Can One Bad News Article Undo All The Good You Do?

[Bill Call]

Sometimes it seems that the Plain Dealer and its sister Sun Newspapers are waging a Jihad agains the City of Lakewood.

http://www.cleveland.com/sunpostherald/

The paper reports that

Cleveland's West 117th Street has become grocery store row

Fairview Park saw growth, fiscal stability in 2012

Olmsted Falls officials put focus on building projects in 2012

Murder, fizzled fireworks topped 2012 headlines in Lakewood

[Jim O'Bryan]

Bill

Of course one bad article can undo a ton of good work and positive movement. Look at the
Flats, which of course failed due to bar management, but one, maybe two bad things out
and it became a ghost town overnight, that has never been restarted.

This is why I get so upset at times with City Hall, they will be riding a wave of positive
press, and then they shot themselves in the foot.

I would love to give Eric Sandy the benefit of the doubt. Working at the Sun and PD is hell
right now as they look at how to cut and who not to cut, and so I am sure they are
counting hits, and views, and comments. However much to Eric's credit, he lives here
and he was the only other news source not to run with "Dog Mauling Ends Spooky Pooch
Parade" which was not only an outright lie, it was a headline designed to do damage to
not just the parade but the city. An outright attack for views and more hits for $$$ and ego.

While the city is looking for marketing a a price of $10,000.00 which means, a friend will
consult as that would not even buy time at the big table in most marketing agencies. They
should learn that it is their good deeds that can market the town. They would get more
positive press giving the LOBC the $10,000 for another basketball court then they will
ever get from an ad agency, or those hideous ADVERTORIALS they run in the PD.

Bill we both know the PD and media has had a war with Lakewood for sometime, one of
the reasons the Observer project was born. Between the unwarranted hard knocks, and
the servile attitude of some of the reporters, like local bloggers now with city hall, it
became a huge problem for the city's residents.

.

[Betsy Voinovich]

Bill

Of course one bad article can undo a ton of good work and positive movement. Look at the
Flats, which of course failed due to bar management, but one, maybe two bad things out
and it became a ghost town overnight, that has never been restarted.

This is why I get so upset at times with City Hall, they will be riding a wave of positive
press, and then they shot themselves in the foot.

I would love to give Eric Sandy the benefit of the doubt. Working at the Sun and PD is hell
right now as they look at how to cut and who not to cut, and so I am sure they are
counting hits, and views, and comments. However much to Eric's credit, he lives here
and he was the only other news source not to run with "Dog Mauling Ends Spooky Pooch
Parade" which was not only an outright lie, it was a headline designed to do damage to
not just the parade but the city. An outright attack for views and more hits for $$$ and ego.

While the city is looking for marketing a a price of $10,000.00 which means, a friend will
consult as that would not even buy time at the big table in most marketing agencies. They
should learn that it is their good deeds that can market the town. They would get more
positive press giving the LOBC the $10,000 for another basketball court then they will
ever get from an ad agency, or those hideous ADVERTORIALS they run in the PD.

Bill we both know the PD and media has had a war with Lakewood for sometime, one of
the reasons the Observer project was born. Between the unwarranted hard knocks, and
the servile attitude of some of the reporters, like local bloggers now with city hall, it
became a huge problem for the city's residents.

.

I would not only give Eric Sandy the benefit of the doubt, I would say he is doing his job. There was a murder in Lakewood at the beginning of the year. You can scream it or you can underplay it. The Lakewood Observer's headline was something like "Violence Disrupts Quiet Neighborhood." It was covered. Murder is still a top story. People should know if a murder occurs in their town.

As for the "Fireworks fiasco," it was funny. Human interest-wise, it's something people would read. If you read Eric Sandy's coverage, you will see that number one, the first article says a top story in Lakewood was the response to Hurricane Sandy. You have to go to page two to even see the headline, "Murder, fizzled fireworks top headlines in Lakewood."

Number two, it's a well-written article and Eric Sandy uses it to show the progress Lakewood made, information-wise, between the lack of communication regarding the fireworks, and the stellar communication that was in place by the time Hurricane Sandy hit town. This is from his article:

"But the fireworks did not come.

And no one knew why."

He ends the story, which began with the murder on Waterbury, with Superstorm Sandy:

"The Lakewood community responded with open arms, emulating the neighborliness that city leaders tout so often.

An emergency shelter was opened at Garfield Middle School, providing warmth and electricity for residents across the city.

