Web designers have developed their ability to annoy readers to the point where I now weigh the value of getting free information against having to suffer as the price.
There is a defense for the type of on-line advertising that shoves messages in your face: leave. That’s what I did when the Advocate’s blog page was overwhelmed by one of its pop-up ads. I voted against it in the only way I could: I checked out.
Most, if not all, of the Advocate’s on-line pages have become excruciatingly tedious by the insertion of over-sized, flashing, garish “ads” begging by their cheeky and cheesy appearance to force feed unwilling readers.
Only this morning I removed the Columbus Dispatch from the news sites I visit daily. I did it for the same reason. Just one too many of their over-zealous and unwanted intrusions into my life.
Neither the Dispatch nor Advocate sites work well with my Mac and its Safari browser anyway. Their on-line pages, unlike other web sites I visit regularly, require special effort to make them fit my screen, and of the two the Dispatch is by far the worst.
There comes a point when the effort required for reading overwhelms the need for information. The Dispatch has reached it and the Advocate is drifting closer.
Showing posts with label Advocate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Advocate. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
More Magic Nanny trash
Mayor Bob Diebold would like us to believe he can create public wealth at no charge to citizens. Just give him whatever he asks in the category of individual rights and he’ll take care of us. Behold: Newark Ohio’s very own Magic Nanny.
It is not surprising therefore that he has again presented for approval one of his pet projects: a monopolized trash-hauling system licensed by the city. Each time in the past citizens have overwhelmingly opposed this idea. But, like a teenager growing pimples, Diebold keeps it always just under the surface or on top and neither rational thought nor explanation works as defense.
Diebold’s determination to limit free enterprise among trash haulers has been now framed as “win-win” in the 1/11/10 Advocate report. This is because, Diebold says, “The city could charge an administration fee to manage the trash contract and fund the property maintenance department, and residents still would save money.”
Here’s what I wrote about citizen reaction on 5/1/08:
In spite of the wonderfulness of this proposal as presented by the Advocate, lots of on-line readers thought otherwise. Such reaction should be enough to end any discussion, even if were only the comment by "paul" who said, in part, "Without exception when competition is removed or governmentally controlled, price fixing, gouging and general rate abuse is imminent." If you don't think he's right, just consider cable TV and how its evolved under its city contracts.
Nothing has changed since then, but the Advocate reporter bought it, since no balance was offered. Apparently the Advocate reporter does not know the history of Magic Nanny Diebold’s promises for great things to come of his other “money-making” schemes for which citizens pay dearly.
Take, for one, “billing of insurance companies” for rides to the hospital in city trucks manned by city employees, a shell game he pushed time and time again until it became reality while he was still a councilman. This won’t cost citizens anything, only insurance companies, he said in his sales pitch. This turned out to be a multi-million-dollar scam which is costing - and will cost - citizens dearly forevermore, most likely. Read the shake-out of it here: Riding to the hospital with your city employees: Bend over taxpayer ...
Consider another of Magic Nanny Diebold’s miracle solutions for the ever-short-on-cash Newark Ohio. This was the rise in cost of driving by $10 per vehicle per year, tacked to the purchase of auto licenses. This was sold as the absolute only way we could ever maintain our streets decently. I suspect that most of this (by switching lanes in the underground labyrinths of the treasury) went to our employees because there is no noticeable improvement in street repair or maintenance and much whining about having no money for much of anything and least of all those projects important to Newark taxpayers.
So now this same mayor - whose term can’t be over soon enough - would have us believe that the city would be richer - and the prices to residents would be lower - if the Magic Nanny were permitted to select and license for all citizens a single trash hauler.
If Diebold’s plan gets implemented, here’s a prediction. I predict that citizens will have absolutely no meaningful input regarding which of the haulers is given a Newark monopoly. I predict that the contract will be awarded to the company - Big O Refuse - that is managed locally by the son of Newark Councilman Don Ellington. Not that there’s anything wrong with that company, and I’m not accusing anybody of anything illegal but, if I were betting, that would be my pick.
For a review of the performance of Bob Diebold, and how the Magic Nanny rides roughshod over citizens go to this link Then go to it again before you vote for a mayor.
It is not surprising therefore that he has again presented for approval one of his pet projects: a monopolized trash-hauling system licensed by the city. Each time in the past citizens have overwhelmingly opposed this idea. But, like a teenager growing pimples, Diebold keeps it always just under the surface or on top and neither rational thought nor explanation works as defense.
Diebold’s determination to limit free enterprise among trash haulers has been now framed as “win-win” in the 1/11/10 Advocate report. This is because, Diebold says, “The city could charge an administration fee to manage the trash contract and fund the property maintenance department, and residents still would save money.”
Here’s what I wrote about citizen reaction on 5/1/08:
In spite of the wonderfulness of this proposal as presented by the Advocate, lots of on-line readers thought otherwise. Such reaction should be enough to end any discussion, even if were only the comment by "paul" who said, in part, "Without exception when competition is removed or governmentally controlled, price fixing, gouging and general rate abuse is imminent." If you don't think he's right, just consider cable TV and how its evolved under its city contracts.
Nothing has changed since then, but the Advocate reporter bought it, since no balance was offered. Apparently the Advocate reporter does not know the history of Magic Nanny Diebold’s promises for great things to come of his other “money-making” schemes for which citizens pay dearly.
Take, for one, “billing of insurance companies” for rides to the hospital in city trucks manned by city employees, a shell game he pushed time and time again until it became reality while he was still a councilman. This won’t cost citizens anything, only insurance companies, he said in his sales pitch. This turned out to be a multi-million-dollar scam which is costing - and will cost - citizens dearly forevermore, most likely. Read the shake-out of it here: Riding to the hospital with your city employees: Bend over taxpayer ...
Consider another of Magic Nanny Diebold’s miracle solutions for the ever-short-on-cash Newark Ohio. This was the rise in cost of driving by $10 per vehicle per year, tacked to the purchase of auto licenses. This was sold as the absolute only way we could ever maintain our streets decently. I suspect that most of this (by switching lanes in the underground labyrinths of the treasury) went to our employees because there is no noticeable improvement in street repair or maintenance and much whining about having no money for much of anything and least of all those projects important to Newark taxpayers.
So now this same mayor - whose term can’t be over soon enough - would have us believe that the city would be richer - and the prices to residents would be lower - if the Magic Nanny were permitted to select and license for all citizens a single trash hauler.
If Diebold’s plan gets implemented, here’s a prediction. I predict that citizens will have absolutely no meaningful input regarding which of the haulers is given a Newark monopoly. I predict that the contract will be awarded to the company - Big O Refuse - that is managed locally by the son of Newark Councilman Don Ellington. Not that there’s anything wrong with that company, and I’m not accusing anybody of anything illegal but, if I were betting, that would be my pick.
