The Local Newspaper: Fair and Balanced?
Running a small-town newspaper like the Taco Times / Perry News-Herald is undoubtedly a challenge. It's hard work, there's not much money to be made, and someone's always going to be unhappy with its coverage. There's a small pool of advertisers, and angering one of them could cause significant financial loss to the paper.
Nevertheless, as a community I'm sure we desire a paper that's fair and balanced—one that delivers all of the news. How does our local paper measure up? There have been a number of complaints lately that certain stories have been ignored, such as the closing of EMS, the disciplining of a student caught with a gun on campus, an incident with local law enforcement and an airboat, and the arrest of a high-ranking school district official.
What local news do YOU think deserved coverage but didn't get it (no rumors or personal attacks, please—just actual news)? Do you believe it's realistic to think a small-town paper could keep its head above water financially if it angered important advertisers? Or are those advertisers just as reliant on the publicity they get from the paper as the paper is on their advertising dollars? Who needs whom more? Or is advertising not the issue here—are there genuine editorial disagreements over what events are worth being covered by the paper? And how is the Internet changing the news game?
Nevertheless, as a community I'm sure we desire a paper that's fair and balanced—one that delivers all of the news. How does our local paper measure up? There have been a number of complaints lately that certain stories have been ignored, such as the closing of EMS, the disciplining of a student caught with a gun on campus, an incident with local law enforcement and an airboat, and the arrest of a high-ranking school district official.
What local news do YOU think deserved coverage but didn't get it (no rumors or personal attacks, please—just actual news)? Do you believe it's realistic to think a small-town paper could keep its head above water financially if it angered important advertisers? Or are those advertisers just as reliant on the publicity they get from the paper as the paper is on their advertising dollars? Who needs whom more? Or is advertising not the issue here—are there genuine editorial disagreements over what events are worth being covered by the paper? And how is the Internet changing the news game?
We do need local newspapers if we want to read local news. The Internet will not give us that. But we do need important stories covered. A small town newspaper needs to be more than birth and wedding announcements, church news and obituaries. Local businesses need local newspapers, too, because radio and TV ads are far too expensive. The missed stories mentioned were important--too bad if they were overlooked, worse if they were hushed up
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You raise some good questions, but before I give my 2 cents...high-ranking school official arrested? Sounds like a topic to me.
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I'm not sure how the Police Office and the Hospital contribute to the income of the newspaper, but it seems to me the paper will not print anything negative towards them. They do go out of their way to announce every law enforcement officer on duty when they arrest someone for whatever. The paper is a waste of 50cents really. If I see one more half page about the Redhats eating lunch at the Downtown Cafe I'm going to throw a tantrum. Lately the Redhats have been outdone by the Master Gardeners...but when your hot your hot.
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HAHA,That's funny...and sad that things like this are considered news.
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The sad thing is come Thursday night and Friday morning everyone complaining will be reading one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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"The Local Newspaper: Fair and Balanced?", about as much as Faux News. LOL! But really, the local newspaper is not "fair and balanced", never has been and never will. I could list a lot of examples, we all could. I feel that the local newspaper will not print anything that goes against their advertisers, cronys and others of the same like minds or political persuasion. I understand the publisher was in Live oak prior to coming to Perry and had a rough time there as well. You have to give kudos to the folks in Madison County and now Jefferson County - Green Publishing, at least they are colorful. Given the last year's stories that have came up on this blog that never appear in the local newspaper, it is almost funny, if it was not so sad. At least the Woods and Water appears to use the spell and grammar check, kudos to Woods and Water! A lot of folks in this county have been saying someone should start a new paper in our community, I think we have and it is this blog! Does it burn? It should. Have another drink and a smoke.
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Here we go, another thing to complain about. If TCT is the next newspaper of Perry, then why don't we call it the National Enquirer. Look lets come up with some other topics to complain about.
1. Nature Coast
2. Hwy 19 north work being done by the State
3.Christmas shop opening, all kinds of things there from wrong colors to gaudy.
4. Intersection of 19-98.
5. hunting in Taylor County.
