"Puff and spin" journalism is alive and well in Gasconade County. And I'm getting tired of it!
We used to call it "yellow journalism". The really great journalists of America have been able to avoid employing the "yellow journalism" or "puff and spin" journalism tactics. The really good journalists rely instead upon hard work and talented writing.
I really hate "puff and spin" journalism! Henceforth every time our staff here at 'Hermann Hearsay' runs across it, we will point it out to you, our loyal readers. You deserve to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth when we report local stories to you. And if some reporters are twisting the story, puffing one particular aspect of the story or spinning the story in order to lead the readers to draw a conclusion they want readers to draw rather than presenting factual information so the readers can draw their own conclusion, then we will point this out to our readers. Over the course of time, "puff and spin" reporters will fall by the wayside. They will lose readership and fade into the dust bin of history along with all the rest of the "puff and spin" reporters.
There are, of course, some professional, fair and balanced journalists in Gasconade County. They work very hard and they try extremely hard to report the local news accurately, fairly and without personal bias. Unfortunately, there will always be some who will pretend to report the news while putting their own "puff and spin" on the stories they cover. For whatever reason, they will favor one side of the story over the others. Because of their personal biases, their ideologies and their alliances with the story-makers they cover, they will "spin" the story so as to make certain people look "good" and at the same time make others look "bad". This crap is going on right here in Gasconade County! Our readers need to know about it!
I want to illustrate what I'm talking about by asking you to read and critically analyze two reports on the very same local story. The following links will take you to reports published by Anna Wiegenstein, a young reporter at 'Hermann News' (http://www.ngnn.com/) and by Jeff Noedel, publisher and owner of 'County News LIVE' (http://www.countynewslive.com/). In addition, I have included a link to the Official Minutes of the 5/27 County Commission Meeting (written by County Clerk Lesa Lietzow) and pulished on 6/4 by 'Hermann News' (http://www.ngnn.com/).
- 5/27 Gasconade County Commission Meeting (Anna Wiegenstein, Hermann News @ http://www.ngnn.com/): http://www.ngnn.com/65041/content/2010/may/27/heated-debate-closes-commissioners-meeting
- 5/27 Gasconade County Commission Meeting (Jeff Noedel, County News LIVE @ http://www.countynewslive.com/): http://countynewslive.com/content/2010/jun/03/better-late-never-last-weeks-gasconade-county-commission-report
- Official Minutes of the 5/27 County Commission Meeting (written by County Clerk Lesa Lietzow): http://www.ngnn.com/65041/content/2010/jun/04/gasconade-county-commission-minutes
- Which report on the 5/27 Gasconade County Commission Meeting is fair and balanced?
- Which report comes closest to covering everything which was discussed in the County Commission Meeting as summarized by Clerk Lietzow's Official Minutes?
- Which report seems to interject personal bias?
- Which report is most factual and informative?
- Which reporter seeks to "spin" the story without regard to the facts of the story?
- Which reporter will you trust in the future to bring you all sides of an important local story?
- Anna Wiegenstein's report seems more fair and balanced to me.
- Neither report covers the County Commission Meeting as thoroughly and completely as does the Official Minutes of the meeting.
- Jeff Noedel's report reveals his personal biases.
- Anna Wiegenstein's report is more thorough and it includes more factual information.
- Jeff Noedel is "spinning" in such a way as to favor Commissioners Jost and Lairmore over Commissioner Penning. Why he does this has continued to be a puzzlement to me!
- I will trust Anna Wiegenstein to give me fair, balanced and factual reports on future Gasconade County Commission Meetings. I will trust Ms. Wiegenstein to put her personal biases and opinions aside in order to report all sides of a story fairly.
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Jimmy,
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work. You may just have to borrow my shouvel to get to the bottom of the story. I agree that Anna seems to be extremely fair. I think she is a breath of fresh air for our community. keep shouveling the truth is out there.
The Happy Shouveler
Jimmy,
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised you would be critical of CNL and Jeff Noedel!
Richard
Thanks for the tip, Jimmy! I'm going to start reading Anna's reports!
ReplyDeleteBarry
Anna is doing a good job! She reports fairly and she doesn' play any games.
ReplyDeleteDick
Anna is a great addition to the community!
ReplyDeleteThurston Howell III
Jeffy Pooh wrote ....
ReplyDelete"The meeting -- in the Commission chambers in Hermann -- started late at 8:37 a.m."
Sorry Mr. Noedel! We know you have a very busy schedule! Cool your heels, check your voice recorder and your camera, and settle back into your chair. Unless you're going to point the finger of blame and tell us who caused the meeting to be late, we don't really care that you had to wait a few minutes for the meeting to begin!
