As an observer of what is written on our forum and on other local outlets for free speech, I find it interesting how each outlet has a like-minded audience with the editorial position of the particular outlets foundation.
The participation in these forums is most interesting for several reasons. It seems that there is a core of writers who will post their opinions on all forums while others will stick to one or two of them exclusively that share their mind-set.
Though it’s not a forum in the traditional sense, the North Coast Oregon blog seems to lead the pack when it comes to objectivity and respectful replies from those who comment there. This is not to say that opinions don’t get heated, they do, but cooler heads seem to prevail.
KAST posters are for the most part, in lock step with their mind-set with the philosophy of the radio station with some disagreeing opinions from the outsiders. It appears nothing is removed from this forum because of content even if in opposition with the base.
Clatsop County Matters and Astoria-Rust blogs and forums have both historically opposed LNG and have often held views counter to those often expressed by the current District Attorney. Their forum writers seem to inject a sense of humor into the often heavy topics. These two forums also do not censor content.
Finally, the Astoria Citizen's Journal forum has a hand full of like-minded contributors with few opposing points ever making it to the surface. Accusations have been made that the administrator deletes posts and topics not to his liking, and that isn’t an unheard-of practice in most forms of journalism.
An editorial is a hold-harmless rule in journalism. The news that is reported should be unbiased, however the news media is allowed to let their hair down when they call what they write an editorial opinion.
Recently, Paul Mitchell, General Manager of the New Northwest Broadcasters aired an editorial on his radio stations. This editorial was aired several times a day with out an explanation of the rebuttal process for opposing viewpoints. I don’t believe that there is a rebuttal process in place even today. If they were to allow rebuttal it should be an in kind rebuttal. Airing an opinion for everyone to hear several times a day and providing the only opportunity to call into a call-in talk show a half hour every morning or to post a reply on a write-in forum isn’t a proper rebuttal.
The Daily Astorian on the surface provides a space for rebuttal, but raise your hand if you’ve ever had one of your Letters to the Editor passed over and never printed. I find it odd that in the last few weeks how many letters were published in support of the District Attorney and how few were printed in opposition. When one reads the local forums it seems that a very small minority shares support for the District Attorney. Does the Daily Astorian ignore letters contrary to their editorial philosophies?
Blogs and blog forums have a small fraction of the audience that radio stations or newspapers have. However their earnest attempt at democratic free speech needs to be acknowledges and appreciated. They are the best kept secret in information and opinion dissemination where the people can actually be involved and ask questions. They may even be able to find answers.
8 comments:
Kast and the Daily Astorian are both missing a big story.
We have a DA who is trying to divide our County.
We have a DA who has a terrible reputation.
Our DA doesn't believe in justice for all. One would think two inportant news outlets would report all sides.
After our DA becomes exposed by the National Media, I wonder what Kast and the Daily Astorian will have to say? Will they say, wow we didn't know of the DA reputation for in-justice?
Don't mean to burst your bubble but I don't know that there will be any "exposing" going on in the big dramatic sense. The DA needs Clatsop County so he can run for the office of President of the NDAA so he's not going to stomp off into the sunset. The National Media is going to show what they want to, as well. A DA who writes op-eds daily and submits them all over the US after his editor wife does her job of editing them. They make a good team. She is an editor and promoter by profession. These op-eds are submitted to numerous publications until someone accepts them. So now his name is relatively known in the press. He is known for his "strong" opinions and that people are said to be "intimidated" by him. He says that Scheck and Spence are both intimidated and frustrated by him, and he thinks of it as a child who thinks negative attention is better than no attention. They are frustrated by his annoying habitual lies. No matter what the media writes Marquis will declare it a victory and everyone else will think, "You idiot!" PERHAPS, if the commissioners stay steadfast and cut his stipend and make sure it is clearly because he is a POOR DEPARTMENT head and doesn't DESERVE a pay raise then that will make national media look at Marquis' MO and disgrace in Lincoln City. The biggest thing that the media can actually latch on to with verifiable facts is his treatment of Longo in Lincoln City when she went against him before, during and after the Sandra Jones murder trial and got him tossed from the trial. The threats he made and tried to follow through on were unbelievable and something very few lawyers have the stomach, time, resources or money to go through. It explains why most lawyers around here won't publicly comment on him and generally just stay out of his way. He likes it here because he can get his writing done with few interruptions, little else to do and no accountability, until now.
Jeff Hazen didn't cut the DAs supplement for poor performance. He did it only to send a message to Salem about better pay for DAs and that it is the state's responsibility not the county's. Jeff has said so many times.
After Marquis clarified SEVERAL times that he does nothing for Clatsop County, he is a state employee and only a state employee.
It is nice though, that other District Attorneys think of themselves as County Department Heads, run budgets for the accounting committees, work with commissioners and generally consider themselves part of the county.
Any one see TH's site with the published email exchanges from Josh.
What a dick!
Oh, Syd & Sid, thanks for the kind words regarding Astoria-Rust.
Ya' know we love ya' blogfather!
The forum is truly the new "Letter to the Editor" for everyone. However, go be fair, you can kinda see now why some of those letters weren't printed...
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