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juno	Post subject: Who needs credibility? Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:04 pm
Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2005 7:32 pm Posts: 27 Location: Kansas	I came awful close to telling 'em where they could stuff my job today. A town in our coverage area will be the site of a convention for fans of the CBS TV show "Jericho" in September. We had a story on it today, and the reporter (a veteran, occasional managing editor, and known jackass) wrote that the network would start showing seven new episodes tonight. Well, no, since the network announced just a month ago that they changed their mind about cancelling the show and would bring it back mid-season next year. When I pointed this out the reporter, his immediate response was "you're wrong. You should look it up. I did." And he kept insisting I was wrong, even though I'm not.. He didn't offer up anything to prove he was right, though. I went to the managing editor and we got the facts cleared up. He kept telling me I need to let how the reporter acted "roll off my back" and "he's that way with everyone" (I've been here eight years, I know that). Before I left for lunch, I explained to him my anger is not about the reporter blowing ME off. He was dismissing my respsonsibility to make sure we have accurate information. And that attitude could damage our credibility, and with a different story, could land us in a lawsuit. His response? "I can't make you two like each other. You guys need to work this out." He didn't get it wasn't about ME. It's about the newspaper. And this is from a guy who's been throwing out the word "credibility" a lot lately. This isn't the only example. Earlier this week, a contributor for our page for the over-50 crowd sent in a column about the fate of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence. I've made it a habit to do an Internet search on his contributions, and I found the exact essay he referred to on Snopes. I told the editor about it, and he told me that "filling the page should be the priority." I could go on with dozens of examples. I guess credibility doesn't sell papers, so that doesn't matter anymore. All that matters is that we look pretty and have "snappy" headlines and "compelling" stories. Wal-Mart is looking more appealing every day.
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Heartodixie	Post subject: Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:22 pm
Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2005 1:15 am Posts: 1432 Location: Alabamer	Jesus, Juno.
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Phillip Blanchard	Post subject: Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:14 pm
Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2002 1:01 am Posts: 8342 Location: Bethesda, Md.	It's hard to believe that anyone still falls for "The Price They Paid." As far as the dimwitted "Jericho" reporter is concerned, fix his mistakes and if he complains, tell him to sue you.
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night train	Post subject: Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 9:32 pm
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2004 12:01 am Posts: 52 Location: carlsbad, new mexico	Your paper appears to be full of morons. It is time to move on, friend.
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JayByrd	Post subject: Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:59 pm
Joined: Fri May 03, 2002 12:01 am Posts: 380 Location: Butte, MT (almost Great Falls)	It's time for me to make a nomination for the TCE theme song: Fight the Power Parts 1 & 2, the Isley Brothers, circa 1970. Appropriate lyrics: "... and when I rolled with the punches, I got knocked on the ground by all this bullshit going down." Seriously, don't you think sometimes we're rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic?
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KfitzR	Post subject: Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 9:14 pm
Joined: Thu Apr 18, 2002 12:01 am Posts: 836 Location: New Brunswick, Canada	I'd nominate the Stan Rogers classic The Mary Ellen Carter. Has the classic line: "With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go" And the basic theme of bringing something back to life.
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Le Petomane	Post subject: Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 1:07 am
Joined: Sat Jul 24, 2004 12:01 am Posts: 402 Location: Moulin Rouge	night train wrote: Your paper appears to be full of morons. It is time to move on, friend. Indeed. The ME sounds particularly egregious.
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JT	Post subject: Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:18 am
Joined: Thu Sep 02, 2004 12:01 am Posts: 119 Location: Small Town, Pa.	Sorry to be late in reply; been away for a week on business. KfitzR wrote: I'd nominate the Stan Rogers classic 'The Mary Ellen Carter.' Has the classic line: "With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go" " And you, to whom adversity has dealt that final blow, With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go-- Turn to, and put out all your strength of hand and heart and brain And, like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again! " Thanks for quoting my absolute all-time favorite song of hope and inspiration. Those unfamiliar should seek it out and listen.
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