FAMU journalism legacy

Eddie Jackson, The Famuan News Editor in the mid-1960s, and I. 
It was great to meet someone who once held my job in a 
much more tumultuous time to be a journalist. 

Hyundai, Kia try to rebound from misstated gas mileage

TALLAHASSEE, FL - Car makers Hyundai and Kia admit to overstating the potential gas mileage of one-third, or 900,000, of their cars sold in the United States in the past two years.

This comes at a time when car companies, both foreign and domestic, are in a heated race to provide the most fuel-efficient vehicles and to smear their competitors’ attempts at reaching the coveted 40 miles per gallon that has become the new norm for gas mileage.

The companies, both owned by Hyundai Motor Group, came under scrutiny by the Environmental Protection Agency after complaints were received from several customers about the failure of their vehicles to perform at the window-listed efficiency. Further tests by the EPA revealed that several models were under-performing.

Hyundai cars awaiting shipment from S. Korea/The New York Times

                                                       

“Although it took more than a year, the E.P.A. did catch the discrepancies,” said auto research analyst John O’Dell.

The companies both placed blame on errors in testing procedures that check aero-dynamics, drag and fuel used to drive the wheels and engine. The cars ran on average six MPG less than the advertised rate.

Eleven models will have their rating stickers changed including more popular models like the Hyundai Elantra and the Kia Rio. The Kia Soul had the most drastic change; for the 2012 and 2013 models, the highway mileage rating dropped at least five points for each version of the car.

“Given the importance of fuel efficiency to all of us, we’re extremely sorry about these errors,” said John Krafcik, the chief executive of Hyundai’s American operations.

In addition to apologizing for the misrepresentation, the corporations will begin offering reimbursements for the fuel and money lost.

They will determine the amount of money lost by reading customers’ odometers and calculating the increased spending compared to the amount customers would have spent according to the mileage averages listed. A 15 percent inconvenience fee will also be attached.

Calls placed to Hyundai America's communications department were not returned.

Customers can expect an average of $88 to be credited to a debit card, a number based on a car with 15,000-miles that was overstated by 1 MPG on the window sticker.

The companies now face rebuilding their reputations in an industry where perception can be a big factor in the success of new models. Both are beginning to run ads restating the gas mileage of their vehicles and acknowledging their mistakes as well as replacing the window stickers on remaining models.

“In an industry where reputation is so important, this will undoubtedly give both car makers ugly black eyes,” O’Dell said.

Hyundai officials have not totaled the amount that will be paid out, but it has been estimated in the tens of millions of dollars.

Sacramento man sues Hyundai 

By Karl Etters

With contributions from The New York Times

Photo, The New York Times

Video, consumerwatchdog

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San Francisco Giants win World Series

TALLAHASSEE, FL - The San Francisco Giants battled through a lot to get to the World Series, particularly in the post-season. After taunting elimination during the National League division race against the Cincinnati Reds, and again in the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Giants swept the Detroit Tigers in four games to win the World Series, 4-3, Oct. 28.

The Tigers and the Giants went back-and-forth with scoring and counter-defensive play that pushed the game into the 10th inning. Solid defense, and a steady, tactful approach at the plate brought the Giants to victory, but two instances set the mark, which the Tigers ultimately could not match.

Former Florida State University catcher Buster Posey finally turned his bat on, driving a two-run homerun in the sixth inning to push the Giants ahead, 3-2. The Tigers replied in the bottom of the inning to tie. Previously, Posey’s average bordered on grim , 12 for 60 in the post-season.

This marks the Giants second championship in three years. The last time a team won the championship with a clear sweep was the Colorado Rockies in 2007.

Posey, who is relatively new to the Majors, said the trip to victory was nothing but a struggle.

“To get two in three years, it’s unbelievable,” said Posey, who was a rookie in 2010. “I think this time around, I appreciate it even more, because I understand the difficulty of doing it.”

Giants' catcher Buster Posey and pitcher Sergio Romo meet at the pitcher's mound after the final pitch of the Worlds Series       

Tiger’s manager Jim Leyland said after the game that based on the Giants’ performance the trophy ended up where it belonged. “Obviously there was no doubt about it, they swept us,” Leyland said. “So there was certainly no bad breaks, no fluke. I tip my hat to them. Simple, they did better than we did.”

The Tigers hoped the momentum from their sweep of the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series would carry over into the World Series. Some players were joyed just to be in the final test. “There were a lot of beautiful things that happened this season,” said first baseman Prince Fielder, who went 1 for 14 during the sweep, “and unfortunately we have to end it with a loss in the World Series.”

The winning push came in the tenth inning when shortstop Marco Scutaro hit a

two-run blooper to center field which designated hitter Ryan Theriot capitalized on, scoring from second base, taking the lead.

                   Giants players celebrate Sunday after defeating the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. NPR

                                                     

Scutaro said he had his doubts whether the ball would land when it first came off the bat. “When I saw it, I said: ‘Please, get down. Don’t stay up,’ ” Scutaro said of his hit. “When I saw it drop, it was, ‘Oh my God.’ What a feeling.”

Posey's former catching coach at FSU, Mike Martin Jr., said  he was proud of Posey, not only for his success in the major leagues.

He said there are a few skills Posey took away from FSU that he uses in every game.

"I'd say mental and physical toughness," Martin said. "That's kind of a mark of our program here at Florida State is mentally and physically tough and overcoming adversity, and obviously he's shown all of those qualities since he's been in the major leagues. I think  that, combined with the teamwork aspect with what we try to instill in our guys, I think those are the biggest things that he's taken way."

By Karl Etters

With contributions from The New York Times, Baseball Almanac

Photos, San Francisco Chronicle, NPR

Video, Major League Baseball

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