You're invited to add your voice
Welcome. Come on in and pull up a chair.
You're now a member of the News & Record's virtual editorial board.
Through this forum you can participate in our daily editorial board meetings, where we discuss the topics we might write about and set our slate for tomorrow's paper.
Who are we? Editorial Page Editor Allen Johnson led today's 9:30 a.m. meeting. Allen was joined by Ken Irons and your blogger today, Doug Clark.
Our lineup varies from day to day. Ken normally is with us just two days each week, although he's been pulling full-time duty lately to help us through vacation season. Keith Monroe joined our team a few months ago on a once-a-week basis, although some weeks he's worked more often than that. And, about the middle of next month, Elma Sabo will resume editorial writing a few days a week. At one time a full-time editorial writer, for the last few years she's been our part-time editor of the Sunday Ideas section and book pages.
Publisher Robin Saul is the final member of our Editorial Board, but Robin doesn't sit in often. He does typically review editorials before they are published.
The purpose of this blog is to give you a look at how we work, let you know what we're working on, and ask for your input. We'll give you a chance to comment on our editorials before we write them -- which means your views can influence our final product.
Occasionally, we'll also use this space to solicit your opinions about the various features besides editorials that we include on our pages. Which columnists do you like, or not? Which features? You're our customers, and we're in business to satisfy you -- although we know that sometimes we're bound to make you mad.
So, back to today's discussion. We focused mainly on three subjects:
* The startling story that an alleged local drug dealer discussed hiring a hit man to "touch" Rhino Times editor John Hammer and possibly author Jerry Bledsoe.
After noting that it's pretty flattering for journalists to provoke murderous intent in the people they report about, we quickly agreed that this is a serious issue and, even if the Rhino is a rival publication, we've got to stick up for fellow journalists. The idea that Hammer and Bledsoe, a former N&R reporter and columnist, might be the targets of a mob-style hit is just outrageous. The allegation demands serious investigation. I'm planning to write on this subject for publication later in the week. Your thoughts?
* The disturbing case of retaliatory action taken against a high-level DMV official who blew the whistle on possible improper actions by his boss.
This one is Ken's. We strongly believe that state employees who report improper behavior in their agencies should be protected, as the law requires.
* And a national report that some experts think the problem of criminal gangs, especially involving young people, is overstated.
Allen plans to take a closer look at this report and check it against what local authorities say about youth gang activities here. Allen has written about gangs many times before. His impression, based in part on what law-enforcement sources say, has been that gangs are more of a problem here than most people want to believe. He may develop this topic into our lead editorial for Sunday.
We have a couple of editorials written earlier in the week that we plan to print in tomorrow's edition. But in this business, the news can change our plans in a hurry so we try to be flexible.
That's it for now. Thanks for joining us. We're anxious to hear from you.
Comments (14)
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I've always been suspicious about the reporting on gangs. Your paper recently published an estimate of--I think--241 gang members in Greensboro. That's next to nothing. Like the Asian bird flu, global warming, college drinking, drought, mad cow disease, etc., gangs seem to me like one of the journalism industry's standby, go-to crises.
Posted on July 18, 2007 12:22 PM
I truly appreciate the focus on gangs, foster care and other "youth in crisis" issues that I've noticed in the N&R recently. Many people would prefer to be unaware of the troubles facing our young people - but we all need to wake up and recognize what may be a growing problem in our community. We need to be very aware and attentive to youth as they are our hope for the future - as corny as it may sound, it's the truth!
Posted on July 18, 2007 1:12 PM
If the Rhino times is a "competitor" of the N&R, then you guys have sunk to a new low! That rag is little more than a "vent" for the brainless. It is not even worth the price--FREE.
One thing I will always say, though, John Hammer is the hardest working "newspaperman" in the city. He is at every local government meeting and he sees it all. Occasionally, the Rhino scoops the N&R and that's usually due to lazy reporters. To be scooped by a weekly is pretty bad..don't ya think?
Posted on July 18, 2007 2:02 PM
The problem of gangs continues to grow in Greensboro and is worthy of your attention. It specificly needs our attention in our schools. Kudos for taking on this topic.
Posted on July 18, 2007 2:19 PM
The problem of gangs continues to grow in Greensboro and is worthy of your attention. It specificly needs our attention in our schools. Kudos for taking on this topic.
Posted on July 18, 2007 2:20 PM
The problem of gangs continues to grow in Greensboro and is worthy of your attention. It specificly needs our attention in our schools. Kudos for taking on this topic.
Posted on July 18, 2007 2:20 PM
The Rhino has readers and advertisers, so it's obviously a competitor. It sometimes gets the scoop. Come on, they have people who are good at what they do.
But sometimes what you see are differences in news judgment and coverage decisions. The N&R reports some stories the Rhino doesn't; the Rhino does things the N&R doesn't do.