6. Hunting in the State of Florida.
7. Hunting in the United States.
8. Hunting around the World-now theres a WIDE OPEN TOPIC.
9.HAGENS COVE
10. GOOSE PASTURE.
11. Econfina River.
12. The Gulf of Mexico
13. Gilmans possibly closing.
14. Ware Oil
15. New motel being built.
16. Cheverolet and Ford dealerships.
17. Politics of Florida.
18. Politics of the World.
19. The economy
20. The ecomony in Perry
21. The ecomony in Florida.
22. The World economy.
23. Is Taylor County to big.
24. Is Taylor to small.
25. Is Taylor County just right.
26. Pine trees in Taylor county compared to Oak trees in Taylor County.
27. Buckeye
28. Dept. of Corrections
29. Dept of Transportation
30. Available sports in Taylor Couty
31. A pro franchise coming to Taylor County.
Look I can go on and on and on- but to make it simple whatever we put on here is gonna be chatised and critisized to death, no positives just gossip and complaining, any thing to cut, jab or punch something or someone. Very seldom do we see positives on here, so by no means call this site a newspaper call it what it has become, but not meant to become a place for people to sit behind a screen and be hurtful and hateful towards people and businesses and organizations or civic groups and government body's that try to do day in and day out to do good, but get beat up by a bunch of cowards that hide behind the keyboard in front of them. Enough said.
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So just to be clear, your argument is that the newspaper *does* provide fair, balanced, and complete coverage of newsworthly local events?
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No what I am saying is that you and a couple of people have intellegent things to say on this site, most if not all the others have nothing better to do in their life except complain about everything, this blog was set up as a conversation of things going on in Perry, and you have to agree that it has become a hate avenue against people that try to do some good in this comunity. I just thought that if they want to complain then they should have some topics of choice, these were just a few that came to mind, I could have several hundred other things, no matter what ther topic, they will always complain, and be hateful, because apparantly in their lives they must be very miserable. I will leave it at that and not coment again.
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Given all the pandering that the local newspaper appears to do to the potentates and charlatans of the county, you would think that these folks would have some level of respect for the local newspaper, well these folks, or their kids, are just one law-break event away from being mad at the local newspaper as well. When a newspaper does not stand for honest reporting, no has any respect for the newspaper.
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The local paper is agood thing to have.Alotof people rely on it for local news.The bad thing is,alot of citizens crimes and mistakes are made public.Even more are kept quiet so certain families are not humiliated by their famalies actions.You would be surprised how many names do not make the famous Booking Desk!
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The letter to the editor in Wednesday's edition with the comment "residents deserve truth not spin" about the local newspaper's reporting in a recent article says it all. The local newspaper needs to stick to facts, report fairly and accurately and leave the editorializing on the editorial page and in the "muddle". I feel that so much selective reporting has gone on through the years, the local newspaper will never have any credability. I say bring back Ken Smith! LOL!!!!!!
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Newspaper does not print facts, nor does it print retractions for false info it reports.
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Well, if it has to do with TCDA, Chamber, golf course cronys, Dyal and company, ect.....the local news paper is not going to print anything. Look at the ongoing lawsuit between Pam Feagle and the Chmaber that has never been reported on as an example. Look at the doings at the school board, ditto. It is always funny to me when you do not see a "reporter" at public meetings (school board, bocc, city, ect..) and yet there magically appears a story on the meeting. This what has been call the tail waging the dog. Great job local newspaper. I understand that there has in the past been cronys calling folks who have written letters to the editor to request not printing such letters to save face of a loca potentate / charlatan.
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Since our paper doesn't write complete stories or none at all, maybe if or when they cover the football playoff game tonight, they could leave out I don't know maybe the score or who we play. lol
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I'll say this for the paper... Their sports coverage seems to be pretty thorough. I've seen some lengthy, detailed articles about football games.
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Well, I read in the Tallahassee Democrat this morning about a $500,000 scratch-off lottery ticket purchased at the Jiffy Store on North Jefferson Street. I bet if it was purchased at a Ware Oil - WACO Store it would have been in the local newspaper. The local newspaper is very selective on what - who they publish stories about. Kudos for te coverage on the homecoming parade and doings, Dyal must be buying a lot of ads. LOL!
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The chamber had their banquet last night and fun was had by all, if you missed it, then you missed the event of the year. The entertainment was great, and the food was better. You should have been there.
