On the subject of Metropulse


Posted by QuietGuy ® , Sep 15,2003,13:40   MetroBlab

As a relative newcomer, I have limited my posts to mundane and non-controversial topics. But after a few weeks of reading people complaign about the editorial bent of Metropusle, I have a suggestion.

Buy your own newspaper.

I wouldn't know Bryan Conley if he walked in my house. But a number of people on this message board act as if they own Metropulse or have some right to control or influence the editorial/advertising/endoresement decisions of the publisher.

Being disappointed in an endoresement is much different than suggesting the owner should get someone else on his staff to write an endoresment simply because ... hell, I'm not sure what that poster's reasoning was.

Running a newspaper - even a weekly - must not be the easiest way in the world to make a dollar, else Joe Sullivan might still be doing it. (No matter how wealthy he is, few people turn down free, no-risk profits.) I seek the opinions of people who do and think and create and take risks and create jobs.


Followups



On the subject of Metropulse

Re:
On the subject of Metropulse -- QuietGuy
Posted by Dr. Autonomo ® , Sep 15,2003,22:38   MetroBlab

what are you talking about?

i must have missed this.

no, on the other hand don't tell me. i don't think i care to know.


You are Conley (n/t)

Re:
On the subject of Metropulse -- QuietGuy
Posted by Jester_Fermaggio ® , Sep 15,2003,18:23   MetroBlab



On the subject of Metropulse and endorsements

Re:
On the subject of Metropulse -- QuietGuy
Posted by Smootz ® , Sep 15,2003,17:07   MetroBlab

QuietGuy says: "...after a few weeks of reading people complaign about the editorial bent of Metropusle, I have a suggestion. BUY YOUR OWN NEWSPAPER ... [People] act as if they own Metropulse or have some right to control or influence the editorial/advertising/endoresement decisions of the publisher."

Hey, I don't own it but I've supported it; promoted it; provided info for it; read it; and let advertisers know I appreciate their supporting it for over 10 years. The idea that you don't have a voice in your public and private community institutions applies to only those folks who reside in a vacuum.

Secondly, if a person states an opinion in a public forum, it's fair game. I can agree, refute, ridicule, poke or prod it. That's what commucation is.

I don't understand your point at all concerning Metro Pulse. What I mean QuietGuy is: disagree with those who have been critical by stating why they're wrong, but, PLEASE, don't try courtroom bullshit like "you can't complain because you don't own it." 'Cause as far as I know, you don't have to have "standing" to voice your complaints around here.

Thanks,
Smootz

p.s. Vote for a woman for a change, vote Rogero. If I voted for Rogero just because she's a qualified woman, I'd never cancel out all the votes against her just because she's a qualified woman.



On the subject of Metropulse

Re:
On the subject of Metropulse -- QuietGuy
Posted by GSMOT(tm) ® , Sep 15,2003,16:16   MetroBlab

Yeah, I think MetroPulse, as with any good, civic-minded newspaper, ought to have an Op-Ed column where someone who favors the other candidate not endorsed by the newspaper should have a space to extol the virtues of the other candidate. I think there are probably a few staffers (if not most, besides Conley and Joe Sullivan) who favor Rogero. Conley and Sullivan, as priviledged, moneyed white boys, are obviously endorsing the priviledged, moneyed white boy candidate. I think someone else from MetroPulse who is not in that group should have a chance at writing an op-ed piece. What about it, QuietGuy? What are your objections?

On the subject of Metropulse

Re:
On the subject of Metropulse -- GSMOT(tm)
Posted by jfm ® , Sep 15,2003,18:30   MetroBlab

Yeah, I think MetroPulse, as with any good, civic-minded newspaper, ought to have an Op-Ed column where someone who favors the other candidate not endorsed by the newspaper should have a space to extol the virtues of the other candidate.

It does. It's called the Letters to the Editor column. Beyond that, the paper's only responsibility is to be as fair and accurate in its coverage as possible, on the issues it chooses to cover. It still gets to choose which issues it thinks are important and, in the case of editorials, express opinions on those issues as it sees fit. After I wrote a profile of an abortion doctor some years back, I got a predictable phone call from an anti-abortion advocate who wanted to know if I would also do a cover story on some local prominent anti-abortion activist. No, I said. Why not?, he demanded, with a great sense of grievance. Because this is our newspaper, and we decide what to put on the cover, I said. I invited him to write a letter to the editor. He declined.


