At least they have their police blotter
I thought this was a funny note from Times Leader editor Matt Golas today regarding the Crestwood contract negotiations...
Hmmm...say, you don't think it's because of the GAG ORDER, do you? Since the TL apparently can't get anything off the record as well, Golas is openly soliciting leaks from the public.
Both sides are expected to approve the contract today, which means every newspaper and TV reporter will be privy to the details. So if Golas is expecting to snag some sort of exclusive, I think he's going about it the wrong way.
UPDATE: And Crestwood has a new contract. So much for soliciting leaks, Matt.
I am amazed at the lack of information out there despite a tentative settlement that was reached over the weekend following court-mandated negotiations between the union representing the Crestwood teachers and the administration.
Hmmm...say, you don't think it's because of the GAG ORDER, do you? Since the TL apparently can't get anything off the record as well, Golas is openly soliciting leaks from the public.
Both sides are expected to approve the contract today, which means every newspaper and TV reporter will be privy to the details. So if Golas is expecting to snag some sort of exclusive, I think he's going about it the wrong way.
UPDATE: And Crestwood has a new contract. So much for soliciting leaks, Matt.
posted by Howard Beale at 3:59 PM
4 Comments:
If you don't have kids of school age, I'd suggest that school strikes are the very definition of boring. One newsie this morning droned on with all the numbers - percentages, dollar values, dates, blah, blah, blah - boring isn't strong enough a word. Actually, the term "bad television" is far more fitting. Like so many other things, school strikes get the high play they do because they are easy to cover. Even the greenest reporter at a station can string the story together. And how much do you suppose someone in Carbondale cares about Crestwood's strike? I'll go you one better, how many people in Carbondale even know where Crestwood is?
School strikes affect everyone, regardless of if they have school-age kids. Just look at Crestwood, where property taxes are going up around $240. I'm sure if your property taxes were going up that much, you'd want to know about it.
Crestwood's strike cast a bigger net than most. Teachers are now paying for part of their health insurance. That's big. Every teacher and every taxpayer in every school district sat up and took notice. Strike coverage can be routine and formula. This one was different. The newsie in the first post got caught up in the details. He or she didn't see the big picture.
AS A NEWS REPORTER, YOU NEED SOURCES. THESE SOURCES NEED YOU. THE WAY IT USUALLY WORKS IS, THE SOURCE NEEDS TO BE LOYAL TO ONLY YOU. IT IS KIND OF LIKE A MARRIAGE WITHOUT THE CHEATING. SOURCES COME AND GO, BUT YOU NEED TO ALWAYS FIND WAYS TO HANG ON TO THE GOOD ONES. I HAVE WORKED IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT MARKETS, AND I AM A MASTER AT MANIPULATING A SOURCE. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL EVER GET A REAL "EXCLUSIVE." MOST NEWS OUTLETS ARE EXTOLLING THE VIRTUES OF JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY. FINE, THEN WHEN YOU NEVER GET THE STORY FIRST, YOU STILL HAVE YOUR INTEGRITY TO HANG ON TO. OR BETTER YET, STEAL IT FROM ANOTHER PUBLICATION NOT WIDELY SEEN OR READ AND CLAIM IT IS YOUR EXCLUSIVE. HA, NEWS IS A WATERED DOWN JOKE ANYMORE ANYWAY, ESPECIALLY IN A SMALL MARKET. ADVERTISERS DICTATE WHAT YOU WILL PUT IN A PUBLICATION, OR ON THE AIR. IF YOU PISS OFF A FRIEND OF THEIRS, THEY WILL THREATEN TO PULL THE ADS THAT PAY THE OUTLET. IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY, NOT THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE. CHANNEL 16 IS A MASTER AT THAT. NOTICE STORIES LIKE THE LACKAWANNA PRISON SCANDAL. NEWSWATCH 16 HARDLY TOUCHED THAT STORY. IT WAS A HUGE STORY, THAT ALL VIEWERS FROM AROUND THE MARKET WOULD LOVE TO SEE AND HEAR. HOWEVER, YOU MIGHT PISS OFF FRIENDS OF ADVERTISERS, AND THAT WOULDN'T BE GOOD. SO, THEY MISSED THE BOAT ON THAT AND PROBABLY TOLD A STORY ABOUT A FURRY LITTLE CREATURE STUCK IN A TREE...AWWWWW, ISN'T THAT NICE.
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