The Union’s editor/publisher has an editorial in Tuesday morning’s paper insisting that the paper hasn’t moved to the right, despite what a growing number people in the community keep noticing and are reacting to.
What he forgot to mention:
1. Hiring “neo-conservative” bloggers Russ Steele and George Rebane to write a monthly column. Those two are just what the E&P purports to reject: “Right-wingers” who shout back and resort to insults if you disagree. In short, these two are community dividers, not uniters, according to many long-timers here. One or both write that Obama is a socialist, global warming is a hoax and they mock Democratic policies. They also are big supporters of CABPRO, a conservative group that has divided the community in the past. Yet no local counterviews are provided as monthly columnists.
2. Overplaying the “tea party protests.” The E&P has editorialized repeatedly in favor of the conservative-led protests. In addition, the news of their gatherings (albeit diminishing in size) is being overplayed – the latest, most egregious example being leading the paper on the front page with the group’s last trip to Sacramento. A friend of the E&P’s was the first quote in the story.
3. Underplaying national political stories about our Democratic political leaders. Some community members got so upset about the dearth of coverage in the days leading up to the Obama inauguration that they showed up in the newsroom to protest. Later, the paper put out a commerative issue that it sold as a momento.
Some people also were upset about the play of Ted Kennedy’s death, though the E&P blamed it on news deadlines. (Nowadays, he says, the front page is put to bed before some of the inside pages. The front page typically is the last page that a paper puts to press, for exactly this reason). He said he was sleeping. Kennedy died shortly before 9 p.m. PST, relatively early for West Coast newspapers to react.
4. Supporting the reopening of the Idaho-Maryland Mine in editorials even before a draft evironmental report process had been completed. This is a highly controversial project, concerning many residents, not just dedicated environmental groups. Now we all know we need a new draft environmental report, because the first one didn’t address enough serious concerns. The news pages also showed bias, some community members complained, pointing to a front-page story about a year’s old vandalism of the mine as the most egregious example.
The E&P points to his support of a medical marijuana dispensary as proof that the paper hasn’t embraced more “neo-con” thinking. But some longtimers see that more as an effort to shore up some support among residents of Nevada City, which never were too fond of the paper’s political perspectives and is now the venue of a rival publication. The new paper hasn’t executed, but many people like the idea of an alternative to The Union.
To be sure, there’s always somebody who isn’t happy with an opinion they read in the paper. On the other hand, when you are the editor and the publisher, there is a built in conflict of interest.
This means you have to bend over backwards to avoid the perception of bias. That hasn’t happened, and it’s why people are expressing concern.
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Hey, Jeff, I must immodestly offer my own reaction to Jeff Ackerman’s Op-Ed today, here:
http://sierravoices.com/2009/09/what-radical-left/
And yes, you really nailed it much better than I did.
[...] I’ll leave it to others who are more skilled and who pay more attention to The Union than I do to assess that sunny claim. (Update: See Jeff Pelline on this very subject, here). [...]
He’s tired of the “shouting and screaming.” He’s just like Stephenie, and Stephenie is like most people he knows. And most people he knows are like him — like humble, workaday Stephenie. He represents the middle, good reader, the voice of reason. He has never poured gas on an issue or ripped war protesters. And now, he is saddened — stunned, even — to see the teabaggers are nothing more than a bunch of Republicans who want to preserve the insurance companies’ profit margins. Come back, good readers. Circulation is lower than when he arrived, and he needs you back — back to the light of reason.
It probably wasn’t Stephanie’s fault, BUT read the “Other Voices” column just to the left of Jeff Ackerman’s column today (in the printed edition). Ouch! It kind of smothers the point that he is trying to make.
“which never were too fond of the paper’s political perspectives and is now the venue of a rival publication. The new paper hasn’t executed, but many people like the idea of an alternative to The Union.
Jeff,
I am looking for the rival. Where is it?
The Giants lost again. Bummer….any of you guys have any sour cream? I’m making potatoes. You all seemed so bitter I assumed there MUST be some sour cream among at least one of you?
What ever would you talk about if not for The Union? Sour cream, I suppose. Maybe how to cook lobster on an open fire? Maybe some dog grooming tips? Or…what to wear at Burning Man? Want some great reading? Check out The Union archives and get a taste of the “old” Jeff P., the one who had a much different view on things when he “opined” from the newsroom. The one who lectured on civility and all things good and great in the world. Once again…while bloggers are “watching” the media, who’s watching the bloggers?
No sour cream? Okay…how about some sour grapes?
Jeff,
Some readers asked that I not respond to your petulant comments, so I won’t. But it still amazes me how you’re allowed to carry on in this fashion – to your former employees and your customers – by your own management. You must have a lot of clout with them.
Sour cream, sour grapes. Yuk-yuk-yuk. I thought that one up. Oh, I kill me. I’m so glad I hired me.