Jethro
Yes Anna is doing a fine job! I don't think borrowing a shovel will dig Jeffy-Poo out,with no money coming in and always covering up for Larimore it's just a matter of time before the house of cards falls in. Business people are getting tired of this crap and they buy ads! If you set back and think about the start of his so called reporting something smells Barry and this includes his good buddy Hank who is now having his shitbag comments taken off! Hans V.K.
ReplyDeleteNoedel reports:
ReplyDelete"Lairmore implied that Penning improperly modified the bid specs after they were officially adopted by the Commission. Said Lairmore, "One commissioner cannot add a spec without the other commissioners (agreement). The way to make changes to bid specs is in the commission meeting."
"Penning seemed to admit he modified the bid specs by adding a hand-written requirement(s) at the bottom of the page, but said his colleagues watched him add to the bid specs."
"Lairmore shot back, "It was blank at the bottom" (when he saw it)."
"Absoluely not," said Penning."
Jost sided with Lairmore, indicating he thought Penning's handwritten addition to the specs was done improperly."
Now why is Noedel telling us all of this? Afterall, it's just more of the usual bull crap from Lairmore. Meaningless, time-consuming attempt to paint Penning as a sinister, evil, corrupt, dishonest bastard. Yawn! We've seen Lairmore pull this B.S. so often! It ain't even news anymore, Jeffy Pooh! C'mon Mr. Noedel, dig for the real story! Isn't it true that Penning was attempting to insert the requirement into the county bid specification that the tire supplier give credit back for the used carcasses of large-size tires? A pretty important specification I should think! And why would Lairmore and Jost with all of their years of experience in the tire business be opposed to this? Why wouldn't they agree with Penning that this is an absolute must? If the county doesn't get the credit for tire carcasses, then where would that money go? Eh Jerry? Eh Ronnie?
Dig Jeffy Pooh, dig! Quit trying to play
"gotcha by the short hairs" with Commissioner Penning as you always do! Give us the REAL story! Penning isn't trying to screw the county taxpayers! Lairmore and Jost are!
Dick Roosterfish
This needed to be said, Jimmy!
ReplyDeleteHenrietta Hornschwagel
Here's another zinger aimed at Penning:
ReplyDelete"There was some discussion of the need to cut-down wild vegitation growing on the hill in front of the courthouse. The last time it was done was several years ago. Lietzow said the last person to do that project was then-Commissioner Max Aubuchon, who held the north disrict seat before Penning."
Why does Jeffrey oblige those who wish to get little zingers in against Penning by printing such malarky? Does Jeffrey have something against Penning? Could it have something to do with the fact that Penning won't give Jeffrey an interview? Could it have something to do with the fact that Jeffrey has lost his journalistic objectivity? Why does Jeffrey carry water for Lairmore and Jost? Do Lairmore and Jost subsidize CNL in some way?
Johnny
Thanks for all the supportive comments! I am reminded of this quote by William Blake:
ReplyDelete"When I tell any truth, it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those that do."
Matt Penning knows the truth. The truth is always worth speaking and it is always worth defending.
Jimmy
Amen brother Oldsun!
ReplyDeleteLes Nessman
The truth shall set you free, but first it will make you madder than hell!
ReplyDeleteChris P. Bacon
If the shoe fits, wear it!
ReplyDeleteClyde
If it bleeds it leads! If ambulance lights flash, CNL will make the dash! And if Lairmore speaks, CNL will hasten to cover anything he says. I think Hermann readers expect more!
ReplyDeleteElmer Hugz
I don't consider Noedel a journalist. Instead, he's a snake oil salesman with a blog.
ReplyDeleteA. E. Newman
Bland, MO
Jimmy,
ReplyDeleteSince commissioner Penning seems to be the only one doing anything to fix up our great court house and trying to save the county money, in the event something would happen to him who will Jeff Noedel use for his wipping boy then. If he thinks that Liarmore and Jost are so great why doesn't he move his happy a$$ to Owensville since that is all he represents. They ran his a$$ out of Franklin Co.lets hope the people in Gasconade county feel the same way! See ya Jeffy Poo!
Mr Big doesn't like Jeff and he will quickly hand him his ass in his hat!! Martin
ReplyDeleteLarimore doesn't want any extra money coming into the county. That's the way to stop any work being done at the courthouse. Cletus
ReplyDeleteHas anyone ever seen Jost or Larimore do any thing to improve the courthouse? Pull a weed.. paint, empty a trash can.. lift a finger.. suggest money be spent on one improvement? How about a cleanup day.. If anyone can name one thing please tell us! Better yet when was the last time any real money was spent and who did it? Maybe we should invite Owensville's elite down for a cleaning day. Remember less than two years ago they were all fired up wanting to raise money and fix up a building. were have the Pillars OF THE COMMUNITY went? Hans V. K.
ReplyDelete