The Observation Deck

Matt

Most of the elected officials respond to my questions.

The problem sometimes is sorting through them, and getting the "real" answer.

I always go back to the "actual disclaimers" like Mayor Cain rolled out. "Jim there is not
Plan B sitting on the top of my Desk." a true answer, years later we learn it was called
"The Cliffs" and was in a drawer. Unfortunately this is how the game is played. I know
hundreds of city officials, and elected officials, most seem overly concerned with
"controlling the message."

Again this has become the norm, so it seems to most natural. WE have often spoken of
just how rare it is. Mike Polensak, councilman in Cleveland, is one of the people that puts
it out there, and let's you think about it. However, it is not to say, he is not a politician.

In this era of controlling the message the same is true for sports, entertainment, schools,
etc. You know this first hand. If you play nice, they make you look like a hero. Ask tough
questions, good luck we will make it look like you are doing nothing, and make our person
a star. I'll never forget in motor racing, if you were a "good" reporter, you got to have a
great breakfast in the Penske catered tent. Hot waffles, eggs any style, real maple syurp
and blueberries. Write one critical article about the team, you are at the refreshment stand
eating a hotdog for breakfast.

With all that said, I have not had a city official not respond to my call or letter, with something.

However, the real cure for all of this is open discussion, and the release of facts to the
public. Putting someone compensated, between the people and the "news" is not a
cure for anything but laziness, and isolation.

IMHO

What would be good is more of the people that were on the inside bending to peer
pressure or financial pressure, coming forward, and shedding light on some of the spin
or the facts as presented. But this is a city where peer and financial pressure rules.

Not that different from anywhere else I suppose.

.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:You know this first hand. If you play nice, they make you look like a hero. Ask tough questions, good luck we will make it look like you are doing nothing, and make our person a star.

True.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:However, the real cure for all of this is open discussion, and the release of facts to the public. Putting someone compensated, between the people and the "news" is not a cure for anything but laziness, and isolation.

Again, true.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:What would be good is more of the people that were on the inside bending to peer pressure or financial pressure, coming forward, and shedding light on some of the spin or the facts as presented. But this is a city where peer and financial pressure rules.

That's not going to happen.

And that's why I think we need both traditional and citizen journalism, as well as discussion.

But, we need traditional journalism sooner rather than later.

Matthew John Markling wrote:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:You know this first hand. If you play nice, they make you look like a hero. Ask tough questions, good luck we will make it look like you are doing nothing, and make our person a star.

True.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:However, the real cure for all of this is open discussion, and the release of facts to the public. Putting someone compensated, between the people and the "news" is not a cure for anything but laziness, and isolation.

Again, true.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:What would be good is more of the people that were on the inside bending to peer pressure or financial pressure, coming forward, and shedding light on some of the spin or the facts as presented. But this is a city where peer and financial pressure rules.

That's not going to happen.

And that's why I think we need both traditional and citizen journalism, as well as discussion.

But, we need traditional journalism sooner rather than later.

Mi Matt--

Sorry I don't have time to address the questions you directed to me right now. But I had to get on here and ask, what is your definition of traditional journalism again? That we need sooner than later?

Give me an example of what that is and how it works.

Thanks.

Betsy Voinovich

Betsy Voinovich wrote:Mi Matt--

Sorry I don't have time to address the questions you directed to me right now. But I had to get on here and ask, what is your definition of traditional journalism again? That we need sooner than later?

Give me an example of what that is and how it works.

Thanks.

Betsy Voinovich

Really, Betsy?

You are a member of both The Lakewood Observer Advisory Board and Editorial Board, Betsy.

And you don't know the definition of traditional journalism versus citizen journalism?

You don't know how traditional journalism works versus citizen journalism?

Just Google "traditional journalism vs citizen journalism" and you will find about 719,000 results (0.39 seconds).

What would you call the following: http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/issue_pdfs/Observer_Vol_09_Issue_22.pdf?

Matt

Jim and Betsy,

I love The Lakewood Observer, the Deck, and the project.

I really do.

But you can see why the Deck has become a wasteland, right?

My post: I think it would be great if Jim and Colin joined to combine both citizen and traditional journalism.

Betsy’s post: I think everything is great because everyone participates in the project.

Jim’s post: I think the project isn’t working because everyone is afraid to participate in the project.

My post: That’s why I think we need both citizen and traditional journalism.

Betsy’s post: I think everything is great because everyone participates in the project.

Jim’s post: I think the project isn’t working because everyone is afraid to participate in the project.

My post: That’s why I think we need both citizen and traditional journalism.

Betsy’s post: What is this thing you call, “traditional journalism” anyway?

Matt

Matthew John Markling wrote:

Betsy Voinovich wrote:Mi Matt--

Sorry I don't have time to address the questions you directed to me right now. But I had to get on here and ask, what is your definition of traditional journalism again? That we need sooner than later?

Give me an example of what that is and how it works.

Thanks.

Betsy Voinovich

Really, Betsy?

You are a member of both The Lakewood Observer Advisory Board and Editorial Board, Betsy.

And you don't know the definition of traditional journalism versus citizen journalism?

You don't know how traditional journalism works versus citizen journalism?

Just Google "traditional journalism vs citizen journalism" and you will find about 719,000 results (0.39 seconds).

What would you call the following: http://media.lakewoodobserver.com/issue_pdfs/Observer_Vol_09_Issue_22.pdf?

Matt

Humor me Matt. Give me your definition of "traditional journalism." Give me an example and describe for me how it works.

Further explain: Was Colin McEwen with his AOL Lakewood Patch a traditional journalist? How did that work?

Your definition.

I don't agree that "The Deck" is a wasteland because you are trying to get a specific answer that you haven't been getting.