For a review of the performance of Bob Diebold, and how the Magic Nanny rides roughshod over citizens go to this link Then go to it again before you vote for a mayor.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Editor & Publisher was good to me
Editor & Publisher magazine bills itself as “the bible of the newspaper industry” in an on-line article today announcing its own demise. For 125 years the magazine has been a tool of the trade and I’ve been a reader for about 40 of those years.
Even now I check the on-line edition almost daily for news of the industry. Back in the day, I was a subscriber and I checked the classifieds each week for job leads because it was the best - virtually the only - national newspaper jobs list.
E&P has been good to me. In the late 60’s and early 70’s it ran my articles on Advocate innovations, including one on the design and construction of the Advocate’s unique and expansive photo labs and studio in the old building on West Main Street. It also featured articles I wrote on the Advocate’s universal desk system. This was before newsroom computerization when “universal desk” was some kind of a murky goal held by lots of editors who seemed unable to make it work.
The Advocate’s system for handling the flow of editorial content received broad recognition, thanks to E&P. Later, I wrote and self-published (by using a Memeograph machine) a booklet on this subject and E&P added to the list of books it sold. Sales were surprisingly good.
The magazine also featured some of my studies in certain kinds of newspaper photos and at various times showcased the Advocate’s pictures as illustrations of what was happening in photojournalism.
Ironic, though, that in the end E&P was snared by the same kind of economic trap that is killing off newspapers. It’s all about profits; not service, not pride.
But then E&P editors themselves on many occasions flunked as technicians and as thinkers, in my opinion. Among the most glaring example of this was the series of columns by Steve Outing, who calls himself a media “thought leader.” Steve never uses two words where three paragraphs will fit, a true annoyance in a trade mag that should know how to use language. Among Outing’s leadership essays was the announcement that he had cancelled his printed newspaper and was sucking up free on-line news. He used this to illustrate his theory (with which I disagree) that printed newspapers are unnecessary and will all die off.
Maybe such “leadership” on the pages of E&P has influenced the overall health of newspapers, many of them struggling for life. I suspect it is the overall health of newspapers that came back to bite “the bible of the newspaper industry.” I hope E&P editors will see the irony if, as seems probable, whatever replaces E&P turns out to be an on-line version.
Even now I check the on-line edition almost daily for news of the industry. Back in the day, I was a subscriber and I checked the classifieds each week for job leads because it was the best - virtually the only - national newspaper jobs list.
E&P has been good to me. In the late 60’s and early 70’s it ran my articles on Advocate innovations, including one on the design and construction of the Advocate’s unique and expansive photo labs and studio in the old building on West Main Street. It also featured articles I wrote on the Advocate’s universal desk system. This was before newsroom computerization when “universal desk” was some kind of a murky goal held by lots of editors who seemed unable to make it work.
The Advocate’s system for handling the flow of editorial content received broad recognition, thanks to E&P. Later, I wrote and self-published (by using a Memeograph machine) a booklet on this subject and E&P added to the list of books it sold. Sales were surprisingly good.
The magazine also featured some of my studies in certain kinds of newspaper photos and at various times showcased the Advocate’s pictures as illustrations of what was happening in photojournalism.
Ironic, though, that in the end E&P was snared by the same kind of economic trap that is killing off newspapers. It’s all about profits; not service, not pride.
But then E&P editors themselves on many occasions flunked as technicians and as thinkers, in my opinion. Among the most glaring example of this was the series of columns by Steve Outing, who calls himself a media “thought leader.” Steve never uses two words where three paragraphs will fit, a true annoyance in a trade mag that should know how to use language. Among Outing’s leadership essays was the announcement that he had cancelled his printed newspaper and was sucking up free on-line news. He used this to illustrate his theory (with which I disagree) that printed newspapers are unnecessary and will all die off.
Maybe such “leadership” on the pages of E&P has influenced the overall health of newspapers, many of them struggling for life. I suspect it is the overall health of newspapers that came back to bite “the bible of the newspaper industry.” I hope E&P editors will see the irony if, as seems probable, whatever replaces E&P turns out to be an on-line version.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
On-line comments by the handicapped
Impolite kids and cowards hiding behind anonymity are today’s Number One threat to ideas and debates of intelligent on-line commenters.
Lots of folks used to contribute serious comments and blog entries to the Advocate’s web site. Their numbers have dwindled considerably because too many abrasive and uninformed people attack others from behind “user names.”
These days you can tune into almost any string of comments that follows on-line news reports or blog entries and observe what appears to be the intellectually disadvantaged at work, most of whom are impolite without provocation.
Comments sections have become showrooms for what these people think is wit, rather than a discussion about the news report or bloggers’ subjects. These snipers are trying to boost their self-esteem by bullying the more intelligent and more peaceable readers. They’ll never have to look their victims in the eye, and that’s the ultimate shield for cowards.
The level of their writing ability often indicates they are very young people - from grade school to teenagers. Prolific, too, are sophomore-level pseudo-intellectuals, some of them apparently up in years.
Normal people can survive and enjoy it if they will recognize these youngsters and bullies and know-it-alls for what they are. Remember the source of their courage and they won’t seem threatening.
You don’t have to respond, or defend yourself, from the little people bent on trying to get you embarrassed or angry. It isn’t personal and shouldn’t be perceived as such. Be gentle because likely your adversary is a seventh-grader or some hillbilly who’s slammed back four beers. Keep your balance and you’ll enjoy the humor in on-line comments by the handicapped.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Word from the street: Fact or rumor?
Mayor Diebold’s recent proposal to give raises to the civil service commission does not pass the smell test. Is it a coincidence that Diebold and Company have a crucial civil service appeal hearing under way (Ketter), while he is pimping for a raise for the civil service commission?
What are the ethics concerning this? (And why isn’t the Advocate asking?) Since the mayor gets to appoint the entire commission, how could a city employee have any chance if they have to appeal to a commission appointed by the people who fired the employee?
Greg Ketter is being railroaded by Diebold and Carr for blowing the whistle on others as a part of his response to a reckless write-up. His career is being ruined for telling the truth. Meanwhile, the city is spending heavy bucks for an attorney to help with the last nail in Ketter’s career coffin.
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The City is risking another lawsuit by laying off Tom Wolfe and then writing new property maintenance job descriptions to avoid bringing him back. Tom has already filed an appeal and if he can afford the legal expense has a good chance of winning in court.
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The city’s general fund deficit is far worse than the mayor and Lehman will admit. The revenue estimate may be off by $1 million or more.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
The Advocate’s kiss of death
“Don't just listen to those who want to break the law.”
With that editorial advice to Heath voters, the Advocate editorialist demonstrated her juvenile mentality and inherent Good-Ol’-Boy bias. No longer can anyone doubt that the Chamber of Commerce rules over the local newspaper: The foolish editorial of 10/25/09 urging voters to support the Heath Good Ol’ Boys and their red-light cameras proves it.