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The newspapers in Taylor County amusing hmmm… now there’s an exciting topic that has plenty of opportunity for conversation. I read through the post and was immediately struck by the ease at which one whiner complains about whining and ugly comments all the while beating up others for their mean spirited comments with more mean spirited comments. Too much and ain’t it a hoot. But the topic is “the local newspaper fair and balanced”.
Who knows where the fulcrum is set on that balance beam. The years long political comic view printed each week certainly shows which end that titter-totter is weighted. Next, are the local newspapers capable of printing inaccurate information and deceptive/misinformation based on data source as well as skewed information to support public or private views? Now that is the question the other post appear to answer.
First let me respond to the person just saying the profit from paper business is low due to small market base. Boloney, the sales of print, advertisements, commercial and the county contract for all legal add up to my wife drives a Lincoln, no pun intended.
I really liked the list of topics and will submit some news topics of my own for consideration. I think at least this way the reader will all be as entertained as I am now.
An interesting fact is the Chamber of Commerce meetings are listed under government in the newspaper community calendar for years is that deceptive or a continuing typo.
I think an excellent opportunity for young MBA’s and journalist/reporter would be the capitalist view of competition is good for the market. This would suggest a very small capital investment for a venture opportunity dream in the making with an established market and identified profit and dissatisfied customer survey and analysis from data collected on this site. Cool.
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Where would you suggest listing Chamber meetings? It's not government, it's not a civic group, not associated with veterans. Even though it's not a support group maybe between AA & Celebrate Recovery?
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The newspaper bunch are a strange lot. Is there anyone at the office with any journalism integrity? I think not. I agree with the previous poster, bring back Ken Smith, at least it would be entertaining! LOL!!! At least the local newspaper could give us a weekly update about the golf course doings! LOL!!!
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No it is not fair and balanced. It melts in your hand and I am sure reading local paper would melt your mind as well. Garbage in garbage out.
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I read papers from the region all the time as my work takes me all over North Central Florida. I am sorry to say the the "local newspaper" in Taylor County falls short of the other publications in the region. It does not take much of an extra effort to publish a better paper with honest reporting when you are publishing a bad paper that a large amount of the citizens do not care for. The selective reporting of events and items is sad as well. I always laugh when items from Taylor County are reported in Madison, Live Oak and other places that never make the Taylor County paper. I think everyone should stop buying ads and make a statement to the "local newspaper".
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Good idea, everyone stop buying ads and challenge the local newspaper to report fair and balanced. Request the local newspaper become a more community minded newspaper for the whole community and that an elected official can only be pictured no more than once a week! LOL!
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You know I bet paper sales are up just to see what these complainers are complaining about this week, hahahahahaha
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Yes, it is kind of absurd. Everyone hates the local paper, but buys it every week. Darn, those local newspaper folks sure have a bass ackward business plan that works. The only difference between their business plan and a bucket of manure is the bucket! LOL!!! I bet they do not teach that at the Harvard Business School! LOL!!!
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When it's the only way to get what local news that is reported, you have to buy it. Even if they are selective in what they report. It's not like you are ever going to get full reporting from this area in the Democrat or by any of the TV stations.
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The sad news is there is real news to report but you will not know anything about it. Your laughter...Now that's the saddest sound I ever heard.
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Papers of this size are going out of business all over the nation. We are fortunate to have a good source of local community news. I admit that subjects do sometimes get repititive, but they are balanced against interesting historical human interest stories that tell me things about the area I never knew about and would have never known. I particularly found the article about the local citrus tree supplier to be of the highest journalistic caliber. Overall, the paper does a great job with, what I assume, is a limited budget to work with. However, I, too, agree with Farmer that I will throw a tantrum if I read one more story about the Red Hats at the local cafe. The paper posts a calendar of regularly scheduled community group meetings for all kinds of interests. Maybe an occasional feature on one of them would give us a break.
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The paper is a cash cow due to the legal notice (contracts with courthouse) @ about ninety dollars for a yard sale type ad. Get real the editor owner does not print the local news to enlighten the public. Get real; pandering for dollars is a better description.
