The negative news media strikes again
I just came back from the annual State of the Community luncheon sponsored by the Greensboro Area Chamber of Commerce. Once again, Mayor Keith Holliday criticized the news media for its negativity, for trumping up its public watchdog role and for underestimating its readers' intelligence. He encouraged the 800-or-so business and community leaders there to think for themselves, advice, I suspect, the audience had already learned by themselves many, many years ago. Here's what he said:
"Of course, nothing breeds the Greensboro disease more profoundly than a group of media representatives that rationalize their attempts at marketing their product by labeling themselves as public watchdogs. Some day our local media is going to discover the public is much smarter than they give them credit for.
"Please, please, please do not let the media do your thinking for you. Ask them to give you facts so that you can create your own opinion. The media in Greensboro run a business just like many of you do and thus should be scrutinized just like any other consumer product or service in the marketplace."
Contrast that with the comments of the speaker who followed the mayor, Alan Duncan, chairman of the Guilford school board and an attorney for the News & Record. He could have remarked on the recent coverage of the bus transportation mess, the controversial High Point redistricting plan or the story in the morning paper about the superintendent's travel. Instead, he opened by saying the school system has "been under close scrutiny. That's a good thing." He said he welcomes the scrutiny because that means the community cares about their children's education.
Discuss among yourselves.
Oh, for the record, I have great respect for the wisdom of our readers. We know -- and I've written many times -- that our readers are savvy, sophisticated and have no difficulty seeing behind the curtain.
By the way, the mayor introduced his remarks about the media by saying that he enjoyed Ed Cone's column in the News & Record about being optimistic about the city's future.
Comments (11)
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Would you really expect an attorney representing the newspaper to make negative comments regarding his client? As the newscaster on ABC's 20/20 says "gimme a break".
Posted on August 31, 2004 4:07 PM
No, I wouldn't. I would expect a public official to welcome scrutiny from the public, the people who fund government's operations and elect officeholders. When they complain about the scrutiny, I get concerned.
Posted on August 31, 2004 4:55 PM
Holliday's picture is beside the definition of "weak mayor" in the dictionary. Like the kid who becomes hall monitor, nobody listens to him. Why should they?
Posted on August 31, 2004 7:45 PM
The Mayor forgets he's little more than a mirror and easily shattered. Sure, blame all your problems on the media. If the school buses don't run it's the media's fault for reporting it. If city backed corporate projects end up costing the taxpayers more than city leaders projected... well, that's your fault too. Why not ask him why he hasn't addressed this? I guess that's the media's fault-- me included-- too.
Posted on August 31, 2004 8:56 PM
Here's the link I tried to include
http://www.idlehandsmag.com/id193.html
Posted on August 31, 2004 8:58 PM
The mayor may want to be careful what he asks for. Thinking for one's self may be an early symptom of Cone's Greensboro Disease.
What the mayor might have meant is for people to ignore the perceived negativity of the messy details and focus on the larger positives.
Perhaps his point was this: If the N&R or the Rhino or some neighborhood or other entity attempt to bring a dose of fiscal reality or a different point of view or non-mainstream idea into the ra-ra shishkoomba party, it is better if such voices are marginalized for "the good of the whole" and, perhaps, assigned a label for identity.... (naysayer comes to mind)
I wasn't able to attend the meeting, but I'm sure that your take on Alan D. is on the mark from everything I know about him. Alan is the very definition of governance transparency in my opinion.
He welcomes citicism as a sign of much needed involvement on the part of the citizenry. He knows he is not always right, but continues to try different combinations in an effort to move forward.
Posted on August 31, 2004 10:21 PM
Just so I get this clear...the media is too negative, except for articles in the media extolling optimism, which can be used as a springboard for comments on media negativity....
Posted on September 1, 2004 7:46 AM
Perhaps my sarcasm was lost, even on me during a re-read.
I agree with John and disagree with the mayor, but with this caveat - negativity is in the eye of the beholder.
Posted on September 1, 2004 9:34 AM
as a long time reader i appreciate your watchdog roll. the mayor's job is to serve as the city's cheerleader. keep up the good work.
bill
Posted on September 1, 2004 10:29 AM
After a long search, I finally found your site. My granny used to say, that you must never give up to reach a certain aim.
So keep on going like I did it recently.
Posted on January 4, 2005 4:14 AM
You are all stupid, because your commenting on meaningless things. You should all stop reading this crap and go back to living your lives, if they're worth living.
Posted on June 27, 2006 11:30 AM