Throughout the months’-long controversy regarding the legality and the fairness of a foreign corporation issuing traffic tickets to local motorists - and doing so without oversight, and behind a cloud of allegations about entrapment, increased danger caused by the cameras, and cost to Heath businesses - the Advocate steadfastly failed to investigate.
Meanwhile, the information and facts dug out by Ronnie Kidd and a group of freedom fighters has been distributed in the Advocate’s print edition, blogs, comments, and on a well-publicized web site banthecameras.com
The Advocate’s response? Don't just listen to those who want to break the law; vote to keep the cameras.
What the editorialist can’t get through her head is that everyone - EVERYONE - knows why the Advocate supports the Heath Good Ol’ Boys. It’s because the Advocate wants to be in the Club, likely a considerable advantage in ad sales, probably juicy personal props as well.
But selling the Advocate’s editorial soul is exactly what she’s doing - and the Advocate’s kiss-of-death-by-endorsement grows stronger as years under Gannett ownership wear on.
Friday, July 3, 2009
WCLT prospers under family ownership
A few decades ago the competition for news between the Advocate and the radio stations was pretty hot, at least as viewed from behind the walls of the newspaper. Fur was bound to fly on rare occasions when Advocate reporters got scooped.
All that faded, at least as far as has been evident to newspaper readers. The Advocate apparently gave up on being timely when the deadlines and press times shifted. WCLT wasn’t offering much news anyway, judging by its on-line news summary.
The return of Bill Clifford, WCLT reporter from the old days, may turn up the heat on the big boys at the Advocate. Bill is now the station’s News Operations Manager and since his return I’ve noticed a change in the number of local stories being broken on radio rather than print.
Bill’s many years of news experience and community involvement also place the station at an advantage in recognizing trends and the historical backgrounding of current events.
Though Bill heads a 2.5-person news department, it is very aggressive, he says. “I love competing in the news business. As long as I am at WCLT, my friends at The Advocate should look over their shoulder now and then ... we’ll be there.”
I like that.
I also like the fact that Spencer family members are among owners of WCLT. Brothers Frank and John Spencer who owned the Advocate when I worked there, started WCLT in 1947. Frank died and John sold the Advocate to Thomson Newspapers, which sold it to Gannett.
But the family held onto WCLT, though they’ve had numerous offers to sell to big corporations, which would likely cut staff and expenses to the bones. This is the link to an FCC report that lists WCLT owners.
WCLT FM is number-one position in listeners in Licking, Muskingum, and Knox counties, according to Clifford. WCLT sales are about $3 million according to Manta.com.
I can’t locate the official Aribtron ratings for WCLT as compared to five years ago, but the Advocate’s circulation went from about 22,000 copies a day five years ago to 15,585 as of 3/31/09, according to Clifford and the Audit Bureau of Circulations. It was more than 25,000 in the early 60’s, when I first worked there.
I’m glad Bill came back. Not only can he find the news, he gives us information we don’t get elsewhere.
All that faded, at least as far as has been evident to newspaper readers. The Advocate apparently gave up on being timely when the deadlines and press times shifted. WCLT wasn’t offering much news anyway, judging by its on-line news summary.
The return of Bill Clifford, WCLT reporter from the old days, may turn up the heat on the big boys at the Advocate. Bill is now the station’s News Operations Manager and since his return I’ve noticed a change in the number of local stories being broken on radio rather than print.
Bill’s many years of news experience and community involvement also place the station at an advantage in recognizing trends and the historical backgrounding of current events.
Though Bill heads a 2.5-person news department, it is very aggressive, he says. “I love competing in the news business. As long as I am at WCLT, my friends at The Advocate should look over their shoulder now and then ... we’ll be there.”
I like that.
I also like the fact that Spencer family members are among owners of WCLT. Brothers Frank and John Spencer who owned the Advocate when I worked there, started WCLT in 1947. Frank died and John sold the Advocate to Thomson Newspapers, which sold it to Gannett.
But the family held onto WCLT, though they’ve had numerous offers to sell to big corporations, which would likely cut staff and expenses to the bones. This is the link to an FCC report that lists WCLT owners.
WCLT FM is number-one position in listeners in Licking, Muskingum, and Knox counties, according to Clifford. WCLT sales are about $3 million according to Manta.com.
I can’t locate the official Aribtron ratings for WCLT as compared to five years ago, but the Advocate’s circulation went from about 22,000 copies a day five years ago to 15,585 as of 3/31/09, according to Clifford and the Audit Bureau of Circulations. It was more than 25,000 in the early 60’s, when I first worked there.
I’m glad Bill came back. Not only can he find the news, he gives us information we don’t get elsewhere.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Citizen journalists, please step forward
This morning’s E&P report that Gannett is set to lay off another 1,000 employees could bode badly for Advocate readers. Local managers likely won’t/can’t announce who’s to get axed, if anyone, and what that will mean to its already-bare-bones but ever-more-costly printed product.
I sympathize with middle managers and staffers, and I get no pleasure from writing about how the Gannett machine has strangled a once-fat, family-owned, rock-solid community newspaper. Maybe the Spencer family couldn’t have dealt today’s economy either, but their money would have stayed here, not gone to feed demanding stockholders and expensive corporate machinery.
Will the Gannett/Advocate survive? Or will we see a replay of local shops cranking up small presses and peddling them on Main Street? Whatever the outcome, I believe the urge to report and read printed local information will never diminish.
Meantime, there has never been a better opening for citizen reporters with on-line journals. I am reminded of that by bloggers who already write informative - albeit biased - reports on public meetings. The information provided is often the only report available and almost invariably adds dimension, whether you like that particular dimension or not.
Though it may not be likely, it’s not impossible for a cadre of civic-minded writers to arise and fill the cracks where professional reporters can’t go. County Commissioners’ meetings, court proceedings, township trustees’ meetings, school board meetings, city council committee meetings, Heath council and its committee meetings, public hearings of all categories, and the list extends to the boundaries of public affairs.
Such a movement could be facilitated by adult-education-level courses designed to help would-be citizen journalists learn to sift fact from opinion while building confidence.
I sympathize with middle managers and staffers, and I get no pleasure from writing about how the Gannett machine has strangled a once-fat, family-owned, rock-solid community newspaper. Maybe the Spencer family couldn’t have dealt today’s economy either, but their money would have stayed here, not gone to feed demanding stockholders and expensive corporate machinery.
Will the Gannett/Advocate survive? Or will we see a replay of local shops cranking up small presses and peddling them on Main Street? Whatever the outcome, I believe the urge to report and read printed local information will never diminish.