The storm became the main topic for conversation for weeks as residents shared their experiences and vented about the frustrations of a week without electricity.

For the city’s part, Summers and his administration showed how far they had come in terms of using the city’s website and social media outlets to share news about the storm recovery efforts.

Updates came frequently and residents broadcast their own news from the perches of Facebook and Twitter.

Going forward, the repair work and reimbursement process will play out for a while.

But city leaders have attested that the same goodwill that was so evident following the storm will surely carry the city into 2013 and beyond."

http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index ... toppe.html

Hardly "if it bleeds it leads" reporting. It is no "Jihad" against Lakewood.

Eric Sandy is a good journalist, and he reported on his hometown responsibly.

When you compare this to:

"Police search for missing 8-year-old child"
which was reported AFTER the child was found, and the child was missing for less than an hour-- or --

"Get ready for Halloween! Look up the sexual predators on your street!" (Maybe I added the exclamation points, I really don't want to search for the story. But it may have been taken down by now. This site likes to delete and change its stories without alerting readers.)

Along with the dog-mauling titles, you see the difference between actual responsible journalism and what would one call it? Reporting police blotter stories as lead stories is also irresponsible. Top story in Lakewood? "Man found drunk in car in parking lot on Madison." Really, that's the top story? Yeah, maybe Lakewood doesn't have "new news" every single day but that doesn't mean the police blotter stuff is news, and its certainly not our "Top story."

This is not to say that this is all that this site does, but every time it does something like this, its credibility goes through the floor, making it less likely that any actual true reporting will be taken seriously.

The Eric Sandy title is accurate. Those were two top stories in the last year, they were. And if you read the article, it is responsible and fair.

As for "journalism"--- there has been great writing by residents in the Lakewood Observer this year. While the definition of "journalism" is much debated in the 21st century, we can simply look at something deeper, the responsibility taken by the speaker, the writer, the voice, the reporter, the observer, for his or her own words and an understanding that it matters.

Betsy Voinovich

[Paul Schrimpf]

Well done, Betsy....

[Bill Call]

The Eric Sandy title is accurate. Those were two top stories in the last year, they were. And if you read the article, it is responsible and fair.

As for "journalism"--- there has been great writing by residents in the Lakewood Observer this year. While the definition of "journalism" is much debated in the 21st century, we can simply look at something deeper, the responsibility taken by the speaker, the writer, the voice, the reporter, the observer, for his or her own words and an understanding that it matters.

Betsy Voinovich

I don't expect or want local papers to ignore bad news. I do expect a little balance. Was the murder the most important thing that happened in Lakewood last year?

There were murders on the near West side of Cleveland, rapes in Fairview Park and break ins in Olmsted Falls. Were those things less important than fizzled fireworks?

If you were to write an article about the year in Lakewood what would be the top two items on your list?

The State of Ohio is losing population, Northeast Ohio is losing even more population and our County government is busy offering millions in tax payer subsidies for downtown apartments. If Lakewood is to survive (and I mean survive) we have to compete with other communities for taxpaying individuals and businesses. The job isn't any easier when our major newspapers deliberately highlight the negative about Lakewood.

I guess I'm still a little annoyed about this picture the Plain Dealer put on its front page to highlight the homes in Lakewood:

medium_lkwdbottom.jpg (85.66 KiB) Viewed 1436 times

As far as I know this house isn't even in Lakewood. For the sake of argument let’s say it is. When a national news magazine publishes a highly complementary article about Lakewood was the Plain Dealer being balanced when it chose to use that photo, was it being fair? Was it reporting the news or something else? If the article were about Tremont what are the odds the PD would highlight that kind of picture? If the article were about downtown what are the odds the Plain Dealer would highlight murder?

There was a murder in Lakewood last year. That's news, that's fair enough. On the other hand:

Mental Health Services is converting Lakewood apartments into homeless shelters; they are loading the homeless of Tremont onto buses and dropping them off in Lakewood but the Plain Dealer won't report it. Is it news? Lutheran Housing is converting Lakewood apartments into halfway houses for violent offenders but the Plain Dealer won't report it; is it news? Lakewood schools paid millions in retirement bonuses but the Plain Dealer didn't report it. Is that news? Lakewood police and firemen are collecting millions in retirement bonuses through the drop program but the Plain Dealer won't report it. Is that news?

