When the news isn't what you want it to be
Boy, this is the kind of paper that makes community boosters cringe. A public school teacher had a criminal record. Toll roads are in our future. Man who may have scammed millions commits suicide. Investigation into embezzlement at the High Point Housing Authority. A&T reassigns its athletic director.
Of course, we have more positive stuff: cutting down a Christmas tree; getting a local Apple store; a family safe after a house fire.
But still today's emphasis on crime, corruption and cost sets a tone that boosters tell me hurts the image of the city to outsiders. It is certainly not the sort of city I see when I'm out and about, that's for sure. But bad things happened, and they are important for people to know about. (We weren't even the first to report some of them.) They don't define the community, by any means, but they are part of it. And tomorrow's paper will be different.
Could be worse. The top story on the Web site is "High Point man charged in Internet sex sting."
Comments (2)
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But, Mr. Robinson, lurid sex and crime stories are what sells newspapers. Titillate the readers and they'll keep coming back for more. One only need look at your "sensational" coverage of Chief Wray's "alleged" racism to prove that point.
I recall some time ago that News2 decided they would not air crime stories on the 6 o'clock news unless it was necessary to disseminate suspect info to catch the criminal. That policy didn't last long.
I'll bet if the grocery store checkout aisle had National Inquirer right next to The Wall Street Journal the Inquirer would outsell it 4 to 1.
Posted on November 30, 2007 12:23 PM
"But still today's emphasis on crime, corruption and cost sets a tone that boosters tell me hurts the image of the city to outsiders."
I guess these boosters are the same people who so "wisely" spend our tax dollars on "marketing" Greensboro rather than hiring enough police officers and social workers to actually solve our problems.
"It is certainly not the sort of city I see when I'm out and about, that's for sure."
It pretty obvious you weren't up all night listening to the noise from the gangsta's (Bloods Gang) across the street from my house.
The election is over, nothing's changed and it's back to business as usual.
Posted on December 1, 2007 6:47 AM