There were too many media reports, many of them wrong and most of them derivative, for a comprehensive listing to be possible or useful here. Rather, we offer a mixture of media and blog material that we found useful, along with links to all official reports that we will update as more of them are released. We will describe each item, to give readers an idea of why we’ve included it. Note that we used Tiny URL to compress what otherwise were long Internet addresses. Please notify us of any broken links.

Brief but definitive account of events

Kati Kim has not given an interview to the media. Therefore, information about their route and choices on the night of Nov. 25, and details about the subsequent ordeal, must come from other sources. This Associated Press article was based on interviews by law enforcement authorities “over a period of several days.” We regard it as the most definitive media report of the Kim tragedy.

Portland Oregonian accuses SAR management

This article alleged gaps in the SAR effort, including the alleged failure of Josephine County SAR coordinator Sarah Rubrecht to promptly order a search of the road where the Kims’ car had become stranded in the early morning of Nov. 26. The Oregonian’s article triggered investigations by the Oregon governor’s office and the state Sheriffs Association.

CNET tribute to James Kim

This article, written by Mr. Kim’s fellow trade journalists, struck a tone adopted by most media outlets that covered the tragedy.

Lessons of Kim tragedy

An emergency preparedness foundation says, “ … the bottom line is that if you are prepared and react with common sense before things become an emergency, you will either avoid the emergency altogether, or it will be a lot less life threatening.”

Spencer Kim: The Lessons in My Son’s Death

Calls for wilderness access restrictions and weakening of credit card privacy laws. Criticizes National Guard, local SAR efforts. Condemns media overflights of search area.

Salon.com: Who’s to blame for James Kim’s death?

Salon magazine, an Internet magazine, published this account of the tragedy. It emphasizes personal responsibility, but passes along some of the factual errors contained in other media reports.

Our response published at Salon.com.

Our response disputes Salon’s account for perpetuating erroneous reporting on the role of credit card information and cellular location data, and for overlooking Spencer’s Kim’s possible interference with SAR efforts.

Medford Mail Tribune Kim Section

Complete Oregon State Sheriff's Association (OSSA) Report, Articles, etc. Excellent.

Oregonian Kim Related Articles

Keep track of all Kim story related articles in the Oregonian

Photos of the Kims route:

First warning sign on Kims’ route (This and next 4 photos contributed by member of Joe Duck's Blog and posted anonymously on Photobucket by "Oregonpix".)

Second warning sign on Kims' route

Third warning sign on Kims' route

Intersection of Bear Camp Road (FS23 - left) and a logging trail (BLM34-8-36 - right). Kim's car was found 24 miles down 34-8-36 from this intersection. Note fourth warning sign in background on Bear Camp Road.

Close-up of fourth warning sign seen by Kims. The Associated Press wrote that Mrs. Kim told authorities that this sign caused them to detour onto the logging road

Governor’s timeline

Released Jan. 5, 2007, this timeline offers a sketch of government SAR activity. It suggests a conflict between Spencer Kim and authorities over private agency helicopter flights in the search area, and details the revival of Josephine County’s SAR effort after intervention by an Edge Wireless employee and an Oregon State Police officer.

NBC News Bay Area Kim Section

Good selection of Kim story information, photos, and links, by NBC News in the San Francisco Bay Area.

OSSA Report

Released Jan. 18, 2007, the exhaustive Oregon State Sheriff’s Association report includes interviews with participants, analysis and recommendations for changes in SAR procedures.