"Voting complaints highlight role of press in democracy" 12/5

[EMunster]

This Oregonian "public editor" should get a thank you...

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/public_editor/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1102165523269170.xml

clip:

I met with a committed group of representatives of the dozens of people in Oregon working to investigate election irregularities. They were not wild-eyed conspiracy theorists, but everyday Oregonians, ranging from a teacher to a software engineer to an interior designer. They tote reams of reports of inconsistencies in voting patterns, reports of vote suppression and documents reflecting the historical accuracy of exit polling.

Although most opposed President Bush, they contend the issue is about democracy, not who is elected president. "This is not an issue," says Beth Hahn, "this is the issue: We are losing our democracy."

That's why they argue The Oregonian -- which is supposed to be devoted to serving democracy by informing people -- should pay even more attention, especially when it has focused on questions about the Ukrainian presidential election. And they argue that if the newspaper isn't interested because it cares about democracy, it should be aware that a high percentage of its readers are concerned.

Given where most of the election disputes occurred -- with the exception of Washington state -- The Oregonian must rely primarily on wire service stories. That coverage, especially from national newspapers, has not been extensive and deep, but The Oregonian hasn't taken full advantage of what coverage there was.



more at link above...

[PATRICK]

1. Wire services

For those of you who thought that people whose business and life is "news" would google and research at least for personal benefit. For those of you who squeeze a few hours out of the day or week to be wonkish gatherers of ignored nuggets and wonder what those who spend their whole work week doing about the news.

Do you ever suspect that the phrase should be for locals(TV, papers)- "We don't do national". How about evaluating the oddities of the wire services with their slant, their insufficiencies and strangeness who give them unnamed sources wrapped in sound bites- and little else.

Duh. Gosh them concerned folk ain't the conspiracy theorists the NATIONAL NEWS folk talk about. Maybe 2+2=4 is not just an equation but a story.

How trusting our cynical press corps, our cynical politicians, our cynical populace, our hard nosed streetwise unions, etc. really are when it comes to a a smell so rotten the world is puking and hollering all around us.

And maybe if some real leadership could have knocked those noggins more firmly instead of leaving them half asleep it wouldn't take a bunch of Joe Citizens to point out that NONE OF YOU GUYS ON TOP ARE DOING YOUR JOB. Democracy just died without the obit.

Duhhhhhhhhh.

[righteous1]

2. With hyper-exaggeration what you gain in attention

you lose in credibility

[Pithy Cherub]

3. the 'press' relies on national newsroom groupthink

to decide what the masses should know. This is a national disgrace and embarrassment! Relying on others to do the right thing and then they are so inert, there will be no one remaining to hold these press zombies accountable!

The 'press' is a disgrace to every American and the principles this country was founded upon!