The Observation Deck

The Associated Press has stepped up its attack on White House efforts to block coverage of events involving President Obama, warning that once access is cut, “we'll never get it back.”

http://m.washingtonexaminer.com/ap-assa ... le/2545911

Is the same thing happening here, in Lakewood?

And, is taxpayer funded media spinsters, Twitter/Facebook posts, secret meetings, and/or faux committees really access?

Matt

This was lost a long time ago here in Lakewood.

The slamming of the door happened after Mayor Cain went on "60 minutes" to kick Dan
Wallace's butt, and prove to everyone the "the WestEnd debacle" (Jay Foran's term), was
good not just for the city, but this would be the strip mall to make all strip malls look crappy.

I was talking with one elected official the other day that was explaining "real media" is dead
and in the old days of the PD, they would have.... Well the fact is in the old days of the PD
Lakewood reporters were beholding to those that slipped them information. So David George,
may he rest in peace, would run anything he was told to run by Dave Estrop.

However I do find it fascinating that virtually every branch of Lakewood government has
come to me in the past week demanding I hire investigative reporters to write about what
another branch of Lakewood Government is doing wrong or illegally.

When I asked if they would go on record, or be quoted, universally the answer has been
"How dare you ask me to go on the record, I have a standing in this community... I have bigger
fish to fry that this thing that outrages me... How can you ask me to risk my career, when..."

The other day while at City Hall, I was talking to a person that said "I hate it when you
mention 'City Hall' in your posts, we are not all incompetent!" I mentioned the Grandma
Rule - "If you are caught in a stolen car, even if you are not driving, or did not steal it
you are guilty." They took great exception to the comment, but added it is not fair that
those that are incompetent are bringing us down. I asked for names and proof.

"You cannot expect me to throw my career away..."

While people in Lakewood call for news like Patch and the PD, they were both shills for the
local government. Look at Colin's work from City Hall now that he works there, it is the
same as when he was "a 'real' reporter."

WE started the Observer Project because the word on the street was far more honest and
real than anything coming out of City Hall or the Schools. But since we started a real fear
of telling the truth has fallen over not the offices, but the residents.

Maybe it is time to change the model. As one elected official said to me, "I know you will
lose advertisers and fans and maybe the project, but someone has to step up." I said "can
I put you on the record?" the answer, "You cannot expect me to throw my career away..."

.

Jim,

You need a cool anonymous source guide.

See http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/29/anonymous-sources-guide-washington_n_4175565.html.

Matt