The Union joined The League of Women Voters in hosting a sophomoric presentation on fake news last week. One of the “panelists” was a computer monitor that displayed the image of a swimming fish (AKA the editor of NC Scooper). The local left and local right rarely agree, but both agreed that this presentation was sophomoric. That was an understatement! Some in the audience walked out. Details are here and here.
But The Union, rather than apologizing, is now defending this mistake with an asinine narrative: “HIT: To the timely and insightful discussion of fake news and satire last week organized and hosted by the League of Women Voters on Tuesday at Sierra Nevada Community College (sic). The managing editor of Snopes, a national fact-checking site, spoke with the publisher of Nevada County Scooper, a news satire site on the spectrum of fake. The anonymity of the site’s contributors irritates some and the mystery adds interest for others. But it appears there’s far more interest in Scooper’s brand of satire than in a couple of local blogs carping about them, based on Alexa’s measurements.”
First of all, it is Sierra College, not “Sierra Nevada Community College.” What idiot wrote and copyedited this? Second, check out the headline from today’s “Scooper”: “My sexbot cut off my penis,” claims area man.” Wow, isn’t that clever “satire.”
In addition, The Union seems to think that “Alexa’s measurements” (AKA projected but not verified web traffic) are the arbitrator of this fiasco.
In fact, the arbitrators are The Union’s circulation and revenue trends, as well as the League’s fundraising efforts as a supposed nonpartisan, nonprofit. This presentation was an embarrassment to both and has damaged their credibility.
How stupid does The Union think its residents are? The self-appointed “establishment” in small towns are a hoot, keeping it “small” and provincial.
Jeff Pelline's Sierra Foothills Report 
I did not attend, but how does this Snopes event fit into the mission of the LWV, a respectable and arguably vital organization, which concerns itself with voting rights?
Aside from that, perhaps the evening should have been billed differently and ticket holders could have been told that an avatar, not the actual Scooper, would be present.
Gaming the expectations of an audience generally results in a backfire.
It doesn’t fit. This is one of the biggest “CYA’s” I’ve seen around here. lol.
I wonder if The Union will run (another) correction — this time for calling Sierra College “Sierra Nevada Community College.” You can’t make this stuff up!
What a hoot! The Union corrected this online. Of course, it can’t “republish” the print version.
In analyzing web traffic, I wonder if it occurred to Pruett that The Union’s content is behind a “paywall.” A true idiot.