"...there was an editor in Barry County who sometimes freely published his opinions about individuals."The quotes come from former Hastings Banner M.L. Cook circa 1940 speaking of Orno Strong who was editor at the Nashville News apparently sometime in the 1890s. They appear in the "From Time to Time" history column without much information. I find it ironic those words were printed in the paper that fired their editor for espousing a personal opinion on his own blog with quotes fully attributed under his name, the blog even carrying a disclaimer that the writings were his own personal opinion.
..."he had a way of stating what he meant. He did not criticize to be mean-spirited. He had the conviction that a newspaper should be free to criticize officers and persons, if public interested seemed to demand that course."
I think one reason we see the trouble that newspapers are in is because so many of them took personal criticism as something to be avoided, firm stances alienate advertisers and readers. I can remember having a discussion with David T. Young, the former editor of the Banner, when I was considering starting this blog. The way I saw it, blogs were returning to the roots of the American newspaper. Blogs are all about opinion and point of view.
While many look down their noses even to this day, I think we've seen the American public voting with their wallets as newspapers whither on the vine and blogs enjoy increasing respectability and visibility. When I've been (often rightly) criticized for my own failings and shortcoming, I always tell the critics that they are free to start their own blog.
We are no longer help captive by the rich men who buy ink by the barrel. In fact, if this site cost me a dime I'd never have been able or willing to start it. You are free to publish your own unedited opinion without charge or much technical skill and I welcome you to do so. And sure, some may abuse that privilege, you may even think I've done so but how many newspapers have ignored their duty? How many newspapers, as well as TV news outlets, led the way into a misguided war in Iraq? How many stood by while the last administration ran up the debt and dismantled the protections that could have stopped or impeded the "economic tsunami" that now threatens us? How many newspapers are still allowing viewpoints they agree with through the filter of the editors pen without question while stopping others from accessing the precious space of the editorial pages? How many times does a trusted friend or political ally get to have their say, while potentially violating campaign finance laws and standards of ethics, while others are censored and silenced?
You can't ignore that often this blog and others like it have been places for vigorous discussions that couldn't take place in newspapers which often censor opinions the publisher disagrees with, while allowing its owner to stand high on his soapbox spouting off his own personal opinion. The thing is, you probably don't have the personal fortune to start your newspaper if you don't like the one you have. But you can start your own blog....
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4 comments:
This sounds like an obit for your blog...
Unfortunately, the "death" of newspapers as we know them has more to do with the segmentation of the media marketplace. Newspapers compete with multiple platforms for eyeballs. Newspapers are losing out. Combine that with this economy, and you have a recipe for disaster. Because there are so outlets competing for an ever shrinking base, the news cut corners and hire news services to cut costs. Has there been a heard mentality at times? Yes.
As for this blog being a place for vigorous debate... I would say that was true 2-3 years ago. Initially this was a platform for open discussion. Two years ago something changed, and now this blog sounds more like a preacher talking to the choir or coffee shop... Most with opposite opinions went to more friendlier confines.
Some would say the newspaper blog rolls at the bottom of articles provided more raucous debates this past cycle. I would say this blog has run out of good craic (pronounced crack). It's an Irish term referring to the congregation patterns of patrons amongst the pubs. Craic migrates, and you have lost it. Better find better craic, this blog needs it.
While it bothers me that you would think this blog has lost its "craic", I have to admit that part of me is ecstatic that some may have moved on. Their point of view was not conducive to what we are trying to do here. Discussions are fun, but arguing gets old. That being said, I do hope that there are a few like yourself that are curious enough to keep an eye out for a new post, and make a point to give comment. The best part is it costs you nothing to read (like it or not) my, or Pol's opinion in it's advertised venue. This is not always true in even the local established media, where sometimes opinions are sold to you as news.
I was surprised to learn from a friend that he frequently has visited this site and was aware of my many personal opinions expressed here. Like most of my true friends, he disagreed with much of what I had to say.
Unfortunately, he had taken the Boy Scout posture of "taking nothing but photographs and leaving nothing but(not even) footprints". His input might be worth considering.
A sad thing in Costa Rica, where SKY-TV dominates the satellite connection, is that FOX is allowed to portray the worst side of the USA with little or no disclaimers. The streaming across the bottom provides we gringos with limited Spanish access to current affairs, but the ranting talking heads require the mute button to be tolerated. For the best coverage, CNN en espanol is the finest quality coverage and is probably not even available to most screens in the USA.
There is more to this world than is portrayed by most "news" media in the USA. Blogs are not yet the answer, but they at least allow for some diversity of perspective.
Could the demise of The Hastings Banner be too far away? One can only hope.
JC
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