The County is spending millions of dollars to subsidize downtown apartments in a region that is losing population. How many articles has the Plain Dealer done on the affect those subsidies had on existing housing? None. Is that news?

Buried in one of the PD's regular articles about regionalization was the comment from one PD editorial writer that "Cleveland should extend to the Rocky River". Is it news that the Plain Dealer thinks all of our problems will be solved if only Lakewood didn't exist?

Betsy, I appologize in advance if this reponse comes across as harsh. If I were speaking to you in person it would come across a lot more milquetoasty.

[Betsy Voinovich]

The Eric Sandy title is accurate. Those were two top stories in the last year, they were. And if you read the article, it is responsible and fair.

As for "journalism"--- there has been great writing by residents in the Lakewood Observer this year. While the definition of "journalism" is much debated in the 21st century, we can simply look at something deeper, the responsibility taken by the speaker, the writer, the voice, the reporter, the observer, for his or her own words and an understanding that it matters.

Betsy Voinovich

I don't expect or want local papers to ignore bad news. I do expect a little balance. Was the murder the most important thing that happened in Lakewood last year?

There were murders on the near West side of Cleveland, rapes in Fairview Park and break ins in Olmsted Falls. Were those things less important than fizzled fireworks?

If you were to write an article about the year in Lakewood what would be the top two items on your list?

The State of Ohio is losing population, Northeast Ohio is losing even more population and our County government is busy offering millions in tax payer subsidies for downtown apartments. If Lakewood is to survive (and I mean survive) we have to compete with other communities for taxpaying individuals and businesses. The job isn't any easier when our major newspapers deliberately highlight the negative about Lakewood.

I guess I'm still a little annoyed about this picture the Plain Dealer put on its front page to highlight the homes in Lakewood:

medium_lkwdbottom.jpg

As far as I know this house isn't even in Lakewood. For the sake of argument let’s say it is. When a national news magazine publishes a highly complementary article about Lakewood was the Plain Dealer being balanced when it chose to use that photo, was it being fair? Was it reporting the news or something else? If the article were about Tremont what are the odds the PD would highlight that kind of picture? If the article were about downtown what are the odds the Plain Dealer would highlight murder?

There was a murder in Lakewood last year. That's news, that's fair enough. On the other hand:

The County is spending millions of dollars to subsidize downtown apartments in a region that is losing population. How many articles has the Plain Dealer done on the affect those subsidies had on existing housing? None. Is that news?

Buried in one of the PD's regular articles about regionalization was the comment from one PD editorial writer that "Cleveland should extend to the Rocky River". Is it news that the Plain Dealer thinks all of our problems will be solved if only Lakewood didn't exist?

Betsy, I appologize in advance if this reponse comes across as harsh. If I were speaking to you in person it would come across a lot more milquetoasty.

BILL!

I've been meaning to answer this since the first week of January! First to say you never have to apologize to me as coming across as harsh---- this still sounds milquetoasty to me though I'd rather talk to you in person.

Yes you are completely right about your point. I came in before to bring some clarity. I think Eric Sandy is a good journalist, and does his job well. I don't think he would be behind pulling out the worst photo possible of a home, publishing it in the paper and calling it Lakewood. Then again, Eric lives here. Which brings up the point again--- is the most dangerous journalism the journalism that purports to be "objective" with agendas hidden? Versus journalism-- call it "telling the story"-- where people own their own biases.

My favorite example of course being... Yes, I am a parent of students at Grant, and have a personal stake in the school staying open. I have written about it extensively. My being a parent does not mean I do not have the ability to look up the statistics, from the County Auditor's office and the Census Bureau, that show the most dense group of families living right in the center of Lakewood, with Grant being a perfect location for a school, with trends showing that it is very likely that this density will continue for the next hundred years (if it isn't actively destroyed.) You know, you cite your sources and all that. People can look it up if they don't believe you. I contend that owning your own bias makes for more honest journalism-- we can leave the word "objective" aside as it gets more and more laughable. Which corporate chain owns your paper? What does their bottom line require? Which TV channel do you try to watch your "news" on?

But I digress-- the paragraph from your post that really gets to me is this one:

Bill Call said:

Mental Health Services is converting Lakewood apartments into homeless shelters; they are loading the homeless of Tremont onto buses and dropping them off in Lakewood but the Plain Dealer won't report it. Is it news? Lutheran Housing is converting Lakewood apartments into halfway houses for violent offenders but the Plain Dealer won't report it; is it news? [/quote]

One, this is sort of double-edged news. If the PD reported it (you know, in its last days on Earth) it would be in the role of a watchdog which it can be good at.(Albeit, years late: "Something is rotten in county government.." You think?)

