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This sounds familiar

I haven't been analyzing the GTRC report today because I've been reviewing it with some colleagues as part of our planning for follow-up stories. (On that subject, by the way, I welcome suggestions.)

One recommendation jumped out at me, however: the one on p. 35 of the executive summary that calls for the N&R, "alone or in concert with other media outlets," to "host a citywide citizen group that would comment on news process, content, quality and ethics." The commission believes that such a group could solicit input for "story development, source development, recognizing other perspectives, critique of news coverage, commentary on newspaper practices and suggestions for better addressing community concerns."

Without taking a position on the merits of this suggestion, I would just point out that much of our Town Square plan, particularly the recommendations dealing with transparency and interactivity, is aimed at making the same things happen for the same reason: We believed, and continue to believe, that those changes will lead to more accurate, authentic journalism.

In other words, please don't let the fact that no such citizen group currently exists stop you from letting us know how you feel on any or all of these subjects.

Comments (4)

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sean coon said:

what do you think about extending the town square concept into the meetup idea that jeri rowe and myself tossed around?

Lex said:

If people decide that's the direction they want to go in, more power to 'em. I'll be happy to participate and will be interested in hearing what folks have to say, as always.

I was just saying that anyone who wants to raise an issue with us can go ahead and do so and need not wait for such a group to form. Both/and, in other words, not either/or.

sean coon said:

sure. you guys have always been good like that. but getting other newspapers and the tv/radio folk on the same page would be key...

John Appel said:

The N&R blogs and Town Square thing are already a pretty extensive forum for public discussion on a variety of issues, are they not?
But I guess if you spend as much time an energy as the TRC did on trying to shift blame, you have to wind up with some "recommendations" to make it look worthwhile.

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