Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Sunday Morning

Interview with Terry Orme

Aired February 10, 2002 - 09:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Beautiful scenes, aren't they? The eyes of the world are focused on the host of the Winter Olympic Games, and Salt Lake City is feeling the heat of the spotlight. Terry Orme is the Olympic News Editor of the Salt Lake Tribune. He's not a columnist, but since he's the editor, I told him at the break that he can give himself a column, right Terry?

TERRY ORME, OLYMPIC NEWS EDITOR, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE: Absolutely, thanks Miles.

O'BRIEN: We'll cook up an idea for a column later. Thanks for being with us this morning. Let's talk about perceptions versus reality. A week ago in your paper, there was a long piece about how the media will descend upon Salt Lake, and no matter what is done, some unfortunate things will be said about Salt Lake.

How concerned are people about that and what kinds of things kind of wear thin in your part of the world?

ORME: Well, these are things that the Salt Lake Tribune, my newspaper, has been reporting about forever and a lot of times these issues turn into one line stereotypes in news stories around the world.

There's the obvious things like polygamy, our weird liquor laws, the fact that you can't get a drink. Actually you can get a drink here, and not everyone's a polygamist. There aren't polygamists walking the streets looking for another wife. It's not quite the way it is sometimes portrayed in media around the world.

O'BRIEN: Well, help us understand this, and maybe I'm wrong, but I always get the sense that you live in a place that is a bit conflicted about its relationship with the outside world. On the one hand, you want to present yourselves as part of the world.

And then on the other hand, there's something very special about where you live because of the preponderance of members of the Latter Day Saints Church. And there's a certain feeling that they want to keep it that way. So, can you have it both ways?

ORME: Well, I guess the point that a lot of people would try to make is, it's not as monolithic or mono-cultural as some people think. You know, obviously the dominance of the LDS Church in Utah is a reality, but then there are those who are non-Mormons who kind of resent the fact that that's - when people think of Utah, that's just how they think of it. They don't understand that there is a level of diversity here, although certainly the Mormon Church does dominate. And in terms of -

O'BRIEN: Let's - we probably should for viewers who are not familiar.

ORME: Sure.

O'BRIEN: Isn't the state populated by about 70 percent members of the Latter Day Saints Church? That's a big number.

ORME: That's correct, but in Salt Lake City proper, the number of non-Mormons and Mormons is about equal. So it depends on where you are in the state. The state as a whole, yes, but in Salt Lake City proper, the dominance isn't quite so pronounced.

O'BRIEN: Well, give us a sense. What are the kinds of things that you read obviously in other publications, since as editor of your own publication you like what's in yours, the kinds of things you read that sort of make your blood boil, misperceptions?

ORME: Well, nothing really makes my blood boil. I find it amusing just again sort of the broad-brush strokes about say our liquor laws. You can't purchase a drink here. It's a dry state. You know, it's not a dry state. I don't want to reinforce a newspaperman stereotype, but it's pretty easy to get a drink in Utah. If you want a drink, you can get one.

O'BRIEN: All right, well I guess what you're talking about though is having a sense of humor about things, you know. The Australians were sort of, well they were self-deprecating and they sort of realized their own foibles and that sort of kind of blunted some criticism by being that way. That's not one of the strong suits for members of the Latter Day Saints Church.

ORME: Well, I don't want to speak for members of the church, but I think in terms of Utah in general, that's true. I think we could learn a lot from the Australian sense of humor and their self- deprecating sense of humor and they way they make fun of their culture and make light of it.

And, at our newspaper, we're trying to do that during the games. We're trying to have some fun. We're doing a Top 10 List and things like that, about things that are unusual to Utah, and trying to make light of it. But you're right. Utah would do well to learn something from Australia.

O'BRIEN: Lighten up a little bit maybe. I must say, having lived -

ORME: Absolutely.

O'BRIEN: Having lived through the whole thing in Atlanta, and Atlanta doesn't have a very good sense of humor about itself either. There's a sense of boosterism here. And, you know, there was some criticism by the IOC leveled at Atlanta for being harshly commercial, and the city sort of grumbled about it. But not that sense, that self-referential sense or that self-deprecating sense. Bottom line, what do you think, what would you like the world's media, the world to take away from this event of Salt Lake City? What impression do you think you would like to leave?

ORME: Well, I think that we live in a place of great natural beauty, a place where the mountains are spectacular. The snow is great snow for skiing. We have the southern part of the state is this beautiful red rock wilderness.

So I think that, I guess personally for me, is an appreciation of that, but also that Salt Lake City is a place where we have a level of cultural diversity. We have a real lively art scene. We have some real amenities. It's a place where you can come and visit and have a good time. It's a good tourist destination.

At the same time, I think there's a worry that this spotlight might ruin some of that, that by showcasing the area we're going to kill that which we've loved so to speak by drawing attention to it.

So, I guess from a personal standpoint, I guess an appreciation for that natural beauty and perhaps an effort to preserve it.

O'BRIEN: All right, some of the best slopes anywhere, and certainly to my mind, the most accessible anywhere. You land at Salt Lake and you can be skiing about 45 minutes later. So, anyhow.

ORME: Absolutely.

O'BRIEN: Terry Orme, thanks for being with us. Good luck covering the games. I know you're a busy man this next week or so, and we appreciate you taking out some time very early on this Sunday morning to join us here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

ORME: Thank you, Miles.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com