The news worthy story is never considered for print. Thousands of words in multiple articles simply equal “much ado about nothing”. A prime example would be a story about how a Brooklyn New Yorker moves to Florida gets a job as animal control officer/dog catcher and has the audacity to hope to become to Florida State Senator and Governor Appointee to Public Service Commission. Is this fortunate individual from your district? Did this individual represent you and your values? How did this happen? Just lucky? What are the ties to special interest? Who is this individual? How many of those local newspaper articles are about this individual? Now tell me what do you know about your representatives and where did you hear the news?
Keeping you in the dark work well for whom?
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Please count me in about a break rom the Red Hats and motoring out of town for the great tuna salad - gorgeous paper napkins, reading of the minutes and hand crafts for door prizes.
How about starting the Brown bags - members would wear brown bags over their heads and we could have a contest to guess who was who.
I'm sure they do good but I really am sick to death with the repeated exposure
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Count me in for membership to the Brown Bags". I am always appalled at the behavior of such "hats" when they flood the local restaurants. I once saw a red-hatter knock a complete tray of drinks into other customers at a local restaurant, the red-hatter never appologized to the waitress, other patrons who were soaked and injured, or the restaurant. Keep it classy red-hatters!
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Now this site has come to bashing old women, come on Blog Meaterator do something, this is just plain classless.
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The headline in today's paper was about a $100,000 cocaine bust.
100 grams = $100,000????????? No wonder all the coke addicts are broke!
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Fair and balanced should not even be used in the same sentence as "the local newspaper" unless it is a story about someone delivering milk! LOL!!!
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A gram of Cocaine is $50-$100 according to the internet. So somebody didn't report the story correctly. Lets see if they actually run a corrected news article. Anyone else cringe at the way the "thank you, thank you, thank you" police ass kissing is on every arrest story? And yes the Red Hatters had another lunch...was a half page article. You Go Girls!
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For the love of God, free the Red-hatters from the "local newspaper". Fee us all from the Red-hatters! Rock on Brown-baggers! Old green teeth prevails again!!! LOL!!
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The newspaper writer didn't report it right. The amount of cocaine reported was correct, the cocaine's worth was not. Guess the writer graduated from TCHS. It should have read $10,000 NOT $100,000! Let's see if the paper prints a correction!
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Well the "local newspaper" went all out for the Xmas edition, sold all of those adds and only included "letters from Santa". I guess that was better than the bias and inaccurate reporting we are used to, but the letters to Santa are the same non-fiction that typically fill the mullet wrapper...way to go green teeth!
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You know, if you don't like the paper then don't read it.....
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It being the only paper available, folks have little choice. While much news can be obtained through the rumor mill or online, the local paper does still serve a purpose. Rather than not reading it at all, it might be more productive to encourage the paper's operators to be more objective in their coverage.
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Better yet stop advertising in the "local paper". I know I am personally contacting the advertisers and challenging them to spend their advertising dollars elsewhere. How about that green teeth! I guess you do not have to sell the papers if you have duped others into buying ads. Is that right? I just buy the paper to laugh at the grammar and spelling errors. Also to see what potentate or crony is being promoted at the moment! I usually read and use for toilet paper!!!!
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Does anyone know where all the water pipes are going that drive thru town everyday. I might have missed this in the paper, but if its local it sounds like an interesting story.
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I did not know if they were water pipes or gas lines. I was coming back from Gainesville about two weeks ago and saw them being delivered right off San Pedro Bay road at 27. You can see a bunch of them stacked in the field from Highway 27, and I have no idea what they are for or where they are going.
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I haven't seen the pipes, but I've seen the trucks that I assume have been hauling them. Even empty, these trucks always seem to have a police escort. I'm assuming the trucking company or the contractor doing the work is paying that cost.
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They are supposed to be for the gas line..they are storing them off hwy 27.
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I noticed a few items missing from the year-end wrap up of the local newspaper. I guess if you are a potentate and somehow manage to end up in the rag once, you do not make the final edition.
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Check out the blog on the hospital. Get the Tv to expose the local newspaper for all the selective reporting. When comes to corruption there's a lot missing to report.
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Why would anyone other than the business owners, charlatans, and potentates attend the chamber banquet? Oops, the business owners are the charlatans and potentates so many refer to here at TCT. How many "elected officials" were there since they have to use THEIR OWN MONEY to buy the tickets and not taxpayer funds. Maybe ...
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Why is the local newspaper not accessible via the Internet? I would be curious to find out how much the local newspaper office MAKES or LOSES selling newspapers every week. Seems there are a lot of newspapers being recycled in TC.