But if the PD reported it, it would make Lakewood look less attractive. From your point of view, they would be doing what you accuse them of doing already--- making Lakewood look like the last place you'd want to move.

There are juvenile offenders, released from jail after serving time for violent offenses (with sealed records because they were under 18) being BROUGHT HERE ON PURPOSE? We are re-forming gangs from all around the area in a corner of Lakewood because it was a good idea to put a halfway house here? (And yes I know that's not every kid in every situation from that house.) How much money did whoever get for that? Did anybody we elected have a say in that?

From what I know about it, the City of Lakewood is not happy about it, and never has been, and can't speak about it because they are in court over it right now. But they are not in court over fighting for the city's right to determine whether a large amount of potentially dangerous people are intentionally brought into the city and turned loose-- needing education, health services, and keeping our law enforcement agencies busy.

Does a private agency have a right to contract with an apartment owner and bring in a population that most would not want living in their city? Do we have a right to even know about it?

And here's where I can prove I'm not digressing again.

Why don't we know about it? That should be in the Lakewood Observer-- it's a community paper. Why isn't that story written by someone who lives here and has an opinion about it? We are an open giving wonderful town, but how many refugees, PTSD vets, former juvenile convicts, can we support? And who controls this, and don't we at least have a right to know?

But if we did know about it, or the outside world did-- ie-- the PD reported it as you are advocating-- would people move here? How would that affect our quest to stay above 50,000 residents? When do you get to the point where too many populations in Lakewood don't-- and can't-- pay taxes? What happens to our schools then? What happens to our property values? And then wonderful Lakewood can't take care of any more marginalized populations anymore, because it can't even take care of itself.

So I guess there are two points here to look at. (I know there are many many more.) Why doesn't your average Lakewood citizen know about the marginalized populations that are continually being moved here? (And if I am offending groups in town who are doing good work-- I don't mean to. PLEASE COME ON HERE AND POST AND EXPLAIN HOW THIS WORKS. A discussion is very much needed here.)

1. Why don't Lakewoodites know about this? Bill, you seem to know about it. I think you should write an article or a series of articles about it for the Lakewood Observer.

2. Why is the "greater" media not covering it?

Wouldn't the PD welcome a chance to cover it if they, as you say Bill, want to make Lakewood look bad and convince people that it would be no great loss if Lakewood was just annexed onto the city of Cleveland?

This threw me when I first read your post, Bill. You think the PD would be all about it. I am looking forward to your reply-- milque-toasty or otherwise-- you have been a big part of my education regarding Lakewood.

Betsy Voinovich

[Bill Call]

Yes, I am a parent of students at Grant, and have a personal stake in the school staying open. I have written about it extensively. My being a parent does not mean I do not have the ability to look up the statistics, from the County Auditor's office and the Census Bureau, that show the most dense group of families living right in the center of Lakewood, with Grant being a perfect location for a school, with trends showing that it is very likely that this density will continue for the next hundred years (if it isn't actively destroyed.)

The fight over Grant Elementary School raises a whole host of issues.

The decision was made to close Grant and rehab Lincoln before the first meeting was held. The meetings were all dog and pony show.

I suppose the Board thought it important to have an Elementary school to serve the students North of Clifton. But in their zero sum world that meant underserving the students South of Clifton. Where was that debate?

I suppose there were enamored with the prospect of redevelopment of the Grant property. However, that property by itself has very little value. You need to significantly expand the development area to make it desirable. I can’t see that happening. If the City is scared to death of tearing down obsolete apartment buildings how likely is it that they will endorse redevelopment of that whole area? And then, who would want it? For what purpose?

A recent article in the PD about the decline in the population of the City of Cleveland had this quote, “those people aren’t coming back next year, not in five years and not in ten years. They are never coming back.”

That’s the true truth about our entropic region.

Does our City leadership realize that? If so why aren’t they fighting against subsidies for Downtown development? Why the silence?

Our regional leaders think economic growth can only come from taxing successful businesses to provide the funds to subsidize business that cannot survive without a subsidy. How’s that working out?

Atlantic City tried that route; they are now having a fire sale on casinos:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/bus ... n/1920965/