Meantime, there has never been a better opening for citizen reporters with on-line journals. I am reminded of that by bloggers who already write informative - albeit biased - reports on public meetings. The information provided is often the only report available and almost invariably adds dimension, whether you like that particular dimension or not.
Though it may not be likely, it’s not impossible for a cadre of civic-minded writers to arise and fill the cracks where professional reporters can’t go. County Commissioners’ meetings, court proceedings, township trustees’ meetings, school board meetings, city council committee meetings, Heath council and its committee meetings, public hearings of all categories, and the list extends to the boundaries of public affairs.
Such a movement could be facilitated by adult-education-level courses designed to help would-be citizen journalists learn to sift fact from opinion while building confidence.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Advocate closes gate on masturbators
My own comment to my own essay entitled “Advocate rubs our noses in homosex” published at the Advocate site was strangely offensive to the moralistic editors who routinely publish lush homo-promos as family fare.
I had responded to the comment of NerkBuckeye when he suggested that the Advocate should publish “sexual preference announcements. Then anyone could contact the Advocate and they can announce whether they are gay or straight - or if they are ‘switching teams.’”
My response took that idea to a new level when I suggested that such announcements should also include masturbators - who is and who isn’t. Further, I opined, that if we happened on a Newark City Schools board president who masturbated openly as a means to “new freedom” (in the manner of the former NCS board president who came out of the closet on Page One) then the Advocate could likewise feature the masturbating school official in another Page One story.
Does anyone find it telling that this comment was trashed by Advocate gatekeepers?
I had responded to the comment of NerkBuckeye when he suggested that the Advocate should publish “sexual preference announcements. Then anyone could contact the Advocate and they can announce whether they are gay or straight - or if they are ‘switching teams.’”
My response took that idea to a new level when I suggested that such announcements should also include masturbators - who is and who isn’t. Further, I opined, that if we happened on a Newark City Schools board president who masturbated openly as a means to “new freedom” (in the manner of the former NCS board president who came out of the closet on Page One) then the Advocate could likewise feature the masturbating school official in another Page One story.
Does anyone find it telling that this comment was trashed by Advocate gatekeepers?
Advocate rubs our noses in homosex
In commemoration of the Advocate’s recent 28 column inches about a former Newark City Schools board president finding new freedom by announcing to the community that yes, indeedy, he really is a homosexual; in commemoration of the Advocate’s 20 column-inch very-biased report about homosexuals getting too few tax-supported benefits from President Obama; in commemoration of the Advocate’s 56 column inches of poorly written garbage promoting a homosexual parade in Columbus - and in honor of this once-long-ago family newspaper that has gone belly-up homo-wise, I give you a view from the other side, reprinted from Observations 7/8/08:
Pride Parade: Flaunting raunchy junk
The Columbus, Ohio "gay pride" parade has been accurately defined as a "burlesque show" which lacks "consideration of the general public" and "emulate(s) mostly false values about the gay community."
That was written by a homosexual as a letter to the editor of the Columbus Dispatch, published 7/5/08.
The letter of John A. Rovenolt demonstrates that not all homosexuals believe it necessary to shove into society's collective face the implications of what homosexuals do with their sexual organs. Folks like me who are puke sick of reading about people flaunting their sexual preferences and who object to having this raunchy junk showcased where children can see it, will find a lot to agree with in what Rovenolt says.
Consenting adults can do as they will in private, and I certainly don't care what it is, but homosexuality as such is neither news nor is it important nor is it to be celebrated in public, and it's past time when the Dispatch and other mass media understand that.
Pride Parade: Flaunting raunchy junk
The Columbus, Ohio "gay pride" parade has been accurately defined as a "burlesque show" which lacks "consideration of the general public" and "emulate(s) mostly false values about the gay community."
That was written by a homosexual as a letter to the editor of the Columbus Dispatch, published 7/5/08.
The letter of John A. Rovenolt demonstrates that not all homosexuals believe it necessary to shove into society's collective face the implications of what homosexuals do with their sexual organs. Folks like me who are puke sick of reading about people flaunting their sexual preferences and who object to having this raunchy junk showcased where children can see it, will find a lot to agree with in what Rovenolt says.
Consenting adults can do as they will in private, and I certainly don't care what it is, but homosexuality as such is neither news nor is it important nor is it to be celebrated in public, and it's past time when the Dispatch and other mass media understand that.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Who owns public information?
Journalists love to thump their stumps with self-righteous proclamations about “the public’s right to know.” They consider themselves the fourth arm of government (legislative, administrative, judicial and - journalism) - because, supposedly, they use their journalistic power on behalf of citizen-taxpayers. They hammer home at every opportunity that their freedom to pry facts from government equates to citizens’ right to know what government is doing and that better government is the result.
A few decades ago this was true; today it is not.
A few decades ago, for instance, the Advocate maintained, as best it could, an extensive file of clippings. A long and impressive row of filing cabinets occupied an entire back wall of the newsroom and it was the job of the clerical section to keep news articles clipped, mounted to cardboards, and indexed. Along another wall were large cabinets for the storage of microfilm.
These were tools of journalists, a prehistoric forerunner of the computer search engine. Additionally, all this information was available to the public. Anybody could enter the newsroom and, with the assistance of an employee if needed, use these files for research. We considered it their right to use it and our duty to facilitate it.
But then along came corporate “journalism” and today access to the Advocate’s morgue bears a price tag. An obscenely high price tag, as advertised on its web site:
Gannett, while it calls itself “your newspaper” and while it may espouse “freedom of the press,” and “the public’s right to know,” and while it seems to expect readers to come to its aid in these causes, assumes ownership of this information and tries to turn an obscene profit for access to it. The public’s right to know is now predicated on the public’s willingness to pay Gannett stockholders for the right to use it.
Nothing is farther from the spirit of the public’s right to know, nothing is farther from the spirt of the Internet, nor is anything farther from service to the community Gannett claims to serve.
A few decades ago this was true; today it is not.
A few decades ago, for instance, the Advocate maintained, as best it could, an extensive file of clippings. A long and impressive row of filing cabinets occupied an entire back wall of the newsroom and it was the job of the clerical section to keep news articles clipped, mounted to cardboards, and indexed. Along another wall were large cabinets for the storage of microfilm.
These were tools of journalists, a prehistoric forerunner of the computer search engine. Additionally, all this information was available to the public. Anybody could enter the newsroom and, with the assistance of an employee if needed, use these files for research. We considered it their right to use it and our duty to facilitate it.
But then along came corporate “journalism” and today access to the Advocate’s morgue bears a price tag. An obscenely high price tag, as advertised on its web site:
The Advocate Archives Pricing Options
To allow for greater flexibility and ease of use, we now offer article packs, in addition to the single-article purchase option. You will be offered payment options only after you select to download the full-text of any article.