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I don't know much about the family that owns the paper, but I can't imagine that they could afford to operate the enterprise at a perpetual loss. It also seems unlikely that the paper makes much money, though. I'm guessing it more or less breaks even.
As for them going online... It would be nice, but they've never been known for embracing technology over there. And tackling the web would take an investment of time and money, with minimal reward for that investment.
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You know there is simple solution, don't buy the paper, that way you do not have to read it, and if we do not have the paper then you would bitch and moan about that, why don't you all get a life.
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Were they passing out talking points for the Feagle-Chamber lawsuit that the "local newspaper" is turning a blind eye to? The banquet is always a great event, but anyone with a life and interest of than cronyism would hardly call it the "event of the year". I guess it may be the "event of the year" for those who hang onto the shamber of commerce for their self worth, a lot of hangers on in trailer county! White trash wal-mart retardlicans! LOL! LOL!
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A chamber celebration Hmmmmm….
http://www.taylorcountygov.com/Resolutions.htm
Resolution No. 2008-
Whereas, in order to develop a long range vision for Taylor County that would represent the desires and consensus of its citizens, the Taylor County Chamber of Commerce appointed an eighteen (18) member Taylor County Task Force with the following mission: “To create a plan that guides future decisions that protect, sustain, and enhance our quality of life.”
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LMAO!!!!
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What is funny?
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The resolution itself. Actions speak louder than words and I have heard and read so many similar BS "resolutions" from the TCBOCC and the Chamber just to say they did something; just to have something to promote to the general public and then that is it. No action after that. We get inaction. I would love to know who the 18 knowledgable, caring citizens are that were appointed. Anyone know.
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Don, the mullet wrapper is good for something, LOL! Wrapping mullet, just ask the seafood guy. Anyways, the Democrat which publishes daily and has WAY MORE to read than the local paper costs the same as the mullet wrapper AND they are online. So go figure.
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Don, many of us do not buy the paper. The paper has become a tool for you and the other charlatans of the community to self promote. I hope the legislation passes that will cease all of the advertising dollars (corporate welfare) you get from the local and regional governmental entities. The digital divide is alive and well and prominate at your office Don. Good luck with the 21st century! LOL!!! I think the paper has to publish ownership annually in an edition. If my memory serves me, the lincolns are just a part owners of the rag. Someone has to be making a buck somewhere. If you look at the slanted journalism it would not surprise me if some of the local potentates slip money under the table to manipulate the news, tax-free under the table, like a good retardlican! I bet the school district slush fund provides Don with drinking money! LOL!!!!
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OUCH!
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Recently I saw the new Chamber Chairperson for Leon County make a public announcement as to what her plans are to promote Leon County. Then I thought about Taylor County. Who is the new Chamber Chairperson and what are his or her plans to promote Taylor County? And why doesn't Taylor County vote for the mayor? Like the school board, the mayor and the chairwoman will be there until ??? Men-step up to the plate. Brenda Carlton and Emily Ketring need to step down. Hey, why not nominate Kenneth Dennis as the TCSD chairperson. He's only been there +20 years.
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Manny, Moe , Mac, Pete and repeat, Delbert, Karl Childers, Rufus, Dufass, Dowe Cheatum and Howe, Earl Pitts, Chumlee, Boss Hog, Token, Otis the Drunk, and our own Parah Salin. LOL!! Well that about cover the "18" more or less. Most likely a couple of coat-tail riders and hangers-on.
I do not recall, if there was a call-out for participants or if the "18" represented a cross-section of the community; young/old/employed/ unemployed/city-county staff/cronys/ the retired/city residents/county residents/coastal residents/other than chamber members/non-profits serving the commmunity/education partners/economic development partners/members of the legislative delegation and plain ole citizen's not in the loop of potentates and charlatans.
I guess we have to trust that the train was not driven be a single person or like minded persons. Didn't they use funds to hire a facilitator, that would be a good thing due to our lack of leadership and "leaders" in the community. I hope the "plan" is not just sitting on everyone's office shelf gathering dust. "Caring citizens" is a hoot, I bet if you look at the BOCC and others, and based on other appointments, it was a group of in-the-know friends and family.
