This is just so maddening: OD's View: We-need-to-work-on-improving-our-self-esteem
NO, WE DON'T!
There are many of us who see the good in Utica, promote it, and help Utica in whatever way we can. But we are realists. We are not going to pretend there are no problems.... Ignoring problems is a sure fire way of keeping them from ever being solved.
AND WE WILL NOT BE SILENT.
But silence is clearly what the O D wants of us if we cannot support the vision of the Editorial Board and the regional power structure that it supports.
The problem is not the people who are complaining. Rather, it is an arrogant regional elite who think they are smarter than everyone else, think only of themselves rather than the people they supposedly serve, and refuse to acknowledge the failure of their policies; and an Observer-Dispatch that lets them get away with it.
20 comments:
Couldn't agree more.
What's interesting is that Kris Worrell would dare to chastise her readers after the drubbing she took recently. The other interesting thing is that none of her 5 suggestions are directed at the regions’ elected elite, only the negative rank and file resident. The message? The regions governing elite are doing a great job and we peasants should start showing some gratitude for their hard work. Oh yeah, plant flowers and pick up some trash.
Strike,
Did you read the latest about Judge Bernadette Romano-Clark who ruled against the Rome School System regarding their complaint filed in Oneida County Supreme Court?
Well, Judge Clark failed to tell the school's attorneys that she is related to Linda Romano who serves as a legal adviser to the Oneida County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA).
Judge Clark should have recused herself from the lawsuit, however, just as she has done before...remember J.K. Hage whose family gave Judge Romano a $500 donation to her campaign. Judge Romano ruled in favor of J.K. Hage against Michael Cerminaro, Utica City Comptroller.
It does appear that the Rome School Attorneys (Ferrara...???) should easily be able to get a reversal on appeal and perhaps, the Appellate Court would see fit to discipline Judge Clark?
Strike, I know you're serious, but the OD has no responsibility but to peddle it's own opinion on matters that they are probably not very well qualified to comment upon in the first place. I'm not familiar with their current operation, personnel or management, but if they're like any other modern newspaper, they're a just another advertising outift trying to sell newspapers. When we complain about the lack of social responsibility of any modern news organization or the philosophical compass heading of their twenty-something year old J-school graduates who took one history course, we are buying into the myth the news machine created about their importance to the body politic. Yes, it's disappointing if the single largest newspaper in the area plays favorites, blacks out news and gets editorially rather silly, but the reaction should be to support other so-called news sources and make the field more competitive. Only then will accuracy of reporting and maturity of goals and opinions translate into a competitive edge for the newspaper that can manage to do it right.
The problem is that in the Greater Utica Area there is no other bona fide news source. The TV and radio stations do not hire reporters or do in depth reporting anymore either. We have blogs that offer opinions and in some cases news but certainly not in depth. The Utica Phoenix is trying to develop into something but its liberal bent and absence of seasoned reporters are obvious and its news superficial, at best. The point is that there is no substitute for a real newspaper performing watch dog functions. We do not have that and it looks as though never again will. The OD's decline relates to money, ownership and the death spiral interms of reporting that resulted in its publishers socio/economic ties and agenda. Talk to any reporter who has left the OD and you will find the Donovan influence.
As Strikeslip points out, we have an arrogant elite that basically controls the resources of the area and directs them to the same few. The small example of the Romano/Romano relationship pointed out above is but one. The area is "wired"in that sense including its political apparatus. It appears as though there are no answers to the path of slow decline we continue to be on. When the Indian on the canoe realizes he is going to go over the Falls and he cannot do anything about it, he takes out his pipe, smokes it, folds his hands and waits.As we wait, we can read of the Boilermaker and the beer on Varrick.
Another challenge for investigative journalism in a community like this is getting sources to talk, even on deep background. The cast of players involved in the carousel of corruption is so small that the identity of a person who offered information, even if they weren't quoted directly, would be known immediately. Those with knowledge either have a vested interest to keep quiet or are held in check by fear of ostracism or worse.
In this day and age, though, it is not all that difficult to follow the money. A good investigative reporter utilizing the internet,required statements filled and the Freedom of Information Act can find out much. The OD and the local radio and TV stations do not employ investigative reporters or investigative techniques. They by and large report what is told to them, events, accidents, arrests and the like. Expenses are held down. They pay cheap, get cheap. And, the reporters or broadcasters with talent quickly move on. That, combined with the "small town" traits noted above and we wind up with a stagnant area. Perhaps the most alarming characteristic of all is the over reliance of people and groups on taxpayer/public dollars in various forms. This tilts the advantage to those who dispense the dollars in critical ways. Fear of losing government financial support may be the bigest motivator of all. When we had GE, Bendix, et al we had a class and number of people who were not dependent on the largess of the local public official or boards. We have lost a huge part of financial independence in that sense. It then all ties in to even more importance of a watch dog press, which as stated, we do not have.
In this day and age, though, it is not all that difficult to follow the money. A good investigative reporter utilizing the internet,required statements filled and the Freedom of Information Act can find out much. The OD and the local radio and TV stations do not employ investigative reporters or investigative techniques. They by and large report what is told to them, events, accidents, arrests and the like. Expenses are held down. They pay cheap, get cheap. And, the reporters or broadcasters with talent quickly move on. That, combined with the "small town" traits noted above and we wind up with a stagnant area. Perhaps the most alarming characteristic of all is the over reliance of people and groups on taxpayer/public dollars in various forms. This tilts the advantage to those who dispense the dollars in critical ways. Fear of losing government financial support may be the bigest motivator of all. When we had GE, Bendix, et al we had a class and number of people who were not dependent on the largess of the local public official or boards. We have lost a huge part of financial independence in that sense. It then all ties in to even more importance of a watch dog press, which as stated, we do not have.