On the subject of Metropulse

Re:
On the subject of Metropulse -- jfm
Posted by GSMOT(tm) ® , Sep 17,2003,10:08   MetroBlab

Well, it also bills itself as "Knoxville's Alternative Voice," which implies that it will provide a wider viewpoint than its run-of-the-mill competitor. MP in the past has printed many "alternative voices" outside of the letters column, and I hope it continues. Yes, I'm hoping those columns will be thoughtful pieces on why Rogero should be the next mayor.



On the subject of Metropulse

Re:
On the subject of Metropulse -- jfm
Posted by Michael ® , Sep 15,2003,22:35   MetroBlab

So much as I have derided (or certainly attempted to deride) Mr. Conely's column in this weeks MP for being sloppy and/or ill-informed, I should note that the piece is entitled A Note from the Publisher (don't have a paper copy handy, but that's how it's identified online). I fully support his absolute privilidge to publish any damned thing he wants under such a heading. It's not that I take offense to his picks. I have a lot of friends who share his preferences (Well, except for that Joe Baily one. I don't know what's up with that.), and I've got a lot of friends who don't.

What bugged me is one of the following:

A) Mr. Conley is so against Norris Dryer and Elonzo Montgomery that he intentionally omitted them in a column which was otherwise fairly complete in its information on other races.
-or-
B) Mr. Conley was simply not aware of the two other active candidates for the office of the at-large Seat C in this year's Knoxville City Council race.

The first scenario speaks for itself and would imply a bitterly biased publisher. Perhaps one who would resent the level of diversity that either of the aforementioned candidates would bring to Council. The second suggests that he insisted that a newspaper print his uninformed opinions simply because he owns it, without regard for the integrity of his information or the newspaper's reputation as a reliable source of information.

In either case, it's merely Mr. Conley's opinion. It's the weight of that opinion that is in question. That, and how much we can expected to value that opinion as time goes by.
~m.




On the subject of Metropulse

Re:
On the subject of Metropulse -- Michael
Posted by SnM ® , Sep 16,2003,08:45   MetroBlab

Michael wrote:

What bugged me is one of the following:

A) Mr. Conley is so against Norris Dryer and Elonzo Montgomery that he intentionally omitted them in a column which was otherwise fairly complete in its information on other races.
-or-
B) Mr. Conley was simply not aware of the two other active candidates for the office of the at-large Seat C in this year's Knoxville City Council race.

More than two options are possibilities (as is usually the case). For instance, "C)" could be that Mr. Conley is simply so indifferent to (as opposed to "so against") Dryer and Montegomery that he didn't bother to mention them, and whoever edited the thing neglected to point out that leaving those candidates unnoted made a more-or-less balanced bit appear otherwise. Many other possibilities suggest themselves, if one considers the full process that op-eds/articles/etc. go through to get into print. At any rate, don't devalue the role the editor and other reviewers play (or should play) in the process.


On the subject of Metropulse

Re:
On the subject of Metropulse -- QuietGuy
Posted by Michael ® , Sep 15,2003,14:08   MetroBlab

Buy your own newspaper.

Because otherwise, you ought not to express an opinion. Right?

a number of people on this message board act as if they own Metropulse or have some right to control or influence the editorial/advertising/endoresement decisions of the publisher.

There's a long history of "Letters to the Editor" that take exception to a papers treatment of any of the topics you name. Newspapers generally solicit feedback.

Being disappointed in an endoresement is much different than suggesting the owner should get someone else on his staff to write an endoresment simply because ... hell, I'm not sure what that poster's reasoning was.

And I'm not sure what post you're referring to. You don't seem too clear on it. In any case, I commented here that by naming all of the candidates in all races except for one (where he referred to it as a race between two candidates - there are 4, and this is a primary), that he apparently didn't know much about that race. Thus his endorsement didn't demonstrate very much insight. Draw your own conclusions about the value of uninformed opinion.

I seek the opinions of people who do and think and create and take risks and create jobs.

Is this your assessment of Mr. Conley?
~m.