One big difference is our separation of news from opinion.
Posted on July 18, 2007 2:28 PM
Re: the hitman hired to take out the Rhino folks: The very first op-ed piece that I wrote for our college newspaper, I received a death threat. I've always considered it one of the highest honors that a writer could get, because it proves that at least one person is reading your work and is taking it to heart :-)
Posted on July 18, 2007 2:35 PM
I hope it wasn't the college president.
Posted on July 18, 2007 2:40 PM
Gangs should definitely be a focus. The problem with gangs is that no city wants to acknowledge that there is a problem with them until it spills into the "Good" parts of town. For all of those that do not think there is a gang problem in Greensboro, take a trip to the East side of the city sometime. See the graffiti on the vacant buildings, see the rags in the pockets of the youngsters dressed in all red or all blue or all black. The main problem that we have is that we are 10 years behind in fighting gangs. It is 2007 and the mayor of Greensboro finally admits that we have a gang problem. But I guess it is not a problem west of Elm street, but trust me east of Elm street there is a gang problem.
Posted on July 18, 2007 3:14 PM
If you choose to editorialize on gangs, please include some input from GCS administrators and BOE members.
Posted on July 18, 2007 3:33 PM
"We strongly believe that state employees who report improper behavior in their agencies should be protected, as the law requires."
Really? Just state employees? How about people in public serivce . . . or employed by "non-profits"?
Here's my voice at your table:
http://drjshousecalls.blogspot.com/2007/07/more-inspiration-to-stand-and-fight.html
For the record, I've heard it all before. And I suffer under no illusion that my voice is "welcome" at your table.
Posted on July 18, 2007 7:44 PM
I suggest this board seriously consider writing about the merits of impeachment of Cheney and Bush, especially in light of the growing impeachment movement in this country and the growing movement toward all-out war with Iran.
The majority of Americans now favor impeachment of Cheney, and a near-majority favor impeaching Bush. Yet few even know that Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich has introduced House Resolution 333, Articles of Impeachment Relating to Vice President Richard B. Cheney, and even fewer in the media are discussing or debating the merits or demerits of this cause.
Kucinich said,
"It became obvious to me that this vice president, who was a driving force for taking the United States into a war against Iraq under false pretenses, is once again rattling the sabers of war against Iran with the same intent to drive America into another war, again based on false pretenses.
"Richard Cheney had purposely manipulated the intelligence process to deceive the citizens and the Congress of the United States by fabricating a threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction to justify the use of the United States armed forces against the nation of Iraq in a manner damaging to our national security.
"That despite all evidence to the contrary, the vice president actively and systematically sought to deceive the citizens and the Congress of the United States about an alleged threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.
That preceding the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, the vice president was fully informed that no legitimate evidence existed of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The vice president pressured the intelligence community to change their findings to enable the deception of the citizens and the Congress of the United States.
That in this the vice president subverted the national security interests of the United States by setting the stage for the loss of more than 3,300 United States service members and the loss of 650,000 Iraqi citizens since the United States invasion; the loss of approximately $500 billion in war costs, which has increased our federal debt; the loss of military readiness within the United States armed services, through an overextension and lack of training and lack of equipment; and the loss of United States credibility in the world affairs and decades of likely blowback created by the invasion of Iraq.
"That with respect to Article II, that Richard Cheney manipulated the intelligence process to deceive the citizens and the Congress of the United States about an alleged relationship between Iraq and Al Qaida in order to justify the use of United States armed forces against the nation of Iraq in a manner damaging to our national security.
And that, despite all evidence to the contrary, the vice president actively and systematically sought to deceive the citizens and Congress of the United States about an alleged relationship between Iraq and Al Qaida.
"That preceding to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, the vice president was fully informed that no credible evidence existed of a working relationship between Iraq and Al Qaida, a fact articulated in several official documents.
"With respect to Article III, that in his conduct while vice president of the United States, Richard Cheney openly threatened aggression against the Republic of Iran, absent any real threat to the United States, and has done so with the United States's proven capability to carry out such threats, thus undermining the national security interests of the United States.
"That despite no evidence that Iran has the intention or the capability of attacking the United States, and despite the turmoil created by the United States's invasion of Iraq, the vice president has openly threatened aggression against Iran.
"Furthermore, I point out in the articles that Article VI of the United States Constitution states, and I quote, "This Constitution and the laws of the United States shall be made in pursuance thereof and all treaties made or which shall be made under the authority of the United States shall be the supreme law of the land. Any provision of an international treaty ratified by the United States becomes the law of the United States."
Posted on July 19, 2007 10:30 AM
To JWG:
We definitely will interview GCS officials. I have several calls out to them as I type.
Posted on July 19, 2007 2:28 PM