On the death of journalism…

[Mick1]

The Collapse of the News Industry Is Taking Its Soul Down With It – POLITICO

Article by Jack Shafer. A wistful look back at the arrogance that writers used to have, back before inaccurate writing truly jeopardized their jobs. Maybe the most self-centered piece I’ve ever read, from an author whose mentality was clearly “we used to be kings” when he wrote it.

Years ago, my sister wrote a muckraking article for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. She said she felt slimy the entire time. The editor wanted her to continue to write those kinds of articles, and only focus on one side. She resigned instead.

Over a 40 year marketing career, I’ve shepherded hundreds of articles. About 85% were off-point, about 40% had material inaccuracies. They weren’t vengeful or one-sided, the reporters just didn’t understand the material — they should have, though…they were reporters working for legal publications.

Right when I was starting out in business, my company had a small advertising budget. I asked for a Business section placement, second choice was Local. The Mercury News put our ad in the Food section, literally the worst place it could be. I called to complain, their only response was “tough.” Such arrogance. I never did business with them again.

When I was 19 years old, I was materially misquoted in a Mercury News article about life on campus, to the point that it alarmed my grandmother. Great.

Editors and reporters have told me in the past that they are neutral and only report the news. But by selecting only the news they decide to print, they sway the public in their desired direction. And they knew it. And they did it anyway. Why did they think it wouldn’t affect their customers?

That whole business leaves me cold. Through their own arrogance, they brought their disaster on themselves. I’m not unhappy to see it crater.

Audaces fortuna iuvat

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