The Observation Deck

Peter Grossetti wrote:To my knowledge,the Lakewood Observer printed every pro-Summers, anti-64, pro-BL article, commentary, letter and opinion piece submitted.

Peter

Not exactly true. Both sides had an equal number of unrun in the paper but all ran online stories.

Both sides submitted stories but not through the member center, which gave them little chance to get in.

No post was cut out or edited on the Deck.

On FB many posts were made against writers, me and the Observer, then deleted by the posters, not by anyone at the LO.

Criteria used for picking one over the other. The debate was never over which of the sides, but stories within the side. Who sent it in. The Mayor, and public officials were given more leeway, as that has always been our way. Being elected or in public office has it rank here. Then it was based on time they came in and if it was merely a rehash of another letter running that issue in the paper. No matter we kept our promise and published everything in print or online that came in.

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The Lakewood Citizen is one guy. The Observer/Deck is many people, including you.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Peter Grossetti wrote:To my knowledge,the Lakewood Observer printed every pro-Summers, anti-64, pro-BL article, commentary, letter and opinion piece submitted.

Peter

Not exactly true. Both sides had an equal number of unrun in the paper but all ran online stories.

Both sides submitted stories but not through the member center, which gave them little chance to get in.

No post was cut out or edited on the Deck.

On FB many posts were made against writers, me and the Observer, then deleted by the posters, not by anyone at the LO.

Criteria used for picking one over the other. The debate was never over which of the sides, but stories within the side. Who sent it in. The Mayor, and public officials were given more leeway, as that has always been our way. Being elected or in public office has it rank here. Then it was based on time they came in and if it was merely a rehash of another letter running that issue in the paper. No matter we kept our promise and published everything in print or online that came in.

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Thanks for the correction, Jim.

However, I believe the intent/gist of my post remains valid.

Dan Alaimo wrote:The Lakewood Citizen is one guy. The Observer/Deck is many people, including you.

This may be the greatest Observation Deck post of all time!

Dan Alaimo wrote:The Lakewood Citizen is one guy. The Observer/Deck is many people, including you.

...If this is directed to me...

Sorry, I thought it was a general contribution site like the Deck.

Corey

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Corey Rossen wrote:I do not think there needs to be a change in leadership.

I do think the Project as a whole could be reviewed, separated and categorized as Paper, Deck and others (whatever other endeavors that may be).

Corey,

Look at other media sources. They put comments under the story, we do not. By choice, we want people to take that extra second and go through the extra effort to make a comment. They are only separated in the minds of people that can't see that.

As for the I do not align with either, but I am not neutral. I know this is another strange thing for you to try to wrap your head around. There were many in this town that felt the same way. Not sure on hospital or building but I was sure I didn't like the lies and misstatements coming from City Hall. I do not have the ability to understand hospitals or building, but I know we need honest and transparent government.

For many thinking people, it was not black or white. Or even about hospitals and building. It was expecting honesty from City Hall.

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[/quote]

Corey,

Look at other media sources. They put comments under the story, we do not. By choice, we want people to take that extra second and go through the extra effort to make a comment. They are only separated in the minds of people that can't see that. .[/quote]

Not arguing or disagreeing on this one, but you did bring up a good point and category - there needs to be the Paper, the Deck, the online Paper, and other endeavors. The separation exists and may be worth looking into because "in the minds of (the) people that can't see (it)."

I agree that people do not see the difference, hence the need for Establishment intended separation and distinction.

Corey Rossen wrote:Not arguing or disagreeing on this one, but you did bring up a good point and category - there needs to be the Paper, the Deck, the online Paper, and other endeavors. The separation exists and may be worth looking into because "in the minds of (the) people that can't see (it)."

I agree that people do not see the difference, hence the need for Establishment intended separation and distinction.

Corey

Thank you, bless you from the bottom of my heart. For proving there is value here.

Value in those words.
PERCEPTION, not always based on facts.

Corey, I am posting to new thread, this was a wonderful post to talk about things.

Thank you.

Peter Grossetti wrote:

Dan Alaimo wrote:The Lakewood Citizen is one guy. The Observer/Deck is many people, including you.

This may be the greatest Observation Deck post of all time!

Peter: Thanks! Dan

I remain mystified by the people who expect Jim O'Bryan to keep his opinions to himself. There's nothing in our journalistic tradition that requires this, just give the other side a voice, which he does. Can you imagine someone asking the PD to not publish their op-ed page(s)?

I once edited a publication with a similar editorial model - all contributed, open to all, including myself. People asked me about my bias. I always said I was biased toward the people who wrote for me.
Without their writings, there's no publication. I wouldn't presume to speak for Jim - and I wouldn't be surprised if he disagreed strongly - but I bet deep down he thinks that way too.

Dan Alaimo wrote:I remain mystified by the people who expect Jim O'Bryan to keep his opinions to himself. There's nothing in our journalistic tradition that requires this, just give the other side a voice, which he does. Can you imagine someone asking the PD to not publish their op-ed page(s)?

I once edited a publication with a similar editorial model - all contributed, open to all, including myself. People asked me about my bias. I always said I was biased toward the people who wrote for me.
Without their writings, there's no publication. I wouldn't presume to speak for Jim - and I wouldn't be surprised if he disagreed strongly - but I bet deep down he thinks that way too.

...if you are referring to me...

I am not asking Jim to keep his opinions to himself, but rather identify which hat he is wearing while making any particular comment.

For example - he may say that he is not bias. This is true if he is referring to himself as the Paper. This is not true if he is referring to himself as a citizen on the Deck. There are not many cases where a situation like this exists because there are only so many Owners of local newspapers who are also owners of their online community outlet (DecK). Keep in mind, your PD reference has an "op-ed page" that is identified as such. That same editor could not (or should not) place their opinion on the front page without an identifiable disclaimer. No such disclaimer or identifier exists here...yet.

Did you write it? Then it's you. But it's anyone who thinks that way, and there are quite a few.

I think thie premise of Pasqule's post is silly nonsense.

The Tabloid National Enquirer aka PD is the least objective rag distributed in Lakewood save the Faux "Neighborhood Newzzz" published by the serial adulterer Fitz.

Pasquale would like the LO and Deck and JOB out of Lakewood. Pasquale's advocates for the "People's Republic of Lakewood" where everyone is in lockstep with backward thinking.

All the talk about "viscous hostility" toward the Mayor is group think perverted political correctness taken to the extreme.

Summers is closing a 108 year old life saving, tax paying, safety net, charitable caregiving institution by siding with the corrupt CCF huge corporate special interests and the SHADOW GOVERNMENT insiders' club of Backroom thieves looting public property and money.

The opposition to this should be "viscously hostile" at the Mayor who has stuck a knife in our back while he smiles.


Pasquale can whine all he wants. He can keep drinking the Jonestown punch and believing in Mike and his magic beans.

Not me.

Now that the election is over, the investigations by the multiple government agencies involved will heat up.

Count on me being the first one up the Hill in fighting for FULL exposure of the Shadow Government.

I've loved the Observer since it's inception however many years ago. Moving here from Chicago, I was absolutely amazed at the fact that this paper reports everything and anything POSITIVE that is going on in Lakewood. That's a revolutionary concept. Instead of being reactionary in their reporting of what has gone on, it reports all the great things, big and small, that are happening in Lakewood. This has not changed. It was incredibly refreshing and I was immediately taken with it's attitude, as I was with Lakewood as a whole. News can be a positive thing, not always a negative thing. The Lakewood Observer taught me that fact. I've never confused or conflated the paper with the observation deck. How can you? Very much separate entities and sensibilities are at work in each. We need to keep each in perspective.