Single-article purchase - $2.95
Future purchases will require a separate charge to your credit card.
24-hour pass, 10 articles - $9.95 (65% discount)
3-article pack - $6.95 (20% discount)
Good for one week from purchase.
10-article pack - $21.95 (25% discount)
Good for one month from purchase.
25-article pack - $49.95 (30% discount)
Good for one month from purchase.
40-article pack - $79.95
Good for one month from purchase.
Doing long-term research?
500-article pack - $995 (33% discount)
Good for one year from purchase.
1,000-article pack - $1,995 (33% discount)
Good for one year from purchase.
.....
The archives contain most, but not all, of the articles published by your newspaper, and cover only the more recent years of publication. These archives are a self-service system. Currently, our staff does not provide a service to help locate articles. If you need to find an article which you believe was published but is not in the database, your newspaper may provide additional search service at an hourly rate. Please contact your newspaper for details.
Gannett, while it calls itself “your newspaper” and while it may espouse “freedom of the press,” and “the public’s right to know,” and while it seems to expect readers to come to its aid in these causes, assumes ownership of this information and tries to turn an obscene profit for access to it. The public’s right to know is now predicated on the public’s willingness to pay Gannett stockholders for the right to use it.
Nothing is farther from the spirit of the public’s right to know, nothing is farther from the spirt of the Internet, nor is anything farther from service to the community Gannett claims to serve.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
NCS Connects?
In a comment to another essay here, Amythirdward raised the issue of quality of, and purpose for, the recently published NCS newsletter “NCS Connects.”
“... If that is the best the Ms PR person can do, it is pretty ametuerish. I am amazed that after passing the levy the admin felt like that piece of paper would be bridge the communication divide between them and us!”
Your assessment on the quality of the NCS newsletter is on target, Amy. You’d think the work of an expensive PR expert - hired over objections by taxpayers - would reflect more professionalism. I could stand shallow performance if it hadn’t cost taxpayers $3,600 to produce.
Making this project doubly hard to swallow is the Advocate’s proclamation 5/30/09 that NCS “wisely waited until after the recent school levy election to restart its newsletter mailed to local residents ... We feared the district would misstep by sending a newsletter before Election Day.” Get what this deceitful editorialist is saying? Don’t spend $3,600 before the levy vote lest the taxpayers object to the waste. Now that the levy has passed, it doesn’t matter what taxpayers think of the waste.
This is right in line with the Advocate’s evermore-obvious insolence toward people who are paying for that inferior, $3,600-tax-paid propaganda sheet.
As for bridging the communication divide between NCS and parents/taxpayers, it’s going to take a lot more than more preaching from a school administration that has alienated itself from the community. Anyone who thinks otherwise ought to remember what I said on 5/7/09 ... “Anyone who considers the passage of the $5.9-million-per-year levy a sign that the community is poised to kiss and make up with the Newark City Schools should go read the outpouring of rage in comments to the Advocate on-line news report.”
If NCS administration thinks “NCS Connects” works as a kiss-up, they’d do well to reconsider.
“... If that is the best the Ms PR person can do, it is pretty ametuerish. I am amazed that after passing the levy the admin felt like that piece of paper would be bridge the communication divide between them and us!”
Your assessment on the quality of the NCS newsletter is on target, Amy. You’d think the work of an expensive PR expert - hired over objections by taxpayers - would reflect more professionalism. I could stand shallow performance if it hadn’t cost taxpayers $3,600 to produce.
Making this project doubly hard to swallow is the Advocate’s proclamation 5/30/09 that NCS “wisely waited until after the recent school levy election to restart its newsletter mailed to local residents ... We feared the district would misstep by sending a newsletter before Election Day.” Get what this deceitful editorialist is saying? Don’t spend $3,600 before the levy vote lest the taxpayers object to the waste. Now that the levy has passed, it doesn’t matter what taxpayers think of the waste.
This is right in line with the Advocate’s evermore-obvious insolence toward people who are paying for that inferior, $3,600-tax-paid propaganda sheet.
As for bridging the communication divide between NCS and parents/taxpayers, it’s going to take a lot more than more preaching from a school administration that has alienated itself from the community. Anyone who thinks otherwise ought to remember what I said on 5/7/09 ... “Anyone who considers the passage of the $5.9-million-per-year levy a sign that the community is poised to kiss and make up with the Newark City Schools should go read the outpouring of rage in comments to the Advocate on-line news report.”
If NCS administration thinks “NCS Connects” works as a kiss-up, they’d do well to reconsider.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Advocate editorialist is a mental and moral underachiever
Yesterday, an Advocate editorial trumpeted the virtues of Keith Richards. It called him “a pretty good example of what's needed to get the job done,” “a wise and savvy leader, “an open and honest superintendent” who “understood the importance of accountability,” calling for “a fresh start from a leader of similar skills and focus.”
It’s painfully obvious to anyone who is still reading the Advocate that good help is pretty scarce, maybe because of layoffs or involuntary furloughs. The editorialist who wrote this is the one who deserves a permanent furlough. She is not merely lousy help, but worse, a mental and moral underachiever.
I gave Keith Richards enough grief before he decided to retire. I was willing to drop him off the list of write-worthy subjects.
I was willing to let the King Richards’ era die a peaceful death - forgetting all the things about his reign that angered taxpayers - so that Newark could get on with a new life with a new guy.
I was willing to forget that the superintendent told the Advocate ahead of the levy vote that the money would be spent, in part, on raises for employees. This in a system where the average salary for teachers is $53,179, and there’s one employee for every 8 NCS students. Raises for these people, but not a return to full busing, though local taxpayers spend more on the superintendent’s salary than the people of Alaska pay their governor.
I was willing to forget that under Keith’s guidance NCS mustered the third worst graduation rate in Ohio and that Keith blamed Newark citizens for this.
I was willing to forget that NCS failed to admit until after the levy vote that the estimate for increased government funding is $2 million and that it still hasn’t admitted more federal stimulus funding is expected.
I was willing to forget that the school board’s “transparent” search for a new superintendent began with an executive session to talk about it.
But yesterday when the Advocate trumpeted the virtues of Keith Richards, I just had to remember all this crap.
There is a good side: The Advocate editorialist has clearly demonstrated - in case anyone ever doubted - her lack of support for NCS pupils, parents and taxpayers, while shamelessly paying dues to the local establishment clique in partnership with Keith Richards & company.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Garish ads strike out
Blinking, screaming, annoying, trashy web-site ads finally drove me away from my customary pursuit of the morning’s news.
Attempting to read through the firestorms set up by the Advocate and by MSNBC was like trying to read while looking into the lighting effects of a rock band. In spite of that, I wasn’t the least curious about the brassy advertisers or their messages so, in addition to annoying me, they also wasted a lot of money.
