I’ve moved on to a better place since I was fired from the Record Searchlight in October. I have a great, rapidly growing website. (Oh, oh, stay tuned for a Food for Thought surprise announcement Aug. 1. You’ll love it.)
Where was I? Oh, yes. I’m happier than ever. In fact, I love my new job so much that I’m glad I’m no longer with the Record Searchlight.
Free at last, free at last. Fun, fun, fun.
If the above is true, why do I continue to write negative pieces about the local newspaper? This is a recurring question.
Here is my recurring answer: Because I can.
Am I bitter? Nope.
Do I hate the paper? Goodness, how could someone hate a newspaper?
Am I trying to destroy the paper? Lord, no.
Do I know that some people wish I’d just shut up about the paper? Sure. But people have wanted me to shut up about things for years. Why start now?
Do I think the out-to-lunch management duo is systematically wrecking the once-proud community paper? Absolutely.
That last part is another reason I continue to write about the RS. But I have other reasons.
For starters, the RS is one of the largest employers in Shasta County. As such, its treatment of its “product,” its people and its customers (uh, us) affect this community.
For argument’s sake, let’s say I zipped my lip about the outrageous, sometimes unbelieveable crap happening at the RS. My silence would not bring an end to the crap. The only difference would be that the public would remain in the dark, which, in my opinion, is exactly what the RS management team prefers: keep the public in the dark about the newspaper and its dirty laundry.
But notice: The RS thinks nothing about publishing dirty-laundry stories about other large employers, including hospitals, city and county governments, even large private businesses and companies.
With that in mind, when I write about the RS, I see it as a public service. Fair is fair.
Besides, in this one-newspaper community, who will report how the RS has slashed positions — sometimes entire departments? (A moment of silence for the paper’s dearly departed artists.)
Likewise, who will report about the RS layoffs, firings and even intimidations? Who will report the totally bizarre (bordering on illegal, in my humble opinion) personnel punishments (suspensions without pay for not getting with the program)?
Who will report when the RS outsources advertising production work — financed by local businesses? Shouldn’t those paying businesses know what’s behind such mistakes as Main Lobster and Mr. Shasta?
Local TV and radio can’t report these things. Not really. They are bound by a combo professional courtesy tied up with a sprinkle of fear. They won’t touch the RS — can’t, really — not and work in the same arena.
The same is true of major organizations, often at the mercy of the RS for stories, publicity and even free or reduced-price ads, partnerships and/or sponsorships. Yanked bargain ads. Blackballed subjects. Negative stories. Unreturned phone calls. True or imagined, those are among these organizations’ fears.
The paper is powerful. Because of that power, people and organizations are loathe to speak a disparaging word about their newspaper.
Case in point: Who will report silly things, such as how the already humiliated editorial staff has been issued yet another stupid-sloganed marketing-department T-shirt, this one with the message: “We don’t blow smoke … WE COVER IT!” (So much for that professional media courtesy.)
I can report that.
And who will report truly funny things, such as this recent Wikipedia description of the Record Searchlight. (Note: In the event Wikipedia’s post about the RS is suddenly deleted, here’s a link to a copy of that page.)
Here’s an excerpt from that Wikipedia page, last update July 12:
“The columnists at the Record Searchlight don’t exist because they were fired. The Record Searchlight thinks it reports news with emphasis on news at the local, national, state, and global levels, but since nearly everyone has been fired, they only report on mostly car wrecks. The writers that are still there, while hard-working, are very inaccurate. The copy desk is over worked and under paid, as is the sports department. The newspaper recently underwent a reorganization, including eliminating the Monday education section and downsizing the Business section by burying it inside the B section.”
Who can report these things?
I can.
I’m not making this stuff up.
I’m just holding the flashlight.
“Give light and people will find their own way.” – E.W. Scripps slogan
