Thursday, June 25, 2009
Barry / Media Please, Tennessean, Can We Have a Normal Editorial Page Back?
Posted by Bruce Barry on Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 9:28 AM
The newspaper's view: Americans might consider seeking out voices in the media, in government and all walks of life that respect differing views and promote constructive resolution of conflicts. Our nation is gradually becoming far more diverse, and haters cannot stop it. But their violent attempts must not be tolerated.Well, now, this should certainly spark an engaging op-ed debate. Can't wait to see the argument that diversity sucks and violent attempts to stop it must be tolerated. Okay, first guest column:
Op-Ed #1, by the head of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission: Hate crimes are a threat to our community and its vitality....We must work to eliminate prejudice, which is one of the underlying causes of hate crimes by developing programs that help us understand, respect, and accept our differences and discover our similarities.Hmmm...well that wasn't a terribly "diverse" point of view, but perhaps the next guest columnist will stir the pot and challenge some orthodoxy:
Op-Ed #2, by the chair of CommunityNashville: Support and volunteer at organizations that speak up and intervene on our behalf and work hard to combat hatred and prejudice through the delivery of educational and outreach programs....Every Nashvillian has the power to combat prejudice and hate.I'm feeling the love, but not the controversy. Fortunately, there's a third guest piece today - surely now we'll get some fireworks:
Op-Ed #3, by a Tennessee Human Rights Commission member: The United States is truly a diverse nation made up of dynamic people and as we celebrate our freedom and independence, we all must continue to remain vigilant against prejudice and racism in all its forms and do not let hate crimes tarnish our democracy.So there we have it -- another big day of compelling editorial-page commentary. I am so edified on this complex and provocative issue of the day that I think my head might explode. Look, the one-topic format is occasionally successful, so here's a bold idea for the Tennessean's editors: Do it occasionally!
Comments (10)
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The Tennessean couldn't find anyone to speak out on behalf of the virtues of hate? What, was Ann Coulter not available?
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I'm with you, Bruce. The Tennesseans' editorial pages are probably the most painful I've ever seen. I know Gannett is just trying to save money with free writers under the guise of community input. But it's not just the "Let's get four guys to do cut-and-paste pieces on the miracle of diversity." It's that they usually choose writers from groups, trade associations, etc., whose biggest interest is making themselves and their groups look good, not engaging readers. So you end up with these cautious, wordy, statesmen-like pieces that don't really push the envelope or say anything out of the norm. They're merely there to make the groups or the writer look statesmen-like.
It wouldn't be so bad if the Tennessean was offering better commentary on the second page. But it's also picking from the bargain bin for its national syndicated columnists, the kind usually purchased by 10,000-circulation rural papers (see Cal Thomas). The whole section is designed not to be good, but merely to get by on the smallest dollar possible.
I could understand this from a smaller paper. But from what presumes to be a big city daily? Eeeek.
With the inexorable Gannettization of the Tennessean over the years, the Scene has often stepped in to fill a void left by the dumbed-down daily. So why not here? The Scene once had editorials that commented forcefully on state and local issues, even national ones. Why did that end? Especially with the City Paper no longer doing this, it seems logical that the Scene could rovide more of the missing editorial voice in the city.
Well, anonymous, I don't think you'll find any shortage of us shooting off our mouths. We just do it here every day instead of in the paper.
Yeah, Pete, but a blog by one person doesn't carry the same weight as an editorial under the newspaper's banner -- nor, frankly, will it be read by as many people. Nor will it be reprinted and quoted in the same way as would a signed editorial.
And as vapid as the Tennessean's editorial page may be, your otherwise valid complaints ring a little hollow when the Scene doesn't offer any official editorials. Blogs just ain't the same.
I think we should start shooting off our mouths anonymously on the blog with a picture of a giant screaming eagle at the top. How'd that work? That would look important, wouldn't it?
Speaking of blogs, The Scene might want to remove Tim Chavez from its blogroll, on account of him passing away and all. And maybe add some new bloggers.
Ahem.
Thanks! I thought it was just me/I! I done told 'em and told 'em to look at the way the Atlanta Journal-Constitution does equal time/viewpoints on the opinion pages. The Tennessean just won't listen. They don't get it. The Tennessean prefers "outside" opinions that say two, three, or four other ways whatever its editorial is saying.
