[Speed Gibson,
Sunday June 26, 2005 at 9:56pm]
To subscribe or not subscribe...
OK, I've had my fun with the Minneapolis Star Tribune. But I again see numerous appeals to cancel our subscriptions, and I will not. The case is increasingly compelling, but still an over-reaction.
I believe at least a third of the news room is trying and generally succeeding to get it right. Erik Black, for one. I believe that another third are trying but generally unaware how prevalent their biases are. Dane Smith comes to mind. And yes, there's the final third or so that need a fresh challenge at another paper. You know the names.
The ratios will vary, but almost every organization has a similar "portfolio" of workers. Even if we were put in charge, the problem really wouldn't go away. You might change the percentages, you might at least swing the bias to the right, but it will still be a less than perfect product. And suppose you bring them to their fiscal knees? Then what?
Like other major dailies, most of what you read is correct and useful. But by reading it with a trained eye and drawing on other sources such as on cable or the Internet, you'll be able to sort out the rest.
Stop subscribing, and you'll soon stop reading. Stop reading, and you'll soon stop learning, particularly regarding local events and issues.
I believe at least a third of the news room is trying and generally succeeding to get it right. Erik Black, for one. I believe that another third are trying but generally unaware how prevalent their biases are. Dane Smith comes to mind. And yes, there's the final third or so that need a fresh challenge at another paper. You know the names.
The ratios will vary, but almost every organization has a similar "portfolio" of workers. Even if we were put in charge, the problem really wouldn't go away. You might change the percentages, you might at least swing the bias to the right, but it will still be a less than perfect product. And suppose you bring them to their fiscal knees? Then what?
Like other major dailies, most of what you read is correct and useful. But by reading it with a trained eye and drawing on other sources such as on cable or the Internet, you'll be able to sort out the rest.
Stop subscribing, and you'll soon stop reading. Stop reading, and you'll soon stop learning, particularly regarding local events and issues.