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LOL. I am sure you know I was being extremely sarcastic with the caring comment.
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The "gang" of 18
http://taylorcountyvision.org/task_force.html
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Looka here, there was a post on this site talking/telling all about the rigging of the visioning. “the county administrator waltzed into TCDA and winked at the chairperson of TCDA and then the TCDA meeting leader(same person TCDA chairperson) immediately announced to the audience (a list of named attendees will tell who was in the know) “ the timber company (S) is going to pay for the visioning b/c they(timber company) own everything anyway. The visioning plan cost a lot of money and they (timber company) will pay for it.” Duh…so don’t look/laugh all surprised… every body knows you get what you pay for… Connect-o-dollars.
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The 2060 vision has been on line for months and has more paper copy/text/print than the national health care bill. But did anyone read it? If the answer is no, then maybe some one should. The saying goes “Knowledge is King” simply meaning knowledge holds the highest rank in the order of things. A better idea maybe to print it out and see how much “stuff” is actually there. Then you might ask yourself what’s in it for me? But remember this it is a fifty year vision so ask what’s in it for your children and grandchildren, community and neighbors. The taskforce (all/only individuals from the community) may or may not have realized the significance of what’s was in it for the driving forces. It’s hard not to be taken in by the spectacle of it all for those living behind the “pine tree buffer” who doesn’t get out much into the real world. I fear these individuals with more power than wit have no idea what they support other than “some one important in the community told them it was a good deal”. The devil is in the details. I for one would enjoy a discussion of those details. After all, the three alternative strategies are based (infrastructure) on projected public funding, right?
The chamber may have a polished print copy available; if you can not afford the ink to print. Does any one know if there is a book version?
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Folks this is the stuff your Taylor County Tallahassee (tcbocc/leadership and legislative delegation) combine of powers work on to improve your conditions and quality of life. Are you any better off yet? Well you will be after this next legislative session. What a joke. It just a thought but maybe you could be after the 2010 election if the faces/party/power changes. One thing for sure at least it would be a different joke
Now let me see, In Florida there have been billions of dollars raised in taxes and fees to fill budget holes, and yet to be told millions and millions (by the way that’s what adds up to billions) have/will be spent funding revamp old wore out programs and projects, and its all in the public’s best interest to improve quality of life, oops I am laughing too.
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"Gang of 18" and the "Dirty Thirty" from a few years ago both incestuous groups with an eye on self preservation. Also I was shocked last weekend when I read the legislative priorities and interests of our legislative delegation members. Not one word about jobs-creating and saving them. Dean's "district priority" delt with the counties being fiscally contrained. Bembry's "district priority" delt with agriculture and the long are of EPA. The other regional members of the legislature appear to be concerned with state workers. Other priorities listed y all fall along party lines and seem to do little for the citizens of North Florida hurting the most. Way to go legislature! Putzs!
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BTW, the local newspaper also provides letter sent to the editor to individuals and groups prior to the printing of such letters as well, way to go. That is why this blog is so great. Suck it potenttates and charlatans!
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The paper will publish letters anonymously in certain circumstances, but they require they writer to provide them with their name and phone number.
There's NO WAY I'd trust them to protect my identity, though.
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I was not talking about protecting anyone's identity, I was refering to the practice of taking a letter to the editor, let's say about the BOCC, and circulating the letter to BOCC cronys and such to do someone else harm prior to the letter being published, kind of giving a heads up to those the letter may be about so they may circle their wagons or worse form a lynch mob. Yea we have quite the butt-wiper mullet wrapper with all the journalisitic ethics you would expect from the national enquirer! LOL!!!! DOuble suck it potewntates and charlatans!
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The members of the task force can be found at
http://taylorcountyvision.org/index.html
Click on "committees."
Many of them are who you would expect, but there is also a lot of variety and some good minds. I don't see the whole group as being capable of conspiracy, that's for sure.
The newspaper has its faults, but it could be worse. Seriously.
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Looks like same old cast of characters to me. Since we are talking about visioning for the future, where we the coalition of the future of the county, our young people? Recent graduates, students and others? It would appear to me to get the same old tired things with the same old tired individuals. Many of these folks (and the technical support folks) are the ones, as an example, at TCDA and the Chmaber that need to go out to pasture. They have had a chance to make a difference, to provide leadership and have failed. Great work group for your time and thinghts, but I question whether any new direction would come with the same broken compass (and moral compass) being used here.