Here’s a perfect example of greed defeating itself. If they keep it up, if they improve on the crassness, maybe they can drive readers back to print and TV screens.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Local businesses: Advocate bloggers’ choice
The list of businesses that scored with readers is too long and complex to present in this space, so I have published it, along with the original Advocate blogger comments, at this Newark Tea Party link.
You may want to bookmark it so you can refer to it as needed, or you may want to print it off and keep it with your telephone book.
Thanks to all who participated and to the Advocate for providing the forum.
You may want to bookmark it so you can refer to it as needed, or you may want to print it off and keep it with your telephone book.
Thanks to all who participated and to the Advocate for providing the forum.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Is this the death spiral of newspapers?
Gannett’s second round of furloughs is the lead story in today’s on-line Editor & Publisher (also reported in today’s Advocate). E&P’s home page listed serious financial woes of Advance Newspapers, Newhouse Papers, Charlotte Observer, San Antonio Express, Lexington Herald-Leader, Star Ledger, Tucson Citizen, Memphis Commercial Appeal, and the Champaign News-Gazette. All that reported today.
When the apparent death spiral bottoms out, what will be left? Among those who say nothing will be left of newspapers except their on-line mortuaries is one of the E&P columnists who stopped his newspaper subscription months ago.
I disagree. Printed news will survive, perhaps in a way I suggested 12/30/08 (Newspapers, dump the herd mentality and save thyselves).
It may be too late now, but had newspapers changed their “business model” a few years ago to accommodate the obvious differences between on-line offerings and that which is sold on newsprint, I believe they’d be much better off.
I feel sorry for Gannett’s local employees, particularly news staffers who seem to be working at local news reportage in what must be a very difficult, anti-productive environment. Nobody told me that, but I’ve weathered similar newsroom situations and I think they are recognizable from afar.
But I don’t feel sorry for Gannett, the giant that sucked the blood out of truly successful newspapers like the Advocate so that it might use the money to buy up what remained of its competitors - and expand the empire at what appears to have been reckless speed.
I wrote 2/19/07 (A level field is bad for newspapers) “... the local Gannett-owned newspaper has been doing the exact opposite of what is normally preached to advertisers: if business is down, spend more to get it back. Instead, Gannett in Newark has killed off its daily television schedule and TV column. It has all but dismantled entirely its weekly "Booster," a once-beloved paper whose history goes way back before Gannett bought its way into Central Ohio. The Advocate is skinnied down, some days, to newsletter size.
“Gannett is getting beat. Gannett is getting beat because it is a corporation headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. In spite of its 46% gross margin in 2005, it can't afford pretense at full news coverage.
“Gannett is getting beat because its real interests are in a far-off corporation and not this or any other particular community. It gets no allegiance because it gives none.”
One might hope for the day when all the media-holding companies will go under, opening the way for lots of little guys with ambition and guts to open little newspapers which have to compete for customers of news and advertising. But no. If it ever got to that point, big government will bail out big media with taxpayer dollars, just has it has for banks, automakers, insurers and others.
Death spiral or not, newspaper readers are - and will remain - patsies of the system.
When the apparent death spiral bottoms out, what will be left? Among those who say nothing will be left of newspapers except their on-line mortuaries is one of the E&P columnists who stopped his newspaper subscription months ago.
I disagree. Printed news will survive, perhaps in a way I suggested 12/30/08 (Newspapers, dump the herd mentality and save thyselves).
It may be too late now, but had newspapers changed their “business model” a few years ago to accommodate the obvious differences between on-line offerings and that which is sold on newsprint, I believe they’d be much better off.
I feel sorry for Gannett’s local employees, particularly news staffers who seem to be working at local news reportage in what must be a very difficult, anti-productive environment. Nobody told me that, but I’ve weathered similar newsroom situations and I think they are recognizable from afar.
But I don’t feel sorry for Gannett, the giant that sucked the blood out of truly successful newspapers like the Advocate so that it might use the money to buy up what remained of its competitors - and expand the empire at what appears to have been reckless speed.
I wrote 2/19/07 (A level field is bad for newspapers) “... the local Gannett-owned newspaper has been doing the exact opposite of what is normally preached to advertisers: if business is down, spend more to get it back. Instead, Gannett in Newark has killed off its daily television schedule and TV column. It has all but dismantled entirely its weekly "Booster," a once-beloved paper whose history goes way back before Gannett bought its way into Central Ohio. The Advocate is skinnied down, some days, to newsletter size.
“Gannett is getting beat. Gannett is getting beat because it is a corporation headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. In spite of its 46% gross margin in 2005, it can't afford pretense at full news coverage.
“Gannett is getting beat because its real interests are in a far-off corporation and not this or any other particular community. It gets no allegiance because it gives none.”
One might hope for the day when all the media-holding companies will go under, opening the way for lots of little guys with ambition and guts to open little newspapers which have to compete for customers of news and advertising. But no. If it ever got to that point, big government will bail out big media with taxpayer dollars, just has it has for banks, automakers, insurers and others.
Death spiral or not, newspaper readers are - and will remain - patsies of the system.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Solve Newark’s trash problems by enforcing the law
If hot air from politicians could solve problems, Newark’s trash would have long ago melted and our city would by now be pristine.
It matters not, however, that politicians have blown hot air at this problem since the days of Mayor Bain. So far, nothing has changed; trash lines the streets of Newark in many, if not most, parts of town; residents freely use sidewalks and curbsides to store unconfined junk and litter without regard for how it looks and smells, or whether it emits germs and vermin, nor into which neighbors’ yards it blows.
And hot air is all we get from these helpless public employees whose solution is not the least hidden in city ordinances. As I wrote 8/29/08 There is a solution for curbside trash. It’s called police work - enforcement of city laws by the mayor, the safety director and the policemen.
The most recent report by the Advocate that I’ve seen was 2/8/09 Property owners could feel trash burden in which this group called “trash talkers,” (defined in the article as “a group of concerned citizens along with local trash companies”) assigned by the “city administration” to make recommendations to council. Surprise! These folks are STILL hashing the idea of limiting the way and the areas specific trash haulers could do business. That, plus burdening landlords with trash bills for renters, which would be another brilliant intrusion on the conduct of private business. That’s only about an inch away from requiring every homeowner to buy trash services whether they need it or not. Trash is a favorite avenue by which Newark yearns to intrude on private affairs.
This is just more of a rich tradition of foolish, bureaucratic ideas to solve a problem which has years ago been solved. I have written about them 5/1/08 Trash is fertilizer for Newark government and 5/7/08 Let’s license newspapers and 12/5/08 Are trash dumping centers feasible?
Here it is, 3/9/09, and these people still haven’t figured it out. It goes right back to my solution of more than a year ago which is the solution put in place long ago by Newark City Council. That solution is evident and obvious where it’s dealt with in Newark City Ordinances.