Excellent thread on this subject and I tend to agree on most of the writers points. However, I feel the need to address the “pay cheap, get cheap” assertion. I have experienced where some seasoned well paid reporters sheepishly become set in their lazy ways. They show up at politician’s offices and special events just to be spoon-fed material to place in print. Albeit, some editorials seem to address some valid issues, I place the blame for superficial editorials on management. If the newspaper’s management were to have the guts to expose this area’s “good ol’ boy” political illuminati, the young reporters would be happy to report this obvious injustice. In 1972 Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein were young rookie reporters at the bottom of their pay scale when they aggressively utilized sound investigative reporting. They successfully exposed malfeasance that ultimately changed U.S. history. But they needed the backing and trust of the newspaper’s managing editor before they could print their findings to the public. It is a shame that Utica has lost thousands of its citizens to poor job retention and a lack of quality economic development. This has ushered in an economy of scale that may take decades if it ever improves. As quality employment has been allowed to go unchecked, so has its quality news reporting. Utica’s leadership must pull out all the stops in their efforts to do better if it will ever pull itself out of this numbing social and economic decline.
I believe that Utica should give me 14 million dollars to make a hastily-made tourism video about their city and how it's the nation's leader of drifters... and state twice that we're not Detroit. We're not Detroit!
First Attempt
Second Attempt
Ironically enough, there is a group called "Positively Cleveland" that made a counter-video and much like "Think positive, Utica!" campaigns, it's a rotting turd.
Positively Cleveland Tourism Video
I agree that all professions produce some who grow lazy, including reporters. But, in Utica's case, the OD management has actually driven out good reporters who have sought to do investigative reporting. Life is also made misrable for the few radio and TV reporters who have sought to bring professionalism to their jobs. The situation here is that media management is part of the control structure which in turn peroduces a do not rock the boat media culture, the last thing media ought to be.
I am not apologizing for the OD, nor do I have any secret knowledge about what motivates their management and staff. But folks, I'm a realist, and a newspaper is a private business. It is not a department of The Democracy. Its primary motivation is not to figure out the truth, but to make money. It does that mainly through advertising. The clients who pay the highest rates per column inch are local businesses who have no interest in disturbing the status quo. When a newspaper gets feisty and begins to lean on pillars of the local Lords of Self Interest, advertisers complain to newspaper management. I have seen it happen. "Hey, Mr. Publisher, don't publish that crap about this NGO or that Agency. They send me business!" Or, "Don't complain about the size of governement! They buy my computers!" Or, "Harry is a Good Guy! We play golf. You've got him all wrong." And, "If you keep picking on my customers, I'll find somewhere else to advertise!"
Look how WUTQ talk show people (Piersma & Elias) have sheepishly gone into the background.
They had a good talk show but the "movers and shakers" in the area threatened in ways known to keep the news from being told to the general public.
People with influence in this area have ruined what is pure and good. The sad truth these bums can be taken out from their ivory towers, however, it will take the vote of the people to send the message.
We need Chavez in Oneida County.
Media reps who have dared to be bold are normally threatened with their jobs or forced to leave. The politicians call their management friends and that's it. That is but one way news is controlled and managed. Getting back to Dave. I hate to beat the issue to death but, there is literally such a standard as a journalistic code that presents newspapers in particular as watch-dogs of the public arena and purse. The smaller the town and no monopoly of one paper normally results in the prostitution of that standard. But, it does not have to be that way. Look into Donovans ex paper in Burlington. A couple of ex OD guys have taken on the establishment there and the paper has not given into economic threats.
Who are these individuals in Burlington, Vermont? I would like to discuss with them how we can get rid of Donna Donovan and put in some people who really care about this County. Surely, some newspaper management types could demand she resign and take over???
I'm sure finding the web site of the Burlington newspaper could provide management names. The problem with your quest is that papers are owned by different entities. For example, the Burlington paper is Gannet as the OD used to be. The OD is now owned by Gateway. Gateway could care less about the Burlington management and vice versa. Your best rout is to protest directly to the Gateway ownership.
How does one find out the e-mail addresses of the Gateway Directors or someone?
I didn't see any email addresses, but the list of executive management can be found on GateHouse Media's management page at:
http://www.gatehousemedia.com/management
There's a general phone number on the page too, or you can jump in the car and drive there. The office is not that far away at 350 WillowBrook Office Park, Fairport, NY 14450.
Yup, I'm aware of journalism's code of ethics. Some would say it's for reporters and not management, although of course it's meant to cover the entire news organization. I'm reminded that prostitutes also have a Code of Ethics. It's quite like the Hippocratic Oath, actually. Do no harm and never mention names. Didn't help Spitzer.
Dave,
Is is possible to obtain e-mail addresses for the Corporate Officers - Board of Directors?
Sorry, I didn't see any on their web page. I wouldn't know how to find them. You must understand that unless you're an advertiser, they really don't want to hear from you. When they want the temperature of their readers, rather than rely on anecdotal data from occasional emails or letters, they will hire a firm to do a survey. And it's cheaper to simply watch their circulation, which no matter how their readers feel, probably won't change much when they're carrying the weekly food store ads.
It's a business. Ben Franklin made up characters who wrote to his brother's newspaper to inflame people and stimulate sales. But he found he could make more money on the business end of the operation. Nothing has changed much.
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