Towards that end-- getting very specific here-- I am asking you to give me YOUR definition of traditional journalism. I didn't say I didn't know what it was. I want to hear what you think it is, who practices it and how it works.

Betsy Voinovich

Matt

My post: That’s why I think we need both citizen and traditional journalism.

We should need neither.

We need community involvement.

I am not saying we do not have it, the paper could be twice as big with content we have.
The Deck should have people from city hall and the schoolboard posting, but you know full
well they will never engage in a public forum like this.

Lakewoodites should be looking for public officials not afraid to engage, and certainly care
more about engaging citizens than getting likes on their Facebook page for their run for mayor.

But as long as people are afraid to talk about things because of peer pressure or financial
pressure they will scurry under the bar of civic discourse and never be truly accountable.

You were on the Board, how do you feel about the McKinley land swap?

.

Jim,

I'm not the publisher of a newspaper.

You are.

But, are you a journalist?

Matt

Matthew John Markling wrote:Jim,

I'm not the publisher of a newspaper.

You are.

But, are you a journalist?

Matt

Matt

My only formal training is in the field of photography.

I have never considered myself a journalist, nor have I ever wanted to be one.

For the upteenth time, The Lakewood Observer Project was not launched to be a NEWS paper.
It was launched because we found more truth on the streets than in the PD, Scene,
FreeTimes, WEstlife, Sun Papers, etc. Because all of these "real journalists" we taking
orders from their bosses who were answering to their advertisers, and pressure.

What we thought was needed was empowered citizens to report what they see and think.

So you would rather have, "WestEnd good for Lakewood" sunpapers, or "Spooky Pooch
Ends With Dog Mauling" Patch, than the truth or what citizens think?

My job as publisher is to make sure the bills are paid and the project remains sustainable.

To solidify that stability, we now have 12 projects, so Lakewood is very stable.

Now we just need people to stop being afraid, or stopped being paid off, and step up.

.

Betsy Voinovich wrote:I don't agree that "The Deck" is a wasteland because you are trying to get a specific answer that you haven't been getting.

I agree, Betsy. That's not why the Deck has become a wasteland.

It has become a wasteland, in part, because some of us (e.g., me) can't post about anything without others (e.g., you) trolling every post.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:The Deck should have people from city hall and the schoolboard posting, but you know full well they will never engage in a public forum like this.

Lakewoodites should be looking for public officials not afraid to engage, and certainly care
more about engaging citizens than getting likes on their Facebook page for their run for mayor.

But as long as people are afraid to talk about things because of peer pressure or financial
pressure they will scurry under the bar of civic discourse and never be truly accountable.

Jim,

I think much of this thread has been hijacked by Betsy's trolling.

So, let me be clear.

I agree with everything that you just said in the above post.

This will be the first election that I can think of when not one person running for public office - in a contested race - has made even one post on the Deck as to why they are running for public office.

I find that sad.

I don't know what to do about it.

Matt

Matthew John Markling wrote:

Betsy Voinovich wrote:I don't agree that "The Deck" is a wasteland because you are trying to get a specific answer that you haven't been getting.

I agree, Betsy. That's not why the Deck has become a wasteland.

It has become a wasteland, in part, because some of us (e.g., me) can't post about anything without others (e.g., you) trolling every post.

I don't think the Deck has become a wasteland at all. I don't really know what you mean about "trolling" every post-- anyone can answer any post that they want to on here.

I hear you saying we-- Lakewood-- are desperate for "traditional journalism." This has something to do with Jim and Colin together. I am still not sure what you're talking about, but I find it interesting, which is why I keep asking.

I agree with Jim that what Lakewood needs is involvement from the community, and people supporting each other, and encouraging each other to understand that the city truly belongs to the people who live here.

Betsy Voinovich

Anyway, Jim, as I was saying:

Jim O'Bryan wrote:The Deck should have people from city hall and the schoolboard posting, but you know full well they will never engage in a public forum like this.

Lakewoodites should be looking for public officials not afraid to engage, and certainly care
more about engaging citizens than getting likes on their Facebook page for their run for mayor.

But as long as people are afraid to talk about things because of peer pressure or financial
pressure they will scurry under the bar of civic discourse and never be truly accountable.

Let me be clear.

I agree with everything that you just said in the above post.

This will be the first election that I can think of when not one person running for public office - in a contested race - has made even one post on the Deck as to why they are running for public office.

I find that sad.

I don't know what to do about it.

Matt

Hey Matt--

I agree. There were some candidates who we talked with while putting together the Lakewood Observer candidate questions for the paper who sound like they might be open to posting on the Deck.

It was great that each candidate did respond to the Observer questions in the paper, and answered at length in their own words.

We have further to go but I have found some people actually don't know how you post-- or think you are supposed to know someone or something. So some of this is on us. More simple outreach is needed. This project has been around a long time and some people who are newer to Lakewood know that it exists, but not what it is. (ie, community-written.) A lot of people don't know about the Deck. All of us who do can help with that.

Betsy Voinovich

Matt --

Why would a politician post here? Or, frankly, anywhere online? It's like speaking against a mass of shouters. You can't sort out the reasonable from the extreme. Responding to some and not all can be more dangerous than avoiding the fray entirely. Using real names has not stopped incivility. Virtually all web exchanges with even a modicum of controversy degrade into holy wars among the extremes. Everyone knows it. Everyone who's attempted to be reasonable has been caught in the middle of it. Who has time/energy for that nonsense?

I thought it was interesting that the mailbox discussion garnered some atypical responders from the usual dozen or so devotees.

A trained journalist is hungry for facts and is free to pursue them without fear of retribution. And, back in the day, he/she could feed his/her family because he was getting paid for his work, and i believe society in large part benefitted. Maybe the paid model is indeed dead. But in my opinion there is a hole that the Observer as currently constructed can't fill.