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Local newspaper fair and balanced? About as much as Faux News! LOL.
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Looks like the corporate welfare extended to the "local newspaper" is about to dry up. The "local newspaper" gets a lot of money from the City of Perry, County Commissioners, Water Management District and others through legal advertising. You can thank our Sen. Charlie Dean (REP.) and Rep. Workman (Rep.) of Melbourne for proposed legislation that would close the money spigot newspapers enjoy and "costs $50 million a year for local municipalities thoughout the state". Maybe the Lincolns should support some democrats! LOL!!!! When this legislation passes, and it will, the "local newspaper" will not get the free ride it has enjoyed and will have to become more responsive to the community and less to the political and pandering to the potentates and charlatans! Anyway, as the legislator puts it "newspapers are a thing of yesteryear", and we have a trash bin (the local newspaper) to take out in Taylor County! LOL!!!
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Yea, just think of the backroom deals that can be made when they don't even have to let the public know there is a meeting. How does this help bring things out in the "sunshine"?
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I do not think the creating the ability to put public notices online vs newsprint will drive any aspect of public notice in the dark rather than in the sunshine. It really amounts to ad dollars that newspapers will not get. Many organizations and entities post notices on the courthouse doors rather than give funds to the local newspaper. In this era of shrinking budgets, it makes good financial sense to publish the notice as cost effective as possible. The Sunshine Law has a lot more to do with public meetings than where the notice is published. The main problem I see with the sunshine law locally, is not where or how meetings are noticed, but the ethically challenged members of a board or committee that discuss things out of the sunshine, prior to the meeting and decide how to vote prior to the meeting. As an example, look at who meets during the day at Super Dyal's office on the day of the school board meeting. I used to get a laugh when I would ride by city hall years ago and see Tom Moore and Ken Pickles holding court before, during and after city council meetings in the breeze-way outside the building. I would not lose to much sleep about the sunshine law being adversely effected due to the newspapers being pulled off the legal advertising teet they have been suckling off for far too long. Yes they are anti government unless they are getting a check, true retardlicans!
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You have to wonder why Angela Castelucci/Perry Newspapers paid $32.00 last Friday for copies of court file. Given that Dawn Taylor's brother, Mark Viola, works at the paaper and Angela being a close friend of Dawn Taylor, what is up? Is there an article to be published this week? Since the case has been settled and all of the potentates have been saved, the local newspaper silent to this point, may have prepared an article with a bias or slant to counter the criticism of ignoring this story for three years. Anyhow, the purchase of court / file documents indicates what we all have known, the local newspaper is aware of the case and has decided not to report. This decision of a newspaper to ignore an embarassing story of elected officials and potentates, one could hypothesize, is to ensure advertising revenue from such folks. Either way, it shows lack of honesty, credibility and journalistic integrity of the local newspaper. Traits we all discuss and talk about the local newspaper and traits that have been proven to be true by the local newspaper itself. LOL!!!!!
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Viva online news. As the commercial net ban fisherman has gone, the mullet wrapper needs to see an end as well. It will be a great day when the local newspaper closes or at least someone else publishes a newspaper of better moral and ethical quality. Maybe an online media source. Heck this blog is the best thing in media to come to this county since cable teevee! The local newspaper has made it's bed and now they must lie in it, oooh it is a dirty mess! LOL green teeth!
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Hey Viva, if you think this site is a news media, where did you go to school, all this site is as an excuse to bash people by cowardly people, who hide behind their computer screen. Most are probably so uneducated to attempt to run for one the offices or boards they continue to bash and criticize. Oh well I guess it must be the high light of yours and others life to be able to do it on here, so keep reading maybe someone can announce the weather and tide schedules for you all.
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I find comments like yours entertaining, and why is that? Because here you are doing the exact same thing; bashing people behind a computer screen and probably because you have some stake in the paper. There are many of us who use the internet and various sites for our own reasons and most of the time anonymously, so I say to you, if you hate it so much, then why are you here using this site. Go back to the ones you normally use (and read) and take the stress of TCT out of your life. I do have one question, how do you get your weather and tide schedules, do you have it announced to you on TV or do you read it on a site.