Look at 660.04 (Noxious odors; filthy accumulations ...); and 660.05 (Duty to keep sidewalks in repair and clean); but especially at 1860.03 (a), (1), (2), (6) and 1860.04 (a), (1) What you will find is that Newark’s laws already prohibit people from creating and maintaining improper and unsanitary and bothersome trash.
And what that means, clearly and simply: laws are not being enforced by the people we pay to enforce them.
This city needs a mayor and a safety director who will order officers to get out of their cruisers and solve the trash proliferation by enforcing city ordinances. How simple can it get?
It matters not, however, that politicians have blown hot air at this problem since the days of Mayor Bain. So far, nothing has changed; trash lines the streets of Newark in many, if not most, parts of town; residents freely use sidewalks and curbsides to store unconfined junk and litter without regard for how it looks and smells, or whether it emits germs and vermin, nor into which neighbors’ yards it blows.
And hot air is all we get from these helpless public employees whose solution is not the least hidden in city ordinances. As I wrote 8/29/08 There is a solution for curbside trash. It’s called police work - enforcement of city laws by the mayor, the safety director and the policemen.
The most recent report by the Advocate that I’ve seen was 2/8/09 Property owners could feel trash burden in which this group called “trash talkers,” (defined in the article as “a group of concerned citizens along with local trash companies”) assigned by the “city administration” to make recommendations to council. Surprise! These folks are STILL hashing the idea of limiting the way and the areas specific trash haulers could do business. That, plus burdening landlords with trash bills for renters, which would be another brilliant intrusion on the conduct of private business. That’s only about an inch away from requiring every homeowner to buy trash services whether they need it or not. Trash is a favorite avenue by which Newark yearns to intrude on private affairs.
This is just more of a rich tradition of foolish, bureaucratic ideas to solve a problem which has years ago been solved. I have written about them 5/1/08 Trash is fertilizer for Newark government and 5/7/08 Let’s license newspapers and 12/5/08 Are trash dumping centers feasible?
Here it is, 3/9/09, and these people still haven’t figured it out. It goes right back to my solution of more than a year ago which is the solution put in place long ago by Newark City Council. That solution is evident and obvious where it’s dealt with in Newark City Ordinances.
Look at 660.04 (Noxious odors; filthy accumulations ...); and 660.05 (Duty to keep sidewalks in repair and clean); but especially at 1860.03 (a), (1), (2), (6) and 1860.04 (a), (1) What you will find is that Newark’s laws already prohibit people from creating and maintaining improper and unsanitary and bothersome trash.
And what that means, clearly and simply: laws are not being enforced by the people we pay to enforce them.
This city needs a mayor and a safety director who will order officers to get out of their cruisers and solve the trash proliferation by enforcing city ordinances. How simple can it get?
Monday, February 16, 2009
NCS, hire someone who will spend wisely
Just when I get the notion that the Advocate is half-way concerned about the condition of taxpayers, along it comes with another editorial right out of the local chamber of commerce play book (Support Newark levy now and in May).
Property owners were counseled to spend 7.5 additional mills because this would somehow "restore our pride in Newark."
The Advocate's bongo player forgot to mention that Governor Stickland's plan for Ohio schools would send a few more million tax dollars to NCS and federal stimulus money, some of which is for schools, is in the pipeline.
The Advocate failed to justify the fact that NCS is sucking from our property taxes 69%. This compares to Newark city government, 9%; Licking County government, 7%; JVS, 6%; and 9% total for Senior Citizens, Children Services, Mental Retardation, and Mental Health levies.
The Advocate editorialist failed to ask what has gone wrong in this community that schools should operate on such a disproportionate budget. Never mind how important are our kids. Just what ask what is causing this.
Well, for one thing the superintendent is making more than twice as much as the city mayor, figuring benefits. That, obvious to everyone except school administrators, is a travesty in use of public money.
As I pointed out 11/12/08, "The Newark median earnings for men is $32,542/yr and for women $24,868. Median-wise they have a $566/mo mortgage payment, plus taxes and insurance. The average property tax in Newark is, according to Rates.Banks.com, already $1,321.539/yr, and Keith Richards - making $201,433 a year with 30 days vacation - is asking Average Joe go out to dinner one time fewer each month so he can pay more in property taxes "for the sake of the kids."
Not only did the Advocate fail to get into that, but it also failed to mention that NCS administrators added 83 employees to the teaching staff between 2006 and 2007, resulting in a pupil teacher ratio of 12.79. Am I the only one in town who thinks this might be excessive? Or is this perhaps one factor in the chain of levy failures?
Forgotten too was the fact that Newark City Schools will pay $4.37 million dollars this year in interest on debts totaling $109,750,905 because voters were boondoggled with a lot of construction and renovations that might better have been spread out in a long-term plan. Taxpayers are staring down the barrel of $109.7 million debt to pay for Richards' Folly over the next 25 years, even if during that time they never spend another nickel on construction or renovation.
These are the kinds of decisions that have been made by Superintendent Richards, and taxpayers are being asked to bail him out with 7.5 mills added to the 69% of our property tax bills. And don't forget the wage earners and pensioners who are donating part of their income to keep NCS afloat.
Advocate, don't come at taxpayers like we're a bunch of child abusers and ne'er-do-wells because we have said enough is enough; we're spending all we're going to spend on the lavish lifestyle of NCS. The programs that are being cut and should be cut are programs that never should have been started in the first place.
It's past time for the Advocate and all the other accusers to admit that what NCS needs, instead of more money, is someone at the top who can be trusted to spend it wisely. We need a superintendent less versed on bullying and boondoggling. We need a superintendent who can take the money we're sending to NCS and use it to get the job done.
Property owners were counseled to spend 7.5 additional mills because this would somehow "restore our pride in Newark."
The Advocate's bongo player forgot to mention that Governor Stickland's plan for Ohio schools would send a few more million tax dollars to NCS and federal stimulus money, some of which is for schools, is in the pipeline.
The Advocate failed to justify the fact that NCS is sucking from our property taxes 69%. This compares to Newark city government, 9%; Licking County government, 7%; JVS, 6%; and 9% total for Senior Citizens, Children Services, Mental Retardation, and Mental Health levies.
The Advocate editorialist failed to ask what has gone wrong in this community that schools should operate on such a disproportionate budget. Never mind how important are our kids. Just what ask what is causing this.
Well, for one thing the superintendent is making more than twice as much as the city mayor, figuring benefits. That, obvious to everyone except school administrators, is a travesty in use of public money.
As I pointed out 11/12/08, "The Newark median earnings for men is $32,542/yr and for women $24,868. Median-wise they have a $566/mo mortgage payment, plus taxes and insurance. The average property tax in Newark is, according to Rates.Banks.com, already $1,321.539/yr, and Keith Richards - making $201,433 a year with 30 days vacation - is asking Average Joe go out to dinner one time fewer each month so he can pay more in property taxes "for the sake of the kids."
