeking additional information. I tried my best to hook Barry up with other people who had known Bulldog. I helped him contact Aaron, another panhandler, who was a friend of Bulldog. I gave Barry contact information to reach Reverend Collier, Bulldog’s spiritual guide. Whenever I had information for Barry he was easy to reach or he was quick to return a message.
In January, 2009 Barry lead me to believe that he was going to write the story and that it would be in the N&O soon. I shared this news with Aaron, the panhandler, who, like me, was excited about the prospect of good press for his friend, Bulldog.
Also, in January I gave a talk to a local Kiwanis Club in Chapel Hill about homelessness and panhandling. I told Bulldog’s story to the Kiwanis Club and mentioned that they could read more about it very soon in Barry’s upcoming column.
The column never appeared. I have tried to contact Barry to find out what happened. I have left numerous messages and emails for Barry but, he never responded. I assume that the column may not have appeared for good reasons, but I have no way of knowing. Barry may have determined that Bulldog padded his resume regarding his military service. Barry's editor might have rejected the story. I don’t know. I do know that Barry should have let me know why the story never appeared.
Bulldog’s friend, Aaron, asks me about it a couple of times a week when I see him panhandling at the interstate ramp. He also deserves an explanation.
Note: I was wrong. Barry Saunders does read and respond to his email. I emailed this blog post to him. Within about 15 minutes he sent the following reply:
Mr. Owen, I am indeed still working on the story about Bulldog, but
I am trying to get information from the hospital, which has not been forthcoming. Also, I was unable to verify that Bulldog was a Navy SEAL. No one with whom I checked in the Dept. of Defense could confirm what I'd been told. I never said the story on Bulldog would be in the paper "soon."
I respect Barry's sense of journalistic ethics and his need to fact check Bulldog's story. Personally, I have always assumed that Bulldog may have fabricated (or hallucinated)some of the details. However, the most important parts of his lifestyle and his story were observable.