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"this blog is the best thing in media to come to this county since cable teevee", I think the blogger was being facetious. Anyhow, I think for this county, lacking any credible media, this blog could be considered media, the voice of a community, un filtered and unpurchased by the potentates and charlatans. Secondly, "most are probably so uneducated to attempt to run for one the offices or boards they continue to bash and criticize", it is great that we live in a country were there is freedom of speech, despite your educational level. The last time I checked, most of the uneducated worked at the local newspaper, chamber of commerce, tcda and occupied elected seats in our community. Let us all know which of the folks/organizations just referenced have people with training beyond highschool or any post-secondary training. Since you referenced education, check on that! As it has been referenced many times on this blog, many a person with good moral character would not tun for local office and dirty their shoes, many a good person could not get elected and could not afford to lose the money it would cost to run a viable campaign, many a good person would not get a fair chance throught the supervisor of elections officee, many a good person would not want to be run through the mud by the BOCC when volunteering. It just is not that simple and maybe that is why folks have been using this blog. Apparently voices are being heard, for everyone who posts a comment, hundreds are reading the comment and discussing in the community, effecting change, hey this nust be media. If you ask around the potentates, charlatans, elected officials and assorted wingnuts are reading this blog and getting their employees/cronys to write in (ask Dyal and Southerland) responses. Yes this media is working! LOL!!!!!
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The “Perry Springer” show. Now that’s funny. There reality you don’t see on TeeVee.
What did the blogger say? “It’s all a little “nutty and smutty”. I am enjoying this very much. It’s great to see the smart kids/thinkers come out and voice an opinion. Taylor County has a lot of talented individuals and county leadership wastes this wealth of knowledge/talent and makes unwise decisions based on imperfect information supplied by those most monetarily advantaged from the decisions such as the sixth commissioner’s constituents. As juvenile as it sounds it’s a click, a small group of individuals dominating the majority through use of public goods.
The sixth commissioner (sc) is a face hidden from the light. The sixth commissioner is on the 2060 visioning committee. The reason I know who this individual is, I watched the sixth commissioner come out of the back room (county administrative office) of the annex with all of the five elected/official commissioners and county administrative staff before a public meeting. I watch and took pictures when the chairperson of the TCBoCC hurried out of a public hearing to throw his arm around the “sixth commissioner” and asked “How did I do”? It was then the commissioner realized that clicking sound coming from behind them was my camera flash. He (county commissioner) brazenly turned to face me and inquired “Do I need to smile”? Now that’s funny. Cell phone cameras with video to internet emails can be very interesting, enlightening, and funny as well.
This blog challenges those long held values/entitlements of those who say “this is okay, because we have always done public business this way”. The light is being shown on things too long kept in the shadows. This type of scrutiny is uncomfortable for those relying on cover and hiding in shadows. Right now it is the incompetent who are being challenged based on job performance evaluations of voters and citizens served. These individuals deliberately limited in knowledge are not making informed decisions in the citizens best interests are being called on the carpet. That’s tough but that’s public service, do the job or turn in the apron.
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well stated
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Be careful more2come. Anyone shedding light on county scandals is discredited through libel, attacked legally, perjured against and ran out of town. That why State and Federal investigations are needed. An outside source that don't care about local entitlements. Anyone know some agents to call?
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Well now, aren’t you the sweetest one. Thank you for your care and concern about my well-fare and well-being. But I am Taylor County raised and I ain’t running away from home. I do not care what people say about me, after all, I would prefer the people you are talking about would talk about me instead of talking to me. I love Taylor County and the good people who live here b/c it is my home. I see you care about the good people of Taylor County too and I thank you.
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“silk purse out of a sow’s ear” to funny, that s’plains those earless pigs roaming around all over our community. ol piney wood hahaha.
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I was gald to see the bill pass in Tallahassee that will save cities, counties and others much tax-payer dollars by limiting what "local newspapers" will get in public welfare. The mindless publishing of notices and such in local newspapers is a giveaway to media types. Let these folks get out and sell ads and not get corporate welfare. I like what the legislator stated, essentially that newspapers are dwindling and people use internet-based news more and more. These little tabliods in our region are a joke and not deserving of tax-payer funds. It is funny that Woods 'n Water produce better quality news than our local newspaper.
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