Not only did the Advocate fail to get into that, but it also failed to mention that NCS administrators added 83 employees to the teaching staff between 2006 and 2007, resulting in a pupil teacher ratio of 12.79. Am I the only one in town who thinks this might be excessive? Or is this perhaps one factor in the chain of levy failures?
Forgotten too was the fact that Newark City Schools will pay $4.37 million dollars this year in interest on debts totaling $109,750,905 because voters were boondoggled with a lot of construction and renovations that might better have been spread out in a long-term plan. Taxpayers are staring down the barrel of $109.7 million debt to pay for Richards' Folly over the next 25 years, even if during that time they never spend another nickel on construction or renovation.
These are the kinds of decisions that have been made by Superintendent Richards, and taxpayers are being asked to bail him out with 7.5 mills added to the 69% of our property tax bills. And don't forget the wage earners and pensioners who are donating part of their income to keep NCS afloat.
Advocate, don't come at taxpayers like we're a bunch of child abusers and ne'er-do-wells because we have said enough is enough; we're spending all we're going to spend on the lavish lifestyle of NCS. The programs that are being cut and should be cut are programs that never should have been started in the first place.
It's past time for the Advocate and all the other accusers to admit that what NCS needs, instead of more money, is someone at the top who can be trusted to spend it wisely. We need a superintendent less versed on bullying and boondoggling. We need a superintendent who can take the money we're sending to NCS and use it to get the job done.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Media racists can't ignore the color of skin
Today's achievement by Barack Obama is lessened considerably by racist overtones painted upon it by the media herd that refuses to let go of the fact that our President's skin is not white.
Consider the lead on this morning's AP inaugural wrap-up: "Stepping into history, Barack Hussein Obama grasps the reins of power as America's first black president..."
But at the mention of Bush, five paragraphs later, failed to identify him as white, though he's about as white (on the outside) as anyone can get.
Anyway, Mr. Obama is not "black" and only half "African American." If AP really cares what Mr. Obama is, it would take a few seconds to find, as I did, exactly what he is at Wikipedia where AP might be surprised to learn that of his parents, Mr. Obama said: "my father ... was black as pitch, my mother white as milk."
Kind of disappointing, huh, racist media?
I wrote 8/30/08 about the inequitable treatment between skin colors of blackness and whiteness as the racist media reported on the affairs of Obama and McCain. Here's a little part of that essay (The whiteness of McCain eludes media):
"Will the Advocate have a story on the whiteness of McCain? How proud whites are that he's a candidate? Nobody is whiter than McCain. Do you think you're doing blacks a favor by keeping the race issue up front? Will there ever be a time when media will let America forget the various colors of skin, none of which, by the way, are black or white?"
That America is as race conscious as ever is not the fault of you or me, not the fault of the NAACP nor any number of idiot white supremacists. It is the fault of that ignorant herd of racists in the media that simply cannot get past the color of skin.
Consider the lead on this morning's AP inaugural wrap-up: "Stepping into history, Barack Hussein Obama grasps the reins of power as America's first black president..."
But at the mention of Bush, five paragraphs later, failed to identify him as white, though he's about as white (on the outside) as anyone can get.
Anyway, Mr. Obama is not "black" and only half "African American." If AP really cares what Mr. Obama is, it would take a few seconds to find, as I did, exactly what he is at Wikipedia where AP might be surprised to learn that of his parents, Mr. Obama said: "my father ... was black as pitch, my mother white as milk."
Kind of disappointing, huh, racist media?
I wrote 8/30/08 about the inequitable treatment between skin colors of blackness and whiteness as the racist media reported on the affairs of Obama and McCain. Here's a little part of that essay (The whiteness of McCain eludes media):
"Will the Advocate have a story on the whiteness of McCain? How proud whites are that he's a candidate? Nobody is whiter than McCain. Do you think you're doing blacks a favor by keeping the race issue up front? Will there ever be a time when media will let America forget the various colors of skin, none of which, by the way, are black or white?"
That America is as race conscious as ever is not the fault of you or me, not the fault of the NAACP nor any number of idiot white supremacists. It is the fault of that ignorant herd of racists in the media that simply cannot get past the color of skin.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Jean Carrelli - special in every way
Another once-close-to-me reporter has joined the growing heavenly corps of old-school journalists from Newark. Jean Carrelli, whose name was for years a familiar byline, died yesterday, 1/13/09, after one of those wretched, heart-breaking illnesses.
Jean was diminutive (5 ft. 1 in.) and humble, but she reached far and deep with her humanistic-oriented newspaper reports and spoke to the multitudes - many times, over many years, for the Advocate, Ace News, Our Town, and maybe others.
Jean migrated from England to the U.S. as the wife of Al Carrelli when he was in the Air Force. I loved her accent; maybe it was Cockney, I'm not sure, but it was one of the sweet fringe benefits of my job.
I hired Jean away from her job at the (Heath) Ace News in April, 1977, where she had been making $2.50 per hour. We paid her $130 a week. Two years later, she confided to me that John Ashbrook, a publisher of local weeklies, offered her $200 a week, but she preferred to work for the Advocate.
She covered the Heath beat, wrote various columns, worked the copy desk, did general reporting and edited the Church Page. She was respected by her news contacts, people like Bill Mason, a Newark Schools administrator, who wrote that she "is the nicest, most personable school reporter we've had in 10 years."
Jean loved and lived her job - early, late, whatever it took. She was a news horse like few others I've known and special in every way. She's earned her rest and my most heart-felt thanks for a job well-done.
Jean was diminutive (5 ft. 1 in.) and humble, but she reached far and deep with her humanistic-oriented newspaper reports and spoke to the multitudes - many times, over many years, for the Advocate, Ace News, Our Town, and maybe others.
Jean migrated from England to the U.S. as the wife of Al Carrelli when he was in the Air Force. I loved her accent; maybe it was Cockney, I'm not sure, but it was one of the sweet fringe benefits of my job.
I hired Jean away from her job at the (Heath) Ace News in April, 1977, where she had been making $2.50 per hour. We paid her $130 a week. Two years later, she confided to me that John Ashbrook, a publisher of local weeklies, offered her $200 a week, but she preferred to work for the Advocate.
She covered the Heath beat, wrote various columns, worked the copy desk, did general reporting and edited the Church Page. She was respected by her news contacts, people like Bill Mason, a Newark Schools administrator, who wrote that she "is the nicest, most personable school reporter we've had in 10 years."
Jean loved and lived her job - early, late, whatever it took. She was a news horse like few others I've known and special in every way. She's earned her rest and my most heart-felt thanks for a job well-done.
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